University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Curriculum Proposal Form #4A
Change in an Existing Course
Type of Action (check all that apply)
Course Revision (include course description & former and new syllabus)
Contact Hour Change and or Credit Change
Diversity Option
General Education Option
area: Select one: *
Grade Basis
Repeatability Change
Other:
* Note:
For the Gen Ed option, the proposal should address how this course relates to specific core courses, meets the goals of General
Education in providing breadth, and incorporates scholarship in the appropriate field relating to women and gender.
Effective Term: 2103 (Summer 2010)
Current Course Number (subject area and 3-digit course number): SOCIOLGY 499
Current Course Title:
SENIOR HONORS
Sponsor(s):
Leda Nath and Diane Soles
Department(s):
Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
College(s):
Letters and Sciences
List all programs that are affected by this change:
Sociology Honors Emphasis
If programs are listed above, will this change affect the Catalog and Advising Reports for those
programs? If so, have Form 2's been submitted for each of those programs?
(Form 2 is necessary to provide updates to the Catalog and Advising Reports)
NA
Yes
Proposal Information:
I.
They will be submitted in the future
(Procedures for form #4A)
Detailed explanation of changes (use FROM/TO format)
FROM:
SOCIOLGY 499
1-3 u
Provides opportunity for selected students to work with special topics in
the field of sociology under the direction of one or more members of
the staff.
[Not repeatable]
TO:
SOCIOLGY 499 2 u
1
The senior honors thesis is a unique requirement of the Honors Emphasis major
which is designed to recognize a student’s exceptional dedication and ability.
Students will complete a substantial research project in their senior year. Results
must be written up as a thesis, presented in a seminar, and defended orally.
Repeatable:
No of times in major:
No of times in degree:
II.
2
2
No of credits in major:
No of credits in degree:
4
4
Justification for action
The Honors Emphasis major in Sociology was developed with three primary goals in
mind:
1) To provide an appropriate and rigorous training for students interested in
applying to graduate programs with an emphasis on research experience.
2) To provide a challenging emphasis for ambitious students wishing to obtain a
degree that recognizes their exceptional dedication and/or abilities (i.e. preprofessional students).
4) To enable our graduates to be more competitive in the job market.
The senior honors thesis is an essential and unique requirement for the honors
program which seeks to extend the learning objectives of the current Sociology
emphases. The principal goal of the program is to train our better students more
thoroughly so they can more often enter, and succeed in, highly competitive
professional and graduate programs. The main learning objective is to produce
students with strong research, analytical and presentation skills.
The current SOCIOLGY 499 is being modified to meet the needs of students in the
new Honors Emphasis major who must write a thesis, present it in a seminar and
defend it orally.
III.
Syllabus/outline (if course revision, include former syllabus and new syllabus)
There is no set syllabus for either the current SOCIOLGY 499 or the proposed revised
course since each student will work individually with his/ her mentor on unique
projects.
However, all students enrolled in this course will take two credits in the first semester
(typically Fall semester of the senior year) and another two credits in the second
2
semester (typically the following Spring semester). A research proposal must be
developed and written up by the middle of the first semester. This proposal must be
approved by the thesis supervisor and a second faculty member from the Sociology,
Anthropology & CJ department to certify it to be feasible, and that the student is
adequately prepared for the task. Results of the project must be written up as a thesis,
presented in a seminar, and defended orally in front of the thesis supervisor and two
additional faculty members by the end of the second semester.
Example Syllabus (both semesters):
SOCIOLOGY 499 SENIOR HONORS THESIS
INTRODUCTION
Through this course, you will work one-on-one for two consecutive semesters with your
thesis mentor to answer a research question of your interest by studying, designing, and
completing a research thesis from beginning to end. Your thesis proposal will be
evaluated mid-semester one, and final research project defended by the end of
semester two as well as presented in a seminar to an open audience.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To demonstrate:
(1) Inquiry and analysis and synthesis of information
(2) Critical and creative thinking
(3) Written and oral communication
(4) Information and Quantitative literacy
TEXT
Writing for Social Scientists: How to Finish your Thesis, Book, or Article, by Howard S.
Becker (2007).
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Social Research Methods (Sixth Edition), by W. L. Neuman (2006).
Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences (Sixth Edition), by Bruce L. Berg
(2007)
Data Analysis: An Introduction, By Michael Lewis-Beck (1995)
EXAMPLE CALENDAR FOR SEMESTER 1*:
Weeks 1: Refining a Research Topic and Question
Weeks 2-4: Focused Literature Review
Weeks 5: Finalizing the Proposition and Hypothesis
Weeks 6-7: Thesis Basics and Writing
Week 8: Defending the Thesis
Week 9-11: Revisions and Research Planning (e.g., data collection)
Week 12-16: Data collection
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*This semester follows SOC 498R Independent Study during junior year where students
will explore literature to consider different areas and topics of research.
EXAMPLE CALENDAR FOR SEMESTER 2:
Weeks 1-2: Data Analyses Instruction
Weeks 3-4: Data Analyses
Weeks 5-6: Writing Methods Section
Weeks 7: Learning Tables
Weeks 8-9: Writing Analyses Section
Week 10-11: Writing Conclusion Section
Week 12: Review of final draft.
Weeks 13-14: Learning about the scientific community (e.g., submitting the paper to a
student or local conference).
Week 15-16: Final Thesis Defense and Public Presentation
GRADING
Grades are based on individual performance.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Sociology Department Main Office: WT 428 Phone: 262-472-1133
Department office hours are Mon. through Fri., 9:00am-4:30pm (closed for lunch). The
Department Executive Officer (AKA: Chair) is Professor Ron Berger.
REQUIRED UNIVERSITY STATEMENT
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and nondiscriminatory learning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and
graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special
Accommodations, Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and
Absence for University Sponsored Events. (For details, please refer to the
Undergraduate and Graduate Timetables; the “Rights and Responsibilities” section of
the undergraduate Bulletin; the Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities
and Services sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and the “Student Academic Disciplinary
Procedures” [UWS Chapter 14]; and the “Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures”
[UWS Chapter 17]).
PEOPLE WITH ONE OR MORE DISABILITIES
If you are a student that needs special accommodations, it is your responsibility to
contact the Center for Students With Disabilities office on campus immediately to
complete the necessary paperwork. Please provide the paperwork to your instructor
within the first week of classes to avoid any special accommodation delays.
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