Applying to a Special Project or Independent Study

The senior project for the creative writing concentration is usually written in a creative writing course that is combined with ENGL BC3996 Special Project. In rare cases, the senior project may be written in ENGL BC3999 Independent Study.

For all other non-creative writing special projects, please use the directions below.

1. Apply to and be accepted into the creative writing concentration.
2. Apply to a creative writing course through the normal procedures.
3. Once accepted into the course, add it to your course schedule.
4. Add your creative writing instructor's corresponding section of ENGL BC3996 to your course schedule. You will be automatically placed on the wait list for this course. For the fall 2023 semester, be sure to do this by Wednesday, September 13, 2023.
5. Contact Sarah Hilligoss, letting her know both that you are writing your senior project this semester and which section of ENGL BC3996 you are on the wait list for. For the fall 2023 semester, be sure to contact Sarah by Thursday, September 14, 2023, 3:00 pm ET.
6. Sarah will then accept your entry into ENGL BC3996 from the wait list.
7. Once you have been accepted, add ENGL BC3996 to your course schedule. Let Sarah know if you have any further issues with the registration process.

The senior project for the theatre concentration is usually written in a dramatic literature course that is combined with ENGL BC3996 Special Project. In rare cases, the senior project may be written in ENGL BC3999 Independent Study.

In rare cases, the Chair of the English Department may permit an English major not concentrating in theatre to take ENGL BC3996 in combination with another course.

Note that if you are writing a senior project in creative writing, you should follow the creative writing special project directions above.

1. Register for the course in which you will write your special project.
2. Fill out the application form for ENGL BC3996 Special Project in English and get all required signatures.
3. The completed application form must be emailed to Sarah Pasadino by 3:00 pm ET on the day before the last day of the final registration period for the semester. The application deadline for the fall 2023 semester is Thursday, September 14, 2023, 3:00 pm ET.
4. Sarah will grant you permission to register for ENGL BC3996 and let you know what section to sign up for (each section of ENGL BC3996 corresponds to a different instructor).
5. Register for your section of ENGL BC3996. Let Sarah know if you have any issues with the registration process.

Permission is given rarely and only to students who present a clear and well-defined description of the nature of their project, who have a Department sponsor who is a full-time faculty member, and who submit their proposals well in advance of the semester in which they will complete the work. As these are guidelines only, they may be modified at the sponsor's discretion.

1. A student must seek the tentative approval of a sponsor as well advance as possible of the semester in which she will complete the work.  When she seeks approval, she must provide a plausible case for the impossibility of realizing her project in the framework of an existing creative writing course, or, for writing concentration senior projects, in the framework of an existing creative writing course in conjunction with ENGL BC3996.
2. Approval is contingent on the sponsor's discussion of the project with the Creative Writing Director.
3. The completed application form for ENGL BC3999 Independent Study in Creative Writing must be emailed to Sarah Pasadino by 3:00 pm ET on the day before the last day of the final registration period for the semester. The application deadline for the fall 2023 semester is Thursday, September 14, 2023, 3:00 pm ET.

Permission is given rarely and only to students who present a clear and well-defined topic of study, who have a Department sponsor who is a full-time faculty member, and who submit their proposals well in advance of the semester in which they will register. As these are guidelines only, they may be modified at the sponsor's discretion.

1. A student must seek the tentative approval of a sponsor no later than November 15th for spring semester projects and, for fall semester projects, no later than April 15th.  At this time she must
   • provide a plausible case for the impossibility of realizing her project in the framework of an existing senior seminar and
   • supply evidence of prior work in the area of the independent study project.
2. Approval is contingent on the sponsor's discussion of the project with the Chair of the English Department.
3. After receiving the sponsor's tentative approval and the concurrence of the Chair of the English Department, the student must submit a 500-word prospectus and a 10-item, briefly annotated preliminary bibliography of secondary sources no later than the last day of either term. (She should leave her email address or the like with the sponsor for communications during the recess.)
4. The completed application form for ENGL BC3999 Independent Study in English must be emailed to Sarah Pasadino by 3:00 pm ET on the day before the last day of the final registration period for the semester. The application deadline for the fall 2023 semester is Thursday, September 14, 2023, 3:00 pm ET.