Mar 29, 2025  
Undergraduate Catalog | 2024-2025 
    
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Undergraduate Catalog | 2024-2025

Sociology, Honors Program

The B.A. in Sociology with Honors is the highest accolade UNC Charlotte Sociology undergraduates can receive.  The Honors Program aims to identify, encourage, nurture, and recognize students with exceptional analytical, creative, and communicative skills.  The program stresses guided, but self-directed, independent study and each Honors student is assisted and evaluated by a faculty committee.  The Sociology Honors program is great preparation for post baccalaureate/graduate training, and a stellar addition to a student’s resume.  This distinction attests to a candidate’s exemplary grade point average in their major, the completion of honors coursework, as well as the successful defense of a substantial undergraduate thesis.  Following successful completion, the honors notation will appear on a student’s official transcript.  For further information, interested students should consult with the Department Chair or Undergraduate Coordinator.

All program-level Admissions and Progression Requirements are in addition to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Admission Requirements .

Admission Requirements

Current UNC Charlotte Undergraduate Students

Admission to the Honors Program may be initiated by the student or by any faculty member of the Department of Sociology on behalf of the student.  Minimum eligibility criteria include:

  • See University Admission Requirements  
  • An overall GPA of 3.2 or above; this standard must be maintained throughout the period of participation in the Honors Program
  • A GPA of 3.5 or above in all Sociology courses; this standard must be maintained throughout the period of participation in the Honors Program
  • Completion of at least 30, but not more than 90, credit hours at the time participation in the Honors Program begins (determined by the start date of the student’s first Honors Program regularly scheduled course or independent study)
  • Completion and submission of the Honors Program application form to the Undergraduate Coordinator

Progression Requirements

Successful Honors Program candidates will complete at least 9 credit hours of Honors coursework (which count toward the 120 credit hours required for graduation).  Specific requirements are:

  • Complete at least one Honors course (3 credit hours), in addition to SOCY 3798 and SOCY 3799 (described below)
  • Courses may be SOCY Honors courses or HONR courses that are open to departmental honors students
  • Students must take SOCY 3798  to conduct preliminary research and writing
    • Students must submit a comprehensive report of their progress in the preliminary research and must take SOCY 3799  the following semester to complete and defend their thesis
  • Complete SOCY 3799  based on a proposal approved by the student’s Honors Committee; the thesis must meet the following criteria:
    • An original research project examining a sociological issue
    • Include both secondary and primary research
    • Follow traditional scholarly research structure with chapters appropriate to the research method and context
    • At least 25 and not more than 75 pages; double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins
    • Compliant with an appropriate scholarly writing style
    • Orally defended
    • In accordance with the policies of the Honors College, A is the required grade for the Honors Thesis Research Course

  • Student grades in Honors coursework must be 3. 5 or above.

  • Complete the Application to Candidacy process for graduating with honors, as directed by the Honors College

Students in the Honors Program are not required to complete the Senior Seminar in Sociology (SOCY 4699  ).