Qualified students may be admitted to a program of advanced study during their junior year (or at the beginning of the senior year following foreign study), leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Italian.
Admission to senior-level Honors work in Italian is by application only.
A grade point average of at least 3.4 in all courses an a 3.5 in all Italian courses, is required for admission and for graduation with Honors in Italian.
The Honors Committee expects applicants to demonstrate superior ability for their level in both oral and written Italian, and to present evidence of serious interest in research.
Italian Honors majors are required to complete 33 credits of coursework and successfully defend a thesis:
Course Requirements:
All regular Italian major requirements must be completed (30 credits) with 3 additional credits at the 300 level or above. Six of the required 33 credits will consist of ITALIAN 491 and 492. Senior Honors Courses are normally taken in the fall and winter terms, respectively, of a student’s senior year.
Thesis Requirement:
Composition of a thesis, in Italian, incorporating the results of individual research, demonstrating a substantial piece of work; and
A presentation and discussion of the thesis and of an agreed upon set of related readings with the student's faculty advisor and one other faculty reader.
Working under the direction of a faculty member who serves as thesis director, the student will research the thesis, complete a bibliography and prospectus, and begin drafting the writing process while enrolled in ITALIAN 491. In the following academic term the student will enroll in ITALIAN 492 and complete the thesis and its presentation and discussion.
Upon successful completion, your faculty advisor will send a report to the Honors program with your thesis title and a recommendation of honors, high honors or highest honors in Italian.
Interested students should contact the Undergraduate Student Services team at rll.mailbox@umich.edu for the contact information of the current Honors Advisor in Italian, and fill out an application form.
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