Senior Honors Thesis Program
The Honors
Thesis program provides an opportunity for qualified students to complete original and independent research
under the mentorship of a faculty thesis advisor.
It is a year long program which may begin in either fall or spring
semester of the senior year. Normally, the first semester is spent in formulation of the
topic, theoretical/literary exploration and research, methodological development, and primary data collection/research/analysis; the second semester is spent writing the thesis, submitting
drafts to both readers for critical comments and suggestions, and polishing
the final thesis.
Although there is no specific length requirement, a typical undergraduate Honors Thesis contains 50-100 pages of text, a bibliography, and often illustrations and tables. To get a sense of what is expected, take a look at undergraduate theses on file in the Anthropology Library (Pathfinder Quick Search. Notes/Table of Contents keyword: senior thesis. Location: ANTH.)
Requirements
• Overall UC GPA must be 3.3 or higher at time of application and when beginning the thesis.
• Major GPA must be 3.5 or higher at time of application and when beginning the thesis. Note: The major GPA is based solely on courses
completed at Berkeley.
• A minimum of 8 upper division units in Anthropology courses taken at UCBerkeley completed at time of application with no fewer than 8 additional upper division units in Anthropology courses in progress (to total a minimum of 16 units completed before beginning the thesis).
•Anthropology 114 and
the method requirement must be completed, or in progress, by the semester you submit the thesis application. If in progress, they must be completed before the semester you begin the thesis program.
• Well designed research proposal that has the sponsorship of an Anthopology faculty member.
• No Incompletes on record at time of application and when beginning the thesis. All incomplete grades must be resolved before a student can submit an application for the thesis program. This includes incompletes that have been given an extension of time--work must be finished on all incompletes before a student will be considered/accepted into the thesis program.
Getting Started
Your first priority is settling on a general topic and a particular faculty
advisor. If you are unsure which faculty member in the Anthropology Department might best help you, consult with the undergraduate adviser (Mary Howell). Prepare a brief thesis proposal--a statement of the research question and your plan of action including a discussion of the research methods you will employ. Visit your prospective thesis advisor with your proposal in hand and ask if he or she is able to sponsor you. If the response is "yes," then the subsequent process is largely up to you and your thesis advisor. If the answer is "no" (the faculty member may be on leave the coming year, unable to commit the time that you and your project merit, etc.), meet with additional faculty until you find sponsorship.
In addition to the sponsorship of an Anthropology professor as thesis
advisor, the honors program requires you to have a second faculty sponsor, commonly referred to as the second reader. The second reader is only required to read and comment on a near-final version of the thesis, but may chose to play a greater role. The second reader may be a professor from
another department if approved by the Anthropology thesis advisor. Discuss with your thesis adviser who would make a good reader for your project, and arrange to meet with prospective reader(s). If they agree to work with you and your thesis advisor, you are ready to complete the thesis application. NOTE:
It is recommended that the student find out early that both readers agree
on the same research methodology and range of required readings, that
the project is not too large to be completed in two semesters, and that
both readers be available (not on sabbatical or leave) for both semesters.
Once you obtain sponsorship from an Anthropology faculty member and a second reader, pick up an Honors Thesis Application from the undergraduate adviser in 209 Kroeber. When the application is complete (with signatures of Advisor and Reader), bring it to the Undergraduate Office for a course control
number (CCN) for H195A. (H195B--in the second semester--requires a new
CCN.) The honor coursework (H195A and H195B) can count as 2 of the 5 elective
requirements for the major. NOTE: Anthropology H195A and H195B are independent study courses; there is no instruction or class time involved. All the work for the thesis and these 2 courses is done independently.
Application Time Line
•February
of Junior Year (Fall/Spring thesis);
September of Junior/Senior Year (Spring/Fall thesis): Prepare brief thesis proposal and meet with prospective thesis adviser(s). Get consent of a faculty member of the Anthropology Department to serve as your sponsor. Discuss the project, appropriate methodology and research methods, and preparation of sample bibliography with faculty sponsor.
•April of Junior Year (F/SP); November (SP/F): The thesis application form,signed by both the faculty adviser and second reader, due to the Undergraduate Advising Office.
Level of Honors
Only work of high caliber will qualify for graduation with Honors on the
diploma. The criteria for determination of the level of Honors are the
quality and originality of the thesis, as well as the student's performance
in coursework. The Honors categories are: Honors, High Honors, or Highest
Honors. If the thesis is not of the quality expected a student may receive
course credit only. The College will not award Honors on the diploma if
the student does not maintain the required 3.5 GPA in the major and 3.3
overall.
