2022 -2023 Application for Theses in Other Genres and Media
Concentrators in English usually write senior theses in literary or cultural criticism. By special application, the department may approve theses that are partly in other genres (poetry, fiction) or media (film, photography, podcast, etc.). In all cases a substantial critical essay (ordinarily of 30-40 pages) must accompany the submission.
If you are interested in writing such a thesis, please fill out this form, which will ask you to write 200-300 words describing your intended project, to identify any faculty who might be especially qualified to advise you, to list any coursework outside English that has provided you with relevant knowledge or skills, and to indicate whether the project would benefit from co-advising in another department. If you have discussed the project with faculty in English or elsewhere, please advise us below.
We will evaluate applications on the strength of their ideas and your preparation to develop them. (That is, you should not apply to make a film if you have no experience or coursework in filmmaking.) The plan you submit is not binding—if your direction has changed by September, you are not bound to follow it—but if it is approved, we will use it to pair you with an advisor who can respond to your work in an informed and rigorous way, and to help arrange outside co-advising as relevant. The specific requirements in the different formats will be determined by the student, the advisor, and the director of undergraduate studies in the fall of the senior year. The Spring deadline is Friday, April 29, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. EDT.