Honours in Sociology
Honours Year Coordinator
Dr Andrew Singleton
Caulfield H 5.46
Phone 9903 4618
Email: andrew.singleton@arts.monash.edu.au
Objectives of the Honours Year in Sociology
Honours in Sociology equips students with research skills not acquired in studies for the pass degree. An honours degree is a prerequisite for entry to postgraduate research degrees. It is also highly valued in the employment market as evidence of an applicant’s ability to undertake independent work and produce clearly written reports. Recent Sociology Honours graduates have found work as social researchers in both academia and industry, been accepted into the Victorian and federal public service, or enrolled in our higher degree programs (e.g. PhD, MA).
Our research shows us that the top four reasons why Sociology students choose to do honours are: to enhance employment opportunities, to add to the prestige of their degree, to learn more about other areas of the discipline and to study more deeply a particular area within Sociology.
As part of the Honours year, you will do a thesis; an independent research project on a sociological issue. You will work closely with your supervisor , similar to being an apprentice but also an academic colleague. At the end you will have learnt how to formulate a topic for research; how to collect and critically assess relevant information on the research topic; and how to write a report on the results of your research. In doing the honours thesis, you will be producing your first research report, an experience most people never forget. Later in life you may not remember the essays you wrote as a Monash student but you will always remember the topic of your honours thesis, and remember it as an intellectual challenge and achievement.
Recent thesis topics include: children’s participation in sport, Sri Lankan immigrants in Melbourne, assaults in prison, women’s experiences of religion, suburban football players, student poverty, housework in shared households, queer identities, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Twenty20 cricket, men’s use of grooming and beauty products, the impact of women’s magazines on body image, involuntary celibacy, road rage, Australian hip-hop, climate change, environmental activism, parent/child relationships, career choices, MySpace, the Girl Power generation, childhood obesity, women’s health, young women’s opinions about feminism, paternity leave, older women and retirement, Sudanese refugees and internet cafes
Eligibility
Monash Sociology Students
As a Monash student you qualify for admission to the sociology honours program provided that:
- You have completed the degree (or the degree and diploma) requirements and are qualified to graduate;
- You have completed an approved Sociology major sequence (48 points or more covering studies at year levels one, two and three; and
- You have obtained average grades of 70 per cent or better in units in your Sociology major to the value of 24 points at second and third year levels, 18 points of which must be at third year level.
External Students
If you are a student from another higher education institution other than Monash University you can be admitted to Sociology Honours provided that:
- You provide a certified copy of your academic transcript;
- You include supporting documentation regarding the content of your course;
- You have your course content approved as an acceptable, or equivalent, major by Sociology at Monash;
- You have obtained average grades of 70 per cent or better in units in the chosen Honours discipline(s), to the value of 24 points at second and third year levels, 18 points of which must be at third year level.
Application Process
If you have completed, or are currently completing, your Pass degree and you intend to undertake an Arts Honours program, you should complete the Honours Application Form (application forms are also available from the Faculty Office on your home campus and all Schools).
Before you apply for Arts Honours at Monash, you must consult the Sociology Honours Coordinator (or nominated representative) who will discuss your study program with you and sign your application form. You need to bring a copy of your academic transcript to this meeting and include it in your application.
If you are successful in gaining entry into the Honours program, you will be able to defer your place for up to one year. Mid-year entry is available into Honours in Sociology.
Structure of Sociology Honours
The honours year consists of a thesis and two seminar units, one of which is compulsory (SCY 4540), the second optional unit being chosen from a list of SYM units. See table below.
| Dissertation | Coursework |
|---|---|
| SCY4580A Honours Thesis in Sociology Part A (12 points)
SCY4580B Honours Thesis in Sociology Part B (12 points) |
Compulsory Honours in Sociology Seminar (12 points, Semester 1)
SCY4540 Theory and Practice of Sociology |
| One Additional Seminar (12 points)
SEMESTER 1: Optional cross-listed units Semester 1: SEMESTER 2: GND4020: Feminist Research |
Full-time students normally complete their two seminar units in first semester and work on their thesis throughout the year under the supervision of an academic staff member. Part-time students take one seminar in each semester of the first year and work on their thesis in the second year (but other arrangements can be made).
The Thesis
The thesis is worth 24 points and should be approximately 15,000 to 18,000 words in length. It is important to select a topic which can be completed in the available time and with available resources. It may be wise to look for topics in areas where you already have some knowledge, such as areas covered in units taken in previous years. There are two broad categories of honours theses:
- A theoretical analysis: this might consist of a discussion of one or more concepts, or of an issue in social theory, or of the work of one or more social theorists. This approach might include some discussion of the implications for research, elaborated into a research design.
- An empirical study: the topic should be such that meaningful results can be obtained from small samples or limited sets of data. Studies entailing representative samples or extensive data-gathering should not be attempted. Various types of empirical data can be considered, including both primary and secondary data. Particularly suitable are case studies, in-depth interviews, small surveys, and secondary statistical data.
Allocation of Supervisors
Supervisors are allocated in the first week of semester 1 (or if students are starting mid-year, this is done when the thesis component commences). The Sociology Honours Coordinator consults with the students about their topic area and then suggests potential supervisors. Students then have a preliminary meeting with the potential supervisor. If all is satisfactory, then the supervisory arrangement is finalized. This is usually by week 3 of the semester. Students can express a preference for particular supervisors. While every effort is made to match supervisors who have some knowledge of the student’s area of interest, this is not always possible given the diverse range of topics covered by students.
Assessment
Your overall mark will be:
- HI (First Class Honours, 80% and above),
- HIIA (Second Class Honours, first division, 70-79%),
- HIIB (Second Class Honours, second division, 60-69%), or
- HIII (Third Class Honours, 50-59%)
The thesis will count for 50% of the final grade and each seminar unit for 25%. Your student record will not show the three parts separately.
Prizes and Scholarships
The Anne Edwards Sociology Honours Dissertation Award was established in 1995 by the then head of sociology, Professor Anne Edwards, and is a prize of approx. $500 which is awarded each year to the student whose sociology thesis receives the highest mark from the year’s examiners. Past winners include:
- 2004. Kathryn Seear
- 2005. Katherine Wright
- 2006. Alice Wright
- 2007. Jessica Baxter
- 2008. Tamlin Gorter
The Faculty of Arts has a generous scholarship scheme and all Sociology Honours students are eligible.