Senior Thesis & Orals
The capstone of an MCA education.
The most unique class at MCA is the Senior Project, a required course taken during the senior year. Students are assigned to assist a tutor in a class or another highly involved project — teaching, entering attendance and grades, generating and grading assignments, and more. It is where an MCA education comes full circle: seniors carry the mantle of servant leadership in an academic setting, and their tutors disciple them each step of the way.
A public defense of a year’s work
The culmination of the Senior Project — and of a student’s career at MCA — is the Senior Thesis, delivered as the Senior Oral. Each graduate researches, writes, memorizes, and delivers a ten-minute speech that demonstrates an in-depth understanding of their subject and relates it to other fields of study and to life. In preparation, seniors read a reviewed book on their topic and interview an expert in the field.
Students deliver their oral publicly — before family, friends, peers, and a panel of three tutors. Following the speech, the student sits across from the panel, who probe their thesis and character with questions. The full presentation lasts roughly forty-five minutes, and is graded on scholastic ability, application to life, delivery, responses during the question period, and research.
Senior Orals are accompanied by the pageantry and ceremony befitting such a landmark event — as much a final test of a graduate’s academic growth as a celebration of it.
Watch the orals
Senior Orals are open to the public and streamed live on Knight TV. Browse the recordings and schedule for every senior.
See where the path leads
The Senior Thesis is the capstone of the Upper School’s classical program.