Social Ecology Honors Program

SE Honors is an opportunity for students to work closely with faculty on research, while learning best practices of research design, data collection and the presentation of findings.
This program is a year commitment, three-quarter long course sequence for Social Ecology seniors who are conducting thesis projects.
SE Honors participants present their projects in the Spring during the symposium with the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).

If you have an interest in creating/expanding research, collaborating with faculty and your fellow peers, and learning how to best approach challenges within society, the SE Honors Program would provide that opportunity.
Participating in this program will help students apply the materials that they have studied in texts and during lectures into original research projects.
This experience can greatly increase a student's chances of successfully being admitted into a Ph.D. program and provide a platform for students to hone their scholarly, professional and personal relationships.

(REQUIRED) At the time of application, have the following complete/in-progress:

Complete all lower-division Social Ecology courses required for your major:
- All majors: CRM/LAW C7, UPPP 4/5/8, SOCECOL 10, SOCECOL 13
- CLS major: CRM/LAW C10, PSY 9/21/22 (formerly PSCI 9/11B/11C)
- PSY major: PSY 21 & 22 (formerly PSCI 11ABC)
- US major: UPPP 4, UPPP 5, UPPP 40 or 41 or 42, PSY 9/21/22 (formerly PSCI 9/11B/11C)
Earn a 3.5 GPA or higher in at least 4 of your Upper-Division Major courses
Maintain at least a 3.2 overall UCI GPA
Letter of support from Social Ecology faculty mentor
- Your faculty mentor needs to be ladder-rank, tenure-track, or tenured to be eligible to serve as your mentor for the program
Cover letter [1-2 pages]
Research proposal [3-5 pages, double spaced, 12-pt, Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins]

(OPTIONAL) Excellence in Research in Social Ecology Eligibility:

Earn an overall 3.2 UC GPA in your junior year. Earn a B or above in the following:
- SOCECOL 10, SOCECOL 13, SOCECOL 111W, and SOCECOL 190
Work with faculty mentor during at least one quarter by the end of your junior year:
- Enrollment into PSY 196 / SOCECOL 198 / SOCECOL 199 [optional]
Completion of SE Honors Program.
See Excellence in Research website for more information.

Week/Quarter of 3rd Year: Preparation
FALL:
- Begin draft of research proposal.
- Identify potential faculty mentor.
WINTER:
- Meet with faculty mentor.
- Finalize research proposal.
- Compose cover letter.
Week 1: SPRING:
- SE Honors application opens. Have the following documents ready to upload:
  - Letter of support from faculty mentor.
  - Research proposal (3-5 pages)
  - Cover Letter
Application Deadlines:
- 2027-2028 Information TBD
- The Application Priority Deadline for the 2026-2027 program is June 29, 2026 (11:59pm PST)
- The Final Deadline for the 2026-2027 Application is August 31, 2026 (11:59pm PST)

Honors Program