Honors Thesis
The thesis topic and the individual faculty advisor for the thesis must be determined during the student's junior year, with a one-page thesis proposal due to both the advisor and the department chair by June 1st.
French Studies: If a student seeks to write an honors thesis in French Studies, they should contact a potential faculty thesis advisor and submit their thesis proposal by June 1 of their junior year. The honors thesis represents two course credits in the major during the student's senior year.
Culminating experience: Majors who do not write an honors thesis will, in their senior year, select an upper-level seminar in which they will submit additional assignments to produce a sustained piece of writing (20+ pages) to fulfill the college requirement for the culminating experience.
Italian Studies: If a student seeks to write an honors thesis in the Italian major, they should contact a potential faculty thesis advisor and submit their thesis proposal by June 1 of their junior year. The honors thesis adds one course to the major because the student is granted a course credit for conducting research and writing their thesis essay; thus, the honors major consists of a total of nine courses.
Culminating experience: Majors who do not write an honors thesis will, in their senior year, select an upper-level seminar in which they will submit additional assignments to produce a sustained piece of writing (20+ pages) to fulfill the College requirement for the culminating experience.
Upon student submission of a thesis, department faculty will determine whether the student will graduate without honors in the major, with an Honors designation, or with a designation of High Honors.