The College of Arts and Science offers a program of departmental honors for those students who qualify for the opportunity to engage in independent work in a major field of study under the guidance of a faculty mentor(s). Students who successfully complete such an effort will graduate with "Departmental Honors" notations on their transcripts and under their names in the commencement program. To qualify for entrance into the departmental honors program, a student shall be a senior in the College of Arts and Science, and have a grade point average of at least 3.5 in Sociology. Qualified students may register for SOC 480: Readings for Departmental Honors for a minimum of 4 credit hours and a maximum of 6 credit hours. These credits may be taken in one or both semesters of the student's senior year.

The approval of the department chair, program director, and/or the faculty mentor of the honors work are required for registration. Expectations for these projects are demanding and the content of honors projects varies. They may involve independent readings, creative efforts, internships, or research, whether based in the laboratory, the field, or the library. The project must result in a tangible product such as an examination, a written report, paper or monograph, an oral presentation, etc.

Departmental Honors in the College may be coordinated with work for Senior Directed Study in the Honors College. A common project may serve as both Departmental Honors and University Honors, but separate and distinct presentations must be made to the department and to the Honors College for evaluation to earn both honors notations.