Anthropology

Senior Guidelines

1. Senior Seminar

In general, senior anthropology majors are expected to take the senior seminar (ANTH 301) in the first semester of their senior year.

2. Optional Senior Thesis

A senior thesis is not a graduation requirement in the Anthropology Department. Ordinarily, students should have a GPA of 3.75 or above to propose a thesis.

  1. Thesis Proposal
    1. Thesis proposals and bibliographies should be handed in by May 15th for an A semester thesis, or the week after October break for a B semester thesis.
    2. The proposal should contain a succinct statement of the project, a discussion of the student’s preparation to undertake the thesis and a comprehensive bibliography.
    3. Petitions will be considered by the department as a whole.
  2. Approval
    The department will inform the student whether permission to write a senior thesis has been granted, and will be assigned a first and second faculty reader. The first reader will meet with the student regularly during the writing process.
  3. Writing Deadlines
    1. First draft of the thesis is due the Friday after mid-semester break.
    2. Final paper is due a week before classes end that same semester.

3. Honors Criteria

Students with a Departmental GPA of 3.75 or above and a Senior Thesis with Distinction automatically receive honors.

Students seeking Departmental Honors in Anthropology that do not meet these criteria may submit one outstanding work in Anthropology for consideration. Students must meet with their advisor to discuss an appropriate submission choice.

  • In awarding honors, the Anthropology Department considers the following criteria:

    1. GPA in Anthropology (3.75 or above).

    2. Grade distribution in Anthropology over time, with greater consideration of Junior and Senior Grades.

    3. Evaluation of one outstanding work in Anthropology.

    4. Evaluation of overall contribution to the Anthropology Department.

  • Submission process:

    1. A cover letter that details the work submitted, contextualizing it within the student’s education in Anthropology.

    2. One outstanding work in Anthropology:

      • Must be unrevised, precisely as originally submitted

      • Must have been written for a 300-level course.

    3. Materials are due on the last class day of the Spring semester.