WRITING A SENIOR HONORS THESIS
2011-2012 Department of Sociology
We invite eligible sociology concentrators who are going into their senior year in Fall 2011 to
write a seniors thesis. This is an opportunity for students to follow their intellectual passion; to
get a feel of what it is like to conduct an independent research project while being mentored by a
faculty member; and to learn about a sociologically significant topic or problem.
FAQS
Who can write a Senior Thesis?
You must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and 3.3 in Sociology.
What does writing a senior honors thesis involve?
You will conduct independent research and study under a faculty advisor on a sociological topic
of your choice. You will write a thesis (usually 40-60 pages in length) and you will present and
defend your thesis to a committee of departmental faculty. The first draft of the thesis will be due
in March 2012 and the oral examination will be scheduled in April 2012.
What are the steps to registering for senior honors thesis work?
The first step is to discuss your plans with a faculty member who agrees to serve as your thesis
advisor. You should also be in contact with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Cati
Connell, to inform her of your intention to apply for thesis work.
Once you and your advisor have agreed on a basic plan, you should fill in the following
application:
http://www.bu.edu/cas/pdfs/undergraduate/independent_work_application.pdf
Applications can also be picked up at the CAS advising office, 725 Comm. Ave room 105.
You should complete the first three pages of the application, and your thesis advisor must
complete the fourth page (reference sheet). You should deliver the application to the Sociology
Department office so that it can be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the
Chair. Once approved, the application must turned in to CAS Advising in Room 105 (725
Comm. Ave.). They will make sure that everything is filled in, and add it to your schedule.
What is the deadline for applying?
Deadline for application is May 15th. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of
the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
What are the senior honors courses for which I need to register?
In Fall 2011: you will register for a 4 credit course, SO 400 (Sociology Practicum). This is a
course that will bring together all sociology seniors who are engaged in writing a senior honors
thesis. It will be taught by the Director of Undergraduate Studies and it will focus on helping
you focus your topic, identify relevant sociological literature, create a strong research design, and
get your research approved by the Institutional Review Board. In addition, you will register for
a 2 credit independent study course with your primary thesis advisor who will continue to work
with you on specific details of your project.
In Spring 2012: You will register for a 4 credit course, SO 402 (Honors thesis). This will
consist of independent study under the primary supervision of your thesis advisor, culminating in
the final draft of the thesis and the oral examination.
How does senior honors thesis work impact my sociology course requirements?
You may substitute SO 400 (Sociology Practicum) for one of the two required seminars for
graduation in the major. SO 400 can also fulfill one of the ten courses required for the sociology
major.
What grades do I need to receive for SO 400 and SO 402 in order to graduate with
honors in sociology?
In the Fall semester course SO 400 (Sociology Practicum), you need to receive a grade of B or
higher in order to continue into SO 402.. In the Spring semester, you need a grade of B+ or
higher for SO 402 (which includes the oral examination and thesis defense).
What happens if I decide, after taking SO 400 in the Fall, that I don’t want to finish
the thesis process? Or I receive less than a B for SO 400?
SO 400-402 is intended to be a year-long course of study with the goal of completing a senior
honors thesis. However, after consulting with relevant faculty, you may choose to discontinue
after taking SO 400. If you have received a grade of C+ or higher in SO 400, you can apply SO
400 towards sociology requirements.
Who should I talk to if I have more questions?
You can talk to your faculty advisor in sociology and the Director of Undergraduate Studies. For
administrative questions, contact Sara Townsend (stown@bu.edu), Undergraduate Program
Coordinator in Sociology.