The University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Undergraduate

Honors

In addition to general requirements for the major and for university honors, students seeking departmental honors in Comparative Literature will have the following requirements:

Admission to Department Honors

A 3.2 cumulative GPA with a 3.25 GPA or higher in courses counted towards the Comparative Literature Major, and including 3.25 GPA in 6 credits of upper level literature courses in the major language.


Additional course requirements

Honors students will complete two scheduled upper-level Comparative Literature Honors or Comparative Literature graduate courses.


Thesis requirement

In consultation with the Department Honors Coordinator, the student will form an Honors Thesis Committee, consisting of three members of the faculty, two of whom must have appointments in Comparative Literature, and one of whom must be from outside the department. The student will submit a research proposal for approval by the committee. After completing the thesis, the student will present the thesis to the Thesis Committee at a scheduled oral defense of approximately one hour. An Honors Thesis normally comprises a minimum of 40 pages of text, and will not exceed 80 pages.


Higher Honors designations

To receive a cum laude designation, students will be expected to receive a B or better on the thesis, to earn a 3.2 GPA with a 3.5 GPA in courses taken for the major. For a magna cum laudedesignation, students must receive an AB or better on the thesis, and earn a 3.4 GPA with a 3.5 GPA in the major. For a summa cum laude designation, students must receive an A on the thesis and earn a 3.6 GPA with a 3.75 GPA in the major.