Honors

French Departmental Honors Program

Majors who plan to seek special honors may apply to the French Honors Program Advisor for admission to the honors program during the semester in which they will complete sixty semester hours of coursework. To enter the program, a student must have completed at least sixty semester hours of coursework, including twelve hours of upper-division coursework in French. These twelve hours must include one course numbered 330 or above. A University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average in French of at least 3.50 are also required for admission.

The requirements for graduation with special honors are:

Completion of FR 379H, Honors Tutorial Course, with a grade of at least B.
Completion of a 30-page written project with bibliography in French or English, to be determined with Honors Course professor (supervisor/first reader). Consultation with another faculty member (second reader).
Satisfactory performance on an honors examination (e.g. defense with two readers, public presentation, etc.).
Completion of the French Major, which includes 24 upper-division hours of French (FR).
A University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in the coursework required for the major and for honors.
Completion in residence at the University of at least sixty semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree.

Why participate in the program?

You’ll make progress with your French language skills.
You’ll have the opportunity to develop research skills and dive deep into a topic in French Studies.
The statement "Special Honors in French Studies" will appear on the transcript of each graduate certified as having completed the honors program.

Learn more about faculty’s areas of research here.

Tentative Timeline

Semester prior to Honors Semester:

Mid-semester, consider the Honors Program by meeting with Honors Program Advisor and researching potential faculty with whom to work. Contact faculty members (supervisor and second reader) to discuss plans before course registration for the next semester begins.

Semester of Honors Program:

Fourth Class Day: Submit to your departmental Honors Advisor a thesis proposal with the name and signature of your thesis supervisor.
Twelfth Class Day: Submit to your thesis supervisor a research prospectus and draft bibliography.
Fourth week of class: Completion of the bulk of initial research and reading phase. Discuss findings with your supervisor.
Sixth week of class: Submit a detailed outline and draft of introduction. Check in with the Honors Program Advisor.
Eighth week of class: Complete first draft. This will leave three weeks for preparing a revised draft. Plan how you will share your work toward the end of the semester (e.g. an informal defense, a department presentation, etc.).
Twelfth week of class: Submit a revised draft to your thesis supervisor. This will leave two weeks for final corrections, revisions, and collecting signatures. Check in with the Honors Program Advisor.
Last Class Day: Submit thesis in electronic format.

For more information, contact:

Claire Jones

French Honors Program Advisor

HRH 3.112A