DEPARTMENT of ANTHROPOLOGY, ECONOMICS & POLITICAL SCIENCE
Anthropology Honours
Take your interest in anthropology to the next level. Conduct original research under the mentorship and supervision of a faculty member. Acquire the knowledge, critical thinking skills and research experience needed for graduate schools.
As an Honours student, you undertake an extended independent research and writing project that culminates in the presentation of an honours thesis, which includes sharing your insights with fellow students, faculty and interested members of the public.
In addition to the experience and skills you acquire through undertaking an extended independent research and writing project, an Honours program allows for a deeper exploration of anthropological theory and methods. You may choose an optional minor and still take a greater number of courses from within anthropology than you would in the major.
Graduating with Honours is recorded as a permanent notation on your transcripts and degree parchment. The Honours designation demonstrates evidence of skills suited to admission to a graduate program and/or into a professional career.
Courses and requirements
The Honours program in anthropology is available to selected students in the Bachelor of Arts. Courses in the discipline are only one component of the requirements you need to graduate. Consult the academic calendar for the year you are accepted into the Honours program for a complete list of requirements.
Admission to the Honours program
Normally, you will apply to the Honours program at the end of your second year or when you have approximately four more semesters to complete prior to graduation. It is also possible to apply to the Honours program when entering your final year of study if you have completed sufficient credits in anthropology to prepare you for the program.
Meeting with the Honours advisor will help to answer your questions—and provide specific advice about course planning, application requirements, expectations, possible ‘fits’ for potential supervisors, and information about the program and our faculty.
Aside from the formal requirements for acceptance into an Honours discipline, you must find a faculty member within the department who is willing to supervise your work as an Honours student. You should begin to investigate research topics and meet informally with faculty and staff to get an idea of what types of research faculty members are involved in and who you might be interested in working with.
You must propose a viable research project and identify a faculty supervisor with your application to the Honours program.
The deadline for application to the Honours program in anthropology is April 30.
Submit your application via email to the Honours advisor. Include in the body of the email:
- Your contact information
- Your student number
- A statement of interest (not exceeding one page) that outlines why you want to be an honours student
- A description of your research interests
- The name(s) of faculty member(s) who have agreed to supervise your honours project
You will be notified by May 15 with a decision regarding your application. If accepted, you can anticipate that Honours status will appear in myStudentSystem at the beginning of the next Fall term.
Not all students who meet the minimum criteria will be accepted into the program. Acceptance is based on academic performance, GPA, course experience and the availability of a suitable supervisor. Because the Honours program is an intensive course of study, involving a significant amount of one-on-one interaction with a faculty supervisor and access to departmental resources, we will only accept a limited number of students into the program. Decisions made by the department regarding acceptance to this program are not subject to appeal.
Honours advising
Consult the Honours Advisor for more information on the selection process and what to expect in the program or to submit your application to the Honours program in anthropology.
Katie Biittner, Honours Advisor
biittnerk@macewan.ca
780-633-3212