Honors Program

The Honors Program is for students who wish to deepen their concentration in anthropology through an additional 8 or more credits of research and coursework. Application to the honors program should be made during the junior year.

Students must complete:

  1. A substantial research project
  2. A minimum of four credits of Honors Research
  3. Eight credits of further coursework

Research projects may involve archival, library, and/or original ethnographic research. Projects can incorporate research conducted during study abroad or summer field schools. See the past honors theses and grant projects page for examples.

Requirements

A student wishing to graduate with honors in anthropology must fulfill the BA requirements plus:

  • Maintain a GPA of 3.7 or higher in courses completed at the University of Rochester for the anthropology major, including courses completed for honors as listed below.
  • Submit part I of the application no later than April 15 of junior year.
  • Submit part II of the application no later than the third Friday of September of senior year.
  • Complete a minimum of four credits of ANTH 395H: Honors Research in Anthropology.
  • Complete a 300-level advanced topic seminar.
  • Complete one additional theory course. ANTH 201 is strongly encouraged, particularly for students interested in graduate school in anthropology.
  • Submit honors research project to project supervisor and second reader by April 1 of senior year.
  • Present and defend the honors research project at a colloquium open to all faculty and students in the Department of Anthropology.

Honors Application

Applications are available in the anthropology department office, Lattimore Hall, room 440.

Part I of the honors application is due no later than April 15 of junior year. As part of the application, students must:

  • Obtain the signature of a departmental faculty member who has agreed to supervise the honors research project
  • Find a second reader (this person can be any anthropology faculty)

Faculty supervisors will assume responsibility for advising the student on his or her research and evaluating the final project.

Part II of the application is due the third Friday of September of senior year. Students must include a project proposal for their honors project supervisor.

Acceptance into the Honors Program is subject to review by departmental committee.

Honors Research Project

Research projects may involve archival, library, and/or original ethnographic research. Projects can incorporate research conducted during study abroad or summer field schools.

Projects usually take the form of a thesis of approximately 10,000 to 15,000 words, but can be completed in non-print media, such as video, with the approval of the student’s supervisor.

Students must submit their honors research project to their project supervisor and second reader by April 1 of their senior year. Students must also present and defend the honors research project at a colloquium open to all faculty and students in the Department of Anthropology.

The thesis ought to be of at least A- quality.

The supervisor and second reader, in consultation with the department faculty, will decide the award of an honors degree.