I don't know all American college students. I can only answer from what I have seen: at least in most departments of the University of California system, I haven't heard of thesis defense. American universities attach great importance to ordinary grades, and GPA (average grade) is an important standard to measure a student's academic level. In UC system, 120 credits are required for graduation during the university period, and all required courses must be passed. This is the minimum standard. Although there is no thesis defense, students are often asked to write a research paper at the end of each semester. Some really ask students to do simple research in groups and then write papers, and some don't ask for realistic research and just write papers on the basis of assumptions. In addition, students who want to apply for graduate school often start to write honorary papers in their senior year, which may be equivalent to graduation papers (but it is not necessary for graduation, but it is just an addition and there is no defense link). You need to find a professor to defend the teacher, finalize the theme of the thesis, and then spend two semesters in your senior year doing research+data analysis+writing the thesis. Finally, this paper will be reviewed and approved by your faculty respondent and another judge to decide whether to award you honor. Similarly, you can have an honorary title and graduate without an honorary title; With the title of honor, there are more things on the report card. When your name is called at the graduation ceremony, the phrase "with excellent results/with the highest honor" will be added. Of course, the most important thing is that honors' thesis has made preparations in advance for starting research after entering the institute; University research institutes also attach great importance to whether undergraduates have practical research experience when enrolling students.