Honors

Writing a senior thesis confers University Honors and presents an opportunity to delve into a year-long research project on a topic of interest with close advisement and encouragement from a Classics faculty member.

Graduating with Honors in Classics requires writing an honors thesis. The thesis is a substantive and original work of 50-60 pages, normally in the form of a sustained narrative argument. It is normally organized around four or five chapters, each taking up a specific problem or theme that is part of the overall argument. An introduction establishes the relevant historical and scholarly background and the interest and aims of the project; a conclusion pulls together the findings of the individual chapters and develops their significance for the thesis as a whole. The thesis is supported by a research bibliography. 

Eligibility for Honors 

A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.6 in Classics courses is required for students to enroll in the honors program. To be considered for honors in Classics, the student must select a professor who can supervise their honors thesis as primary reader and the professor must agree. In addition, the professor who serves as primary reader must not be on sabbatical or otherwise unavailable for regular, in-person consultation during the student’s senior year.

Preliminary work 

Developing a solid proposal for a great thesis takes time. This is not something that can be thrown together a week before the deadline; it normally takes months. That means that preparation for an honors thesis begins in the junior year. 

In winter, you should be finding and developing a topic, working with a faculty member who agrees to supervise your work as your honors advisor/primary reader, and planning the needed research, especially any work you may need to do over the summer. In addition, you should identify a faculty member who will serve as the second reader of your final draft.

Supervisor 

In your proposal, you must name the faculty member who has agreed to supervise your thesis as your honors advisor/primary reader. The DUS or your major advisor can help you in the process of finding a supervisor. Some proposals may be deemed unfeasible if no faculty member with appropriate expertise is available to supervise your project. In some cases, typically for interdisciplinary projects, more than one advisor may be appropriate. 

The Preliminary Proposal 

The preliminary thesis proposal is a description of your research project; it should be 4 pp. long (double-spaced) but 3-12 pp. can be acceptable. It should be a well-researched and well-written account, including a clear statement of your central question and preliminary argument, an account of the scholarly background that makes this a timely and interesting question, a clear justification of the methodology you will use, your detailed plans for carrying out the needed research, evidence that you have the background you will need to do the work, and a bibliography. The preliminary proposal is intended to provide you with a blueprint for a successful thesis; it should also demonstrate that you have that blueprint and are on your way to writing a successful thesis. 

The narrative portion of your preliminary proposal should be 2-3 pp. long; the bibliography and any needed supporting elements should occupy additional pages. Your preliminary proposal should clearly explain the following: 

• The broader scholarly question or larger issue at stake.
• The focused question your thesis is intended to answer, and/or your central argument.
• Exactly what data, evidence or material you will focus on.
• Your method, i.e. what you will actually do with this material.
• How this material and your method will enable you to speak to the larger issues at stake.
• The larger interest or relevance of your proposed work, i.e. what contribution you hope to make.
• Your relevant background (courses taken, fieldwork done, other relevant skills).

Make sure your bibliography corresponds well to the content of the proposal, i.e. that you have covered all the relevant bases and can demonstrate that you have done enough reading and of the right kind in order to carry out your proposed project. You must also name your advisor in the proposal.

Make sure you allow ample time to your advisor to give you feedback on your preliminary thesis proposal prior to submission to the UG Studies Committee. Your thesis advisor/primary reader must send a short email to the UG Studies Committee confirming that they have read the preliminary proposal and are willing to advise you in the coming academic year on your work on your honors thesis before you submit your preliminary proposal to the UG Studies Committee. The UG Studies Committee gives approval only if a suitable faculty supervisor is available and if it is satisfied that the student has a sufficient basis of knowledge derived from department course work in the general areas the thesis covers, such as art, Greek, Latin, history, literature, or philosophy. 

The preliminary proposal, approved by the supervisor in accordance with the procedure set forth in the preceding paragraph, is due in early May to the Student Services Officer. The Committee will then give the proposals a preliminary review and communicate their concerns and suggestions to you in writing within two weeks so that you may make appropriate adjustments in your plan for summer research. 

The Final Thesis Proposal 

The final draft of your thesis proposal is due the first day of fall quarter of your senior year to the Student Services Officer. The final draft must be submitted to and read in advance and approved by your primary reader before submission to the Student Services Officer. As was the case with your submission of your preliminary proposal, your thesis advisor/primary reader must send a short email to the UG Studies Committee confirming that they have read the final proposal and are willing to advise you in the coming academic year on your work on your honors thesis before you submit your final proposal to the Student Services Officer. After submission to the Student Services Officer, the proposal will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Studies Committee. All proposals must be approved by the Undergraduate Studies Committee in order for students to be allowed to proceed with honors work.

The department gives approval only if it is satisfied that the student has a sound research proposal and sufficient background or training in the general areas the thesis covers. Proposals may be passed or failed; revisions may be requested before the student is allowed to proceed with the project. 

Getting Credit for Thesis Work 

If your thesis proposal is approved, you will spend a good portion of your senior year working on it. Theses are due at the beginning of May. Make sure to plan plenty of time in advance for drafting chapters, giving your supervisor time to read and comment on drafts, and making revisions. You are required to enroll in CLASSICS 199, with your supervisor as instructor, for a maximum of 6 units per quarter, up to an overall total of 10 units. The advantage of signing up for thesis work is that you build time into your schedule to work on the thesis. Enrolling in 2 units of work is equal to 15 pages of writing, 3 units equal to 25 pages, and 4 units equal to 35 pages, with such pages to be submitted to your primary reader at the close of each quarter in which you enroll in Classics 199. Submitting to your primary reader the pages you complete in satisfaction of your directed reading (Classics 199) each quarter ensures that you receive feedback on your work and make sufficient progress toward the completion of your honors thesis.

Resources 

UAR has some general information for honors theses seekers: https://undergrad.stanford.edu/academic-planning/planning-departmental-honors 

UAR also has a list of funding opportunities for independent projects and research: https://undergrad.stanford.edu/opportunities/research/get-funded

The Hume Center for Writing and Speaking provides writing tutors for any project, including Honors Theses: https://undergrad.stanford.edu/tutoring-support/hume-center 

Thesis Deadlines 

The thesis is due in early May. You should receive a grade and comments from both readers within two weeks. Submit one bound final copy to the Student Services Officer. The Undergraduate Committee will read all the Honors Theses and may select one to nominate for a university medal. The Department keeps a copy of all completed theses on file. 

Evaluating the Thesis 

Honors are awarded only if the essay receives a combined grade of ‘B+’ or higher from the supervisor and a second reader. If you fail to receive honors, you will still retain grades given for work completed in enrolled CLASSICS 199 units. 

Honors Thesis Presentation 

Each honors student is required to present the thesis at a departmental event in early June. The presentation should be 10 minutes in length with 5 minutes of Q & A. Students should consult with faculty advisor/s on format. 

Honors in Classics 2024-25 Dates

Honors in Classics 2025-26 Dates (Tentative)

This is an optional September program for seniors working toward honors theses. We highly recommend the Honors College September program for seniors working toward a senior thesis. If you want to participate, you must arrange for this in the spring of your junior year. Classics does not run an honors college but can attach you to a department that does. Please be in touch with the Student Services Officer and Director of Undergraduate Studies by the preliminary proposal deadline if you are interested in participating. In some cases, the UG Studies Committee may require you to attend this program. If this is the case, the Committee will notify you with their feedback on your preliminary proposal.