Honors Program
The Honors Program in Sociology offers students a unique opportunity to dive deep into original, independent research. Through a dynamic three-course sequence taken across their junior and senior years, students work closely with faculty mentors and a cohort of peers to:
- Design and develop their own research project
- Collect and analyze meaningful data
- Write and present a senior honors thesis that showcases their findings
This experience strengthens students鈥� research and writing skills and helps to prepare them for graduate study, policy work, and careers that demand analytical thinking and intellectual independence.
Honors Program Timeline (beginning AY 2025-2026)
In the Spring semester, Sociology majors with a 3.5 GPA or higher will be invited by the Department to apply to the Honors Program. Application deadlines will be set in advance of Fall course enrollment, so that admitted students can register for SOCY4931: Important Readings in Sociology.
Sociology majors who wish to apply to the honors program after their sophomore year should e-mail the Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss.聽
In the Fall, Junior honors students will enroll in SOCY4931: Important Readings in Sociology. Over the course of this semester, students will develop preliminary research proposals and will be paired with a faculty advisor by the end of the semester.
In the Spring, Junior honors students will enroll in SOCY4961: Senior Honors Thesis I and work independently with advisors to continue to fully develop their proposals and complete their literature review. Plans for data collection should also be developed during this semester. Students whose projects require IRB approval are expected to have IRB applications submitted by the end of the semester.聽
Seniors work will enroll in SOCY4963: Senior Honors Thesis II and work independently with advisors to complete data collection by the end of the semester. Some seniors may choose to complete their thesis this semester. Those who need additional time can re-enroll in SOCY4963: Senior Honors Thesis II for the spring of their senior year.聽
All honors theses are due in mid-April of students鈥� senior year. The Department will set a specific deadline and provide instructions for final submissions.聽
In May, all senior honors students will present posters of their thesis projects as part of the Sociology Department鈥檚 annual Honors and Awards ceremony.
Write an essay of not more than 500 words that states:
- Why you want to write a senior thesis
- What benefits you think you will get from participating in the honors programAsk one instructor in the sociology department to write a letter of referance on your behalf.
Email these materials to Professor Alyssa Goldman (alyssa.goldman@bc.edu) by October 1 of your junior year.
The Honors program can be linked with other university opportunities.
Projects undertaken as聽Advanced Study Grants聽can evolve into honors projects. Beginning in the summer after junior year, honors students with a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or higher may participate in the聽Scholar of the College聽program. Honors projects can also result in prestigious awards, such as the聽McCarthy Prize. Some honors students even聽publish聽their聽thesis聽work.