Student Research

English majors can participate in academic research in many ways: taking classes focused on research practices and methodologies, working on faculty-led research projects, developing independent research projects, or writing honors theses.

1.
Research-Intensive Classes. Research experience is an integral part of the English major. And while students in the major engage in a variety of research experiences throughout their English classes, the department also offers several research-intensive courses, including a required Capstone course (which requires the completion of a major research or creative project). Students interested in pursuing research in literature, language, writing, or rhetoric more deeply may consider one of our designated research-intensive classes.
Research-intensive classes
- ENGL 4400 Opening the Archive
- ENGL 4410 Research in Rhetoric and Writing
- ENGL 4710 Capstone Seminar (topics vary)
- ENGL 4992 Directed Study
September 24, 2013 - English professor Marina Leslie taught her class, "Opening the Archive," using maps from the Arader Galleries Collection in Snell Library.
2.
Independent Research Projects. Students have several opportunities to engage in research through coursework. For example, in ENGL 2991, students engage in independent or group research under the supervision of a faculty member. CSSH students in the University Honors Program have the opportunity to carry out independent research projects of significant scope. Undergraduate students can also receive Honors Distinction in the major on their transcripts by successfully completing a CSSH honors research project in their junior of senior year.
Independent Research Projects
- ENGL 2991 - Research Practicum (2-4 credits)
- University Honors
- College Honors
English major Laura Packard (BA '19) engaged in groundbreaking research with English Professor Erika Boeckeler on the Dragon Prayer Book project, a study of Northeastern's lone medieval manuscript.
3.
Departmental Research Opportunities. Students who qualify for work-study may apply directly through the Student Employment website to work as a research assistant for a professor. Students can also fulfill their co-op experience by conducting research for a faculty member at Northeastern or elsewhere. Students seeking this option should first identify a professor who is working on a topic that they are interested in and qualified to assist with before presenting a plan to the co-op advisor. Our faculty are leading exciting projects and working with affiliated centers on research year-round.
Student Employment
On-going Faculty-led Research Projects
- Assessing Multilingual Writing - Mya Poe & Qianqian Zhang-Wu
- Digital Archive of American Indian Languages Preservation and Perseverance - Ellen Cushman
- Digital Transgender Archive - K.J. Rawson
- Dragon Prayer Book Project - Erika Boeckeler
- Early Caribbean Digital Archive - Nicole Aljoe & Elizabeth Maddock Dillon
- Pandemic Shakespeare - Erika Boeckeler
- Thoreau's Journal Drawings - Kathleen Kelly
- Women Writers Project - Julia Flanders
- Writing Program Digital Archive - Neal Lerner
September 6, 2019 - Sarah Connell, Assistant Director of the Women Writers Project, and Julia Flanders, Director and Professor, compare their transcription to an original text.
4.
University-wide Research Opportunities. Students can explore an extensive range of research opportunities across the entire University on the Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships website. This site also includes helpful resources and application deadlines.
Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

The annual RISE (Research Innovation Scholarship Entrepreneurship) Awards serve as a large-scale effort to support Northeastern's commitment to use-inspired research and solution-focused innovation. Hundreds of students and faculty showcase their research at this event each year.