Classics

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Departmental Honors

Curriculum

Honors in the Department of Classics

[Honors Proposal Form]

* [On-line access to past projects] * [Listing of past projects]

Students obtain Honors in the Classics department through successful completion of an Honors Project. In most cases, this Project will be a substantial written thesis on a subject, question, or dispute within the field of Classics and/or the ancient Mediterranean world. The term “project” applies, however, because on occasion a major research project has been undertaken which did not require the drafting of a lengthy thesis, extensive bibliography, or the development of an extended argument. Recent examples include production of a Greek play for the Macalester community, the translation of a previously untranslated Medieval Latin text, and the composition of a screenplay about Mary Magdalene. In the vast majority of instances, however, Honors will be earned through the development, research, careful crafting and defense of a major written thesis in the field of Classics. Recent examples of this genre include: “The Table of Demons: Sacrifice in the First Century CE,” “Cultural Interactions Between the Roman and Persian Empires on the Limits of the Eastern Roman Empire in Late Antiquity,” and “The Mirror’s Reflection: Vergil’s Aeneid in English Translation.”

Classics students must have a college GPA of 3.5 and a major GPA of 3.6 in order to pursue Honors. Students are also strongly advised to have taken an intermediate level research seminar (271 or 272) during their sophomore or junior year. The student aspiring to achieve departmental Honors should observe the following schedule.

In most cases, students need to declare their interest in Honors early in the spring of their junior year. (This may vary some in the case of students studying abroad or in other extenuating circumstances.) Potential Honors students should candidly discuss the viability of a project with members of the department. Does the student fully understand the time commitment and the constraints of doing an Honors Project? Is the student adequately prepared to pursue the topic(s) of interest? Are the requisite languages in place to pursue successfully the questions entailed in the proposed thesis? A student still interested in pursuing Honors after these discussions must submit to the department chair a completed Honors Proposal Form by the first Friday in April. The full faculty of the department will meet to approve proposals, and students will be notified of the outcome within one week. If it is deemed by the faculty that Honors is appropriate, the student will be encouraged to schedule a 1-4 credit independent study course in the Fall of their senior year (CLAS 644 Honors Independent). There are occasionally students who do not require, or absolutely cannot take, 644 in the Fall, but such cases tend to be rare. If the faculty decide that pursuit of Honors is not appropriate, then the student may be encouraged to consider a more modest version of the proposed project as a senior capstone experience.

In the Fall a working committee is developed usually involving two departmental readers and an additional reader outside of the Classics department. These readers will serve as the Honors Committee before whom the student offers the oral defense. The ideal schedule would entail regular meetings devoted to summaries of current work, progress reports, and discussions of the issues and arguments the student is engaging in the relevant reading and sources. The argument and primary focus of the thesis can evolve or be modified through these sessions. The names of the student’s Honors Committee members, a Project title, and an annotated bibliography are due to the adviser by September 20th. On October 15th is due a full Project Proposal, a 1-2 page description of the questions being investigated and an outline of how the student will go about answering them. By December 15th a Progress Report should be turned in to the Honors adviser. This report reviews the research done over the first semester, provides an expanded bibliography and establishes a timeline for completion of the Project.

By February 15th, a second Progress Report should be written. This report reviews the shape of the argument, the development of the thesis, and makes adjustments to the timeline. Students should have begun writing by this point. At this time a determination is made whether a student should continue the Project or default in favor of the less stringent capstone experience. A final title and abstract will be turned in to the adviser by March 15. The abstract should be a concise (100 word) summary of the thesis and principal supporting arguments. When approved by the adviser, this title and abstract will be distributed to the Dean of Academic Programs to be used in graduation materials and attached to official college transcripts. A date should now be set for the oral defense.

A complete draft of the thesis should be submitted to the adviser by April 1. At least one week before the defense, a revised draft should be submitted to the entire Honors Committee. The defense before the committee must occur before the date in April set by the Dean of Academic Programs. This defense gives the student the opportunity to present a summary of the thesis, its argument and how it contributes to the field or problem being pursued. The student then entertains questions from the Committee for no more than an hour. After the student leaves the room, Committee members deliberate on whether to pass or fail the Honors Project. The Committee may recommend a pass contingent upon the completion of specified corrections and changes. By a date set by the Dean, usually about a week after the deadline for the defense, a final version must be submitted to the Dean’s office along with the Committee’s signed recommendation form indicating that the student will be graduating with Honors.

Summary of Dates, Deadlines and Requirements for Pursuing Honors in Classics

1. A student must have a GPA within the Classics major of 3.6 or better, and an overall GPA of 3.5 or better.
2. The decision to pursue departmental Honors should be declared early in the spring of the junior year in consultation with department faculty members. The Classics Department Honors Proposal Form is due in the Classics office by the first Friday in April. The faculty will meet within one week and notify students whether or not they may proceed with an Honors Project.
3. Students studying abroad should communicate their desire to pursue Honors and suggest a working thesis even though they are off campus. They must submit to the department an Honors Proposal Form by September 15th, and meet all of the following deadlines as well.
4. By September 20th of the Fall semester senior year, a title, annotated preliminary bibliography, and the names of the three Honors committee members are due to the department chair. The names of those students whose projects have been approved and are proceeding will be submitted to the Dean of Academic Programs.
5. A fully articulated Project Proposal is due to the adviser October 15.
6. A Progress Report is due to the adviser December 15th.
7. February 15th a second Progress Report is due to the adviser. Writing should have begun by now.
8. A title and abstract must be submitted to the adviser by March 15th. Supervisors forward these to the Dean of Academic Programs once they have been approved. A date will now be set for the oral defense before the Honors Committee.
9. A final draft of the thesis will be completed and submitted to the adviser by April 1. No later than a week before the defense, a draft must be delivered to all members of the Honors Committee.
10. The oral defense must by held by a date in mid April set by the Dean.
11. Students must submit their final project to the Academic Programs Office by the date specified by the Academic Dean, usually about a week after the deadline for the defense. Students should turn in at the same time a mailing address for receiving their bound copies, a Permission to Copy Form, and the form signed by their Committee members indicating that they have successfully completed their Project and will be graduating with Honors.

Last revised spring 2007

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