Honors Program

The honors program in Anthropology provides eligible Anthropology majors with an opportunity to conduct original ethnographic, field, laboratory, or library-based research under the guidance of an Anthropology faculty member. All Anthropology majors are urged to consider applying to the departmental honors program in Anthropology. Interested Anthropology majors of junior standing may apply for admission to the honors program by applying first in Axess, submitting an honors application form, including a research topic/title of the proposed honors project, a two page abstract/proposal, a transcript, and a letter of reference from their faculty or honors adviser to the undergraduate student services officer on or by April 10th 2024 in the junior year.

Department majors are eligible to apply for honors candidacy with a 3.4 GPA in the department major, a 3.0 GPA in overall course work, and with no more than one incomplete listed on the transcript at the time of application*. Students must submit the final draft of their Honors Thesis to their Honors Advisor (1st Reader), 2nd reader, by May 15th of Spring Quarter. Honors Advisors must confirm a student’s Honors status and students will provide a final copy of the honors paper to the undergraduate student services officer by the published Late Application deadline for Spring Quarter Degree Conferral.  If ineligible, students must withdraw their application to the Honors Program. Students interested in the Honors Program are encouraged to apply for summer research funding through the Department of Anthropology, VPUE Undergraduate Student Research Grants, and area studies centers. This process requires planning as the Spring Quarter research deadline falls before the honors application due date. In most cases, honors students apply for such funding early in the junior year.

* Students who do not meet this requirement may pursue the Senior Paper option.

How to Apply

Application Deadline is April 10th

  • Honors or Senior Paper Application form (application can be found HERE)
  • Two-page abstract/proposal
  • Relevant transcripts (for Honors Program applicants only)
  • Letter of recommendation from faculty advisor 
Courses

Required Courses

  • The theory and methods course appropriate to the student's chosen emphasis of study.
  • ANTHRO 92A (autumn) or ANTHRO 92B (winter) Undergraduate Research Proposal Writing Workshop, prior to submitting an application.
  • ANTHRO 95B. Independent Study for Honors or Senior Paper Writing is required in the final quarter of the student's B.A. degree program. Senior papers with a letter grade of 'A-' or better may be awarded departmental honors. Honors students must enroll for a minimum of 5 units. Please note, there is a 10 unit maximum for Independent/Direct Study Courses

Optional Courses

  • ANTHRO 93. Prefield Research Seminar
  • ANTHRO 94. Postfield Research Seminar is given in Autumn Quarter only. Student researchers may choose to enroll in ANTHRO 94 and/or attend Bing Honors College in the summer following their junior year.
  • ANTHRO 199: Senior and Master's Paper Writing Workshop (ANTHRO 299)
Honors Research Paper Guidelines

Format

Grading

  • Grading average between two readers must be a letter grade of “A-" or better

Readers

  • First Reader: Honors Advisor (usually your Faculty Advisor)
  • Second Reader: Suggested by Faculty Advisor, may be outside of Department

Should Include - Discuss with Advisor

  • Introduction Literature Review
  • Contextualization of the question
  • Discussion on Methodology
  • Report on Fieldwork
  • Discussion of Results
  • Conclusion
  • Appendices
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection
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