Honors Opportunities: Sociology, Social Psychology, and Criminal Justice
Students may complete an honors program within the Sociology department and/or complete a University Honors Program Thesis under the supervision of a Sociology faculty member. Each year, the Sociology department recognizes students in its undergraduate and graduate programs for outstanding academic work and community service.
The purposes of the honors major in Sociology, Social Psychology, and Criminal Justice are to provide a more integrated and in-depth program for students who desire one, and to recognize special achievement. Successful completion of the honors major is noted on the transcript and in the program for the College of Liberal Arts Honors Convocation. Registration in the honors major requires a 3.5 grade point average in Sociology, Social Psychology, or Criminal Justice and a 3.0 college-wide average.
Sociology and Social Psychology Honors Majors
Sociology and Social Psychology honors majors write an honors paper and complete an extra course. One faculty member will direct the honors paper and a second member of the department will read the paper. The honors paper then will be presented to interested students and faculty in an open meeting. The extra course may be:
• Sociol 478 or 479 (Directed Study in Sociology)
• Any 400-level course in the Sociology Department (excluding internships)
• Sociol 340 - Field Work Methods
• Sociol 350 - Social Statistics (if not taken as part of the major)
• Any course in the graduate program in Applied Sociology
• Any 400-level course in anthropology, economics, history, political science or psychology
Criminal Justice Honors Major
Criminal Justice students wishing to complete the major with honors are required to take either Sociol 478 or Sociol 479, Directed Study in Sociology. During this course students will develop and complete a paper that will be presented to Criminal Justice faculty members and interested students in an open forum.
Alpha Kappa Delta - The Sociology Honor Society
Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD), the International Sociology Honor Society, was begun in 1920. The chapter at UMB is one of 490 worldwide chapters of AKD. AKD membership provides students with opportunities to:
- develop stronger social networks among the Sociology Department’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni;
- participate in a formal induction/awards ceremony;
- obtain a free subscription to the AKD journal;
- build your resume;
- increase faculty awareness of your objectives and goals following graduation;
- take advantage of benefits offered by AKD such as opportunities for the publication of papers and conference travel funding.
Undergraduate and graduate students with a grade point average of 3.0 both in Sociology and overall are eligible for admission to AKD. Sociology professors make announcements early in the spring semester to inform students of application and induction procedures. Sign-up sheets are circulated in classes at that time. Students may also request an application form in the Sociology office (W-4-12). A one-time fee of $40 pays for membership certification and a year’s subscription to the journal Sociological Inquiry. The annual induction ceremony is held at the end of the spring semester and is combined with a Graduation Dinner.
For further online information about the history, benefits and programs of Alpha Kappa Delta, please visit its home page by clicking here. For further inquiries, contact the local AKD chapter faculty representative at mohammad.tamdgidi@umb.edu.