The Honors Program in English
Opportunities for Independent Critical and Scholarly Work
Completing the English major with honors allows students to do independent study on a topic they choose, to work closely with a faculty adviser, and to write a researched, critical paper of at least 40 pages. Students almost always find the honors thesis an incalculably satisfying project and a memorable achievement. Here and elsewhere, many graduate school applicants submit part of their honors thesis as a sample of their critical, scholarly work and of their future promise as scholars. Students preparing for other career paths also write theses in their senior year. When combined with the opportunity to work closely with faculty, to get a real taste of the pleasures of advanced work, to discuss work with other honors students, work on the honors thesis places students in an intellectual community, the memories of which they may well carry into future work and into other intellectual communities.