In the Honour of English By Marieve MacGREGOR

The criteria for the Honours English program at UPEI has changed. Under the rule of the Department of Arts, there is no longer a requirement for 12 semester hours (or, for the mathematically challenged, 4 courses as per 3 credits each) in courses of a second language for Honours English. The requirement has been shortened to 6 semester hours (or 2 classes as per 3 credits each).

“I totally would have gone for my Honours English had the requirement been only two language require- ments when I! attended UPEI." -Joel Meggs

Dr Shannon Murray, Honours Coordinator, explained that Honours requirements are chosen to prepare students for further study in their field, as well as to aid them in achieving a more in-depth study in their field. Most English Master's degrees require students to be able to understand a sec- ond language and request that the stu- dent have at least 6 credits of language training. This allows students to expand the amount of literature they can absorb written in languages other than English.

Until this year, 12 language credits were required to obtain an Honours degree in English. One prob- lem was that no other Honours Majors at UPEI were required to obtain other

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language courses. On a larger scope, no other university (as far as is known) requests Honours English majors to take other language courses. This is the reasoning behind the changes.

It was also brought to the department's attention that many third and fourth year students who decided on English as their major could not schedule the extra language courses into their timetables, especially if those students hadn't already taken any other language courses in their first and sec- ond years. Many simply could not afford to spend time absorbing a new language while trying to finish their schooling.

Many more students may have attained their Honours had the lan- guage requirement not been so heavy. Joel Meggs, English major graduate and currently a Law student at UNB says, "I totally would have gone for my Honours English had the require- ment been only two language require- ments when I attended UPEI." It remains to be seen whether the number of students attempting their Honours English will rise significantly.

z So in keeping up with the norms as well as attempting to main- tain a high standard, it was decided that the ‘other language! credits would be reduced by half. This applies only to this year's graduating class for the moment. It remains to be seen whether this decision will be maintained for future graduating classes. :

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