Honors Program for Sociology Majors

The Sociology Department is pleased to offer an honors track for high achieving departmental
majors. Those completing the program will have Graduation with Honors noted on their USC
College transcript.
The honors program is designed to provide students with an intensive seminar experience focused
on the completion of an in-depth independent research project and honors thesis.
All honors students will expand their sociological expertise by:
-- learning how to design and carry out an original research project
-- engaging in extensive reading of the relevant literature on their research topic and on the
process of scholarly research
-- conducting methodologically rich, hands-on social research of their chosen topic
-- and participating in wide-ranging and in-depth scholarly discussions with other students in
a collegial setting.
In addition to the professor teaching the honors courses, each student will seek an advisor with
expertise in the students research area to serve as a faculty mentor who will help guide the
research and writing of the honors thesis.
In the first semester course (SOCI 494), students will read and discuss material on developing a
research project, write a research proposal, begin the research project, and write a draft of their
research paper. In the second semester course (SOCI 495), students will continue reading, writing,
researching, and meeting to discuss sociological research methods and their research projects. At
the conclusion of the two-semester sequence, all students will complete their honors thesis and
publicly present their honors research.
The Sociology Honors Program is an exciting program for all students, and it is a particularly
enlightening program for those who wish to go on to graduate school in sociology or a related field,
as well as those whose future career will include the design and execution of independent research.

Eligibility Requirements for the Sociology Honors Program:

1. A cumulative overall GPA of 3.25 and a sociology GPA of 3.50. At least four sociology
courses completed. Introductory Sociology and GE sociology courses can be used to meet the four
course sociology GPA requirement.
2. Second semester Junior standing at the time of application, and the ability to take the two
honors courses in sequence the following (senior) year.
3. Students must complete two upper division classes -- Sociology 494 (Sociology Honors I)
and Sociology 495 (Sociology Honors II) -- in sequence. These two courses will take the place of
two theme area courses.
Soci 494 will only be offered in the Fall and 495 will only be offered in the Spring, with
Soci 494 a prerequisite for Soci 495. In addition, Soci 313, Research Methods, is a prerequisite for
the second semester course, Soci 495.
Those planning a December graduation date will ordinarily not be allowed to take the
honors courses. Rare exceptions -- to take the two courses in reverse order, or to take both courses
the year before they graduate -- will be considered by petition only.
4. A strong desire or motivation to participate in the program.

How to Apply
** The application deadline is April 10. **
Applicants must complete the attached application form and statement, and may be briefly
interviewed to assess their preparation and motivation to participate in the program.

Application for Sociology Honors Program

Name __________________________________________ Date __________________

Student ID# ___________________________

Email Address ___________________

Phone # ___________________________
Local Address __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Cumulative GPA _________ Sociology GPA _________ Total Units Completed ______
Date of expected graduation __________________
List Sociology Courses Completed (including Introductory Sociology and GE sociology courses
taken at USC such as 142, 150, 155, or 169)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

References: List two sociology professors with whom you have taken classes, and who may be
contacted to discuss your academic preparation.
_____________________________________________________________________

Statement
Please attach a brief, one- to two-paragraph statement outlining:
-- your interest in participating in the Honors Program,
-- your proposed potential topic(s) for your research and honors thesis,
-- and the name of one or two sociology professors whose research interests are
connected to your own, and who might serve as your adviser for your thesis.