Undergraduate Program

Anthropology Honors Program

Director, Kamran Ali, Assistant Professor
EPS 1.130, 512-471-7531, asdar@mail.utexas.edu

The Honors Program in Anthropology aims to provide ambitious students the opportunity to do independent research in the form of a senior thesis. It is a two-semester program with two semesters of independent research and writing under the supervision of a faculty member and the completion of a thesis.

Since the program consists of two full semesters students should apply during the early fall of their junior year. The Undergraduate Advising Office in EPS 1.130 will have application materials and deadline information. Those considering the honors program may consult with the Director or the Advising Office in their freshman or sophomore years for advice about preparation and scheduling. We encourage interested students to take upper division courses and seminars as soon their schedule and background permit.

I. Eligibility for Honors Program

We choose participants based on their writing sample, strength of background, commitment, and grades.

Requirements to apply:

• Minimum UT GPA of 3.0 Anthropology GPA of 3.5 or better
• Upper-division standing
• A strong interest in anthropology as demonstrated by previous coursework
• Recommendation from an anthropology professor willing to supervise the thesi
• Consent of the Honors Advisor for the Department of Anthropology

DOUBLE MAJORS, STUDY ABROAD, TRANSFERS, ETC.

• Transfer students may apply.
• Students interested in honors and studying abroad should consult with the honors director.
• Students hoping to do honors programs in two different majors (e.g., Government and Anthropology) need to write two separate theses or seek departmental honors in only one of their two majors.
• Plan II majors seeking "Special Honors in Anthropology" through the Anthropology Honors Program, should apply to the program and, once accepted, meet with the Plan II advisors to review procedures and options.

II. Program Coursework — The Anthropology Honors Program consists of:

SENIOR YEAR

Fall - ANT 679HA Honors Tutorial Course (senior thesis, first semester)
Spring - ANT 679HB Honors Tutorial Course (senior thesis, second semester)

Each honors student researches and writes a senior thesis during the fall and spring semesters following ANT 347L. That work will be supervised by a Anthropology faculty advisor. The thesis must be based on the student's independent and original research in primary as well as secondary sources. It is usually between 60 and 120 pages in length and must earn a grade of "A" or "B" to qualify the student for "Special Honors in Anthropology" upon graduation.

The faculty thesis advisor and a second reader grade each thesis. The second reader is usually an Anthropologist whose field is related to that of the thesis. In some cases, in which another discipline is involved, the second reader may be a member of another department. The honors director, the thesis advisor, and the student work out a timetable for completing the various stages of the work so that the thesis can be submitted a month prior to the end of the spring semester. Failure to complete the requirements by applicable deadlines will keep the student from graduating and/or receiving certain honors.

Anthropology 679HA and 679HB are additional requirements beyond the 30 hours required for the major.

NOTE FROM HONORS DIRECTOR: We encourage students enrolled in the Honors Program to take other undergraduate seminar type courses in their field of interest. They provide valuable background and writing experience.

III. Final requirements at graduation

To earn "Special Honors in Anthropology" a student must complete:

• Maintain UT GPA of 3.0 or better Maintain anthropology GPA of 3.5 or better
• Complete ANT 679 HA(Honors Tutorial Course: Readings), with a grade of "A"
• Complete ANT 679 HB (Honors Tutorial Course: Thesis), with a grade of "A", and satisfactory performance on a comprehensive oral examination centered on the thesi
• Complete at least sixty hours of coursework at UT counting towards the degree

Failure to meet all requirements will not keep a student from graduating, but the student would not receive "Special Honors in Anthropology."

Download an Honors Program Application (PDF, 86K)