A programme of fourth-year studies is available to students from either the "A" or "B" stream who wish to complete an Honours degree wholly or partly in Italian. To be eligible to undertake the full 36 units of this programme (one year full time or two years part time) students will normally have qualified for the Ordinary B.A. and have obtained a grade of Distinction (DN, D) or better in ITAL 3121 Italian 3 Part 1 and/or ITAL 3122 Italian 3 Part 2. All students intending to enrol in Honours in Italian must meet with the Italian Honours Convenor (Associate Professor Diana Glenn) before the enrolment period in order to discuss the details of their proposed Honours programme.
Students who have completed their pass degree at the University of Adelaide are also eligible to enrol in Honours in Italian at Flinders University. They should note that Honours is offered only on the Flinders University campus (although, subject to staff commitments and student choices, some Honours classes may be held on the Adelaide campus).
Each year staff in Italian provide a variety of offerings that may be taken by prospective Honours students. In normal circumstances students embarking on the full 36-unit programme in Italian will be expected to do at least a 12-unit thesis and 9 units of Italian Language studies at Honours level. Topics commonly offered by staff are: The Italians in Australia (for those who have already completed the third-year option this would become a special project); Dante studies (in particular Inferno and/or Purgatorio); Italian Theatre; Sociolinguistics; Translation.
The thesis topic is usually chosen from an area with which the student has some familiarity (e.g. through Italian culture options taken at third-year level) and in which s/he is particularly interested. Students are asked to consult with the member of staff whose special area is involved, since that person will act as the supervisor for the thesis and will meet regularly with the student. Besides the principal thesis worth 12 units (one third of the year's work) permission may be given to complete an additional research project worth 6 units.
