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Honors Program Descriptions by Division and Department
Humanities Honors Programs 2015-16, Compiled by Grace Ledbetter
Art (Tomoko Sakomura, Chair)
Honors Major in Art History: three 2-credit seminars or two 2-credit seminars + 2-credit
thesis. Course + attachment may be substituted for one seminar. Must fulfill requirements
for 9-credit course major.
Honors Minor: one 2-credit seminar + at least two other courses in art history. Only one
may be a transfer credit.
Honors Major in Studio Art: must fulfill course major requirements. Three double-credit
preparations consisting of: one 2-credit seminar in art history + one 2-credit preparation
consisting of Senior Workshop I and II + two related courses which must be approved by
department
SHS: culminating exhibition of the student's studio work + accompanying artist essay of
3,750 to 5,000 words sent to both examiners of studio preparations. A revision of a paper
written previously for the art history preparation will be sent to the art history examiner.
Classics (Grace Ledbetter, Chair)
Honors Major in Greek or Latin: three 2-credit seminars.
SHS: revision of one paper (max 4,000 words) from each seminar to be sent to examiner.
Honors Major in Ancient History: two 2-credit seminars + 1 course + attachment. Course
+ attachment may be substituted for the second seminar.
SHS: revision of paper from seminar(s); no paper required for course + attachments.
Honors Major in Classical Studies: three 2-credit units of study, at least one of which
must be a Classical Studies Capstone Seminar.
SHS: revision of one paper from each seminar to be sent to examiner.
Honors Minors:
Greek and Latin: one 2-credit seminar;
Classical Studies: 5 credits including 2-credit Capstone Seminar.
Ancient History: Course + attachment as honors prep + 2 additional courses.
Music and Dance (Tom Whitman, Chair)
Honors Major in Music:
Three Honors Preparations:
1. Required Honors Preparation: Senior Research Project. This consists of MUSI 094
(Senior Research Topics) in combination with one course in Music History and
Literature, in Music Theory, or in Ethnomusicology.
2., 3. Elective Honors Preparations, normally one of the following:
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Music Theory. A 2-credit honors preparation in Music Theory is normally based on
MUSI 115 in combination with one lower-level Music Theory course.
Music History. A 2-credit honors preparation in Music History may be based on any
music seminar numbered 100 or higher or on any other Music History course when
augmented by concurrent or subsequent additional research, directed reading, or tutorial,
with faculty approval.
Composition. At least two semesters of MUSI 019 (Composition)
Senior Honors Recital. A Senior Honors Recital preparation is available only to students
who have distinguished themselves as performers. It is normally limited to those who
have won full scholarships through MUSI 048. Students who wish to pursue this option
must follow all of the steps listed in the departmental guidelines for senior recitals (see
department website) and obtain approval of their program from the music faculty during
the semester preceding the proposed recital. They should register for MUSI 099: Senior
Honors Recital. This full credit, together with at least another full credit of relevant
coursework in music, will constitute the 2-credit honors preparation. One faculty member
will act as head adviser on all aspects of the honors recital. As part of the honors recital,
the student will write incisive program notes on all of the works to be performed. This
work will be based on substantive research -- including analytical as well as historical
work -- and will be overseen by one or more members of the music faculty.
Senior Thesis.
Students are encouraged to propose honors preparations in any areas that are of particular
interest, whether or not formal seminars are offered in those areas. The music faculty will
assist in planning the most appropriate format for these interests.
Oral examinations are given for all honors preparations in music. Written examinations,
in addition to oral examinations, are given for those preparations based on courses or
seminars, not for theses, performances, and composition portfolios.
Honors Minor in Music:
A. Required. Two courses in Music Theory plus Musicianship sections (MUSI 040).
MUSI 040 may be taken for 0.0 or 0.5 credit at the student's option.
MUSI 011 and 040A
MUSI 012 and 040B
B. Required. At least two courses in Music History and Literature, and/or in
Ethnomusicology, from among the following:
MUSI/DANC 010 (The Fieldwork of Music and Dance)
MUSI 020 (Medieval and Renaissance)
MUSI 021 (Baroque and Classical)
MUSI 022-W (19th-Century Europe)
MUSI 023-W (20th Century)
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Any other Music History course numbered above 023
C. Required. 1 elective.
This may be an additional course --- at any level, introductory or advanced --- in Music
History and Literature; in Ethnomusicology or World Traditions; or in Music Theory.
Alternatively, with permission of the music faculty, it could be an academic course in
Theater or Dance if relevant to the student’s interests.
D. One honors preparation.
See Honors Major for descriptions of possible Honors Preparations.
E. Additional Requirements.
Keyboard Skills Exam
Department ensemble for at least two semesters
Honors Major in Dance: 3 preparations: 1) Literature review –combination of two
History/Theory courses; 2) composition video review – analysis of various choreographic
techniques; 3) senior project of thesis.
Honors Minor in Dance: 2 preparations determined in consultation with advisor - either
composition or history and theory.
English Literature (Nora Johnson, Chair)
Honors Major: three double credit seminars. With approval a thesis or creative writing
project (one-credit Directed Creative Writing project + one-credit Advanced Workshop)
may be substituted for one seminar. Program must include seminars from at least two of
the specified historical periods. Students submit an honors essay for each seminar.
Honors Minor: one 2-credit seminar, or, in special cases, a creative writing portfolio. 5
units of work in English with some requirements.
Film and Media Studies (Bob Rehak, Chair)
Honors Major: Limited number of seminars, so honors major approved only in
exceptional cases.
Honors Minor: 2-credit seminar or FMST 090 +attachment or
1 or 2 credit thesis or project or other approved course or seminar work.
SHS: revised short essay or short film.
Religion (Tariq al-Jamil, chair)
Honors Major: requirements for course program + three 2-credit seminars or 2-credit
thesis or 1-credit thesis+course combination. 2 of the 3 preparations must be seminars.
SHS: 3 honors essays, which are normally revised final seminar papers.
Honors Minor: one 2-credit preparation
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SHS: one honors essay (revised final seminar paper)
Theatre (Allen Kuharski, chair)
Honors Major: required courses + one 2-credit seminar + two thesis
projects or second 2-credit seminar + thesis project.
Honors Minor: seven credits of work including specific courses + one
2-credit seminar.
Honors Minor/Course Major: 10-credit course major in which either a 2-credit seminar
(required for all majors whether as an honors prep or not) or an additional thesis project is
submitted for honors. This opens the option of a thesis as the prep for an honors minor as
long as it is combined with a full course major.
French (Jean-Vincent Blanchard, section head)
Honors Major: complete course major requirements including Senior Colloquium + 3
preparations, 2 of which must be 2-credit seminars. The third may be a seminar, 2-credit
thesis, approved course combination, or course + attachment.
Honors Minor: requirements for course minor, including senior colloquium + 2-credit
seminar preparation.
Spanish (Maria Luisa Guardiola, chair)
Honors Major: three 2-credit preparations either seminars or two course combination that
form a logical pairing.
No SHS
Honors Minor: one 2-credit unit of preparation.
Philosophy (Allen Baker, acting chair)
Honors Major: three 2-credit seminars
SHS: 3 essays written during the spring semester on topics assigned by external
examiners.
Honors Minor: one 2-credit seminar.
SHS: one essay written in spring semester on topic assigned by external examiner.
Russian (Sibelan Forrester, section head)
Honors Major:
Three 2-credit preparations which are either 1) a 2-credit seminar; 2) a designated pair of
courses; or 3) a course + attachment.
SHS: arranged on an individual basis for up to one credit.
Honors Minor:
One 2-credit seminar, designated course pair, or course + attachment
SHS: arranged on an individual basis with the option of receiving .5 credits.
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German Studies (Hansjakob Werlen, coordinator)
Honors Major:
Three 2-credit seminars. Two advanced courses in German Studies +a special topics
course may be substituted for one seminar, with approval of the chair.
SHS: annotated bibliography concerning five texts in each seminar offered for external
examination. Becomes part of honors portfolio. Carries no credit.
Honors Minor:
One 2-credit seminar.
SHS: annotated bibliography concerning five texts in the seminar offered for external
examination. Becomes part of honors portfolio. Carries no credit.
Japanese (Joanna Sturiano, acting section head)
Students must construct a special honors major or minor in consultation with the
Japanese section head.
Chinese (Haili Kong, section head)
Honors Major:
Three 2-credit preparations which are either 1) a 2-credit seminar; 2) a designated pair of
courses; or 3) a course + attachment.
SHS: arranged on an individual basis for up to one credit.
Honors Minor:
One 2-credit seminar, designated course pair, or course + attachment
SHS: arranged on an individual basis with the option of receiving .5 credits.
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Natural Science & Engineering Honors Programs 2015-16, Compiled by Amy
Cheng Vollmer
These are notes compiled from a discussion about honors at the 3 November meeting of
NSE department chairs, convened by Jaye Talvacchia. The final version of this document
has input from each NSE chair. We did not discuss SHS at our meeting, but I asked each
chair to comment on their SHS, which is not required in some departments.
Departments are listed alphabetically.
It should be noted that there are no honors-only seminars in NSE, but preference can be
given to honors students during pre-enrollment. However, some students know this and
‘game’ the system by saying they are ‘honors’ but dropping it.
Biology (Amy Vollmer, Chair)
Biology honors major: 3 preps = 2 100 level (2-credit) seminars + 1 research
thesis (summer + 1 semester, minimum; occasionally 2 summers, away). Research can be
done elsewhere, with careful mentoring by on-campus department liaison, who begins
communicating with PI of lab before start of summer research.
All 100-level seminars in Biology are 2-credit, with the second credit being a laboratory
project – sometimes that project is an on-ramp for an independent thesis project. With the
transition to 4-course load, seminars have allowed more different intermediate course
pre-requisites, thus expanding the pathways for entrance into the seminars.
Neuroscience special major (offered in conjunction with Psychology): 4 preps = 3
seminars (in either department) + 1 research thesis (in either department; can also be done
elsewhere with Bio faculty liaison)
Senior Honors Study – required for all Bio honors majors and any Bioehcm or
Neuroscience honors majors who did research with Biology faculty. 1 credit, graded
CR/NC, spring of senior year. Faculty who mentored thesis and senior honors majors
meet weekly – giving students practice in oral presentation and fielding questions from
the group. Poster session during the week after spring break allows student to get more
feedback about results and how they are displayed; juniors who have expressed interested
in honors in Biology are specifically invited to attend the poster session.
Chemistry and Biochemistry (Kathleen Howard, Chair)
Chemistry honors major: 3 preps = 2 100-level seminars (1 credit each and
‘bundled’ with an intermediate pre-req) + 1 research thesis. Exams are based on the 100level seminars and not the intermediate courses. Chemistry faculty discussed the option
of 3 seminar preps and no thesis (all majors participate in attending and preparing for
colloquium speakers), as a way to attract more students, but so far no takers.
Biochemistry special major (offered in conjunction with Biology): 4 preps = 3 seminars
(in either department) + 1 research thesis (in either department; can also be done
elsewhere with Bio faculty liaison)
SHS - no formal SHS program. They gather the Honors students in the Spring to give
talks on their projects for the whole department.
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Computer Science (Tia Newhall, Chair)
CS honors major: 3 preps = Two 2-course pairings (each pairing consists of a
focus course and a breadth course selected from a group a related upper-level courses,
written and oral exams are on the focus course in a pairing, the breadth course provides
additional related background to the focus course) + 1 research thesis (based on summer
research and 1 credit during the academic year); CS can’t project courses more than one
year in advance and cannot offer seminars. The new grouping of courses should allow for
more flexibility in creating meaningful 2-course preparations, making it easier for
students to satisfy this part of the honors requirement, and also facilitating finding
examiners more easily.
SHS – not required
Engineering (Carr Everbach, Chair)
Engineering honors major: 3 preps = 2 pairs of upper-level courses + one upperlevel course paired with Senior Engineering Project (E90). The E90 project is equivalent
of a research thesis, but required of all Engineering majors, and is usually paired with an
upper-level course upon which it is based.
SHS - Senior Honors Study is usually a lab report or course-based project report from
one or more preparations that is sent to the appropriate examiner for background. SHS is
not required, but is negotiated with each student.
Mathematics and Statistics (Phil Everson, Chair)
Mathematics honors major: 3 preps = 3 paired course + seminar: examined on
both course and seminar; 2 required seminars: real or complex analysis and modern
algebra; the third may be topology, geometry or statistics. Our honors exams all cover
material both from the core course and from the seminar. A great way to get students
prepared for graduate study.
SHS – not required
Physics and Astronomy (Michael Brown, Chair)
Physics honors major: 3 preps = 3 seminars (paired with intermediate courses):
[choice of Phys 112, 113, 114]; or 2 seminars + 1 research thesis (done during summer
and 1 credit during academic year). Dropping requirement for thesis – some faculty regret
it – but because fewer students are opting for research, wanted to still have a viable
honors program. Some students have the opportunity to write short papers for publication
with faculty and opt to do that instead of thesis.
SHS – not required; we have one faculty member to coordinate honors exam review and
another thesis coordinator to act as a second reader.
Psychology (Jane Gillham, Chair)
Psychology honors major: 3 preps = 2 seminars (intermediate course + seminar
paired) + 1 research thesis. The honors exams focus primarily on the seminars but also
cover material from the intermediate course. There is no SHS.
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Social Sciences Honors Programs 2015-16 Compiled by Jennifer Peck
These honors program descriptions are compiled from a Social Sciences division meeting
of department chairs and representatives on November 17th as well as departmental
materials in the college catalog. Each entry describes the general structure of the honors
program in the department as well as thesis and non-seminar preparation options.
Prerequisites for entry into the honors major are noted as well.
Economics (Philip Jefferson, Chair)
Prerequisites: Applicants for an honors major should have satisfied all of the
requirements for an Economics course major and, in addition, should have a straight B or
better grade average in Economics courses. This condition includes the grade
equivalent(s) for any course(s) taken Credit/No Credit.
Applicants for an honors minor should have satisfied all of the requirements for
acceptance as an Economics course major and, in addition, should have a straight B or
better grade average in Economics courses. This condition includes the grade
equivalent(s) for any course(s) taken Credit/No Credit. While minors are not required to
complete a specific number of Economics courses, they must satisfy all the prerequisites
for their honors preparation.
Economics Honors Major and Minor: Honors majors in Economics must take 3
preparations, and honors minors must take 1 preparation. All preparations in Economics
consist of 2 credits. Most preparations involve taking a 2-credit seminar, but some
preparations may combine a course and a 1-credit seminar. Currently there is one such
preparation formed with a single-credit honors seminar (Econ 135: Advanced
Econometrics) that pairs with an upper level prerequisite course (Econ 35: Econometrics)
to form one preparation.
Examiners will determine a student's Honors performance in an individual preparation
based on a 3 hour written exam, the seminar paper that they receive, and an oral exam.
Thesis: There is no thesis option offered in the honors or course program
Seminar Admission: Honors seminars are open to course students, with honors students
given priority.
Educational Studies (Ann Renninger, Chair)
Prerequisite for the honors major: EDUC 14 and two additional EDUC courses; for the
honors minor, EDUC 14. In either case the student must have at least an average of B+
in all EDUC courses. Honors majors and minors may also pursue teacher certification.
Students may pursue an honors special major in educational studies and another
department or interdisciplinary program. The major requires 10-12-credits at least 5 of
which must be in Educational Studies (EDUC). The four honors preparations must be
distributed a follows: 3 two-credit honors preparations, one or two of which must be in
EDUC, and one or two in the other discipline. Normally the preparations are 2-credit
seminars, but it is also possible to compete a 1-credit EDUC course with a 1-credit
attachment. The 4th preparation must be a 2-credit thesis that integrates the fields of the
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honors major (ECUC and the second field). Students are expected to maintain at least a
B+ average in their EDUC courses.
The honors minor requires 5 credits in Educational Studies, including EDUC 14 and an
EDUC seminar. Honors written examinations: Students doing written honors exams in
Educational Studies may have up to 5 hours to complete their exams. Intellectual
Autobiography: All honors students (majors and minors) must submit an intellectual
autobiography to the examiner and may also choose to send a paper from an honors
seminar. The autobiography and paper are not formally evaluated by the examiner; they
are intended to familiarize the examiner with the student’s experience and background in
educational studies.
History (Tim Burke, Chair)
Prerequisites: Majors in the Honors Program will complete at least nine total credits, one
of which will be the Senior Research Seminar (HIST 091) in which students write a
research paper based on primary sources.
History Honors Major and Minor: History Honors majors will complete three two-credit
seminars. Honors majors must also have a pre-1750 course and a non-USA/Europe
course. Honors Majors will revise one paper per seminar for their portfolio submitted to
external examiners. Revised papers will not be graded but will be included in the
portfolio to provide examiners a context for the evaluation of the written examination
taken in the spring of the senior year.
Minors in the Honors Program will complete one double-credit seminar in addition to
three History credits taken at Swarthmore.
The department does not allow non-Honors courses to count as History honors
preparations, but individual faculty occasionally allow courses to form part of a
preparation in an interdisciplinary Honors major or as a preparation in another
department.
Thesis: A two-credit thesis option is available to replace one of the seminars.
Seminar Admission: Course students are encouraged to take seminars.
Linguistics (Ted Fernald, Chair)
Prerequisites: Honors majors in Linguistics must complete a total of 8 credits in
Linguistics and must complete all of the requirements for the course major. Honors
minors must either complete all of the requirements of the course major or one of the
course minors in Linguistics. These consist of five credits in Linguistics that form a
coherent minor.
Linguistics Honors Major and Minor: The honors major consists of three preparations in
Linguistics, including the thesis and two pairs of related single-credit courses taken in
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Linguistics. Honors majors must complete two linguistics research papers synthesizing
the concepts and material in these courses in LING 199.
Examiners are recruited in the Fall semester and provide 3 research questions for the
students to answer in 4000 words or less. Students can discuss this work with faculty in
general terms but may not receive explicit guidance on these responses.
Linguistics honors minors who complete the requirements for a course minor must also
write a single honors research paper synthesizing the work in two single-credit courses,
taking LING 199 for 0.5 credits. If the honors minor completes the course major, the
thesis counts as the honors preparation.
Thesis: A two-credit thesis is one of the three required honors preparations.
Special Major in Linguistics and Language: Honors special majors in linguistics and
language must complete a total of 6 credits in Linguistics and at least 3 credits in each of
2 languages. For a modern language, these consist of 1 course numbered 4 or above and
2 courses numbered 11 or above or a seminar. For classical languages, these consist of 1
course numbered 11-14 and 1 seminar.
Special majors must also complete two linguistics research papers synthesizing the
concepts and material in two pairs of courses in LING 199.
The honors minor is not available in Linguistics and Language.
Political Science (Keith Reeves, Chair)
Prerequisites: To be accepted into the Honors Program students should normally have at
least an average of 3.5 inside and 3.2 outside the department, and should have given
evidence to the departmental faculty of their ability to work independently and
constructively in a seminar.
Political Science Honors majors must meet all current distributional requirements for
majors, including the political theory requirement, preferably with the Honors versions of
Ancient or Modern Political Theory. They must have a minimum of ten credits inside the
Political Science Department.
Honors minors in political science will be required to have at least five credits in political
science. Among these credits there must be one introductory course (POLS 001, 002,
003 or 004; a first year seminar does not count), one course in political theory, and one
course in one other subfield.
Honors minors may count POLS. 001(Introduction to Political Theory) as fulfillment of
the political theory requirement. Only honors minors and special majors are allowed to
count POLS 001 for fulfillment of their theory requirement.
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Political Science Honors Major and Minor: Honors majors in Political Science must take
3 preparations, and honors minors must take 1 preparation. These two-unit preparations
will normally be either a two-credit Honors seminar or a “course-plus” option, in which a
one-credit honors attachment is added to an upper-level course to form a two-credit
honors preparation. Students may arrange these course plus options with a specific
faculty member and have the preparation approved by the Chair. No more than one of
the preparations can be a course-plus option.
Honors majors fulfill the Senior Honors Study requirement by revising a paper written
for one of their department seminars. This paper will be submitted to the appropriate
external examiner as part of the honors evaluation process.
Minors are required to take one of the two-unit Honors preparations offered by the
Department.
Seminar Admission: Honors seminars are only open to honors students, with preference
given to seniors, then juniors, including special majors.
Thesis: There is no thesis option offered in the honors program.
Psychology (Jane Gillham, Chair)
Prerequisites: Honors majors in psychology are required to take PSYC 001, Introduction
to Psychology (or equivalent) and at least two core courses in addition to those included
in their honors programs (thus meeting the core requirement in the major). They are also
required to take a course in statistics, STAT 011, and PSYC 025 (Research).
In addition to their courses or seminar for honors preparation, minors are required to
include Introduction to Psychology or Nature and Nurture and two other courses, at least
one of which is a core course, in their programs, for a minimum of 5 credits in
psychology.
Psychology Honors Major and Minor: The program for students majoring in psychology
consists of three preparations for examination. Two of these are sequences of a course
and a one-credit seminar.
The honors minor consists of one two-credit preparation for external examination
consisting of a one-credit seminar and corresponding core course.
The work done in the honors program must be carried out at Swarthmore except in
unusual cases.
Seminar Admission: Honors seminars are open to course students who have done very
well in the corresponding intermediate course.
Thesis: A two-credit thesis is one of the three required honors preparations. The work for
the thesis is carried out over two semesters, normally in the senior year. The thesis is
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open to but not required of course students, and is open to course students with a high
GPA in Psychology.
Special Major in Honors: It is possible for a student to construct a special major in
Honors involving psychology and another department or program. Special majors will
consist of four preparations, one of which will constitute a two-credit thesis. Students
should consult their advisors for guidance in devising an acceptable course of study.
Sociology and Anthropology (Sarah Willie-LeBreton, chair)
Prerequisites: Students seeking to do an honors major are required to complete at least
nine SOAN credits, including "Introduction to Anthropology and Sociology," at least one
designated theory course, and at least one designated methods course.
Sociology and Anthropology Honors Major and Minor: The Honors major consists of
three two-credit preparations in Sociology and Anthropology. Two of these two-credit
preparations may be seminars and one must be the thesis. Students may form an honors
preparation with two one-credit upper-level courses, a course plus attachment, or off
campus student with permission of the department, but this is unusual.
Thesis: A two-credit thesis is one of the three required honors preparations.
Seminar Admission: Honors seminars are open to course students.
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Interdisciplinary Honors Programs 2015-16, Compiled by Craig Williamson
The following summary is based on a meeting of interdisciplinary program chairs (or
representatives) with the honors coordinator, Craig Williamson, on Dec. 10, and on each
program’s honors materials in the college catalogue. The draft of this document was then
checked and revised by each interdisciplinary chair. The programs are listed in
alphabetical order. Three programs offer both an honors major and minor (Asian Studies,
Comparative Literature, and Medieval Studies). The rest offer only an honors minor,
although students sometimes pursue an independent honors major in these programs, and
the Gender and Sexuality Studies program and the Environmental Studies program have
their own well-defined Special honors majors. Since the interdisciplinary programs
primarily use honors preparations in various departments, the SHS requirement normally
follows that of the individual department and preparation. In all cases the honors minor
preparation must be in a department that is not the student’s major. In the case of an
interdisciplinary minor thesis, the majority of the thesis must be in the student’s nonmajor department, and the student must be examined by an examiner not in the student’s
major department.
The programs are listed below in alphabetical order.
Asian Studies (Steven Hopkins, Chair)
To be admitted to the major or minor, students must have completed at least 2
Asian Studies courses in different departments with a grade of B+ or above. They must
earn a grade of B+ or better in all preparations completed for the honors major or minor.
Honors Major: Students must complete 10 credits, including 4 preparations
(normally 2-credit seminars, and often a thesis) drawn from at least two different
disciplines. They must also fulfill the distribution requirements required of all majors in
geographic breadth, disciplinary breadth, temporal breadth, and Asian language study.
All four preparations must be in Asian Study fields, but one of the fields may count
toward an honors minor in a department.
Honors Minor: Students must complete 5 credits, distributed as follows:
Geographic breadth (two tracks: in either comparative Asian cultures or by focusing on a
single country or region), disciplinary breadth, temporal breadth, and an honors
preparation (normally a 2-credit seminar, though this could be a two-credit thesis), and
the Senior Honors Study (SHS) for minors required by the department offering the
Honors preparation.
Black Studies (Sydney Carpenter, Chair)
To be admitted, students must have completed BLST 15 and have earned a GPA
of 3.0 or better in BLST courses.
Honors minors must meet all the requirements of the course minor (at least 5
credits) and complete a 2-credit preparation for their honors portfolio to be submitted to
the examiner. Options for the honors preparation include a 2-credit seminar, a 2-credit
honors thesis, a 1-credit thesis paired with a BLST course, and a pairing of two 1-credit
courses.
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The honors portfolio may be an essay on the work of two or more courses, a
revised and enriched seminar paper or term paper from a BLST course, a video or audio
tape of a creative performance in dance or music, or other approved creative work.
Cognitive Science (Frank Durgin, Chair)
Honors minors must meet all the requirements of the course minor, including
COGS 1 and complete an additional 5 credits in the program distributed in at least 3 of
the 6 participating disciplines. The honors preparation for the minor will normally be a 2credit unit approved by the relevant department from courses listed for the CS minor.
Comparative Literature (Sibelan Forrester, Chair)
Prerequisites: successful completion of an advanced literature course in each of
the literatures of the student’s program with at least a grade of B.
The honors major consists of 4 two-credit preparations—3 seminars and a 2-credit
thesis. The work must be done in at least two literatures in the original language.The
thesis is written in English unless the faculty advisors approve use of another language.
One of the preparations may also be used as an independent minor if the minor’s
departmental requirements have been met.
The honor minor consists of 5 credits in two literatures in the original language,
with a minimum of 2 courses in each of the literatures. The minor preparation is a 2credit thesis of 50-60 pages, integrating the preparations that have been done in two
literatures in the original language.
Environmental Studies (Elizabeth Bolton, Chair)
The honors minor includes an integrated program of the introductory course,
ENVS 1, 4 courses, and the capstone seminar. The 4 courses normally include at least 2
from specific disciplines in environmental social science/technology (one of which must
be a lab course) and 2 in environmental social science/humanities. In consultation with
the coordinator, up to two courses toward the ENVS minor may come from the list of
cognate and interdisciplinary courses or courses taken at other institutions. The honors
preparation will consist of a combination of 2 courses that are related in some way that is
suitable for a single honors examination. Both of the courses must be outside the
student’s honors major. A minor thesis is not allowed.
Honors special majors must complete 10 credits, normally including ENVS 001
and 091 Capstone and the 4 honors preparations to be examined at the end of the senor
year, including the capstone. With the approval of the ENVS director, special majors may
elect to write a thesis or pursue an independent study. Only 2 credits may overlap with
the student’s other major or minor. Honors orals may take the form of separate
examinations or a panel examination.
The SHS paper will consist of a small paper that explores the connections
between the two courses used for the honors preparation.
Gender and Sexuality Studies (Gwynn Kessler, Chair)
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Prerequisite: Students must have at least a B average to be accepted into honors.
Honors special majors must complete 10 credits, including GSST 1, 20 and 91
and the 4 honors preparations to be examined at the end of the senior year, including the
GSST 91 preparation. With the approval of the GSST coordinator, special majors may
elect to write a 1-credit thesis (GSST 092) or pursue an independent study. Only 2 credits
may overlap with the student’s other major or minor.
Honors minors must complete 6 credits, including GSST 1, 20, and 91; they
should consult with the GSST coordinator in the spring of their junior year regarding
their honors preparations. The honors preparation will consist of the GSST 91 seminar
and an SHS portfolio which may included materials such as independent essays, seminar
papers, additionally reading lists, research projects, etc.
Interpretation Theory (Richard Eldridge, Chair)
Prerequisite: B average by the junior and senior year.
The honors minor consists of 6 credits, including the 1-credit capstone seminar
which MUST be taken in the spring term of the senior year, even if a student has taken
another INTP capstone seminar already. Students must complete a 2-credit preparation
for external examination. This may be any 2 credit seminar that is listed among the INTP
offerings (and is outside themajor) that follows the examination system of the offering
department, the 1-credit capstone seminar plus a reading or thesis attachment, a
combination of two courses in different departments, a 2-credit thesis, or a combination
of a thesis and a course. Any thesis must be multidisciplinary.
Islamic Studies (Tariq al-Jamil, Chair)
Prerequisites: Students must have taken at least two Islamic studies courses at
Swarthmore in different departments with grades of B or better.
Honors minors must take at least 5 Islamic Studies courses in at least 3
departments. They must successfully complete Arabic 4 (and its prerequisites) or the
equivalent (this is waived for native speakers and those who pass an equivalency exam).
They may also fulfill this language requirement by demonstrating competence in another
language that is relevant to the study of a Muslim society and is directly related to the
student’s academic program. For the honors preparation, students are required to
complete a 2-credit thesis under program supervision or to take a 2-credit Islamic Studies
honors seminar.
Latin American and Latino Studies (Milton Machuca-Galvez, Chair)
For the honors minor, the student must complete at least 5 credits, including
SPAN 4 or its equivalent (the requirement is waived for native speakers or students who
demonstrate competence in the language); courses in both the humanities and social
sciences; one of the following—LALS 5, HIST 4, or SPAN 10 by their sophomore year;
and an honors seminar outside their major department .
Medieval Studies (Craig Williamson, Chair)
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Distribution Requirement: All students, whether majors or minors, must take a
certain number of courses (see below) in each of the five distribution areas (art history,
history, literature, music, and religion or philosophy).
Honors Majors must take at least 8 credits in medieval subjects. The honors
program consists of 4 related preparations in medieval subjects and includes work in at
least 3 of the distribution areas, including history. The preparations may be seminars, preapproved 2 course combinations, courses with attachments, a 2-credit thesis, or a 1-credit
thesis with a course attachment (which may be a directed reading or independent study).
Honors majors will be examined in a panel oral with all their examiners present. Honors
minors do not have a separate unrelated minor but they may apply one of their four
honors preparations toward an honors minor if they fulfill all the requirements set by the
relevant department or program for that honors minor.
Honors minors must take 5 credits in medieval subjects in at least two distribution
areas, including history. The honors preparation may be a seminar, a pre-approved 2
course combination, a course with an attachment, or in special cases a 2-credit thesis, or a
1-credit thesis with a course attachment (which may be a directed reading or independent
study).
Peace and Conflict Studies (Andrew Ward, Chair)
Prerequisite: Students should ideally have taken 2 courses, including PEAC 15
before applying to the program.
The honors minor consists of 6 credits, including PEAC 15. A standard two-credit
preparation can consist of a seminar, a combination of two courses in different
departments, a two-credit thesis, or a combination of a thesis and a course. Any thesis
must be multidisciplinary.
Other points of discussion or concern
Other points that came up at the meeting included the need for full-position staffing in a
number of the interdisciplinary programs, a concern that the move to a four-course load
might mean fewer courses that faculty would be able to contribute to the programs, and
the sense that in a period of declining honors numbers, some of the smaller programs had
trouble filling up seminars and capstones that were felt to be crucial to their honors
programs. There was a general interest in sharing models across programs in order to find
new ways of attracting potential honors students and developing new pedogogical
pathways for them.