Honors in English

Program Director

Meradith McMunn Professor English Department   Craig-Lee Hall 366 (401) 456-8675 (401) 456-8027 mmcmunn@ric.edu

English majors who have demonstrated superior academic ability are eligible to participate in the department's honors program and to earn their degree with Honors in English. Students normally apply during their junior year and work on their honors project during their senior year. Students in the honors program work closely with a faculty advisor for two semesters, researching and writing an Honors Thesis.

Eligibility requirements:

• declared English major
• completion of at least four 300/400 level English courses
• a minimum GPA of 3.25 in the English major
• an overall GPA of at least 3.0

The Procedure:

• students work with a faculty advisor and, during the second semester of the junior year submit a preliminary proposal for an honors project to the department's Honors Committee
• candidates whose proposals have been approved by the Honors Committee enroll in English 490: Directed Study in the first semester of their senior year
• at midterm of English 490, students submit a final proposal for the honors thesis
• candidates whose final proposals have been approved by the Honors Committee enroll in English 491: Directed Study in the second semester of their senior year
• candidates submit an Honors Thesis to the Honors Committee at the end of English 491

Evaluation:

• candidates must receive at least a B from their advisor in English 490 in order to continue in the program
• candidates must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA in English courses while enrolled in the program
• candidates receive a grade for English 491 from their advisor
• candidates are awarded degrees with the designation of Honors in English only upon recommendation by the department's Honors Committee

The Reward:

• the achievement of a degree with Honors in English
• the experience of in-depth research and writing in close consultation with a faculty advisor
• the completion of a thesis, copies of which are bound and placed in Adams Library and in the English department archives

For Further Information:

• See Professor Meradith McMunn, Chair of the Honors Committee