The Senior Essay

Classroom

Each year, the DUS will provide a list of all the deadlines you need to know. In addition, deadlines for the prospectus, the rough draft, and the completed essay are listed in the course descriptions of the senior essay course (CPLT 4910 and 4920, 4930).

The senior essay may be written over one term (CPLT 4910) or two terms (CPLT 4920, 4930). Students with an especially well-developed project may petition to write a yearlong senior essay. Interested juniors must apply to the director of undergraduate studies by the last day of classes in the spring term. Students may count the second term of the essay as one elective course toward the total number of courses required for the major. Students expecting to graduate in May enroll in CPLT 4920 during the fall term and complete their essays in 4930 in the spring term. December graduates enroll in 4920 in the spring term and complete their essays in 4930 during the following fall term. Students planning to begin their essay in the spring term should notify the director of undergraduate studies by the last day of classes in the fall term.

Learn more about the senior essay calendar.

Senior Essay Prizes

According to their topic, students’ senior essays written for the Literature and Comparative Cultures Major may be considered for one of the following prizes: 

  • The Biancamaria Finzi-Contini Calabresi Prize in Comparative Literature
  • The Alvin B. Kernan Prize in Literature
  • The Richard Maxwell Prize for Translation and Translation Studies

These prizes are awarded each year and celebrated at the Department of Comparative Literature’s End of Year reception in May. For more information, you may visit the Office of the Secretary and Vice President for University Life website.