Four Workshop Courses

Concentrators must take four workshop courses from among LITR 100, 110, 210, 310, 610, 1010, 1110, 1150, 1310 and 1510. At the discretion of the concentration advisor, workshop credit may also be given for Playwriting workshops given by the departments of Africana Studies and Theatre and Performance Studies; credit may also be given for 1000-level writing courses given through the English Department. 

Six Literature Courses

Concentrators must also take six literature courses*, including: a course in literary theory or history of literary criticism; two courses that cover reading and research in literary arts created before the 20th century (these must cover two distinct time periods); and one course that covers literary arts created after the 19th century.

Additional Requirements

• During the senior year, all concentrators must take one course from among the Literary Arts offerings (designated as LITR or cross-listed by LITR). 
• At least four courses counted toward the concentration must be at the 1000-level. 
• At least six courses counted toward the concentration must be taken in the Literary Arts Department (with the approval of the concentration advisor, the rest may be taken at other institutions or other departments at Brown that offer literature courses).
• No more than two courses may count toward the Literary Arts concentration and toward a second concentration.

*By literature courses, the department means courses where the primary readings for the course are works of literature.

To establish your Literary Arts concentration, you'll need to visit the Registrars website, where you can complete the concentration filing process online.

To learn more about the concentration and before you file your concentration forms online, we recommend that you make an appointment by email with Gale Nelson. 

Literary Arts concentrators who wish to complete their concentration with Honors in Creative Writing must include two 1000-level workshops or independent studies among their courses and must, in addition, complete a thesis. The thesis is a substantial body of work that reflects the student’s achievement during his/her years in the Department: a collection of stories or poems, a novel, a play, screenplay, a literary translation, a cross-disciplinary project or an extended electronic/mixed media project. Students may complete a thesis by taking either LITR 1510 (an independent study) or by taking LITR 1410 (the Honors workshop).

Honors in Cross-Disciplinary Writing

Students wishing to complete Honors in Cross-Disciplinary writing must take either two special topics workshops, one special topics plus one genre workshop, or one workshop in each of two different genres.

Applications

Applications to the Honors Program are due between the first day of the fall semester and 20 September (or the first Monday thereafter if the 20th falls on a weekend). Applications are considered annually. In order to apply, candidates must have taken OR be taking a workshop in the respective genre at the 1000-level (the workshop may be LITR 1010, 1110 or 1150; LITR 1310 also makes one eligible). Candidates may apply in more than one genre (if eligible), but will do ONE thesis (with the thesis advisor’s consent, a thesis may cross the boundaries of genre). 

Theses

Theses are typically completed in the senior year, and are due on 13 April (Samuel Beckett’s birthday) or the Monday thereafter when the 13th falls on a weekend). If a concentrator is to complete course work in December, the thesis may be completed by the previous 13 April, by the end of December, or by the following 13 April (the date selected must be agreed upon by the thesis advisor). Most students complete the thesis through an honors independent study or through an honors workshop.