With just over a month to go before my honours thesis is due (34 days to be exact – not that I’m counting), reality has hit. Smack bang in the middle of my head, in a mind-numbing way that only a 20, 000 word limit can. So, just like the flowers are emerging in the glorious weather of spring I thought I’d emerge from my hermit-like world to reflect a bit on honours - what it is, why people do it, and how on earth I got here.
For those of you who don’t know, honours is an optional extra addition to your degree, in most cases adding another year, as well as some preliminary units in second and third year. You have to be getting decent marks to do it, and usually decide pretty early in order to do the pre-requisite subjects. It varies a lot depending which majors you’ve chosen, with some subjects emphasising course work or research more than others. But basically it’s a chance to delve deeper into a subject you’ve already been doing for a few years.
For me doing honours was a bit of a no-brainer. I liked Political Economy, and I liked university. Given my degree was only three years I thought I might as well take that next step, increase my employability, and explore a particular subject area way more than a four month semester lets you.
Fast forward a few years and here I am in the thick of it, developing the kind of guilt complex unknown to me since the days of the HSC. You know the feeling… that any time spent not doing work is time wasted and cannot really be fully enjoyed. Even though you do spend plenty of time not doing work, the guilt demon clings to you like a bad smell. Fortunately this blog makes me feel semi-productive so you won’t be spared the detail.
Yet rather than babble I thought I’d try to give you a bit of info given it is Honours Information Week right now. What is an honours year like?
My dictionary defines honours as “a class or course of degree studies more specialised than that of the ordinary level”. So basically honours is extraordinary? We certainly like to think so!
But really my explanation of honours is a bit more touchy feely. Honours isn’t your course work or thesis, nor is it the four extra letters you get after your name (though they certainly help!) It’s a bit like starting University over again, cause its so different to normal study, except this time you know all the people and the academic staff. You don’t have that much class time, and I’ve found I’m less involved in uni life as I voyage deeper into the honours world. Yet that is a whole new experience in itself. You really benefit from smaller class sizes and a closer relationship with staff, who I’ve found to be amazingly accessible. And you are surrounded my people who are in the same boat as you, cause its much easier to hang out with those who are carrying that demon too. They understand your geeky excitement over little breakthroughs in your word count or argument. And they also understand when its time for a beer and a whinge at the pub!
Despite the pressure, the massive word count, and the negative effect on my social life, honours has been great. I’ve learnt heaps of skills, at a point where I thought I had them already. I’ve expanded my knowledge of a niche subject area a hundred times over, and found out more about the areas the people around me are passionate about. I’ve even seen my groovy professor dance around playing the guitar and wearing a hawaiian shirt!
If you are looking at doing honours I’d definitely check out the talks this week. Ask questions, email lecturers, and consider your options, for any of the reasons I’ve given, or for a multitude of other potentially more valid ones! You won’t regret it!