(A) Why choose the Honours program in Anthropology or Sociology?

Honours is like a Major, but you specialize more (50% of your courses are in your discipline of concentration) and you need higher marks.

The Honours program suits many career goals. It is not only for aspiring anthropologists or sociologists. But if your plans do include postgraduate study in one of those fields, Honours is typically a must. Take Honours if you have four qualities: (1) you are committed to being a well-educated person; (2) you especially enjoy this subject; (3) you have strong academic ability; (4) you are ready to work intensively.

(B) Entering and completing the Honours program in Anthropology or Sociology

Total credits needed. The entire B.A. Honours degree requires 120 credits, which include: (a) the 42 credits of the four-year B.A. core; (b) 18 credits of free electives; and (c) 60 credits in your specialty subject (as specified below, for Anthropology and for Sociology respectively.) Note that certain Anthropology and Sociology courses also satisfy parts of the core and, when selecting courses, you should discuss this opportunity with your faculty advisors in the Department.

Planning and consulting. As soon as you finish your introductory (AN/S 110), start choosing courses to suit your long-range goals, and consult your professors. However, you must complete half your B.A. program (60 credits) before you are eligible to apply to switch into Honours. Before you apply, meet with the chair of the Department to organize the procedure.

Acceptance into Honours, halfway through your degree. To switch into the Honours program, you need: (a) a 65 average in each of your first two years (across all courses in all subjects, totalling 60 credits); and (b) for Anthropology Honours, 70 in each ANTH and AN/S course taken in that period, or for Sociology Honours, 70 in each AN/S and SOCO course taken in that period. (See “Exception,” below.)

Completing the second half of the degree. To graduate with Honours, you also need: (a) a 70 average in each of your final two years (across all courses in all subjects, totalling another 60 credits); and (b) for Anthropology Honours,75 in each ANTH and AN/S course taken in that period, or for Sociology Honours, 75 in each AN/S and SOCO course taken in that period. (See “Exception,” below.)

Exception. Suppose you have a mark lower than the 70 or 75 stipulated above for AN/S, ANTH, or SOCO courses. Are you then blocked from doing Honours? Not necessarily. You can still count such a course toward your degree (e.g., as an elective or, where appropriate, in the B.A. core), but not as part of your Anthropology or Sociology specialty.

The entire degree in Honours Anthropology requires a total of 120 credits, which include: (a) the 42 credits of the four-year B.A. core; (b) 18 credits of free electives; and (c) 60 credits in ANTH and/or AN/S as follows.

1. 6 cr Introductory. AN/S 110 or equivalent.

2. 6 cr Research Methods. AN/S 266 or 268. You are encouraged to take both, but 266 is typically the top priority for anthropologists.

3. 6 cr Theory. ANTH 302.

4. 12 cr Subfield(s) other than general sociocultural. For example: AN/S 220; ANTH 205, 207, 208, 304, 372.

5. 6 cr 400-level Honours thesis course (ANTH or AN/S 490).

6. 6 cr 400-level in ANTH and/or AN/S besides the Honours thesis.

7. 12 cr 300-level besides 302. May include courses in the “Subfields” category (above). May replace some of this 300-level category with additional 400-level credits.

8. 6 cr Unspecified ANTH and/or AN/S electives at any level (200 or above).

(D) Courses required for Honours in SOCIOLOGY

The entire degree in Honours Sociology requires a total of 120 credits, which include: (a) the 42 credits of the four-year B.A. core; (b) 18 credits of free electives; and (c) 60 credits in AN/S and/or SOCO as follows.

1. 6 cr Introductory. AN/S 110 or equivalent.

2. 6 cr Research Methods. AN/S 266 or 268. You are encouraged to take both. For graduate school in Sociology, typically you must have 268 (Quantitative).

3. 6 cr Theory. SOCO 306.

4. 6 cr 400-level Honours thesis course (AN/S or SOCO 490).

5. 6 cr 400-level in AN/S and/or SOCO besides the Honours thesis.

6. 12 cr 300-level besides 306. May replace some of this 300-level category with additional 400-level credits.

7. 18 cr Unspecified ANTH and/or AN/S electives at any level (200 or above).