Students majoring in Anthropology have the opportunity to graduate with honors in the major. Departmental honors students must have a GPA of at least 3.50 in anthropology coursework and a cumulative University of Iowa GPA of at least 3.33. They must conduct an independent research project that culminates in a 30-50 page thesis. The project includes completion of 6 semester hours divided between ANTH:4995 - Honors Research Seminar (offered only in fall semesters) and ANTH:4996 - Honors Research (typically taken the next semester). Honors students also must take one of their anthropology courses at the graduate level.
Students pursuing the BS can count their directed research project or laboratory practicum towards the semester hours needed to complete honors requirements, but meeting the research requirement by itself does not meet the honors requirement. Students must work with their honors thesis advisor to structure their research so that it meets the added requirements of honors work.
Honors contact
Matthew E. Hill, PhD
University of Iowa Honors Program
In addition to honors in the major, students may pursue honors study and activities through membership in the University of Iowa Honors Program. University honors students must maintain a 3.33 GPA, complete 12 semester hours of coursework designated as honors courses, and complete 12 semester hours of an experiential learning project.
Please note that ANTH:4995 and ANTH:4996 each qualify for 6 semester hours of experiential learning credits towards university honors. In sum, honors students can meet the total required experiential learning credits for university honors while also meeting the requirements for honors in the major. For students who complete the required experiential learning credits for university honors via departmental honors, there is no need to complete the questionnaire/narrative process that is usually associated with fulfilling this requirement.
Visit Honors at Iowa to learn about the University's honors program.
NOTE: Membership in the UI Honors Program is not required to earn honors in the anthropology major.