Honors Application

Entry criteria for the Honors program in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures are: 3.3 GPA and a 3.5 (B+) cum in concentration, substantial completion of required course work, and consent of all the faculty in the section. For students majoring in Comparative Literature there will be an advisory committee in charge of reviewing candidates’ applications for the Honors program. Participation in a study abroad program will be considered a positive factor for the student's admission. Students interested in being considered for the Honors program should complete an application (available in the Department).

The program consists of the following three components, each of which is a four-credit unit:

• The MLC Major Seminar: CLT 389, offered every semester. (Because the material in the Major Seminar applies to advanced work in the major, students are encouraged to enroll in the Major Seminar (CLT 389) in their junior year if at all possible.)
• One seminar or upper-level course within the student's area of concentration and approved by the faculty. The course will be designated by all faculty in the individual sections on the basis of its interest, scope and treatment of material.
• Honors thesis. The thesis will be written under the guidance of a professor in a 393 course. The thesis normally consists of a 40-50 page (double-spaced) essay in English and a 2-3 page abstract in the language of the student's major OR, conversely, of a 25-35 page essay in the foreign language and an abstract in English. The honors thesis will be evaluated by the advisor and a second professor in the department, and the grade on the thesis will determine the student’s level of honors (A = Highest Honors; A- = High Honors; B+ = Honors). Students who receive a passing grade lower than B+ on the honors thesis will receive credit for the 393 course, but will not graduate with honors. Honors students will present a portion of their research at the annual MLC undergraduate research conference in the spring. The aim of the honors thesis is to give the student an opportunity to demonstrate her or his potential for in-depth study.

The entire program may be completed in the senior year, or the student may elect to take the section/advanced course for honors credit in the spring of the junior year if she/he has been admitted to the Honors program.