Students are strongly encouraged to take two proseminars. However, the Honors Program has provided alternatives to meet the needs of students who are constrained by class conflicts or graduation requirements, or who have a strong interest that can be better fulfilled with a different course. If an Honors student completes one proseminar with a grade of A- or above, the second proseminar requirement can be met in one of the following three ways:

Graduate Coursework:
Students who have successfully completed one proseminar can petition professors to allow them to take graduate level courses. This option allows qualified students to have a broader range of classes that meet many proseminar needs: extended reading/writing requirements, quality peer interaction, etc. Students should be aware that the standards of the graduate class will not be lowered to meet their needs, and that a graduate class will not necessarily provide the support that a proseminar will.

Undergraduate Course For Proseminar Credit:
If there is an undergraduate course at the 100 level or above in which an Honors student has a high interest, s/he may submit a proposal supplementing the requirements of that course to meet proseminar standards. This proposal must be agreed upon by the course instructor and the Director of the English Honors Program, and concrete details must be given as to what additional activity will be required of the students. Students must not only meet the expanded reading/writing requirements, but also increase peer/professor interaction (perhaps by doing extra class presentations, meeting with the professor outside of class, etc.). Proposals will be carefully reviewed by the Honors Director to ensure that students will gain an experience equivalent to a proseminar. After the proposal is approved, students must register for 1 hour of Honors Independent Study (08:098) with the course instructor (this reflects the change from a 100-level course to a proseminar which carries 4 s.h.) and register the course with the University Honors Program for “Honors Designation.”

Study Abroad:
Honors students may petition to replace one of their proseminar classes with courses taken abroad. To petition, you must complete the Proposal Form (available in 305B EPB) and submit a portfolio of written work and a short essay describing the focus of your studies.

In all cases, students are advised to meet with the Honors Director or Honors Assistant before pursuing any of these options. Proposal forms are available in the Honors Lounge.