Every student at Maryville College completes a year-long research project called the Senior Study, whether the student’s major is Design, Management, Psychology, Biology, Criminal Justice or any of the other 40 major fields of study. These studies vary from laboratory experiments to forms of creative expression, and all Senior Study projects include a student and faculty mentor working together in discipline-specific scholarship. Use the drop-down menu to view examples of Senior Studies chosen by faculty as exemplary. Older versions can be checked out from the Lamar Memorial Library and Newer studies are being stored in the College’s digital archives.

Student
Name
Major
Title
Supervisor

Jonathan Bates '19

Majors
Philosophy
Philosophy
Title
Metaphysics and the Great Wave: A Study of Henri Bergson, Alfred North Whitehead, and Katsushika Hokusai
Metaphysics and the Great Wave: A Study of Henri Bergson, Alfred North Whitehead, and Katsushika Hokusai
SuperVisor
Dr. William Meyer
Dr. William Meyer

Danielle O'Brien '18

Majors
History
Philosophy
History
Philosophy
Title

Ideals in History: A Comparative Study of Charles S. Peirce and Reinhold Niebuhr

Ideals in History: A Comparative Study of Charles S. Peirce and Reinhold Niebuhr

SuperVisor
Dr. William Meyer
Dr. William Meyer

Adrian Pierce '25

Majors
Counseling
Philosophy
Counseling
Philosophy
Title
Finding Unity Within All of Our Parts: Conceptions of Identity and Morality in the Modern World
Finding Unity Within All of Our Parts: Conceptions of Identity and Morality in the Modern World
SuperVisor
Dr. William "Bill" Meyer
Dr. William "Bill" Meyer

Grace Rubel '24

Majors
Philosophy
Philosophy
Title
Human Dignity and the Moral Imperative to Uphold It
Human Dignity and the Moral Imperative to Uphold It
SuperVisor
Dr. Andrew Irvine
Dr. Andrew Irvine

Caleb Smith '16

Majors
Philosophy
Philosophy
Title

Brains, Zombies, and Phenomenology: A Critical Analysis of the Philosophy of Daniel Dennett

Brains, Zombies, and Phenomenology: A Critical Analysis of the Philosophy of Daniel Dennett

SuperVisor
Dr. William Meyer
Dr. William Meyer

Caleb Tucker '24

Majors
Philosophy
Philosophy
Title
The War for Meaning: How to Restore Value in a Valueless World
The War for Meaning: How to Restore Value in a Valueless World
SuperVisor
Dr. William "Bill" Meyer
Dr. William "Bill" Meyer