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
Interested students should apply during the spring semester of their junior year. Applications open in January and close in April.
Yes! December or mid-year graduates who wish to apply to honors have two options, but the first is highly encouraged:
Option 1:
In their 5th semester (Spring), students apply to the honors program along with the other juniors. Accepted students will be incorporated into the regular honors cohort and must meet the same deadlines: i.e. they must complete their theses at the same time as the other honors students (though for mid-years this will be at the end of their 7th semester). They register for ENGL 1991 English Honors Seminar in the Fall, and ENGL 1992 Senior Honors Thesis in the Spring.
Option 2:
In the 7th semester (the Spring of their final year), students take an independent study with their thesis advisor, under whose direction they will begin to research and write their theses. This course must be taken S/NC. Mid-year graduates should consult with the Honors Director for information about deadlines.
The Honors Committee evaluates the applications and informs students by letter about the decisions during the first week of pre-registration.
Your thesis should be written according to MLA guidelines including title page, footnotes or endnotes, and bibliography. Margins should be one and a half inches on the left, and one inch on the right, top, and bottom of the page. Page numbers must be included.
A sample title page and permission page can be found here and must be included in your final draft. Be sure to sign the second page where indicated.
Friday, September 20
Revised and signed PDF prospectus is due via Google form. The advisor and second reader must e-sign prospectuses.
November 12-19
Register for ENGL 1992 (Senior Honors Thesis) for Semester II. Professor Nabers will issue registration overrides via the CAB.
Wednesday, December 11
Minimum of 25-30 PDF pages due via Google form.
Monday, March 3
Student ASK concentration plans must be updated and advisor-approved to reflect courses counted toward concentration.
Tuesday, March 4
A full draft of thesis in PDF format is due via Google form.
Tuesday, April 8
The final thesis is due in PDF format via Google form. BDR submission is optional.
Late theses cannot be accepted for honors after the deadline; students who hand in theses after the deadline but before the end of the term will receive a grade for the thesis course, but they will not be eligible for departmental honors.
Friday, September 20
Revised and signed PDF prospectus is due via Google form. The advisor and second reader must e-sign prospectuses.
November 12-19
Register for ENGL 1992 (Senior Honors Thesis) for Semester II. Professor Egan will issue registration overrides via the CAB.
Wednesday, December 11
Minimum of 25-30 PDF pages due via Google form.
Monday, March 3
Student ASK concentration plans must be updated and advisor-approved to reflect courses counted toward concentration.
Tuesday, March 4
A full draft of thesis in PDF format is due via Google form.
Tuesday, April 8
The final thesis is due in PDF format via Google form. BDR submission is optional.
Late theses cannot be accepted for honors after the deadline; students who hand in theses after the deadline but before the end of the term will receive a grade for the thesis course, but they will not be eligible for departmental honors.
Friday, October 25
Application submission deadline. The application cycle opens in May and closes in October.
Friday, January 24
Revised and signed PDF prospectus is due in person to honors directors Jim Egan and Deak Nabers. Must be signed by advisor and second reader.
Friday, May 2
Minimum of 25-30 Word or PDF pages due to advisor, second reader, and program directors with APC cc'd.
Friday, October 10
FULL DRAFT of PDF copy thesis is due to advisor, second reader, and program directors with APC cc'd.
Friday, November 14
Final PDF copy of thesis is due to advisor, second reader, program directors with APC cc'd. BDR submission is optional.
Late theses cannot be accepted after the deadline. Students who hand in a thesis after the deadline but before the end of the term will receive a grade for their thesis course but will not be eligible for departmenal honors.**
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.