Sociology majors graduating with Distinction must complete Departmental Honors based on the following requirements and timeline.
Application Process
Student Responsibilities
• April 15th of Junior Year:
Submit to the Department Chair a letter of intent including your working research question, preliminary list of references and a brief discussion of the theories and body of research you will initially consult.
Select a faculty member, in consultation with the Department Chair, to advise your Honors Essay.
• Summer between Junior & Senior Year:
Remain in consultation with your Honors Essay Advisor regarding your review of the literature.
• September of Senior Year:
Submit revised research question, theoretical framework, and working list of references to the Department Chair.
It is the Chair’s responsibility to distribute this document to members of the department. Departmental members will have the opportunity to offer suggestions regarding the completion of the project. If a majority of the department feels the project is significantly lacking in focus and progress, the Chair will inform the student that they may not continue working toward Departmental Honors.
• January 15th of Senior Year:
A completed draft of the Honors Essay must be turned into the faculty advisor.
The Faculty Advisor will distribute the Honors Essay to members of the department. Departmental members will have the opportunity to offer suggestions regarding the completion of the final project. If a majority of the department feels the project is significantly lacking in focus and progress, the Chair will inform the student that they may not continue working toward Departmental Honors.
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•March 15th of Senior Year:
A final copy of the Honors Essay and completed Honors Portfolio must be turned into the faculty advisor. The Honors Portfolio will be made available to all department members in preparation for the oral presentation. The oral presentation and departmental vote regarding the awarding of Departmental Honors will take place before April 1st. The original portfolio will remain in department files and will be used for assessment purposes.
The faculty advisor will be responsible for scheduling the oral presentation.
Advisor Responsibilities
The Honors Advisor will help the candidate focus on the topic and scope of the essay, as well as assist them as they navigate the appropriate scholarly literature. It is expected that this assistance will include regular meetings and review of the student’s progress. The Advisor will also make sure the candidate understands the process and the deadlines listed above. If the candidate falls significantly behind in the process, it is the advisor’s responsibility to notify the Department Chair.
Upon completion of the draft of the Honors Essay in January, the Faculty Advisor will distribute the essay to each member of the department in order to solicit comments and suggestions for the final draft. It is the Faculty Advisor’s responsibility to help the student interpret the faculty suggestions and determine the appropriate course of action. If a majority of faculty members determine that the student has not met the expectations of the project, the Faculty Advisor will contact the Chair in order to call a department meeting to discuss whether the candidate will be allowed to proceed.
When the final draft of the Honors Essay and Portfolio are complete, the Advisor shall make them available to the faculty and schedule an oral presentation prior to April 1st.
Department Chair Responsibilities
The Chair will solicit faculty for recommendations of students eligible for Departmental Honors early each spring semester.
The Chair will notify department members when a candidate has filled out the application for Departmental Honors in April. The Chair will also consult with the student in order to find the most suitable advisor for the project.
When the Chair receives the revised research question, theoretical framework, and working list of references in September, they will distribute copies to sociology faculty members. The Chair will also ensure that the candidate and Faculty Advisor are advised of the suggestions offered by faculty members.
If at any point during the timetable listed above the majority of the department feels the project is significantly lacking in focus and progress, a meeting must be called to make a final determination. If it is determined that the candidate has failed to reach the expectations of the faculty, the Chair will inform the student that they may not continue working toward Departmental Honors.
Requirements
I. Achievement of a 3.5 GPA or higher in the major and 3.5 or higher GPA overall at the time of application and through graduation. Any exceptions must be approved by the Department.
II. Successful completion of an internship, independent study, approved service learning, co-operative education experience, or international experience.
This learning experience outside the traditional classroom is an important component of distinctive work by the student. Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to work independently in one of these venues and to build upon previous course work in their learning products.
III. Submission of an Honors Portfolio of completed papers and projects that must include:
1.The Signed Departmental Honors Application
2.The Honors Essay: Issues in the Profession of Sociology (fall senior year)
3.Educational Autobiography (extended version completed in Seminar)
4.Essay: “What is Sociology?” (extended version completed in Seminar)
5.Fall transcript
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6.Paper and Critical Reflection in the following areas:
a.Paper that demonstrates substantial knowledge and application of sociological theory (preferably SOC 485)
b.Research methods (SOC 363) project demonstrating original primary research
c.Internship or independent study paper documenting thinking outside the normal curriculum but also linking previous coursework with the independent learning,
d.Two additional papers or projects (e.g. video of a speech or presentation) of the student's choosing which he or she feels represent outstanding work in sociology
7. Documentation of external presentation of sociological work
Detailed Requirements
1. The Profession of Sociology and Status of the Discipline (Honors Essay)
In this new work, students select a topic of importance within the profession of sociology. In order help the student determine his or her own professional identity, the student will examine of an issue of debate, controversy, or critical significance to the profession of sociology based on in-depth readings determined by the student and advisor. The candidate must demonstrate critical and evaluative thinking in which he or she takes a position on an issue and provides support and evidence for that argument as a sociologist. The paper should be 15 pages of text and should exemplify quality writing, high level critical thinking, and understanding of an important topic. The Honors Essay piece should stand alone as an example of written work, critical thinking and depth of understanding of the field of sociology.
Our expectations are that this written piece be a thoughtful and convincing document which demonstrates synthesis of the curriculum in sociology and additional outside reading and reflection. The developmental process of the essay should help the student think through what the sociology major means for them, our discipline, and for their future plans.
2. What is the candidate's understanding of the sociological perspective?
It is important that extraordinary students in sociology be able to step outside individual courses and look at the discipline as a whole. The goal in this portion of the Honors Portfolio is for the candidate to be able to demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of the discipline, its core contributions and limitations, and to be able to synthesize a critical analysis (in the Bloom’s taxonomy sense) of the nature of the substance of sociology. Students will complete this 8-10 page essay “What is Sociology?” during the Senior Seminar, with additional readings required. The Honors advisor will also guide the candidate through the additional work.
3. Educational autobiography.
The student will write an 8-10 page sociological analysis of their educational journey demonstrating their critical reflection on the link between history and biography and applying the sociological imagination to their own lives. (Completed during Senior Seminar with additional readings and expectations.)
4. Critical Reflections.
For each of the additional papers in the portfolio covering central topics and development over time, the student should write a two page critical reflection of their work.
• What did you learn about sociology by completing this work?
• How do you now see this work fitting into the broader picture of your sociological education?
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•What do you now see as strengths and weaknesses of the work?
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•How might this work connect to interests in the future?
5. Outside Presentation
Students completing Honors are further required to make a presentation of his or her academic work in some venue outside the course; e.g. Zyzzogeton, Sociologists of Minnesota meetings or paper competition, Midwest Sociological Society, or the American Sociological Association or as agreed to by the Department.
Evaluation
Written approval of the Honors Portfolio must be granted by a majority of the Department in order to receive the Departmental Honors/Graduation with Distinction designation. In addition, the honors candidate will meet with the Department faculty to discuss the portfolio prior to securing written approval.
The Department will evaluate both the portfolio as a whole and the Honors Essay. The criteria for judgment will center on: 1) quality of writing and oral presentation, 2) evidence of critical thinking at the analysis, synthesis and evaluation stages applied to individual pieces and to the discipline as a whole, 3) demonstration of knowledge of sociological ideas and the sociological perspective, 4) indication of personal development of a identity as a sociologist.
Evaluation of the Honors Portfolio must be complete prior to April 1st.
