Honors Thesis

Seniors majoring in anthropology may apply for the honors program during the first two weeks of the fall semester. In addition to securing a faculty sponsor, a second reader, and department approval, the student must have a 3.25 overall grade point average and a 3.60 grade point average in the major. The program involves independent research conducted in Anthropology 483, 484. Honors normally will be taken for six to eight credits over two semesters, and the final product will be a thesis of 50 to 70 pages of superior quality. Successful thesis projects also require an oral defense to the department (to be scheduled toward the end of the second semester). NB, the honors thesis does not substitute for the senior seminar capstone experience; it is however, a terrific way to deepen your exploration of anthropology and to prepare for future independent research either in graduate studies or in a professional field.

            Application for honors should be initiated in the spring of the junior year; students interested in the honors program are encouraged to consult with a member of the department faculty as early as possible. A formal proposal must be submitted to the department for approval prior to the end of the add period in the first semester of your senior year. This proposal should be 4-5 pages long and should explain the focus of the research you will do, the core questions you are asking, why the topic is anthropologically interesting/relevant, and how you will go about collecting the data you need. In addition, the proposal should include a preliminary bibliography of sources that will contribute to your research. It is a good idea to start working on this proposal before classes begin. Acceptance in the honors program is probationary for the first semester at the end of which the supervisor in consultation with the department will determine whether or not there has been sufficient progress to continue for the second semester.

            Honors thesis projects can be library or archival research based, or they may involve original fieldwork. Students who wish to undertake fieldwork that requires travel (e.g., in January) or who expect to have other research-related expenses can apply for a Goldfarb Center Student Research Grant (for applications go to http://www.colby.edu/academics_cs/goldfarb/programs/funding/index.cfm). Deadlines for applications are early in the fall and spring terms. On the advice of your supervisor, the project may also require IRB (ethics review) approval.