Study Abroad
The Department of Anthropology offers academic and financial support, internships, study abroad opportunities and more to make the student experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Dedicated students who meet departmental requirements are encouraged to undertake a thesis research project in their senior year. Honors students complete ANTH 3995 (Undergraduate Research) and a research project on a topic of their choice.
Students should think about their honors research project before beginning their senior year in order to apply for funding opportunities. Department faculty hold grant-writing workshops at least once a year to help students prepare proposals for these awards, which include the Jane B. Hart Award and the Lewis Cotlow Fund.
Before beginning to research their honors thesis, students must:
Every honors student must choose a research director from the Anthropology Department faculty, as well as a second person who serves as a reader.
Directors may have full-time, part-time or research appointments in anthropology. They may also be based off campus; however, all research projects with off-campus personnel must also have an on-campus director, or refer to the undergraduate advisor, to ensure that deadlines are met and the research scope is appropriate.
Readers do not have to be GW faculty members, but they must have experience in the topic. With the director's assistance, the student should select this reader before doing a majority of the work on the thesis. Both the research director and the reader must review and comment on the draft and approve the thesis before the department can recommend the student for special honors to the Columbian College Office of the Dean.
Honors applicants must submit a request to their research director no later than the first semester of senior year. The request must contain:
The project title
The honors thesis can be based on lab work, fieldwork or library, museum or archival research.
Expectations
January 15 — Winter graduation
May 1 — Students being considered for a Jane B. Hart Award, spring or winter graduation. If May 1 falls on a weekend, theses are due the following Monday.
May 15 — Spring graduation
Your home college must review your final semester grades before agreeing that you meet the requirements for honors, and the notation on your permanent record is not made until after graduation.
Please submit the Honors Thesis Approval Form to the Anthropology Department as well.
Hart Award and More Research Funding