Of Note:

Dates to Remember!! PROSPECTIVE MAJORS! Students who register as Sociology majors online need to come to the Sociology Department office to fill out a major advisor assignment form. Please refer to the Notices to Sociology Majors link for current information. [Read more]

Notices to Sociology Majors

September 1, 2009

TO:           Sociology Senior Majors

FROM:    Jonathan Cutler, Chair

RE:           Qualifying for Honors in Sociology

Honors in Sociology recognizes excellence as displayed through achievement in both course work and a senior research project.  Students wishing to be considered for honors must register as a candidate.  Registration occurs through a formal petition to the department.  Only approved petitions qualify students to pursue honors in Sociology.

 1. The first step in the petition process is confirmation that a candidate meets all course-work conditions.  To qualify for honors, a student must have an A- (91.7) average in at least 6 courses taken within the Sociology Department by the end of the seventh semester; however an A- in five courses is sufficient to register as a candidate.  If you’re unsure if you qualify or wish to petition for a waiver, please contact your major advisor as soon as possible.

 2. The second step in the petition process requires each candidate to identify a member of the Sociology Department faculty willing to serve as thesis/essay advisor in the development and completion of a senior research project.  This can be, but need not be, the member of the faculty who serves as your designated major advisor.

 3. In the third step of the petition process, candidates must choose between the two alternative modes for completion of a senior research project.  Honors may be awarded through two distinct pathways:

*Thesis: based on (a) a record of distinction in course work and (b) completion of a two-semester senior thesis tutorial, culminating in a Thesis  project which receives a grade of Honors or higher.

*Essay: based on (a) a record of distinction in course work, (b) completion of a single-semester (FALL ONLY) senior essay tutorial and a written Senior Essay project judged to be outstanding; and (c) a successful oral defense of the essay.  Only Senior Essays judged to be outstanding will be advanced to the oral defense.

Students will be able to enroll in the appropriate honors tutorial during the drop/add period, which will run from Tuesday, September 8 through Monday, September 21. If you are enrolled in Soc 305 and intend to pursue honors, please submit your name and Wes I.D. to the Sociology Office by September 21, 4:00 p.m.

Further stipulations for the honors essay process are as follows:

The final draft must be submitted to the department office by Friday, February 12, 2010.

 Based on its evaluation of the essays, the Departmental Honors Committee determines which students move on to the orals stage.  These students then present and defend their essays at a public forum held during spring semester.  The Oral presentations will be held on Friday, March 26, 2010.

Senior theses are due Tuesday, April 13, 2010.

Once again, you should talk to your advisor if you have any questions.

 Welcome back!