The Anthropology Honors Program is intended to provide highly motivated and dedicated students with (1) an opportunity to engage in original research and analysis; (2) close contact with individual faculty members; (3) interaction with other research-oriented undergraduates; and (4) opportunities to develop skills in the writing and oral presentation of anthropological ideas and data.

GUIDELINES FOR ADMISSION

Minimum requirements:

Declared Anthropology major; enrolled in upper division courses in Anthropology; junior class standing (90 or more units) at start of program; cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all university course work completed; cumulative GPA of 3.5 in upper division Anthropology classes (or their equivalent).

Departmental selection process:

Entry into the Honors program is competitive. Those selected to join the Honors program typically have a strong academic record and high GPAs (exceeding the minimums above), broad exposure to anthropological concepts and methods through enrollment in several Anthropology courses (including some advanced courses) before the start of the program, and a well developed research proposal. The admission committee reviews the proposal and other application materials (see below) and may conduct brief interviews.

The application consists of:

(1) transcripts showing all relevant coursework and grades (copies are fine)

(2) a 400-600 word research proposal

(3) name of a primary project advisor

(4) 5-8 page writing sample from a previous course

(5) short discussion of post-Baccalaureate plans 

Those wishing to enroll in the Honors Program should speak with the Department Honors Advisor and then complete an Honors Application during the fall quarter preceding the first course of the series. Completed applications must be submitted by the November 16 deadline. Only qualified applicants will be considered.

REQUIRED COURSES AND HONORS THESIS 

I. Required Courses (4 courses) 

Anthropology 191HA: Beginning Seminar (preparation of proposal) - Winter Quarter

Anthropology 191HB: Field Methods (preparation for research) - Spring Quarter

(Independent Research - Summer)

Anthropology 191HC: Data Analysis - Fall Quarter

Anthropology 191HD: Writing for Anthropology (writing the Honors paper) - Winter Quarter

A. Beginning Seminar (Anthropology 191HA) 

Anthropology 191HA (Winter Quarter) focuses on the preparation of a proposal for independent research, to be written with the input of your individual Honors Committee. Students select and confirm these two faculty members early in the quarter. The seminar consists of guest lectures by faculty from each of the four fields of anthropology, a presentation by a representative from the Office for the Protection of Human Subjects, and two sessions in the Young Research Library on materials and technologies for anthropological research. Students present their research proposal in class near the end of the quarter. The proposal identifies a clear research problem and provides a literature review (a history of ideas and previous research on the subject). Because application deadlines for summer funding often arrive in the winter quarter and require writing grant proposals, students need to formulate a research question before the quarter begins and make completion of a research proposal the top priority during this quarter. Check with the Honors Advisor for current funding deadlines.

B. Field Methods (preparation for research) (Anthropology 191HB)

The 191B seminar (Spring Quarter) prepares the student for independent research. Students may be asked to prepare an extensive literature review on their topic or perform sample studies to test their field or analytical methods. The seminar also addresses more practical matters such as research clearances (including Human Subjects) and health and safety information. Students are exposed to research methods from each of the subfields of anthropology.

C. Data Analysis (Anthropology 191HC)

The 191HC seminar (Fall Quarter) is directed toward the analysis of data collected during the preceding summer.  The objective of this class is to help students organize, analyze, and present the data for their Honors projects.  Analysis of all data should be completed well before the end of this quarter. Students work individually, with faculty, or in working groups to acquire the skills needed to arrange and process data.  The final product of 191HC is a completed and organized analysis of the findings collected by the student.  The students’ individual Honors committee members should also be provided with the analysis by the end of Fall Quarter.

D. Writing for Anthropology (Anthropology 191HD)

The final seminar of the Honors series (191HD) is taken in the Winter Quarter. The course has the specific aim of helping students assemble, organize, and compose all of the components of the Honors paper, but it also is designed to aid in writing generally.  The course stresses skills related to writing clearly and in a formal anthropological style, organizing the major elements of a lengthy research paper (e.g., introduction, literature review, results, analysis, conclusions), and editing effectively.  Students read and provide constructive criticisms of published materials and materials produced by fellow students. The course also provides at the end some preparatory steps for oral presentations in the Spring.  Students prepare several drafts of the Honors paper during the quarter and submit the final version (approximately 25-30 pages of text) at the quarter’s end.  Each student should also be providing documents to his/her Honors thesis committee members during the quarter so that they can provide feedback. The final version is due on the last day of class.  The formal Honors paper submitted to the department (see below) is due during Winter Quarter exam week.

II. HONORS PAPER

As part of successful completion of the Honors Program, students are required to file an approved, final Honors paper by the end of Winter Quarter. The paper consists of original research and is approximately 25-30 pages of text. It argues a central thesis of anthropological relevance developed by the student and his/her individual Honors committee (chaired by at least one Anthropology faculty member) and guided by the faculty instructors of Anthropology 191HC and 191HD. When students submit various drafts during 191HD, draft versions should also be circulated to committee members for evaluation. One signed, bound copy of the Honors paper must be submitted to the Departmental Honors Advisor during Winter Quarter exam week. 

HONORS WEEK CONFERENCE

As part of successful completion of the Honors Program, students are also required to give an oral presentation of their work to the department during the annual Honors Week Conference in Spring quarter. Students are encouraged to present their Honors research at other appropriate conferences whenever possible.

HONORS COMMITTEE

A student’s Honors Committee ideally consists of two members. The chair of the committee must be a faculty member of the Department of Anthropology. The student must secure a Committee Chair for the research project prior to admission to the program. The student ideally secures a second committee member during the first Winter quarter of the program and before the beginning of the actual research. A form listing the committee members must be filed with the Honors Advisor by the end of the first Winter quarter.

HONORS EVALUATION

Continuation from quarter to quarter in the Honors program is not automatic. Students must develop their projects in a timely fashion, meet deadlines, attend class, perform assignments with excellence, and conduct their research, analysis, and writing with rigor. Any Honors Committee Chair or instructor for 191HA, HB, HC, or HD may recommend the non-continuance of a student who falls behind the Honors schedule or consistently fails to adhere to Honors standards. Continuance decisions are made by the Department Honors Faculty Committee. Grading within the four seminars is, of course, based on individual student effort and performance in each quarter.

Each student’s honors faculty advisor(s) should also evaluate the final Honors paper. If the student meets all requirements satisfactorily, the Honors Faculty Committee will recommend the awarding of the student’s degree with Departmental Honors. The Honors Faculty Committee’s recommendation will then be reported to the Registrar’s Office. The Departmental Honors designation will appear on the student’s diploma.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPARTMENTAL HONORS AT GRADUATION 

1. Maintenance of a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all University course work completed.

2. Maintenance of an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher in all upper division anthropology course work.

3. Completion of the Honors Paper and required courses: Anthropology 191HA, 191HB, 191HC, 191HD.

4. Submission of one signed and bound copy of the Honors Paper to the Honors Advisor by the end of Winter quarter.

5. Participation in the Honors Week Conference Spring quarter.

6. Recommendation from the student’s committee chair and the Honors Faculty Committee.

Honors students are also encouraged (although not required) to enroll in 89 and 189 seminars throughout their junior and senior years to gain additional small-seminar experience. Such experiences are useful preparation for graduate school.

Anthropology Honors – Nuts and Bolts

Minimum Requirements:

*Declared Anthropology Major

*Enrolled in upper division Anthropology courses (transfer students who have not had

  the opportunity to enroll in upper division Anthropology courses may still apply)         

*Junior Class Standing (90 or more units)

*Cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all university course work completed

*Cumulative GPA of 3.5 in upper division Anthropology courses or their equivalent

Application:

*Transcripts showing all relevant coursework and grades (copies are acceptable)

*400-600 word research proposal (include your primary project advisor’s name and

  attach an email or memo from your advisor stating you have their approval)

*5-8 page writing sample from a previous course

*Short discussion of post-Baccalaureate plans

Required Courses:

*Anthropology 191HA: Beginning Seminar (preparation of proposal) – Winter Quarter

*Anthropology 191HB: Field Methods (preparation for research) – Spring quarter

*Summer – Independent Research

*Anthropology 191 HC: Data Analysis – Fall Quarter

*Anthropology 191 HD: Writing for Anthropology – Winter Quarter

*Honors Presentations – Spring Quarter

Requirements at Graduation:

*Maintenance of a minimum cumulative GPA or 3.00 in all University coursework

*Maintenance of an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher in all upper division anthropology

  courses

*Completion of the Honors Paper and required courses

*Submission of two signed and bound copies of the Honors Paper to the Honors Advisor

  by the end of Winter quarter

*Participation in the Honors Conference in Spring quarter

*Recommendation from the student’s committee chair and the Honors Faculty

  Committee

All application materials must be turned in to 341 Haines Hall.

DUE DATE: November 16, 2009