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West Point Thesis Program

Overview
The thesis program at West Point consists of four classes: Econometrics I, Research Methods, Econometrics II, and Senior Thesis (ideally taken in that order). Typically, cadets complete these classes in their third and fourth years.

The Research Methods course is crucial as it aids in developing skills necessary for economic research. It serves as the foundation for your Senior Thesis, ideally integrating materials learned in previous courses. Beginning in the spring of your third year, Research Methods offers an opportunity to delve into a topic of personal interest while honing data analysis skills.

By the end of the semester, significant progress is expected on your Thesis Proposal. This proposal, combined with subsequent work on the project, determines your admission to the Senior Thesis class in your final semester.

Is the thesis program challenging? Absolutely. Conducting independent research is demanding. However, the rewards are substantial because of the depth of learning involved.

What is a thesis exactly?
A Senior Thesis resembles a research article from an economics journal. It utilizes data to examine the impact of something, such as a policy or phenomenon. However, the thesis isn’t confined to paper; cadets must present their findings to the faculty and visitors on Projects Day, where they face challenging questions.

Past Projects

• The Bowl Game Effect: An Irrational Signal on the Biggest Stage of the Game (Brandon Agran)
• But Who Will Watch the Kids? The effect of on-post childcare availability on reenlistment and family planning choices (Elisabeth Ake)
• Taxes Still a Guarantee? How State Tax Rates on Military Pensions Affect Veteran Migration Rates (Aiden Boehm)
• Impacts of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 on Homeownership (Matthew Moellering)
• Recreational Marijuana Legalization on Young Adult Mortality (Creighton Morgenfeld)
• Fluency and Proficiency: How Mandatory Language Classes Influence Standardized Test Scores (Daniel Pinney)
• Leading the Way: The Impact of Same-Gender Company Commanders on Junior Enlisted Soldiers (Rachel Radvinsky)

The thesis program owes much of its success to the invaluable support of our dedicated advisors and the expertise of Dr. Smith, our former Thesis director.