Majors in Medieval and Renaissance Studies who have demonstrated exceptional ability
and an unusual degree of independence in their course work may be eligible to participate
in the department's Honor Program. Honors candidates ordinarily enroll in ME/R 360 during
the fall and ME/R 370 during the spring semester of the senior year and are expected to
write a thesis based substantially on original research in primary sources.
Students interested in the Honors Program are strongly encouraged to work with their
faculty advisors to identify a research topic during the spring semester of the junior year
and to begin their research during the following summer.
Each student will be expected to present her thesis proposal to the Medieval/Renaissance
faculty in the first two weeks of the fall semester. Following this meeting a committee of
three faculty members (including the advisor) will be established for the candidate. It will
have at least one senior faculty member and representatives of at least two departments within
the Medieval/Renaissance program.
Each student will be expected to complete one chapter of her thesis by the last day of
classes in the fall semester. Copies will be distributed to the candidate's committee for
evaluation. The approval of the committee is necessary to allow the candidate to proceed to
enroll for ME/R 370.
Following enrollment in ME/R 370 the honors candidate will meet with her committee in
February to discuss the submitted chapter and her plan of work. Honors candidates will be
expected to complete a draft of the entire thesis no later than the last Friday before spring
break. This will leave ample time for final revisions.
Final evaluation of the thesis will proceed according to college regulations.