Honors in Italian
Students majoring in Italian may earn the Honors designation by fulfilling the following criteria:
1. Have an average GPA of 3.5 or higher in courses required for the major; and
2. Select one of the following options:
- Completion of a 25-30 page research project in Italian, developed in consultation with a faculty advisor and approved by a second faculty member (work on this project ideally takes place over three terms);
- Participation in the advanced track of the Pitt-in-Florence program or in the six-week advanced Italian summer Panther Program abroad and completion of ITAL 1905 Internship in Italian, ITAL 1907 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship, or ITAL 1909 Undergraduate Research in Italian, for at least 2 credits;
- Completion of an additional 1000-level undergraduate or graduate level seminar (ITAL 2XXX) and ITAL1905 Internship in Italian, ITAL 1907 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship, or ITAL 1909 Undergraduate Research in Italian, for at least 2 credits.
In all cases, for more information and to begin planning your Honors path please contact your Italian Major Advisor: Prof. James Coleman.
Honors in French
What is an Honors Project and who can apply?
The Department of French and Italian invites all majors in French who have excelled in their coursework at the University of Pittsburgh to pursue a departmental Honors Project. To qualify for departmental honors, students must complete and present an original piece of scholarship or creative work. An Honors Project can be a research-driven thesis on a range of topics (literary, cultural, linguistic, environmental, historical, and / or theoretical). Students can also do other kinds of critical or creative work, which can take a number of forms. Possible projects include, but are not limited to, creative writing, filmmaking, or digital media production, such as video essays and film subtitling; podcasts; or professional quality translations. Students typically begin the process to apply to the honors program in the second term of their junior year. Students work on the honors project over the course of three terms with the support of a departmental faculty advisor. The advisor is chosen in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Why do an Honors Project?
The Honors Project gives students the chance to complete the major with an original work of creative or critical thought that demonstrates a range of skills and makes a contribution to the field of French studies. The Honors Project can be an invaluable experience that culminates in an intellectual and creative achievement, one that provides clear evidence to graduate schools and potential employers of hard work, commitment, and invaluable skills in research, writing, and creativity. An honors project offers a real plus when writing a statement of purpose for grad school: it also offers faculty letter-writers something important to discuss.
Why do an Honors Project in our Department?
We have created four research networks: Film and Media, Gender and Sexuality, Nation / Transnation, and Environment. Students have the option of working in one or more of these networks and they will find a number of opportunities (including workshops and events) to develop and share work in progress. Pursuing an Honors Project also gives students the chance to work closely with our experienced and collegial group of faculty.
What have our students done after completing an Honors Project?
As our recent students attest (below), the Honors Project opened up a number of post-graduate opportunities. Some carried out research fellowships and applied to graduate programs in the humanities or social sciences; others did a graduate degree in teaching; still others were admitted to law school and medical school. While still others served in the Peace Corps or taught in the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF).
French Honors Project Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
Honors Project in French Testimonials
Ariel Klinghoffer, French Major with Honors (Class of 2019)
“When I was a senior at Pitt, I elected to pursue an Honors thesis in the French program, and frankly it seemed naturally like my next step, as FRIT had always supported my ideas and allowed me to express my interests academically. My advisor, professor, and friend, Dr. Brett Wells, always supported my linguistic interests in light of the fact that the undergraduate program is anchored more so in literature and culture. After many ongoing discussions in my French phonetics course, we decided that I would study the pedagogical influence of an anglophone student’s first language — English — in a classroom where French as a foreign language is taught. With the consent and encouragement from many grad student instructors and professors from the department, I was able to conduct observational analyses and distribute surveys as a sort of study for my thesis, and ultimately, with guidance and literature support, I defended my thesis statement at the end of the year.
Coincidentally, the project ended up being incredibly vital to the next steps I took in life, as I became an English language assistant in Lille, France for middle school students. My overseeing teachers were incredibly impressed with my knowledge on how language mechanics work and how helpful code-switching between French and English was that they often gave me free reign and full creative direction over the way I conducted my lessons. Additionally, I have been able to provide a super unique method when tutoring students in France, and I always feel well informed when advising on linguistic pedagogy. The Honors thesis to me is the gift that keeps on giving, and it is undeniably my most treasured academic accomplishment from my time as a French student at Pitt.”
Julia Hartigan, French Major with Honors (Class of 2019)
“I chose to complete the Honors Thesis to enrich my experience within Pitt’s French and Italian Department. I wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities that were available to me, and working with faculty on a focused project of my own design motivated me to take on the Honors Thesis.
This was the largest writing project I had ever attempted on my own and learning how to manage my time over the course of the year was an invaluable lesson. While the process of choosing a topic and then conducting the research independently seemed daunting at first, once I found a subject I was excited about – literature on gendered experiences of migration –I looked forward to spending time working on the project. Completing my thesis made me more passionate about the French language and other Francophone cultures, leading me to apply for and be accepted into TAPIF: a teaching assistant program in France, where I was able to immerse myself in French culture. The skills I developed during the Honors Thesis (research and writing in French) made me immensely more comfortable in my ability to communicate and adapt to living in France. I would highly recommend the Honors Thesis experience to anyone considering it.”
Emily Calabria, French Major with Honors (Class of 2019)
"When I stood at the candlelight vigil outside of the Cathedral of Learning to commemorate the victims of the terror attacks in Paris, Beirut, and Baghdad in 2015, I knew I wanted to pursue a project examining perceptions of refugees, and I chose to pursue my Honors Thesis. My project focused on two French graphic novels as primary literature, so I had a very enjoyable experience conducting the research itself. As my project developed, opportunities arose for sharing and expanding upon my work. I attended the “Forced from Home” exhibition presented by Médecins Sans Frontières which was of particular interest to me being a pre-medical student at the time. I presented my research at the Migrations of Culture National undergraduate Conference [at Pitt], which taught me how to present months of research in a timed presentation slot and become comfortable presenting original work in front of an audience. The spring after my thesis defense, I was awarded the London Field Studies Research Award allowing me to continue my research during the summer utilizing resources such as the French Department at Cambridge University, the University of East London’s refugee center archives, and the Imperial War Museum’s exhibition on the Syrian War. This was one of the highlights of this experience for me because I was able to travel and access resources that I never would’ve been able to use previously. When I subsequently applied to medical school, every interviewer I met with asked me to discuss my project in more detail because it was so unique, and it helped me to stand out in a highly competitive pool of applicants. Overall, this incomparable experience strengthened my French language capabilities, presentation and research skills, and is one of my proudest academic achievements to date."
Jeanette Schwalm, French Major with Honors (Class of 2019)
"Writing an Honors Thesis was the most challenging yet rewarding project that I undertook during my four years at Pitt. Since graduating, I have expanded on the research interests that I gained while working on my thesis by interning with a prominent Washington D.C. think tank, an opportunity that was made possible, in part, by listing my Honor’s Thesis on my resume. Completing the project in French greatly increased my writing capabilities in the language, and listing this on job applications has sparked interesting conversation with potential employers during interviews.
On a more personal level, completing this thesis boosted my confidence in my academic abilities. It was easy to feel overwhelmed at the start of the project thinking about how much I would need to get done over the next year, but with the help of my advisor it eventually began to feel much more manageable. It was so satisfying to see the thesis in its completed state knowing all of the hard work that I had put into it. Aside from the professional benefits that completing an honor’s thesis has afforded me, the feeling of seeing my hard work pay off at the end of the year, alone, made it all worth it."