Contact:
David M. Hertz
Undergraduate Advisor
Ballantine 637
855-0381
hertzd@indiana.edu
1. How is your honors degree program administered? Is there a specific
person who acts as coordinator? Is there a faculty committee?
Since we are a relatively small department, little administrative
apparatus is needed. The undergraduate advisor is also director of
undergraduate studies. This allows at least one direct faculty contact
for each student involving an examination of the student's dossier as a
whole. Whether or not a student is or should be affiliated with honors
usually emerges during advising sessions. There is an undergraduate
committee where matters pertaining to the honors programs, curriculum and
undergraduate education are discussed. Also, individual professors have
always encouraged and sponsored honors projects on their own.
2. What are the requirements for admission into your honors program? How are
students recruited for your program? May students recommend
themselves?
Students need a 3.3 overall GPA, a 3.5 average within the program, and at
least one 300 level comparative literature course. Students my recommend
themselves, but the advisor usually notices who is qualified.
3. How does a student graduate with honors from your department?
Students may complete three honors tutorials, write a honors paper, or
complete an honors project. We are flexible and allow some course
substitutions for tutorials. An honors thesis is the most important
academic project, and that is what our really top students tend to do.
4. What courses do students take as juniors and before in order to
prepare for working on the senior project? How are these honors seminars
and courses typically conducted? What are the usual requirements in such
courses?
All students must take C305; C311 or C313 or C315; C333 or C335 or C337.
Honors seminars on special topics at the 100, 300, and 400 level are also
offered periodically. The 400 level course gives the honors student a
taste of graduate school at IU. There are also honors sections of C205
and C255.
5. Are there departmental resources available to support internships or
research projects related to the senior project?
There are only very limited departmental resources. We need much help in
that area.
6. What is the nature of the senior project and what are the
requirements for completing it?
Senior projects are usually a 30-50 page thesis. Three professors must
read the finished paper and suggest a grade.
7. How might the work required for earning a honors degree be
particularly beneficial in future endeavors?
The work required trains the student for graduate school and all sorts of
critical and literary endeavors. It teaches self-discipline and the
ability to realize self-imposed goals and ambitions.
8. What are the advantages for students who pursue the honors degree
compared to a regular degree in your area?
Students get individual attention and advice. They learn what scholarly
research really is.
9. Please list suggestions for other departments based on activities
that have worked well for your students?
The university should encourage the student's interest in doing
independent research at an early stage. The honors thesis offers that
possibility to our students. It also allows the students to become more
inquisitive and less-passive about education. Students who do the thesis
go to professors who can help them with specific needs rather than the
other way around.
10. Explain the background of honors course offerings in your
discipline. When were honors courses or sections first offered?
Honors course offerings stretch back to the early days of the program.
We think the first courses were offered in the mid-1960's.
