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College of Social Sciences
The Honors Program in the College of Social Sciences (COSS) provides students with an opportunity to gain research experience, receive recognition as an honors scholar, and obtain one-on-one mentoring with faculty who are experts in their respective fields.
The COSS Honors Program entails two consecutive semesters of specialized course work where students create a thesis proposal in the Fall semester - working through developing a research topic, research questions, research goals, a literature review/historiography, and a research methodology. Students then execute that proposal in the Spring semester, engaging in data collection and data analysis as well as writing up the thesis itself and presenting it at the High Impact Practices Symposium here on campus. Students are also encouraged to present their research at other conferences, including the Central California Research Symposium.
In addition to taking these two courses with the Director of the Honors Program, students have a thesis advisor within their major throughout the year-long program who oversees the research project at every step of the process - providing their content area and methodological expertise.
Note:
- Courses in the program must be taken in sequence (Fall and Spring of the same academic year) and students will only be admitted for the Fall semester.
- Those who are accepted into the COSS Honors Program will receive priority registration while they remain in the program.
- College of Social Sciences Honors Scholars who successfully complete the program will earn an honors medallion to commemorate their success and will be recognized in the College of Social Sciences Convocation in May.
- Participation in the College of Social Sciences Honors Program does not preclude participation in other honors programs at Fresno State.
In order to qualify for consideration for the College of Social Sciences Honors Program, students must:
1. Have a cumulative and major GPA of 3.5 or higher
2. Have completed at least 75 units before beginning the program and have at least one year of school left at Fresno State.
3. Be currently enrolled in, have already completed, or will enroll in a research methods course in the Fall 2024 semester at Fresno State, preferably in your major, and earn at least a B grade in this course. (Note: If you take the methods course in the Fall 2024 semester, a B is required to remain in the COSS Honors program in the Spring 2025 semester). Possible research methods courses include, but are not limited to:
If you are interested and you meet all of the above requirements, we encourage you to apply for the College of Social Sciences Honors Program by Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PDT (Extended deadline).
Apply by fillng out the Google Form here and attached required documents:
Deadline: Please complete the application here by Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PDT (Extended deadline).
You will be notified via email if you are admitted into the COSS Honors Program. Please remember this is a two course sequence (Fall 2025 and Spring 2026). Students must register for the 3-unit course Fall 2025 course - SSCI101H, “Social Science Honors I.” This course features research talks by Social Science faculty and student development of a research proposal. Permission numbers for this course will be distributed during the summer after verification of a 3.5 GPA after completion of the Spring 2025 semester. To complete the program, students will be required to enroll in a second 3-unit "Social Science Honors Symposium" course in Spring 2026 (course number including days/times are not yet finalized). All students enrolled in this course will be expected to produce a research paper to be delivered at an appropriate academic conference and/or at the Social Science Honors Research Symposium on campus at the culmination of the Spring 2026 semester.
*One-year program requirements for successful completion*
Fall Semester:
Once Admitted into the College of Social Sciences Honors Program, you must register for a 3-unit course, SSCI 101H: "Social Science Honors Research Series." This "Research Series" will feature social science faculty who will share their insights and experiences in research in a broad range of social sciences. You will also begin design of your own research projects, identify a faculty research mentor , discuss your research with your peers, and complete a research proposal.
Spring Semester
Students who earned an A grade in SSCI 101H and have maintained a 3.5 overall and major GPA or better will be able to take the second 3-unit course of the Social Science Honors Program SSCI 102H: "Social Science Honors II" in the spring semester. All students enrolled in this course will be expected to produce an Honors research paper/thesis to deliver at an appropriate academic conference and/or at a Social Science Honors Research Symposium at the culmination of the Spring semester in which you are enrolled in the course.
If you have further questions, please e-mail Dr. Justin Myers at justinmyers@csufresno.edu.
For More Information:
Please Contact:Office of the DeanCollege of Social Sciences 559.278.3013SS108