Finding a Thesis Topic: An Undergraduate Journey

[Nebula]

I’m an undergraduate student at an honors college. In order to get my degree I need to write a thesis. I need to find a topic soon. I’m going to talk to the professors here and see what things they have in mind but I’m trying to think of some ideas on my own. Thing is I’m really burnt out. I been in school for awhile and I’m dragging myself along now. I used to be pumped about Physics and Math but my interests in those areas have died off a bit. Regardless I need to make it down the home stretch. So does anyone have any suggestions for thesis topics that might be doable? I don’t want to reinvent the wheel or do anything revolutionary. I don’t want to have to learn a bunch of outrageously hard mathematics, I just want to graduate. Here is my background.

Math
Advanced Calculus
Abstract Algebra
Number Theory
Ordinary Differential Equations
Geometry
Linear Algebra
Automata Theory
Some Knot Theory

Physics
Classical Mechanics
Statistical Mechanics
Electricity and Magnetism
Special Relativity with and Introduction to GR
Quantum Mechanics
Planetary and Stellar Astronomy

Basically what you would expect an Undergrad to know. My own interests are in Astrophysics, Relativity, High Energy Physics, Automata, and Algebra.

High Energy Physics is probably out of the question for thesis topics because I didn’t take Advanced Quantum Mechanics. So I’m thinking something with Astrophysics. See the thing is I have to incorporate math as well, because my major is Physics/Mathematics. So maybe something that fuses astrophysics with automata, I don’t even know if that is possible. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Mulder]

I think at undergrad level it's really difficult to think of a topic entirely by yourself, especially as you say college is starting to drag. Do you have any computational physics knowledge (-not listed?) - would you want to do a mainly analytical or a computational thesis? Keep talking to your professors, particularly your favourite ones!

 

[JasonRox]

You can't even think of anything to do?

I'm a mathematics major and possibly have ideas on what I can do for a thesis for physics. I know nothing about physics, but my thoughts mainly come from the areas of mathematics that apply to physics. They are everywhere!

Crack open any higher mathematics textbook and I guarantee you there is a section dedicated to applications. Learn that bit of mathematics and there you go.

Note: When I say thesis, I mean undergraduate level and NOT Ph. D or even a Masters.