Honors Program
MHS Honors is a selective, two-semester program of individual undergraduate research, supervised by faculty advisors. Honors candidates propose, research, and write a thesis that contributes to an existing scholarly literature in the chosen field of study. To satisfy MHS’s requirements, the thesis must examine some aspect of health and health care in its social and cultural contexts.
Completed applications are due by April 1st of the applicant’s junior year.
Program Requirements:
- 3.3 cumulative grade point average.
- 3.3 cumulative grade point average in Medicine, Health, and Society
- Honors-related course work during their senior year (three options; see below)
- An honors thesis to be submitted no later than two weeks before the end of classes in the spring of the senior year.
- Successful completion of an oral examination focusing on the topic of the thesis.
Course Work:
Honors thesis students have three options for course work, as outlined below. MHS 3000 is an interdisciplinary methods class that is not required but strongly suggested for all Honors students. MHS 4898 and MHS 4999 are one-on-one directed study courses with the thesis supervisor. (MHS 4998 and 4999 cannot count for elective credit, but MHS 3000 can count for elective only if taken with Option 1).
- Option 1: Students enroll in MHS 3000 (3 hours) and MHS 4998 (3 hours) in fall and MHS 4999 (3 hours) in spring. In this option, MHS 4998 and MHS 4999 count toward the additional 6 hours required for honors; MHS 3000 counts toward MHS elective credit.
- Option 2: Students enroll in MHS 3000 (3 hours) in fall and MHS 4999 (3 hours) in spring. In this option, MHS 3000 and MHS 4999 count toward the additional 6 hours required for honors.
- Option 3: Students enroll in MHS 4998 (3 hours) in fall and MHS 4999 (3 hours) in spring 2021. In this option, MHS 4998 and MHS 4999 count toward the additional 6 hours required for honors.
Application Process:
- Completed applications should be submitted electronically to MHS@Vanderbilt.edu by April 1st of the applicant’s junior year. A completed application includes the MHS honors program form, thesis proposal and a letter of recommendation from the faculty member who has agreed to be your thesis advisor. The letter of recommendation should be emailed separately by the faculty member. Application available here.
Additional information is available from the Director of Medicine, Health, and Society.
To read copies of past honors thesis papers, please visit Current Student Forms and Resources and select the “Examples of Honors Thesis Papers” tab at the bottom of that page.