Becoming a member of the English Department's Honors Program means becoming a part of a small, intensely committed group of teachers and students all working toward achieving excellence in the related disciplines of reading, understanding, and writing about texts. Honors courses and the program at large place a premium on discussion, on sustained elaboration of ideas inside and outside the classroom, on conceiving of projects in complex and engaging ways, on learning to do research, and on presenting the fruits of that research in expressive, lucid prose.

"Honors in English" signals sustained, outstanding achievement in the undergraduate concentration. To achieve a degree with Honors, a student must maintain a superior academic record in courses in the concentration and must also successfully complete, in the senior year, an Honors thesis focused primarily on the thesis.

ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM

Students interested in the Honors Program should apply for admission as soon as possible after the beginning of their sophomore year. Since students generally have not decided to pursue Honors before they have completed at least one of the Sophomore prerequisites for the English major (Eng. 297, 298), almost all applicants for admission to Honors come in the winter term of the sophomore year or the fall term of the junior year. Applications are due at the end of the seventh week of each term. Though the program occasionally accepts a few late applicants (i.e. students applying in the winter term of their junior year), admission is more difficult to achieve if you apply late, and your chances for success in the program are greatest if, before the first term of your senior year, you have taken at least one theory course (preferably Eng. 390 or 490) and begun thinking about a possible focus for your thesis. The application consists of a cover sheet; a transcript; a 800-word statement of purpose; and a writing sample. Students must also be maintaining a 3.5 GPA or better in the concentration.

THE CURRICULUM

Students in the Honors Program, as they fulfill the general requirements for the English concentration, must maintain at least a 3.5 GPA in classes in the concentration. In addition, they meet the following special Honors requirements:

• Honors students take a course in literary theory, usually English 390 or 490. It is recommended that this be done during the student's junior year.
  
  
• Honors students take two Honors seminars (Honors sections of Eng. 450 and 451, and/or Eng. 497), preferably in different terms. These courses may also fulfill English program concentration requirements. Enrollment in these courses is limited; classroom discussion, reading, and writing requirements are particularly challenging. These should number among the most exciting and difficult courses you take as an undergraduate. These courses are specially designated in the LS&A Course Guide. Admission to these seminars is by permission of the department only; please notify the Undergraduate Student Services Assistant in 3187 Angell Hall of your section preference.
  
  
• Honors students write a thesis of approximately forty to fifty pages in length during the senior year -- a project that is designed to be the single most important, most meaningful piece of work students undertake as English majors at the University. Students write most of their thesis in a required course, "Research and Thesis Writing" (Eng. 495/496). Students are guided throughout much of their senior year by a faculty adviser chosen early in that year. The completed thesis is due mid-March of the senior year.
  
  
• In early May, Honors students will participate in an Honors Colloquium, at which students make brief presentations of their theses to interested faculty, friends, and family.
  
  

STUDY ABROAD

Honors students are encouraged to study abroad for a term, when that study is academically feasible and seems likely to contribute to the success of a student's project. Those intending to study abroad should inform the Honors Director of their plans as early as possible, so that the curricula for junior and senior years may be carefully planned.

THE WAGNER AWARD

The Wagner Award is given annually to the student who has written what the Honors Committee considers to be that year's outstanding thesis submitted to the Honors program in English. The award, which includes a cash prize, will be announced during the Honors Colloquium at the end of Winter Term.

THE WAGNER BURSARIES

Each year the Wagner fund awards two or three grants to help English Honors students acquire the materials or experience they need to complete particularly ambitious projects. Awards come from a limited pool of approximately $250 and may be used to help support trips to archives or other sites related to students' work; apply early. They may also be used to buy books or other materials not easily available but necessary to a given project. Applicants must first discuss their applications with the Director of the program.

CREATIVE WRITING HONORS

Participants in the undergraduate sub-concentration in creative writing are also eligible to achieve Honors. Students wishing to apply should contact Keith Taylor, in 3270 Angell Hall.

REQUIREMENTS

Regular English Concentration requirements plus the following special Honors requirements:

Honors thesis course (English 495/496)

Two (2) Honors seminars (choose from English 497 or Honors sections of English 450 & 451*)

English Theory course (English 390 or 490)

TIMETABLE FOR HONORS REQUIREMENTS

• Apply by week 7 of the winter term of the sophomore year or week 7 of the fall term of the junior year (no later than week 7 of the winter term of the junior year): application for admission to the Honors program .
  
  
• Before graduation, preferably in the junior year: one course in literary theory (usually Eng. 390 or 490 ).
  
  
• Before graduation, preferably not during a single term: two honors seminars (Eng . 450, 451 or 497 ).
  
  
• During the first semester of the senior year: "Research and Thesis Writing " (Eng . 495 for 3 credits ).
  
  
• December of the first semester of the senior year: completed draft of thesis due (in Eng . 495 ).
  
  
• During the second semester of the senior year: "Research and Thesis Writing " (Eng . 496 for 1-3 additional credits ).
  
  
• March of the senior year: submission of the Honors thesis .