A departmental honors program is an option for the Classical Languages major. To graduate with honors, the student must complete 4 hours of upper-division work in the language of concentration beyond the 4 required of regular majors and another 4 hours in any upper-division HEBR, GREK, or LATN class or any other departmentally approved ancient language course (e.g., Akkadian, Aramaic, Ugaritic). Upon selection, these courses are to be designated as “honors work.” “Honors work” means that a student’s work goes beyond that of the class’s other students, in quality if not quantity. These hours count toward the major and are usually taken in the senior year. The student will also take CLAL 499 (honors thesis). Minimum acceptable grade in honors work is A-. The departmental honors designation will appear on a student's transcript and on the printed program at graduation. A copy of the thesis will be kept in the college library.

Students majoring in Classical Languages who are interested in pursuing departmental honors should discuss this interest with their advisor, preferably during their junior year.

• The student must have an overall GPA of 3.5 or above.
• The student must have a GPA in the major of 3.7 or above.
• The student must apply for departmental honors at least 1 academic year prior to the anticipated graduation.
• To graduate with honors, the student must complete 4 hours of upper-division work in the language of concentration beyond the 4 required of regular majors and another 4 hours in any upper-division HEBR, GREK, or LATN class or any other departmentally approved ancient language course (e.g., Akkadian, Aramaic, Ugaritic). Upon selection, these courses are to be designated as “honors work.” “Honors work” means that a student’s work goes beyond that of the class’s other students, in quality if not These hours count toward the major and are usually taken in the senior year. The student will also take CLAL 499 (honors thesis). The minimum acceptable grade in honors work is A-.
• The student’s application should also identify the professor who has agreed to serve as the director of the honors thesis. The student must discuss the thesis idea with her or his advisor and the proposed thesis director prior to completing the application.
• The MCL chair and proposed thesis director, in consultation with the student’s advisor, must review and sign the application in order for the student to be admitted to candidacy for departmental honors.
• The student must write a proposal for the honors thesis, including an outline of the argument and substantive bibliography, to be approved by thesis director.
• Ordinarily the thesis proposal should be approved by the end of fall semester of the student’s senior year.
• Ordinarily the honors thesis should be 40-60 pages.
• Once the proposal is accepted, the student can register for 4 hours of CLAL 499.
• The final draft of honors thesis should be approved by the thesis director and by another member of the Classical Languages section.
• The student’s grade will be decided by the thesis director. The minimum acceptable grade is A-.
• Departmental honors designation will appear on the student’s transcript and on the printed Commencement A copy of the thesis will be kept in the college library.

From the Wheaton College Catalog 2020-2021: Some departments offer departmental honors recognition for high-achieving students within their major(s). Students wishing to pursue departmental honors must achieve the following minimum criteria:

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50
• A minimum major GPA of 3.70
• Complete an application in the department for the honors program during the student’s junior year.
• Complete 4-8 hours of courses designated as honors courses including an honors research/thesis project (course number 499). Most departments will also require an oral defense.

The pursuit of departmental honors is at the discretion of the department and additional requirements may be imposed at the discretion of the department. Students interested in pursuing departmental honors should speak with the chair of their major department. Students who begin an honors thesis but do not qualify for departmental honors upon its completion may appeal via Academic Petition to have the thesis converted to an independent study. Students successfully completing all requirements for departmental honors will have the award noted on their transcript. In order for department honors to be included in the commencement program, the oral defense/thesis must be completed by April 15, and verification received by the Registrar’s Office from the department by April 25.