Department of English
The Honors Program
Requirements
Students may pursue honors in either the English or Nonfiction Writing tracks. The course requirements for the Honors Program are the same as those for the regular concentration, with the following additions:
- At least three upper-level seminars or comparable small courses in which students have the opportunity to do independent research, take significant responsibility for discussion, and do extensive scholarly and critical writing. Students are encouraged to include at least one graduate seminar in their program.
- During the senior year, honors candidates must complete two additional thesis writing courses beyond the ten courses required by the regular concentration:
English Honors Courses
Nonfiction Honors Courses
- Honors candidates must continue to receive more As than Bs in courses taken as part of the concentration. Courses completed with a grade of C will not count toward an Honors concentration. A student who receives such a grade and wishes to continue in the program must complete a comparable course with a grade higher than C.
The Honors Thesis
The Honors thesis is an extended essay, usually between 50-80 pages, written under the supervision of a faculty advisor and second reader. (Where appropriate, the advisor or the reader, but not both, may be in another department.) The thesis may be an interdisciplinary or creative project, but it is usually an essay on a scholarly or critical problem dealing with works of literature in English. The specific topic and approach of the thesis are worked out between the student and the thesis advisor, with assistance from the student's second reader. This process should begin in the latter part of the student's junior year.
A good way to get an idea of what sorts of projects are possible is to visit the English department page on the Brown Digital Repository site, which stores theses from previous years, or to meet with the Honors Director.
A prospectus describing the project and endorsed by the faculty advisor must be submitted to the Honors Director at the beginning of the senior year. A full list of dates and deadlines for each of our honors programs can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
Eligibility
Admission to the English Honors Program depends on evidence of ability and promise in the study of literature. To be eligible for admission, students must have received more As than Bs (and no Cs or below) in concentration courses completed. Students must complete an application; supply a brief writing sample, and request two letters of recommendation from English faculty with whom they have taken courses. If necessary, letters may come from faculty in related departments. Letters from teaching assistants may only serve as supporting recommendations. Candidates must also submit a one-page project proposal signed by the faculty member who has agreed to serve as the thesis advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Information
In addition to the English concentration, we offer a concentration track in the practice of Nonfiction Writing.
The Department of English offers several pathways for incoming students to deepen and strengthen their ability to think and write about literature and culture.