SENIOR HONORS THESIS
Completion of a senior honors thesis is optional although highly
encouraged if students hope to pursue a graduate career in Anthropology
or other
related
disciplines. If you are
interested in pursuing a senior thesis, consult a faculty advisor
regarding the prerequisites and steps listed below and then submit this
form,
Tutorial Registration Form,
and submit it to the Anthropology Department Chair and the Department Administrator. You may also
use this form to register for independent studies, directed studies, or directed research in Anthropology (
ANTH 295,
ANTH 395, or
ANTH 397). Also, please keep the following
guidelines and timeline in mind:
I.
PRE-REQUISITES
1. Students must apply for the honors thesis sequence during their
junior year.
2. Eligible students must have at least a 3.5 GPA in anthropology.
3. Applications consist of a statement of the research project written
by the
student, and a statement agreeing to supervise the student written by a
full-time faculty member in anthropology.
4. Applications are submitted to the chair for approval or disapproval.
5. Approval is contingent on the students' satisfactory progress toward
completion of the degree AND the thesis, and if such progress is not
demonstrated, approval can be withdrawn based on the recommendation of
a
student's advisor or the Senior Honors Thesis Committee, and approval
of the
chair.
II.
FIRST SEMESTER SENIOR YEAR: ENROLL IN ANTH 395 - INDEPENDENT STUDY
1. Students enroll in an independent study (ANTH 395) with their
advisors.
2. The advisors and the students agree on goals for the semester.
3. The advisors and the students agree on an appropriate "summative
experience" for evaluation at the end of the semester (e.g., research
report, annotated bibliography, etc.).
4. Enrollment in ANTH 390 is contingent on successful completion of
ANTH
395.
III.
SECOND SEMESTER SENIOR YEAR: ENROLL IN ANTH 390 - HONORS
THESIS
1. A completed draft of the thesis, between 20 and 100 pages in length,
and
including all relevant tables, figures, maps, and references, must be
submitted
to the student's advisor and to two readers by the 8th week of the
semester.
2. The advisor and two readers have two weeks to read and comment on
the draft.
3. The readers and advisor assign one of the following grades to the
thesis:
pass
with distinction
pass
conditional
pass
no
pass
(B or better in ANTH 390 =
high honors)
4. In the event of a conditional pass or no pass, the person assigning
such a
grade must state IN WRITING his or her criticisms and suggestions. The
student
then is expected to make the recommended corrections.
5. In the event of a conditional pass, the advisor determines whether
the
student has met the conditions. The individual who made the conditions
may participate
in this process if he or she wishes, but is not obligated to do so
(i.e., a
reader need not read the thing again).
6. In the event of a "no pass," the advisor and whoever did not pass
the thesis must read the revised version in order to assign it a new
grade. If
the thesis is still not satisfactory for at least a conditional pass,
the
student is denied honors and does not pass the course.
7. By the end of the semester, the student must deposit the finished,
approved
copy of the thesis with signature page at the department office. This
copy must
be printed on 100% cotton fiber paper, and must follow the guidelines
for
dissertations and thesis determined by UMI.
IV.
DUTIES OF THE ADVISER
1. To ensure satisfactory progress toward completion of the thesis.
2. To ensure the thesis has a thesis.
3. To ensure a consistent, understandable citation style in the thesis.
4. To provide regular feedback to the student during the process of
writing and
researching the thesis.
5. To meet all the obligations of a reader.
V.
DUTIES OF THE TWO READERS
1. To promptly evaluate the quality of the thesis and assign a grade
(pass with
distinction, pass, conditional pass, no pass).
2. To make recommendations for revision, if necessary.
3. To ensure the thesis has a thesis.
4. To ensure a consistent, understandable citation style.
5. To read the thesis a second time if assigning a grade of no pass.
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and Minor Requirements
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