Eligibility and Requirements The departmental Honors Program is open to students majoring in one of the three programs in French: French language and literature; French language, society, and culture; and Francophone studies. Students majoring in French and linguistics or in Romance languages should make special arrangements with the director of the Honors Program. The minimum eligibility requirements for the Honors Program are an overall grade point average of 3.65 and an average of 3.65 in the major. Students admitted to the Honors Program will complete an 8-credit sequence consisting of an Honors Seminar in the fall and an Honors Thesis in the spring. Students will work throughout the year with the Honors Seminar professor and a departmental faculty advisor of their choice. This advisor is chosen in consultation with the Director of the Honors Program, Henriette Goldwyn (HG3@nyu.edu; 212-998-8722). The Honors Seminar meets in conjunction with the senior seminar during the fall. Its topic changes each semester and is decided upon by the faculty member teaching the seminar. The seminar is a small class that prepares students for the honors thesis. The seminar has a dual focus: a corpus of texts and training in methodology. Honors students have the possibility of conducting research on a topic that suits their interests (literature, culture, Francophonie). They define a thesis topic of their choice, develop a bibliography, read broadly in their area, and undertake the bulk of their thesis research. In addition to weekly senior seminar meetings, Honors students meet as a group with the seminar professor every three weeks or so. These meetings are devoted exclusively to their research. Students must complete a substantive précis/bibliography/outline of the thesis by the end of the semester. In lieu of a seminar paper, they may take an essay exam (in French). During the spring semester of their senior year, students enroll in "Honors Thesis." In close consultation with the seminar professor and the thesis advisor, they work on successive drafts of their thesis. Students also meet as a group with the seminar professor every three weeks or so to critique and improve their thesis. The finished thesis should be a work of scholarship and/or criticism in the field of French literature, culture, or Francophonie. Students are expected to write the thesis in French (25 pages minimum). Under special circumstances, students may petition the Director of the Honors program to write the thesis in English (40-60 pages). The seminar professor and the thesis advisor will determine on the basis of this work and an oral defense whether to recommend the student for an honors degree. A grade of at least A- is required for the award of Honors in French. Students receiving a lower grade will simply receive eight credits towards the major. Exceptions to the above will only be made for students who are abroad during the fall semester of their senior year. These students should apply for admission into the Honors program in their junior year and then conduct research on their thesis while abroad. Prior to leaving, they must meet with the Director of the Honors Program and the upcoming seminar professor. If they plan to spend the fall in France, an advisor from NYU-in-Paris will be assigned to them. In the spring, they will take the regular senior seminar as well as "Honors Thesis." Application Procedure Students apply for admission to the program by contacting the Director of the Honors Program, Henriette Goldwyn, in the course of their junior year. An application packet will include a statement explaining why the student wishes to graduate with honors in French, and an unmarked copy of a paper submitted in a French course. The paper should demonstrate the student’s language skills, analytical abilities, and application of critical methodology. Accepted students should discuss registration with the Director of the Honors Program. Students who are away during their junior year should apply by email to Henriette Goldwyn at HG3@nyu.edu .