UNM SPANISH OR PORTUGUESE DEPARTMENTAL HONORS

Summary of Honors Requirements:

• An overall 3.2 Grade Point Average, with a 3.5 in major courses.


• Field Work or Travel Requirement - participation in study, field work, internships, or service abroad or in a local or national Spanish or Portuguese speaking community.


• Participation in one Spanish or Portuguese 400 level course doing the Honors Component additional work required to be determined by the professor.


• ONE of the following:
  • Senior Option
  • Honors Thesis
  • Senior Teaching.

HONORS APPLICATION

Students apply to the Spanish and Portuguese Departmental Honors Program once they have completed 75 hours of college credit that includes a minimum of 9 hours of credit in Spanish or Portuguese courses taken at UNM at the 300 level. Students must have a GPA of at least 3.2 overall (including transfer credits) and a GPA of 3.5 or better in Spanish or Portuguese courses taken at UNM. The application form asks for copies of transcripts and a complete list of Spanish and Portuguese courses at the 300+ level. Students will also anticipate other choices in the program - where they hope to complete their Field Work or Travel Requirement, and what their Senior Option will be - Honors Thesis OR Senior Teaching. Upon acceptance of the application (based solely on the GPA in the beginning), students will be identified as Honors Applicants. Applications to the Departmental Honors Program are available from the Undergraduate Advisors.

Completing Requirements:

Honors Applicants submit either an “Honors Thesis Proposal” OR a “Senior Teaching Proposal” to the Undergraduate Advisor no later than Friday of the 6th week of the term BEFORE the term of the student’s projected graduation. The Advisor approves, revises, or rejects the thesis or teaching proposal BEFORE the 14th week of the term. Students who fail to file a proposal in time forfeit their eligibility to be considered for honors, regardless of their GPA. The Thesis Proposal should have a title and a 750-1500 word description of the thesis. A preliminary bibliography identifying primary and secondary sources should be included. The Honors Thesis is primarily a piece of original work, presenting the student’s own approach to the chosen topic. The length of the thesis should be from 20 to 25 pages minimum. Students writing a thesis will register for Span 498 Research for Honors or Portuguese 414 Research for Honors with the sponsoring professor the semester they are writing the thesis. The Senior Teaching Proposal should include the title and the syllabus of the course that the student will be helping to teach. The semester prior to the course, the student will meet with the sponsoring professor to discuss course plans and strategies. Students doing Senior Teaching will enroll in the course they are helping to teach. Both Thesis and Senior Teaching Proposals should be accompanied by a supporting letter from the professor who has agreed to act as the thesis director or teaching director. A second reader for the thesis will be suggested at this time as well.

FIELD WORK OR TRAVEL REPORT

Spanish and Portuguese students distinguish themselves in Departmental Honors by participating either in international programs, field work, internships, or service programs. This requirement may be satisfied in any number of ways, including: a semester or summer abroad program; a course with a field trip component; individual travel with SPAN 497 Undergraduate Problems credit; or Portuguese 335; or special projects involving field work or service in a Spanish or Portuguese speaking community, locally, nationally, or abroad. The field work or Travel Plan is submitted at the time of application. The Undergraduate Advisor will offer recommendations to the student for special projects. The report is due to the sponsoring professor within 2 weeks of completing the project or the trip and at least by week 12 of the last semester.

RECEIVING HONORS