In addition to regular requirements for major, students also take a course in Chaucer, Milton, Spenser, or the Bible as literature at the 300-level, or above. All students must have average in major of 3.4 and college average of at least 3.0. To qualify, applicants submit critical essay that is reviewed by faculty honors committee. Total number of students in program is about two per cent of 1500 majors.
Students complete senior honors thesis, an original essay of forty pages.
In addition, there are oral presentations and library research, which is also a component of the concurrent independent studies.