Undergraduate English Honors

The English Honors Program offers students greater independence and autonomy of thought and work, primarily by challenging themselves intellectually in their courses and by pursuing a sustained research project. Our honors program prepares students not solely for graduate study in English, but for a wide range of professions and careers. 

The English Honors Program offers students substantial benefits: the satisfaction of producing a senior thesis; opportunities to work individually with instructors of the student's choice to explore their chosen topics; and the distinction of an honors degree, an impressive credential for employment, scholarships, and graduate or professional schools.

English majors in three concentrations (Creative Writing, Literature, or Rhetoric, Writing and Culture) may participate in the English Honors Program, and all honors courses will apply to concentration requirements.

The Honors curriculum offers two sophomore-level courses that teach students to read and write about complex texts from a variety of literary traditions and themes and to think theoretically about the processes of reading and writing: ENGL 2823 and ENGL 2824. At the junior and senior-level, honors students will build their skills through independent study and research projects done in collaboration with an English faculty member.  English occasionally offers the 3000-level honors seminar, but more frequently English Honors students opt to add an Honors option to a regular 3000- or 4000-level English course in which they are enrolled.  See the LSU Honors College for how to pursue the honors option.

A senior thesis is the culmination of the honors track in English. The honors student works individually with a professor to select a research or creative project. Together, they will read the literature in the field, discuss the student's ideas, and focus the research topic or creative project.

English Honors Requirements

Hours Required

  • 12

Course Requirements

  • Successfully complete 6 hours of Honors or Honors Option coursework at the 3000 or 4000 level, at least 3 hours of which must be at the 4000 level.
  • Complete two semesters of thesis, either ENGL 3000 or HNRS 4000.

Thesis Courses Available

  • English 3000
  • HNRS 4000

Department Contact

Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of English

 

LSU