Major Requirements
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I'm thinking about (considering) being an English major. What course(s) should I take?
I plan to study abroad. Can I count courses I take abroad towards the major?
What is Critical Theory?
Possible approaches include classical theory, cultural materialism, structuralism, poststructuralism, psychoanalysis, Marxism, feminist theory, or postcolonial theory.
Can I take the senior seminar in my junior year?
Can I take courses outside the department?
Advising for English Majors
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How are advisors chosen?
When you declare your major, the registrar’s office will assign an advisor to you. When your advisor is on sabbatical or on leave, you will be assigned a new advisor. When your original advisor returns, you will be moved back to your original advisor.
Can I change my advisor later?
You can change your advisor. Once you have the permission of the new advisor, the new advisor must contact the registrar’s office and the department chair to request that you become their advisee.
Enrolling in Courses
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How can I enroll in an independent study?
When you have formulated a proposal for an Independent Study, discuss your proposal with the professor who you would like to “work with”. Once that professor accepts your request, you may register online and the professor will then approve the course.
How can I enroll in a literature focused Honors Thesis?
During the spring semester of your junior year, formulate a proposal for an honors thesis. This is usually a topic that you have already worked with in a prior course. Before May, discuss your proposal with the professor who you would like to “work with”. Once that professor accepts your request, you may submit your proposal to the honors coordinator (currently Associate Professor Megan Cook) by midnight EDT on May 1.
Typically, students spend the summer doing their research.
Honors
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I'm considering doing an honors thesis, where do I start?
This is your starting point: What is your thesis topic and which professor is knowledgeable in this area?
A student, who is interested in doing an honors thesis, will approach a professor with their idea for their thesis and if the professor is interested, the professor will ask the student to solidify their ideas into a draft proposal including primary and secondary sources. Once the student has done this, they will schedule a second meeting with the professor. After the second meeting, the professor/Honors Advisor will confirm a commitment to the student and make suggestions for revisions to the draft proposal in order for the student to generate the final proposal. The student will then be responsible to submit their final proposal to the honors coordinator (currently Associate Professor Megan Cook) by midnight EDT on May 1.
What is the minimum GPA Requirement for the Honors Thesis?
When is the deadline to submit my proposal?
By May 1 of your junior year you need to have secured an Honors Advisor, written a formal proposal that defines the work to be done and the methods for achieving it, and submitted your proposal to the honors coordinator (currently Associate Professor Megan Cook).
How much time do I have to complete my thesis?
Honors projects in literature will extend through both semesters of your senior year. Students propose projects in the spring of their junior year. If approved, students will undertake preparatory reading and research during the summer, continue researching and writing in the fall and spring semesters, and complete their work in late spring of their senior year, including a presentation at CLAS.
Last day of Spring classes: students submit the final version of their honors thesis to the department.