Honours
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree is an advanced and specialised course of study requiring a higher standard of performance than for the pass degree. It enhances students' ability to acquire advanced skills of analysis, to develop original ideas, and to apply innovative solutions to complex problems. The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) involves one additional year of study at fourth-year level. Students may specialise in one area of study (Pure Honours) or two (Combined Honours). Entry to the honours degree must be approved by the School(s) concerned and the Faculty of Arts.
Students can undertake an honours program in Sociology.
Course information
The prerequisites for entry to fourth-year honours in Sociology are:
- Completion of all the requirements for the BA
- Completion of a major in Sociology; and
- An average grade over the second/third year subjects within the major equivalent to at least an H2A (75%)
For further information on honours eligibility, entry requirements, application procedures, course structure and subject outlines, refer to the Faculty of Arts honours web page.
Course structure
Students undertaking pure honours in Sociology complete:
- Sociology Thesis (50 points)
- One compulsory subject Social Sciences Research Seminar (12.5 points)
- One methods subject Qualitative Research Methods (12.5 points); and
- Two honours subjects in Sociology (totalling 25 points)
Students undertaking combined honours in Sociology complete:
- Sociology Thesis (50 points)
- One compulsory subject Social Sciences Research Seminar (12.5 points)
- Three honours subjects in the combining program (totalling 37.5 points)
or
- Honours thesis in the combining program (50 points)
- One honours subjects in the combining program (totalling 12.5 points); and
- Three elective honours subjects in Sociology (totalling 37.5 points)
Human Research Ethics
Honours students undertaking research that involves interviews and/or questionnaires may need to submit an ethics application to the School Human Ethics Advisory Group (SHEAG). Such an application needs to be approved BEFORE commencing your research. It is recommended that honours students aim to submit their ethics applications either to the April SHEAG meeting or, for mid-year entry, the October SHEAG meeting. For further information, consult your supervisor, refer to the Office for Research Ethics and Integrity website and visit the School's Ethics clearance for research web page.
Research supervision
The School's Research supervisors web page provides information on academic staff research and supervision areas.
University policy documents
For information on University policies and guidelines in connection with your studies, please refer to the Melbourne Policy Library website.
School administrative information
- 2013 SSPS Academic Programs Policy & Procedures (Students)
- Essay writing guide
- SSPS Assessment Coversheet
- Extension Application Form
- 2013 timetable