Program Overview

Honors Program

The Honors Program is designed for students with a cumulative average of 3.7 at the end of their first three years of study. The program is grounded in expertise on the region of Latin America and the Caribbean, and it requires interdisciplinary scholarship.

Eligibility and Requirements

• Students must have a cumulative average of 3.7 at the end of their first three years of study.
• Students will select an advisor from among the LALCS faculty.
• In consultation with the advisor, students will choose two additional faculty members to serve on their Honors committee.
  • Both the advisor and one additional committee member will be affiliated with LALCS.
  • A third committee member will not be associated with the program.
  • All committee members cannot be from the same home department.

Program Structure

• The committee will guide the student's independent research on a topic of the student's choosing.
• The student must fulfill all of the College Honors requirements:
  • A graduate seminar either on a Latin American topic in any department or in the Honors thesis advisor's home department.
  • Complete an honors thesis while enrolled in the LALCS Honors Thesis courses, LACS 495A (generally in the fall semester) and 495B (generally in the spring semester).
• When enrolled in LACS 495B, students will present and defend the completed thesis in an oral examination.

Honors Degrees

• Successful Honors candidates are awarded the degree with honors, high honors, or highest honors.
• The degree of Honors is awarded for satisfactory completion of the Honors Program.
• High Honors are given for an outstanding achievement.
• Highest Honors are given for an exceptional performance of a quality suitable for publication.
• Fourrageres signifying honors are presented to qualifying graduating seniors to be worn at Commencement.