Senior Thesis Program

UCSD distinguishes between Latin Honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, suma cum laude), based entirely on grade point average, and English honors (with honor, with high honor, with highest honor), awarded by departments. In anthropology both GPA and the quality of a student's senior thesis are taken into consideration in awarding English honors.

Students are admitted to the Senior Thesis Program by invitation of the faculty at the end of the junior year. Under normal circumstances, a student student must (1) have completed eight upper-division anthropolgy courses, including the core sequence, and (2) have achieved grade point averages of at least 3.6 both overall and in the anthropology major. Potentially qualifying students are invited to convey their interest to the undergraduate faculty adviser or undergraduate coordinator.

The senior thesis is prepared during two successive quarters of a major's senior year, and is counted as two of the twelve upper-division courses required for a degree.

During the first quarter of the program (fall quarter), students select their research topic and write a preliminary paper. Those who receive a B+ or better are invited work with a faculty member to complete a thesis on the chosen topic by the end of winter quarter.

Each thesis is evaluated by a faculty committee. The thesis adviser has the sole responsibility for the grade the student receives in the winter quarter, but the reading committee advises the faculty on the merit of the thesis for departmental honors.

Students who wish to be considered for the Senior Thesis Program should notify the department's undergraduate adviser or coordinator by the second week of the spring quarter prior to the senior year. A senior thesis is required in order to be considered for Department Honors at graduation.