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    Topics in Literature & Ethics:
    In-person Program

    Topics in Literature & Ethics:

    by Northwestern College Prep

    Northwestern’s literature and ethics course examines crime, punishment, censorship, and American identity through novels, poetry, comics, film, and analytical writing.

    Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy

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    Topics in Literature and Ethics at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    Rising juniors and seniors; GPA 3.0+

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 16-18

    Location / Region

    Evanston, Illinois, United States

    Cost

    $6,936; $11,766

    Duration

    6 weeks

    Format

    In-person

    Next deadline

    Not announced · Next cycle not announced

    Get next-cycle reminder
    LiteratureEthics
    Accommodation: Shared double rooms; assigned roommates
    Meals: Residential: three meals daily
    Latest verified cycle: Summer 2026
    Campus experience: Undergraduate classes with university students
    Tutor: Bill Savage
    Credit / Outcome: 1 Northwestern credit unit
    Sessions / cadence: Tuesdays/Thursdays, 1:00–3:30 p.m.; 5 hours/week

    Topics in Literature and Ethics summary

    This Northwestern English course asks how stories about criminals shape American identity and moral judgment. Literature and film become starting points for discussing law, punishment, and censorship.

    Students contribute to discussion and produce written responses, a personal essay, and literary analysis papers. It suits readers who want to test their interpretations in an undergraduate classroom.

    What is Topics in Literature & Ethics:?

    Topics in Literature & Ethics: is an undergraduate English credit course offered through Northwestern University’s College Preparation Program. Its featured topic, Crime and the Criminal in American Narratives, examines how crime and punishment influence ideas of American identity.

    Students compare written, natural, and divine law while exploring criminal transgression, censorship, and book banning. Novels, poetry, comics, and films support discussion and analytical writing, with College Prep students studying alongside Northwestern and visiting university students.

    Why Succeed highlights Topics in Literature and Ethics

    • The focus on crime and punishment gives literary analysis a clear ethical question to investigate.

    • The reading and viewing list spans novels, poetry, comics, and film, encouraging comparisons across forms.

    • Discussion and several writing formats offer more sustained practice than a single final assignment.

    • Studying with university students provides a direct test of undergraduate classroom expectations.

    • Wildcat Connect workshops add practical college-preparation activities alongside academic study.

    Who is Topics in Literature and Ethics for?

    Best for

    Curious readers who enjoy debating moral questions and supporting interpretations with close analysis of texts.

    Not ideal if

    You want a light enrichment experience or a course focused primarily on creating fiction rather than analyzing literature.

    Is Topics in Literature and Ethics worth it?

    The academic value is strongest if you want to experience undergraduate English study and develop an argument across several texts. Discussion, regular responses, and longer essays give you concrete work to reflect on afterward.

    The financial commitment needs to make sense for your family, and the workload requires consistent attendance and independent study. Choose it for the learning experience: Northwestern explicitly says College Prep participation does not guarantee undergraduate admission.

    Sean, founder of Succeed

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    Founder, Succeed

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    20 minutes · No obligation to enrol

    A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    $6,936; $11,766; includes One undergraduate credit class, Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops, Free Writing Place tutoring while enrolled, Residential option: shared room and three meals daily, Access to Northwestern libraries and campus resources.

    Accommodation

    Shared double rooms; assigned roommates

    Meals

    Residential: three meals daily

    Provider details

    Review the Northwestern College Prep provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    Dates and logistics

    6 weeks; Evanston, Illinois, United States.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.

    Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.

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    How much preparation does Topics in Literature and Ethics need?

    Effort level

    High.

    Best started

    Allow six to eight weeks before a future intake’s published application deadline for writing, transcripts, and travel planning.

    Main challenge

    Turning ethical opinions into text-based literary arguments.

    Typical preparation

    • Practice writing a short analysis that supports one claim with specific passages.

    • Prepare examples of a rewarding academic project and explain your interest in this course for the personal statement.

    • Arrange official transcripts early and reserve class afternoons without conflicting commitments.

    • Review the reading list two to four weeks before classes begin and plan time for reading outside class.

    Useful if

    You want to test your readiness for college-level humanities study.

    What do students do on Topics in Literature and Ethics?

    You read and watch American narratives, then discuss how their portrayals of crime connect with law, punishment, identity, and censorship. Written responses and essays turn those discussions into your own interpretations.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Read the assigned novels, poetry, comics, and short stories, and watch the listed films.

    2. 2

      Discuss ethical philosophies of law and competing understandings of criminal behavior.

    3. 3

      Write brief responses to each text.

    4. 4

      Develop a personal essay and literary analysis papers using the available length options.

    Topics in Literature and Ethics dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Application deadline

    1 April 2026

    Summer 2026 College Prep credit-course application deadline.

    Reference date

    Programme dates

    22 June-2 August 2026

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Be a rising high school junior or senior.

    • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0/4.0.

    • Submit a personal statement and extracurricular activity list.

    • Provide official high school transcripts in English.

    • Provide English proficiency scores when required.

    • Live with a responsible adult over 18 if commuting.

    • Normally take two classes if attending on an F-1 visa.

    How much does Topics in Literature and Ethics cost?

    Commuter program fee

    $6,936 — One class: $5,781 tuition plus $1,155 program fee.

    Funding or discounts

    • Residential program fee: $11,766 — One class plus six weeks of room and board.
    • Application fee: $60 — Non-refundable.
    • Deposit: $1,000 — Non-refundable; credited toward the total program cost.
    • Tuition scholarship: Need-based — Domestic rising seniors with financial need and strong achievement.
    • Former-student fee waiver: Application fee waived — Former CPP students must complete the waiver form.

    What's included

    One undergraduate credit class, Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops, Free Writing Place tutoring while enrolled, Residential option: shared room and three meals daily, Access to Northwestern libraries and campus resources

    How to apply to Topics in Literature and Ethics

    1. 1

      Use Northwestern College Prep admissions and select the credit-course option for ENGLISH 288-0.

    2. 2

      Write approximately 500 words addressing your rewarding academic experience and reasons for choosing the course.

    3. 3

      List extracurricular activities with dates, descriptions, and your roles.

    4. 4

      Arrange official English-language transcripts and any required TOEFL, IELTS, or DET score.

    5. 5

      Submit the complete application with the non-refundable $60 application fee.

    6. 6

      After acceptance, follow the account-setup instructions, pay the deposit, and complete SchoolDoc registration for course enrollment.

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    What does Topics in Literature and Ethics cover?

    The program covers the following focus areas.

    Crime and American identity

    Examine how stories of crime and punishment construct competing ideas of American identity.

    Ethical philosophies of law

    Compare written, natural, and divine law when discussing transgression and punishment.

    Censorship and book banning

    Consider whether a text itself can be treated as a crime.

    Literature and film analysis

    Analyze novels, poetry, comics, short stories, and films through discussion and written interpretation.

    Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.

    What is a typical day on Topics in Literature and Ethics?

    A typical day during the program.

    Class meetings

    Meet from 1:00–3:30 p.m. in Evanston local time, totaling five class hours weekly.

    Coursework

    Complete readings, written responses, a personal essay, and literary analysis papers.

    Residential check in

    Check in by 10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday–Saturday.

    Who teaches on Topics in Literature and Ethics?

    Bill Savage teaches the course and offers office hours by appointment. Northwestern expects College Prep credit students to show the same commitment and involvement as university students.

    Where do students stay on Topics in Literature and Ethics?

    Residential plan

    • Shared residence hall rooms: Stay in an air-conditioned double room with another College Prep participant.
    • Three meals daily: The mandatory dining-hall meal plan offers vegetarian, vegan, and low-fat choices.
    • Residential staff and check-in: Staff live in the hall and support students under nightly check-in rules.
    • Study and campus facilities: Use residence-hall common areas, quiet study rooms, libraries, and campus resources.

    Non-residential plan

    • Off-campus living: Commute from home or nearby relatives while living with a responsible adult over 18.
    • Workshops and activities: Commuters can join the Get Ready Series, cultural events, and program excursions.
    • Meal access: Commuters may purchase meals at Norris University Center.

    Roommates are assigned, and students cannot choose their roommate.

    What happens after Topics in Literature and Ethics?

    After completing this program, participants often pursue:

    Earn one Northwestern credit unit on successful completion.

    Receive a course grade and request an official transcript.

    Build written work through responses, a personal essay, and literary analysis papers.

    Use college-preparation workshops to understand academic and admissions expectations.

    Credit transfer depends on the receiving institution; participation does not guarantee Northwestern admission.

    Where does Topics in Literature and Ethics take place?

    Classes meet in Kresge Centennial Hall 2-325 on Northwestern’s lakefront Evanston campus, north of Chicago. CTA buses and trains connect Evanston with Chicago, and Metra serves surrounding suburbs.

    Families arrange airport transportation; CPP does not provide transfers from O’Hare or Midway.

    Topics in Literature and Ethics FAQs

    The course explores crime and punishment in American narratives, connecting literature and film with ethical philosophies, law, censorship, and American identity.

    Readings include Pudd’nhead Wilson, The Great Gatsby, The Big Sleep, “Howl,” The Dark Knight Returns, and short stories. Films include The Maltese Falcon, Thelma and Louise, and Pulp Fiction.

    Assessment includes class discussion, brief written responses to each text, a personal essay, and literary analysis papers with different length options.

    College Prep credit courses normally award one Northwestern credit unit on successful completion, typically equivalent to four quarter hours or two and two-thirds semester hours. Students can request an official transcript; credit transfer depends on the receiving institution.

    Both options are offered for this course's six-week length. Residential students share assigned double rooms; commuting students must live with a responsible adult over 18.

    Residential students receive three meals per day in a campus dining hall and cannot opt out of the meal plan. Vegetarian, vegan, and low-fat choices are offered, with arrangements for special dietary needs.

    Residential staff live in the residence hall, and students follow nightly check-in rules. Students may explore on and off campus independently before check-in, so families should be comfortable with that level of independence.

    No. Northwestern describes College Prep participation as one part of an application profile and explicitly says it does not guarantee undergraduate acceptance.

    Alternatives to Topics in Literature and Ethics

    Compare these options if you prefer independent research, creative writing, or a broader philosophical focus.

    Alternatives to Topics in Literature and Ethics

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources & verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Topics in Literature and Ethics, English, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, 2026 Summer: Class Descriptions - Northwestern University
    • International Students, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Campus Life, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Pre-College Summer Programs for Credit: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Admission, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • Tuition and Fees, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • FAQs, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
    • College Preparation Program — Summer 2026 Student Handbook
    • Topics in Literature & Ethics:: Northwestern University School of Professional Studies

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)

    • Course identity checked

    • Class timetable checked

    • Application deadline checked

    • Eligibility requirements reviewed

    • Fee components calculated

    • Credit guidance reviewed

    • Residential policies reviewed

    • Scholarship requirements reviewed

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.