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The Honors Program

The Honors Program in Sociology consists of advanced independent study under the direction of a faculty supervisor, culminating in the completion and presentation to the department of an honors thesis. A major who successfully completes an honors thesis in sociology will also satisfy the culminating experience in the major. The program is open to any major who satisfies the minimum college honors requirements, including a 3.0 GPA overall, has a 3.3 GPA in the major, and has completed all theory and methods requirements for the major prior to submission of the thesis proposal.

  • honors

    Sociology honors students with faculty advisors at Dartmouth Honors dinner 2023.  Left to right: Emily Patel '23, Janice McCabe, Jessica Cortez '23, Spencer Allen '23, Jason Houle

Thesis Writing Timeline

  1. A written thesis proposal must be submitted to your chosen faculty advisor and the department chair no later than the end of the third week of Fall of senior year. Department Chair Jason Houle
  2. At the end of your first term of Socy 98 (typically winter senior year), your progress towards completion of the thesis is evaluated by your advisor and the rest of the department.
  3. The preliminary draft of the thesis is due no later than the end of the fifth week of Spring senior year.
  4. Once revisions have been made the final draft of the thesis is due no later than the end of the eighth week of Spring senior year.

Preparing for the Honors Thesis

Toward the end of the junior year a prospective honors major should identify a faculty member in the department who is willing to serve as a thesis advisor in order to discuss the proposed thesis. Advisors must confirm that they will be on campus during the two terms in which the student takes SOCY 98 and SOCY 99 (sociology honors credits) unless other arrangements are made. A written thesis proposal must be submitted to the advisor no later than the end of the third week of the third term prior to graduation (typically fall term, senior year), and preferably earlier. After the proposal has been approved by the advisor and a copy filed with the department the student is accepted into the honors program

In thinking through the possibility of doing a senior thesis, much helpful information can be gleaned from the Thesis Guide written by Morgan Matthews '15.

The Thesis Writing Process

All honors majors must take SOCY 98 and SOCY 99 for thesis credit during the senior year, although exceptions may be permitted. SOCY 98 counts as one of the seven additional courses numbered 10 or higher that are required for completion of the major, taking SOCY 99 means that Honors students will typically take at least 12 course credits in Sociology. At the end of the SOCY 98 the student's progress toward the completion of the thesis is evaluated by the advisor in consultation with the department. If satisfactory progress is not being made, then the thesis project may be terminated and a grade given for the first term of thesis credit.

A preliminary draft of the thesis must be turned into the thesis advisor no later than the end of the fifth week of SOCY 99, and preferably earlier. Once revisions have been made, two (2) copies of the completed thesis draft must be turned into the thesis advisor no later than the end of the eighth week of SOCY 99. Upon completion of the final revised thesis, the student must provide 3 bound copies to the department: one for the Advisor, one for the Department and one for the Rauner Library. The thesis will be graded by the thesis advisor and a second reader appointed by the department. Students receiving a B+ (3.33) or higher on the thesis will receive honors recognition in the major. High honors may be awarded by faculty vote for truly exceptional work.

Students interested in participating in the program should obtain the pamphlet "Sociology Honors Program" from the Department Office.