Departmental Thesis Requirements

An Honors Thesis for English may take the form of (a) a 30-35 page research essay on a topic of relevance to studies in English, or (b) an appropriate creative piece (e.g., novel, collection of poems or stories, videogame storyboard, etc.) with a 10-15 page critical introduction.

Appropriate projects should be developed in consultation with and approved by thesis mentors and the Departmental Honors Liaison.

Each academic department submits the specific requirements that must be met for a successful Honors thesis in its respective major. If you are seeking more information on your department’s thesis requirements, please contact your Departmental Honors Liaison and/or the Honors Thesis Team in the Honors College.

Faculty Thesis Mentors

Any English Department faculty member is eligible to be a thesis mentor, including tenure-line faculty and career-line faculty. Adjuncts are eligible in appropriate cases approved by the Departmental Honors Liaison. Graduate students are not eligible to be thesis mentors. Faculty and researchers outside the English Department are eligible in appropriate cases approved by the Departmental Honors Liaison. If a thesis mentor leaves the University before the thesis is completed, the Departmental Honors Liaison will arrange for a replacement or take the role of mentor, as appropriate.

Collaborative Theses

Collaborative theses may be permitted in appropriate cases. Requirements and procedures for collaborative theses will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Departmental Honors Liaison, in consultation with the Department Chair.

Joint Thesis

Joint theses may be permitted in appropriate cases, as agreed upon by the Honors Liaisons of the respective departments on a case-by-case basis. Joint theses must be relevant to both majors, as determined by the Honors Liaisons.

How does the Honors Thesis relate to other aspects of the major, like a Capstone Project?

ENGL 5650 (Advanced Seminar in Literary Study) helps English majors completing their degree to develop analytical skills and to formulate longer writing projects. This course can be taken for Honors credit with permission from the English Department's Undergraduate Advisor.

Additional information for students

Students must register, with permission from the Undergraduate Advisor, for ENGL 4999, 3 credits for independent thesis research, in consultation with thesis mentors.

Students completing their thesis are strongly encouraged to present their work at an appropriate venue, such as a departmental event or the undergraduate research symposium.