Students with special interests who wish to pursue and who can demonstrate sufficient preparation may apply for independent study, either ENGL-295 or ENGL-395. Juniors and seniors who have devised projects in literary criticism and scholarship, or in writing prose and poetry, are encouraged to take ENGL-395.
They should discuss their ideas for projects with their academic advisor and others in the department who might serve to direct the project. In most cases, students should seek out department members with whom they have already studied. If this is not possible, however, the department chair will seek someone to supervise the project. The department will try to find such advisors but cannot guarantee a student will be allowed to undertake independent study. Planning ahead increases the possibility of success. Preference is given to students who can demonstrate thorough preparation, normally through appropriate coursework at the 300 level.
Seniors who have shown promise in a semester of ENGL-395 may, with the approval of the director of the project, continue the independent work for an additional 4 credits, with a view toward writing a thesis to be submitted for honors.
The Independent Study application deadline for Fall 2026 projects is April 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). The application can be found here. (Please download the application form and complete in Adobe Acrobat.)
Please note that neither ENGL-295 nor ENGL-395 count toward the course requirements for the major or minor.
A cumulative average of 3.00 in college work or in the major field.
A minimum of 8 credits of independent study (ENGL-395) over two semesters.
Approval of the Department of English.
I. Junior year, second semester (a calendar-year-long project can be completed in December)
Eligible students interested in senior independent study should discuss their project with potential faculty advisors, whenever possible, before the end of their junior year. Following such discussion, they should submit the application form to the department.
With the advisor's permission, the student registers for 4 credits of independent study (ENGL-395) in the first semester of their senior year. A project becomes a thesis only after this first semester if the advisor and student agree that it can be submitted for possible honors.
II. Senior year, first semester
During the first two weeks of classes, the student should meet with their advisor to discuss their expectations and to set a meeting schedule. Meeting weekly or bi-weekly is usual, but details are left to the student and the advisor. Observing these expectations, however, is crucial for the project to continue for a second semester.
During mid-semester registration the student discusses with the advisor whether the project should continue. If so, the student registers again for 4 credits of independent study (ENGL-395) for the second semester senior year. That tentative plan is confirmed at the end of the semester. For a project "in progress" (IP), no grade is recorded for the first semester's work.
III. Senior year, second semester
The student meets with their advisor during the first week of classes to discuss expectations for spring semester and to set a schedule for meeting and finishing the project.
By mid-semester, the advisor and student should determine whether the project is to be a thesis submitted by the deadline (before classes end) or remain an independent study. That decision is made, finally, at the advisor's discretion.
Next, they should discuss the potential three members of the thesis examining committee: the advisor, another member of the English department, and an outside evaluator from another Mount Holyoke department or program or from another of the Five Colleges. The student or their advisor then asks two committee members whether they will serve. Customarily they are not involved until the thesis is submitted, but at times may be asked to consider the work before it is completed.
A complete first draft of the thesis should be submitted to the advisor at least a month before the college-wide deadline near the end of the classes.
Within ten days the advisor will return the draft with comments and determine whether it may be submitted for honors consideration or remain independent work.
Together the student and advisor need to schedule the thesis examination, consulting with the other committee members to set a date at least 12 days before Commencement. Once the date and time are agreed upon, the advisor and student ask the Department Coordinator to reserve a room for the examination.
May 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (EDT): Please email your thesis to english@mtholyoke.edu and confirm that all members of your thesis committee have a copy.
Schedule your Defense: At least one week before the thesis submission deadline above, email your thesis to each committee member and contact your thesis committee members to schedule your defense. The oral honors examination is one hour long and must occur at least 12 days before Commencement (i.e., no later than May 13). After confirming a date and time with your thesis committee, please contact the department office to schedule a space.
By tradition the oral examination is called a "defense," but that word should not be taken literally. It is a discussion of the project between the student and their examining committee, in which committee members may ask for elaboration or clarification of specific points or ask the students to relate their work more broadly to their literary studies.
Committee members may ask the student to make small, proofreading corrections before submitting it to the LITS electronic thesis collection.
After the examination, the advisor will tell the student whether they have passed but not what level of distinction the committee will recommend. Levels of distinction and eligibility criteria may be found in the College's "Academic Practices and Guidelines: Honors Work." A thesis not recommended for a degree with distinction will be recorded on the student's transcript as independent study.
Ensure your thesis follows the Thesis Formatting Guidelines and supported file formats described on the LITS Theses and Honors Work web page.
After the defense, and after any required changes to the written thesis have been made, email a copy of your thesis to the English Department at english@mtholyoke.edu. Also review the LITS Theses and Honors Work web page, which contains directions on how to submit a thesis to the Institutional Archive.