Applications for The Lucyle Hook Travel Grant are now open (Deadline: November 9th, 2026)

Lucyle Hook Travel Grants are available to seniors to support thesis research that requires 

travel, often during winter break. Applications are submitted electronically at this link:  

https://slate.barnard.edu/register/lucylehookgrant and are due by 9AM Monday, November 9, 2026 and must include a proposal, budget, and a letter of support from a Barnard or Columbia faculty member. Below are guidelines:

  

1. Brief Abstract (75 -100 words): Provide an overview of your thesis topic.

 

2. Detailed Proposal (maximum three pages, double-spaced, one-inch margins): Provide 

details about the issues you intend to investigate. You are expected to address the following 

points. 

a. Where do you intend to go? 

b. What will you do there and how long will you need to stay? 

c. Have you made contact with any on-site individuals or institutions whose cooperation will 

be critical to your research? If yes, provide details. 

d. How has your research grown out of your academic pursuits? 

e. How will your proposed work enrich your thesis?

 

3. Letter of Recommendation: The faculty letter of support should be written by a person 

familiar with your project – the person supervising your thesis, for example – and should 

address both the importance of this research to your thesis and your qualifications for 

conducting this research. (Students will be prompted to enter the name and email of their 

recommenders, which will generate an email requesting direct submission of the letter of 

support.)

 

4. Proposed Budget: Provide details regarding expenses including transportation, daily living 

costs such as lodging and food, and other fees or costs associated with your project. Past 

grants have generally been between $100 - $500. A chart form is best and should be included 

as one of the maximum three pages.

 

If your project involves human subjects, please go to https://barnard.edu/provost/research/regulatory-agencies, click on the “Student as PI Worksheet” link, and submit the completed form with your proposal.

 

Proposals will be reviewed and assessed by the Faculty Committee on Honors at their 

November 2026 meeting. Bear in mind that although some members of the Committee may be 

experts in your field, most will not be; it will be wise to tailor your proposal accordingly. Please 

direct any questions to Dean Erica Siegel by email at esiegel@barnard.edu or by making an appointment. 

Applications for The CJC for the Arts Grant are now open (Deadline: November 9th, 2026)

The CJC for the Arts Grant funds expenses related to senior theses or other independent 

projects in film, studio art, dance, theater, or related fields. Applications are submitted 

electronically at https://slate.barnard.edu/register/cjcartsgrant by 9AM on Monday, November 9, 2026 and must include a proposal, budget, and a letter of support from a Barnard or Columbia faculty member.  

 

The following materials are required:   

 

1. Detailed Proposal (maximum two pages, double-spaced, one-inch margins): 

 

     a. What exactly is the purpose of your proposed project? Describe central idea(s) or 

theme(s) and propose a working title. 

    

     b. How have you prepared and what are your qualifications? How does your proposed 

project build on your experience in your field and, if appropriate, related fields? Be specific: 

What coursework, course projects, and/or extracurricular experience has prepared you for this 

project? Give a brief explanation of the project’s genesis. How does the project grow out of what 

you’ve learned to this point? 

      

     c. Place your project in context: As appropriate, explain briefly how your project is related to 

current thinking or practice in your field? How is your project influenced, or inspired, by certain 

ideas or trends in your field? And/or how will the project respond to these ideas or trends? 

Provide the Committee with some relevant intellectual context. Note: for visual arts students, 

consider the following quotations: 

          i. “Projects that are modeled after major movements in contemporary art will be executed 

in the studio….” (from the catalogue description for AHIS BC3530, “Advanced Studio”). 

          ii. “Students are encouraged to incorporate what they learn in their lectures and seminars 

into their own body of work. Unlike in many visual arts programs, Barnard studio arts courses 

and seminars emphasize the reinterpretation of artistic practice rather than a reliance on 

‘traditional knowledge’…” (from the department’s website). How, then, will your work be modeled 

after—and/or be a reinterpretation of –a major idea or ideas in contemporary art? 

 

2. Letter of Recommendation: The faculty letter of support should be written by a person 

familiar with your project and should address both the importance of this project and your 

qualifications.  (Students will be prompted to enter the name and email of their recommenders, 

which will generate an email requesting direct submission of the letter of support.)  

 

3. Proposed Budget: A one-page detailed budget, preferably in chart form. What materials will 

you need beyond those already available to students in your department? What, if any other 

expenditures, will you have? What is the minimum amount that will allow you to move forward 

with your project? Past grants have generally been in the $250 -$700 range.

  

Proposals will be reviewed and assessed by the Faculty Committee on Honors at their 

November 2026 meeting. Bear in mind that although some members of the Committee may be 

experts in your field, most will not be; it will be wise to tailor your proposal accordingly. Please 

direct any questions to Dean Erica Siegel by email at esiegel@barnard.edu or by making an appointment. 

Need an extra credit or two this fall? Here are some options

Doing that degree-audit arithmetic and need one or two more credits?

If you're having trouble getting up to the number of credits you need and are looking for a 1-2-credit course to add, here are some options and tips. Pay special attention to the start dates of these courses.

**Be sure to check course descriptions for special registration procedures or necessary permissions.

Know of something that's not on here? Email SeniorClassDean@barnard.edu, and we'll add it!

1-2 credit course options:

**DEADLINE ALERT** Graduating? You must apply to graduate! -- DEADLINE = FRIDAY of the first week of your final term (9/11/2026 for Feb 2027 grads)

 

 

If you are planning to complete your degree requirements this semester, it’s time for you to apply to graduate.

 

NOTE: While we call this an application, it is just a brief form to get you on all the right lists to be considered for graduation and get your cap and gown.  As long as you know your name, major, expected grad date, and mailing address, you can submit this form today!

 

Deadline for February grads: Sept 11, 2026 = the Friday of the first week of your final semester.

To have your degree awarded, you must apply to graduate (even if you do not plan to attend commencement ceremonies).  

You can log in directly to student planning and access the Graduation Application from the main menu.

OR

portal.barnard.edu --> Graduation tab

If you expect to finish requirements this spring, apply for Spring 2026 graduation.

After submitting the form successfully, you will see an on-screen confirmation page -- there is no confirmation email. Take a screenshot for your records.

If you are not planning to graduate this year, please complete this form so that we can update your record.

 

FAQ: I think I submitted the GradApp. How can I tell if it went through?!?! 

A: Log back into Student Planning and return to the Graduation Application page. If you have successfully submitted the GradApp, you will see this confirmed here!

 

How to search Vergil for classes with open seats or other relevant criteria

Did you know you can use the Course Search in Vergil to filter for classes that have open seats?

Select “Only show classes with open seats” in the search results!

There are a bunch of other useful things you can filter for, including  classes that satisfy Barnard General Education (Foundations) requirements, classes with a particular number of credits, etc. 

NOTE ON FOUNDATIONS REQS: for Barnard requirements, it's safest to cross reference anything found here with the Slate listing of courses approved for Foundations requirements. 

NOTE ON LAB SCIENCE: Do NOT rely on Vergil for acceptable lecture-plus-lab science pairings. See recent blog post for more info on this. 

The English Conference ~ Art and Artifact with Jennifer Egan (ENGL BC3098) available for Fall 2026!

What is fiction, exactly, and why does it matter?  In our screen-dominated era, these questions are worth asking and answering afresh. 

Our course will examine the ways in which works of literature—likely to include novels and novellas by Nella Larsen, Jean Rhys, Chester Himes and Philip Roth—offer portals into both the public mores and private experience of their eras.  We’ll examine each work through four lenses: 1. Technology; 2. Bodies and sexuality 3. Identity and exclusion, and 4. Notions of consciousness. We will also study the craft choices that enable their authors to achieve specific effects, with an eye toward physical description, point of view, and characterization. The conference will include creative in-class handwritten exercises aimed at accessing the unconscious and generating fruitful material. No previous literary training is necessary, and students of every age and discipline are welcome.

This is a 1-point Pass/Fail course that meets on Tuesdays from 2:10 to 4PM on October 6th, October 13th, October 20th, and October 27th ONLY.

If you're interested in taking this course, please read more information here and find the course on Vergil.

Need to meet with your Dean Grabiner? Schedule an appointment!

Do you have a specific academic question/concern? Met with your pre-major/faculty adviser but need additional academic advising? Struggling with a particular class and need extra help? Dealing with a personal issue and need help communicating with your professors/finding extra support on campus? Want to meet with your class dean and just talk about how the year is going?

You can schedule your appointment through Slate to meet with your class dean using their booking link:

Schedule an appointment to meet with Dean Grabiner (Junior & Senior Class Dean) 

- Note: Remote on Fridays (virtual appointments only)

If you need help finding another time to schedule an appointment or need to meet urgently, feel free to contact our office at doas@barnard.edu or call 212-854-2024 for assistance!

As a reminder, you can also meet with any available dean on call during walk-in hours every weekday from 3:30-4:30 PM ET either in our office located in Milbank 105 or virtually through this Zoom link!

2026-2027 Class Dean Daily Walk-In Hours!

Got a quick question?

Need to talk to someone ASAP? You can meet with any available dean on call and speak with them either in-person or virtually over Zoom!

If you have something complicated or want to be sure you can talk at length, please make an appointment via our Slate online scheduler or contact us at doas@barnard.edu or 212-854-2024

-----

Every weekday (Monday-Friday) from 3:30-4:30PM Eastern Time

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank Hall
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

Fall 2026 Chorus/Chamber Singer and Voice Auditions!

Please find the information down below regarding voice and chorus auditions for the Fall 2026 term if you are interested! You can also find this information in the first tab on the Music Department webpage located here. 

------

Chorus & Voice Auditions Fall 2026

Students are advised there is a $500 fee for voice lessons unless you sing in the choir, or you are a music major or a music minor.

Choir and Chamber Singers Auditions:

• Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 6-9 pm. 405 Milbank
• Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 6-9 pm. 405 Milbank
• You may sing a song of your choice, a pianist is provided.
• Please reserve a 15 min audition time slot here using your name and UNI.
• Do not complete an audition form.

Solo Voice Auditions and Voice Classes:

• Wednesday, September 9, 6-10 pm. 325 Milbank
• Thursday, September 10, 6-10 pm. 405 Milbank
• You may sing a song of your choice in any style or language, a pianist is provided.
• Please reserve a 15 min audition time slot here using your name and UNI.
• Please complete an audition form by September 6 and email it to ALL of the listed voice instructors emails below: garcher@barnard.edu, jbjorlin@barnard.edu, Harpet2000@aol.com, cgallet@barnard.edu,  jmongiar@barnard.edu,  roos2k@yahoo.com (link: http://www.robertosborne.net/)

Important Fall 2026 Academic Information & Upcoming Deadlines

 

Dear Students, Welcome to the Fall 2026 semester! Please review the key registration dates, procedures, and resources below. Key Deadlines Sept 4–5: Registration re-opens in Vergil (Friday, Sept 4 for First-years; Saturday, Sept 5 for all). Sept 8: First day of classes Sept 11: Graduation Application deadline for seniors graduating at the end of the fall term; Deferred Exams for many spring 2026 classes Sept 18: Registration/Add Deadline (9:30 p.m.) & Deadline for Permission for Overload Credits.  Spring 2026 P/D/F Uncover deadline. Oct 13: Drop Deadline Dec 14: Fall 2026 Pass/D/Fail election deadline. Registration & Add/Drop (Ends Sept 18) Course Search: Use Vergil filters (e.g., search by subject, by department, by GER, by classes with open seats, etc.) to find classes.  See screenshots here.   Syllabi Preview (before registering): For many Barnard classes, you can preview syllabi via Vergil → Course Title → View in CourseWorks. Clear Registration holds: If you have a registration hold (e.g. a hold placed by the Bursar, Dean’s Office, Health Services), you will need to clear the hold before you can add/drop courses. Overloads (>19 Credits) - Continuing students only To add a class that brings you above 19 credits, you will need to submit an appeal in Vergil.   If you are already registered for more than 19 credits (by getting off of waitlists), request permission from your adviser to retain the overload credits.  Class Attendance & Locations Attendance: Attend all registered (and prospective) classes to hold your spot. Locations: Check Vergil for classroom locations before your first class session. Note that select classes will now meet in the R&D Science Center. Final Exam Schedule Reading Period (Study Days): Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16. Final exams: Thursday, December 17 through Wednesday, December 23.  Exams cannot be rescheduled to accommodate travel plans.  Projected exam dates/times are here, with definitive schedules posted in mid-November. Reference the full academic calendar here.  For additional campus resources, visit portal.barnard.edu. Best wishes for the semester, Jennifer Simmons Registrar Holly Tedder AVP and Vice Dean of the College- Student Support

Anthropology course available for Fall 2026! ~ ANTH 3829 (Absence/Presence)

Please see the flyer down below for an upcoming anthropology course that will be available to all students this semester!

SENIOR FAQ: How to download a pdf of your degree audit

Q: I'm filling out a form that asks for a PDF of my degree audit. How do I get one?

A: By following these steps:

1. Navigate to your degree audit in Student Planning:

2. Click the "Print" icon in the upper right, just above the orange warning text:

3. In the Print dialogue window, select "Destination: Adobe PDF" or "Print to PDF" depending on your operating system, being sure to select "color" if that is an option.

4. Depending on how your computer is configured, this will open a new doc in Adobe or ask you where you want to save your new PDF.  If your browser asks how you would like to open the file, do NOT select "Open in browser."  Instead select "open in Adobe Acrobat" or whatever PDF-viewing software you have (e.g. Preview on a Mac)

5. Give it a recognizable name and note where you are saving it, so you can find it and upload it to your Slate form.

 

Senior FAQ: I might need to take an incomplete or a class or two this summer to finish my degree; can I "walk" in Commencement this May?

 

Short answer: in some cases, with permission

Longer answer (also explained on the Deans Office website):

 

For students within 2 classes (no more than 8 credits) of graduating:

Students expected to complete degree requirements in the summer of that calendar year and who will be within 2 courses (totaling no more than 8 credits) of completing their degree requirements at the culmination of the Spring semester. While such students may participate in Commencement exercises, the degree will not be conferred until October. Approval for anticipated October graduates to participate in the May ceremony in the same calendar year must be obtained from the Senior Class Dean, and students must have a detailed plan for completion of their remaining credits.

Great! How do I get this approval?

1. Submit this Slate form: https://slate.barnard.edu/register/commencement
2. Be prepared to confirm the total number of credits you still need and when/where/how you plan to complete them.
3. Please do this as soon as you are sure of your plans in the spring, so we can add you to the list! The deadline to make this request is March 20

 

For students who will need more than 2 courses/8 credits or need to take classes beyond the summer:

In extremely rare circumstances, a student with more than 2 courses (or more than 8 credits) remaining for degree completion at the end of the Spring semester may be approved by the Dean for Academic Planning and Class Advising to participate in the May Commencement ceremonies. Please note that requests from students who need more than a semester's worth of credit after this May -- or who plan to be enrolled next fall -- are unlikely to be approved.

OK! I get that this may not be approved, but how would I request this special approval?

1. Submit this Slate form: https://slate.barnard.edu/register/commencement
2. Be prepared to explain any extenuating circumstances and to confirm the total number of credits you still need and when/where/how you plan to complete them.
3. Please do this as soon as you are sure of your plans, so we can add you to the list! The deadline to make this request is March 20.

What if I want or need to participate in next year's Commencement ceremony?

Students whose degrees are conferred in October but who did not participate in the Commencement ceremony of that calendar year may request to the Dean of the College to participate during the ceremony the following May.

Senior Year FACT or FICTION: possible to take fewer than 12 credits in your last semester????

FACT OR FICTION:
Is it true that you can take fewer that 12 credits in your last semester?

YES; this is FACT, BUT ONLY IN VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES and by following proper procedure. 

As stated in the Barnard College Catalogue:

"Graduating seniors who need fewer than twelve credits to complete their degree – and who have already satisfied the College’s academic residency requirement and completed at least four full-time semesters in academic residence – may be approved to take a minimum of nine credit hours. Because Barnard students are charged a flat rate of tuition per semester, reducing one’s course load to nine credits will not change the tuition owed in the last semester. International students must consult with International Student Services in advance to determine eligibility.  Students who meet these criteria and are approved to be enrolled in nine credits are still eligible to live in Barnard’s residence halls. 

If any student who is not an eligible senior needs to register for fewer than twelve credits for disability-related reasons, they should reach out to CARDS to discuss the reduced course load process at cards@barnard.edu."

The form to request this will be available once the semester begins, so best practice is to register for at least 12 credits now, and submit this form on or before the drop deadline in your final semester to request approval **Note that this request can only be made at the start of your final semester, for that semester**: https://slate.barnard.edu/register/final_semester_request

Pro Tip: Double-check that the transcript you're uploading shows the actual number of credits you are currently registered for! (The transcript may take a day to reflect changes made in Vergil.)

Heard a rumor and want to know if it's true?  Submit requests for this series to SeniorClassDean@barnard.edu

Senior FAQ: can I take 2 classes that overlap?

Thanks to everyone who suggested we address this important question!

Short answer: NO

Even if a class may be recorded, you my not take two classes that overlap, as the expectation is that students will attend classes in-person and synchronously, as there is no substitute for the learning experience of interacting with faculty and fellow students in person and in real time.

Longer answer: Very occasionally, in very specific circumstances, and by petition only

Okay; how do I petition?

Contact your class dean for information about how to petition the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing to take overlapping classes. Once the semester begins, petitions submitted by Thursday will be considered at the following Thursday's CPAS meeting.

How likely is it that my petition will be approved?

Such petitions are only rarely approved. Petitions with a greater chance of success will include:

• Both classes are required (major or general education req)
• Both can only be taken this semester due to compelling reason like impending graduation
  
• Both faculty members are aware of the conflict and support the petition
• Course overlap is minimal, e.g. 10-15 minutes (including travel time!) once a week.
• You/your instructors have a plan to make up the missing content which is more than just watching a recording.
  

What should I do while I'm waiting to know if my petition is approved?

• Add a "Plan B" course to keep your options open
• If you're currently registered for both conflicting classes, stay in them. If your petition is not approved, you will ultimately need to drop one. If you don't drop one, the registrar will drop whichever was most recently added.
  
• If you're not registered for both classes, the system will not let you register for conflicting courses, though you may plan or waitlist for a course that conflicts with a registered course. We recommend that you strategically register for whichever course is more important and/or more likely to fill up if you wait.

Senior FAQ: Can I take more than 19 credits? How/when can I get permission?

Q: I heard it's possible for students to get permission from their adviser to take more than 19 credits. Is that true, and if so, how/when can I get permission?

A: Yes, in rare cases*, and only once the semester has begun. Starting on the first day of classes, students will be able to appeal to add courses that will put them over 19 credits. Use the green "appeal" button on the Vergil listing for the new course to make this request.

 

Q: What if I get in off a waitlist that puts me over the limit?

A: If you are removed from a waitlist and temporarily find yourself in more than 19 credits, you will need to drop the "extra" credits or receive approval to exceed the limit. There will be a slate form to request to retain the overloaded credits.

NOTE: Approval after the registration deadline is by petition only.

Warning: if you neither request permission nor drop below 19 credits by the Sept 18 registration deadline, the registrar will drop you from the most recently added class. 

*Please note that these requests will only be granted for urgent reasons, such as completion of a major, a minor, or for graduation requirements. 

Graduating this year and plagued by the nagging feeling that you must be forgeting something? SENIOR CHECKLIST to the rescue!

 

Keep track of deadlines and tasks to make sure you're graduating on schedule, using this Senior Checklist.  Spring dates will be further specified when more information is available.

Slate??? Student Planning???? Vergil???? Where do I go for which things????

Now that registration is fully in Vergil, are you feeling confused about which website to use for which information or tasks around your academic record?

Worry no more! The Registrar has you covered with this handy chart.

Also: Pro Tip: Almost anything that you need to do with courses/your record can be found under the Academics tab in the Barnard Portal.  

Deadline extended! Fall 2026's Creative Writing Workshops at Barnard, featuring Paul Muldoon, Maria Hinojosa, Zaina Arafat and more!

 

L-R: Zaina Arafat, Farnoosh Fathi, Nellie Hermann, Maria Hinojosa, Brionne Janae, Patricia Spears Jones, Ellen McLaughlin, Paul Muldoon, Idra Novey, Nina Sharma, Weike Wang, and Kate Zambreno

We're accepting applications for Fall 2026's creative writing courses until August 10th, and all Barnard students and Columbia undergraduates are invited to apply! Our offerings include workshops in prose, poetry, and playwriting, taught by acclaimed writers including Pulitzer Prize winners Paul Muldoon and Maria Hinojosa, Lambda Literary Award winner Zaina Arafat, former New York State Poet Laureate Patricia Spears Jones, and more! All experience levels are welcome, with introductory workshops geared towards beginners and advanced workshops intended for more experienced writers. You can see all of our course offerings here (Columbia students will need to submit an access request, which will be approved within 24 hours), and apply to up to three workshops via the application form. The more workshops you apply to, the higher your chances of being placed in one of your choices. The form will close at 8:59AM ET on Monday, August 10th, and all applicants will be informed of their status on Friday, September 4th. Waitlisting is only required once workshop assignments have been made and applicants notified. If you have any questions, please contact mkumarad@barnard.edu and they will be glad to assist you.

Senior FAQ: I submitted a form online -- how do I know if it was received, reviewed, or approved?

Did you submit one of the online forms that are available via the Slate for Students website? 

Wondering how to track its progress, i.e. to see if/when it was received, approved, processed, etc.?

Here's how to check.

1. Log into Slate directly or find it on the Barnard Portal under the Academics tab

 

 

 2. In the Home tab of Slate, scroll down to the bottom of the page, to Forms Submitted. There you'll see any forms you have submitted and can track them along their route from submitted to approved and processed. The legend below explains any symbols

3. That's it!

Senior Life Hack: How to check your remaining credits and see if you're on track for graduation

Your Unofficial Transcript in Student Planning is the best place to check how many credits you have left before graduation.
 

Do NOT use Vergil or the Degree Audit to check credits! Only the unofficial transcript includes all your test-based credit, study abroad credit, and transfer credit. It also confirms if any summer Columbia credit has been transferred to your Barnard record, and correctly accounts for courses that may be repeated for credit (e.g. Dance Technique, Advanced Language Through Content, Supervised Research, etc.) or are registered for a yearlong thesis that only gives you grades in spring.

How to check how many credits you still need to complete your degree:

Senior year is approaching -- now is a good time to check your degree audit

Planning to graduate this year?  Now's a good time to double-check that you're on track to complete all of your requirements on time. 

Step 1: Open up both your Degree Audit and your Unofficial Transcript -- both in Student Planning

See related blog post for how to check remaining credits on your Transcript.

Step 2: Check for some important stuff

T

On your Unofficial Transcript

1. Are all the classes you took listed, are all the grades on your transcript, and do you have credit for all PE and dance classes you need?
2. Are all external credits you expect -- previous college credit, summer credit, AP/IB credit, study abroad credit, etc. -- listed? 
3. If you're planning to graduate this May:
1. Have you completed at least 86 credits, thereby attaining senior status? 
2. Are you registered -- or will you soon register -- for a schedule that puts you on track to finish everything that remains by the end of the spring?

On your Degree Audit

1. Is your expected graduation date correct?
2. Are all courses showing up as counting for the requirements you expect them to count for? Or are things listed in "Other" that you expected to see under General Education Requirements (GERs) or in your major?  
3. If you're planning to graduate this February, everything should be completed or in progress.

Step 3: Address any issues you identified in Step 2

 

How to get your unofficial transcript

Looking to access your college transcript, but don't know how to find it? Here are the steps to find your unofficial transcript:

1) Go to Student Planning, a.k.a. "self service," and click on 'Unofficial Transcript'

2) Once you click on 'Unofficial Transcript', you will see the following image. All you have to do it click on the 'Student COPY Transcript' document and your transcript will download! Then you can access it. Mission accomplished! :)

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to registrar@barnard.edu.

The English Conference - Art and Artifact with Jennifer Egan (ENGL BC3098) available for Fall 2026!

The English Department is offering The English Conference this fall, featuring Jennifer Egan—an acclaimed American novelist and journalist! Please see the flyer and information down below!

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This is a 1-point course that will meet on Tuesdays from 2:10 to 4PM on October 6, October 13, October 20, and October 27.

In this course, you will explore the following: What is fiction, exactly, and why does it matter? In our screen-dominated era, these questions are worth asking and answering afresh. 

The course will examine the ways in which works of literature—likely to include short novels or novellas by Nella Larsen, Jean Rhys, Chester Himes and Philip Roth—offer portals into both the public mores and private experience of their eras. Each work will be examined through four lenses: 1. Technology; 2. Bodies and sexuality 3. Identity and exclusion, and 4. Notions of consciousness. The craft choices that enable their authors to achieve specific effects, with an eye toward physical description, point of view, and characterization will also be studied. The conference will include creative in-class handwritten exercises aimed at accessing the unconscious and generating fruitful material. No previous literary training is necessary, and students of every age and discipline are welcome.

If you're interested in taking this course, please find more information here.

Apply to Fall 2026's Creative Writing Workshops, featuring Jhumpa Lahiri, Paul Muldoon, Maria Hinojosa, Zaina Arafat and more!

   

Fall 2026's instructors, L-R: Zaina Arafat, Farnoosh Fathi, Nellie Hermann, Maria Hinojosa, Brionne Janae, Patricia Spears Jones, Jhumpa Lahiri, Ellen McLaughlin, Paul Muldoon, Idra Novey, Nina Sharma, Weike Wang, and Kate Zambreno

Applications are now open for Fall 2026's creative writing courses, and all Barnard students are invited to apply! Our offerings include workshops in prose, poetry, and playwriting, taught by acclaimed writers including Pulitzer Prize winners Jhumpa Lahiri*, Maria Hinojosa, and Paul Muldoon, Lambda Literary Award winner Zaina Arafat, former New York State Poet Laureate Patricia Spears Jones, and more! All experience levels are welcome, with introductory workshops geared towards beginners and advanced workshops intended for more experienced writers. You can see all of our course offerings here and apply to up to three workshops via the application form. The more workshops you apply to, the higher your chances of being placed in one of your choices. The form will close at 11:59PM on Sunday, August 2nd, and all applicants will be informed of their status on Friday, September 4th. Waitlisting is only required once workshop assignments have been made and applicants notified. If you have any questions, please contact mkumarad@barnard.edu or see our FAQs for First-Year students (login required to view) here.

*Please note that only 30 applications will be accepted to Professor Jhumpa Lahiri's Fall 2026 creative writing workshop, "Fiction and Personal Narrative-For Man is a Centaur: Reading Primo Levi". Please click here to see more information on the workshop and to submit your application. There are still a few application spots remaining!

ENGL BC1349 (Children's Literature) course available for Fall 2026!

Hello!

Please see the flyer down below for information on an upcoming English course available for the Fall 2026 term if you are interested!

Professor Monica Cohen is teaching a lecture called Children's Literature. It satisfies an Arts and Humanities Requirement, and it can satisfy a "Thinking About Social Difference," "Thinking Through Global Inquiry," or a "Thinking with Historical Perspective" Requirement!

Children's Literature

ENGL BC1349

T/R 2:40-3:55

M. Cohen

Much of who we are as adults --what makes us cry and what makes us laugh--

began in the first stories that absorbed us and gave us so much pleasure. Return

to that pleasure from an analytical perspective, exploring fairytales and

folktales, coming-of-age stories, domestic fiction designed to educate girls,

adventure romance marketed to boys, and fantasy. Readings may include

The Adventures of Pinocchio; Little Women; The Lion, the Witch, and the

Wardrobe; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Treasure Island; Harry Potter;

and selections from the Arabian Nights and European fairytales.