Bachelor [Sociology] From Haverford College

Sociology has a year-long senior thesis requirement. Each senior sociology major is expected to formulate a research topic that addresses a theoretical problem. Students are encouraged to evaluate their arguments through empirical investigations. Each senior selects and works regularly with a primary advisor, In addition, all seniors and all faculty meet periodically for more formal student presentations. This process provides the opportunity for students to develop their oral presentation skills; encourages and facilitates the ability of students to work with more than one member of the faculty on their theses; it also fosters cooperation and support among the students. The process culminates with formal presentations of the theses before the Department (including junior and prospective sophomore majors) and invited guests. Each student?s work is then evaluated by all of the faculty in the department (all of them read all of the theses); they are concerned with the cogency and sophistication of their theoretical arguments, their mastery of the literature relevant to their arguments, and the appropriateness and systematic nature of their empirical work. Each faculty member receives course credit per semester for supervising senior work; thus, for each of them, the supervision of the thesis projects over the course of the year is one of the five courses.