Honors

Sociology Departmental Senior Honors Thesis Guidelines

The Departmental Senior Honors Thesis is an opportunity for seniors to conduct in-depth research in their major or minor field. It is the most intellectually stimulating experience in which an undergraduate can engage. Students who successfully produce and defend a senior honors thesis will receive a note of distinction on their diploma and cords to wear on their commencement regalia, recognizing their special achievement.

To graduate with honors in Sociology, students must complete an original thesis. Theses in Sociology involve analyzing empirical data. Students will present their thesis to a committee comprised of 2-3 faculty. The committee will consider the written thesis and the oral presentation/conversation to determine if the student will receive honors in Sociology. Honors theses vary widely in length, topic, method, and other materials included in the work. In general, students can anticipate preparing a document of 35-65 pages.

Sociology faculty support thesis writers through course work and one-on-one advising. All thesis writers are required to complete the 4-credit Advanced Research Practicum (SO 400) in the Spring Semester of their Junior year, the 4-credit Senior Research Seminar (SO 405) in the Fall of their Senior year, and the 2-credit SO 402 in the Spring of their Senior year.

SO 400 meets once a week and guides students through the development of their research proposal. SO 405 meets every other week as a class in addition to one-on-one meetings with the instructor. This class covers topics such as data analysis, writing literature reviews, and presenting findings. SO 402 involves no formal coursework and provides additional credits to students completing their honors theses. Advisors determine letter grades for SO 402 according to their evaluation of student progress.

Exceptions to the course requirements may be made for qualifying students studying abroad. Students foregoing the SO 400 Advanced Research Practicum (Spring of their junior year) who wish to do an honors thesis are required to get approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students doing a Study Abroad in Fall may elect to register for SO 401 with their advisor for 2 credits.

Students seeking to undertake an honors thesis without completing the Research Practicum, or who intend to graduate early, should speak to the Director of Undergraduate Studies to determine an appropriate plan of action that is endorsed by their advisor, no later than January of their Junior year.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply to write a Departmental Senior Honors thesis, students must have a 3.00 overall GPA and 3.3 GPA in sociology and have taken SO 201 and SO 203 prior to their spring semester Junior year. Exceptions are evaluated by the Director of Undergraduate Studies on a case-by-case basis.

Applying and Enrolling in SO 400

Interested students should send NAME, BUID, and transcript with GPA to Director of Undergraduate Studies at socugrad@bu.edu. At that time, please indicate a potential advisor and general area of research interest.

A list of full-time faculty can be found at: https://www.bu.edu/sociology/people/faculty/.

Once the DUS has confirmed eligibility, the Department will enroll the student in SO 400.

TIMELINE FOR DOING AN HONORS THESIS

Prior to Fall (JR year): Take Research Methods (SO 201) and Theory (SO 203)

Fall (JR year): Send transcript to socugrad@bu.edu to confirm eligibility to register for SO 400 for the Spring semester. Students who discover their interest in doing a thesis proposal after the start of SO 400 can undertake a thesis project, provided they have the support of an advisor who will help them through the process in the Spring of their Junior year.

Fall/Winter Break (Junior year): Start developing a research topic and narrowing it to a feasible research question.

Spring (Junior year): Students in SO 400 develop and finalize their thesis proposal, secure an adviser, file IRB application (if relevant) and submit a UROP funding application (if needed).

No later than May 1 (Junior year): Student must submit their application for a senior honors thesis, including obtaining participation of a faculty advisor. The Director of Undergraduate Studies must also approve the application.

Summer (between Junior/Senior year): Student collects data/conducts research for project.

Fall/Spring (Senior year): Student enrolls in SO 405 (Fall) and SO 402 (Spring) for credit. Student analyzes data and writes thesis with presentation and thesis defense by April of Senior year. Final thesis must be submitted to the department by May 1 of senior year.

Honors Courses:

Senior Thesis FAQ:

Undergraduate Research Opportunities (UROP)

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) facilitates participation by BU undergraduates in faculty-mentored research. UROP can provide financial support to Sociology undergraduates for summer research fellowships, academic year stipends, research supplies, and travel for research or to professional meetings.

The UROP research experience generally involves mentoring of a student project by a faculty member working in his or her area of expertise. Students conduct research either on individual research projects or as part of a larger team.  This provides an excellent opportunity to experience sociological research first-hand.

Undergraduate Research Support Fund

The Department of Sociology at Boston University is pleased to provide undergraduates with the opportunity to apply for modest financial support for independent research on sociological topics.  Students may use the funds for research supplies or research travel.

Applications must include a two page description of the research topic, questions, and methods; budget justification; and evidence that the student has applied or external funding, such as for UROP support.  In addition, the student must ask a faculty member to provide a short letter of reference indicating their willingness to supervise the project.  Preference will be given to applications from Sociology majors and minors.

For research involving human subjects, students should provide evidence of their submission of an application to the Institutional Review Board or of communication with the IRB indicating that the project does not require IRB approval.

Available funds are capped at $500 per student/project.  Applications, which will be considered on an ongoing basis, should be submitted electronically to the Department Chair, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and the Undergraduate Program Coordinator.

Sociology Awards and Prizes

College Prize for Excellence in Sociology

Awarded by the College of Arts & Sciences on the basis of faculty recommendations, contributions to the department and University, and GPA in the major, the winner of this top prize addresses their graduating class at the Sociology convocation each year.

Outstanding Senior Thesis Prize

Awarded by the Department of Sociology faculty to the author of the best senior Sociology honors thesis written during the academic year.

Outstanding Seminar Paper Prize

Awarded by the Department of Sociology faculty to the author of the best seminar paper written during the academic year.

Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society in Sociology

Founded in 1920, Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) is an international sociology honor society with more than 400 chapters worldwide. Membership allows students to participate in national undergraduate research paper competitions and receive support for travel to professional meetings.

The Boston University chapter of AKD inducts majors in their junior or senior years who meet certain academic standards. For more information, students can visit our departmental website, consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, or see the Honor Societies section of this Bulletin.

Diedre H. Symington Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded annually to one of several juniors or seniors receiving financial aid and concentrating in sociology. The recipients are nominated by the faculty of the department on the basis of academic accomplishments and financial need.

Alpha Kappa Delta

Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) is the international sociology honor society, founded in 1920, with more than 400 chapters worldwide.  Each year the Boston University chapter (Gamma of Massachusetts) invites juniors and seniors of high scholarly achievement in Sociology to be inducted into Alpha Kappa Delta.

Membership allows students to participate in national undergraduate research paper competitions, to receive support for travel to professional meetings, and to receive the Society’s journal Sociological Inquiry.
Students are eligible for AKD upon completing six sociology courses toward their major (or minor), including SO 201 and SO 203.

They will have maintained a GPA in sociology of at least 3.30 and an overall GPA of at least 3.00, and must be ranked in the top 35% of their class in general scholarship.  They must be at least a junior (third year) by BU standards, and have officially declared sociology as a major or minor and demonstrate a serious interest in the subject.

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