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English Majors

The Department of English sponsors two options: "English" and "English Teaching."

The English Option is organized to provide instruction in literature in English, literary theory and criticism, the English language, expository and creative writing, writing studies, English education, film, cultural studies, and closely related fields. Students who major in English have many choices in planning a field of study, but the basic program is designed to accommodate students who seek to broaden their familiarity with our literature, to intensify their language skills for personal and professional reasons, and to learn more about literature's relationship to the other arts, history, philosophy, psychology, and the modern languages.

Download English Major Graduate Check-List (pdf)

The English Teaching Option leads to certification to teach in Secondary School. Students must select one option. The department also offers a major in Rhetoric/Creative Writing, a minor in English, and a teacher education minor in English.

English Option

Degree title: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum required major and supporting course work normally equate to 39 hours including a minimum of 33 hours of English courses.

General education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so that students automatically complete the Campus General Education requirements.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours

Departmental distinction: A student interested in graduating with distinction or high distinction must enter the honors program with at least a 3.25 grade point average, complete three honors seminars, and write a senior honors essay. To be considered for highest distinction, a student must take an additional 3 hours and complete a senior honors thesis. The level of distinction is assigned by the honors committee on the basis of grade point average, work in English courses and in honors seminars, and the readers' evaluations of the honors essay or honors thesis. Interested students should consult the departmental honors adviser for details.

Hours

Requirements
3-6 Introductory Literature: Courses in this group should be completed as early as possible. Students may choose one of the following options:
  3 hrs Option A (preferred):
 
English 200: Intro to Literary Study
  or
  6 hrs Option B:
 
English 101: Intro to Poetry and either
 
English 102: Intro to Drama or 
 
English 103: Intro to Fiction
  (Students who have already taken some other combination of introductory literature courses should consult with an advisor).
12 Core Courses (the 200-level courses in this group need not be taken strictly in the order listed, but should be taken before the 300-level coursework). Note the special prerequisites for these courses:
  3 hrs ENGL 209: English Lit to 1798. Prerequisite: Completion of the Comp. I requirement and ENGL 200/101.
  3 hrs ENGL 210: English Lit 1798 to Present. Prerequisite: Completion of the Comp. I requirement and ENGL 200/101.
  3 hrs ENGL 255: Survey of American Lit I. Prerequisite: Completion of the Comp. I requirement and English 200/101.
  3 hrs ENGL 301: Critical Approaches to Lit. Prerequisite: Completion of the Comp. I requirement and ENGL 200/101/102 or 103.
18 Distribution Requirements: Choose one course from each of the following groups: You must include 12 hours at the 300- or 400-level (at least six of these must be in literature), including a section of ENGL 300+ (Writing about Literature) designated as fulfilling one of the distribution requirements. It is recommended that English 300+ be taken before your other 300- or 400-level coursework.
  Note: Courses listed under more than one group can count for only one group requirement. Topics of courses marked with an asterisk (*) must be identified as satisfying the appropriate group to count.
  3 hrs Shakespeare:
 
418 Shakespeare I
 
419 Shakespeare II
 
300+*
6 hrs British Literature: Choose one course from both Group I and Group II
  Group I: British literature before 1800.
 
202 Medieval Lit and Culture
 
204 Renaissance Lit and Culture
 
206 Enlightenment Lit and Culture
 
274* Literature and Society
 
280* Women Writers
 
281* Women in the Lit Imagination
 
415 Early Renaiss Poetry & Prose
 
416 Drama of Shakespeare's Contemp
 
421 Later Renaiss Poetry & Prose
 
426 Earlier 18thC Literature
 
427 Later 18thC Literature
 
428 English Drama 1660-1800
 
429 18th Century Fiction
 
461* Topics in Literature
 
475 Lit and Other Disciplines
 
300+* Writing About Literature
  Group II: British literature after 1800.
 
207 Romantic Lit and Culture
 
208 Victorian Lit and Culture
 
247 The British Novel
 
274* Literature and Society
 
280* Women Writers
 
281* Women in the Lit Imagination
 
285 Postcolonial Lit in English
 
431 English Romantic Literature
 
434 Victorian Poetry and Prose
 
435 19thC British Fiction
 
441 British Lit 1900 - 1930
 
442 British Lit Since 1930
 
461* Topics in Literature
 
462* Topics in Modern Fiction
 
466* Topics in Modern Drama
 
475* Lit and Other Disciplines
 
300+* Writing About Literature
3 hrs Group III: American literature:
 
250 The American Novel to 1914
 
251 The American Novel Since 1914
 
256 Survey of American Lit II
 
259 Afro-American Literature I
 
260 Afro-American Literature II
 
363 Jewish Immigrant Literature
 
274* Literature and Society
 
280* Women Writers
 
281* Women in the Lit Imagination
 
286 Asian American Literature
 
449 American Lit 1820 - 1865
 
450 American Lit 1865 - 1914
 
451 American Lit 1914 - 1945
 
452 American Lit 1945 - Present
 
460 Lit of American Minorities
 
461* Topics in Literature
 
462* Topics in Modern Fiction
 
466* Topics in Modern Drama
 
475* Lit and Other Disciplines
 
300+* Writing About Literature
3 hrs Group IV: an Author-studies course:
 
411 Chaucer
 
423 Milton
 
455 Major Authors
 
300+* Writing About Literature
3 hrs Group V: Special-topics courses: Choose from one of the following groups or an English 300+ identified as a Group V topic:
  Theme, Mode, Genre:
 
213 Modernist Lit and Culture
 
241 Beginnings of Modern Poetry
 
242 Poetry Since 1940
 
243 Modern Drama I
 
244 Modern Drama II
 
247 The British Novel
 
248 Brit Amer & Contin Fiction
 
250 The American Novel to 1914
 
251 The American Novel since 1914
 
267 Grimms’ Fairy Tales in Context
 
274* Literature and Society
 
285 Postcolonial Lit in English
 
416 Drama of Shakespeare's Contemp
 
428 English Drama 1660-1800
 
429 18th Century Fiction
 
435 19thC British Fiction
 
461* Topics in Literature
 
462* Topics in Modern Fiction
 
465 Stage Comedy
 
466* Topics in Modern Drama
 
475* Lit and Other Disciplines
  Gender and Ethnic Studies:
 
211 Intro to Mod African Lit
 
259 Afro-American Literature I
 
260 Afro-American Literature II
 
363 Jewish Immigrant Literature
 
272 Minority Images in Amer Film
 
280 Women Writers
 
281 Women in the Lit Imagination
 
284 Modern Jewish Literature
 
285 Postcolonial Lit in English 
 
286 Asian American Literature
 
359 Lit Responses to the Holocaust
 
460 Lit of American Minorities
 
470 Modern African Fiction
  Film Studies:
 
272 Minority Images in Amer Film
 
273 Intermediate Film Studies
 
473 Special Topics in Film Studies
  Critical Theory:
 
461* Topics in Literature
 
483 Lit Crit From 1800 to Present
 
485 Literature for the High School
6 Supporting Coursework:
6 hrs Western Civilization Requirement: Choose one of the following pairs:
 
CWL 241 and 242: Masterpieces of West Culture I & II
 
HIST 141: Western Civ to 1660 and 142: Western Civ Since 1660
 
HIST 171: US Hist to 1877 and 172: US Hist Since 1877
 
HIST 255: British Isles to 1688 and 256: Great Britain Since 1688

Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.

A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your adviser.

NOTE: Students planning to enter graduate school should elect as many 300- or 400-level courses as possible, including a course in either Chaucer or Milton; a course in the history or structure of the English language; and a course in critical theory. Further, these students should consult the specific requirements of the graduate schools they plan to enter.

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Minor in English1

Hours

Requirements
3 English 200 Intro to Literary Study
3 One 200-level course in British literature before 1800
3 One 200-level course in British or American literature after 1800
3 English 301 Critical Approaches to Lit
6 300 or 400-level work
3 Rhet 243, any Creative Writing (CW) course, or any English (ENGL) course.
21 Total

1. Six hours of advanced rhetoric courses (numbered 140 or above) may be included in the above minor.

Download English Minor Check-List (pdf)

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