Major and Minor Requirements

Class of 2014 and beyond

› See the current Online Course Catalog for requirements for the Class of 2014 and beyond.

 

Class of 2013


The Major in English (for the Class of 2013)

The minimum requirement for a major in English is eight courses beyond the 100 level. Students majoring in English must distribute their courses as follows:

  • In five periods of English or American literature - Medieval (to 1485); The Renaissance (1485-1660); 18th-century British/Early American; 19th Century; and Modern Literature.
  • One designated survey course that studies a body of literature spanning more than one historical period.
  • Two seminars.

The English department urges majors to take the designated survey requirement early in their major coursework, as this requirement is designed to introduce students to important questions concerning literary history relevant to the broader concerns of the major. Students who are considering continuing their studies in graduate school are urged to take at least one course in literary theory.

Note: Courses in women's literature, cultural studies minority literature, and literary theory fulfill requirements for historical periods, surveys, or seminars when so organized.

See our Advising FAQs for information about fulfilling requirements for the English major.

Concentration in Creative Writing (for the Class of 2013)

The concentration in creative writing combines the core requirements of the English major with a series of courses in creative writing. This option allows students to learn to write creatively and artistically while encountering models for good writing through the study of literature.

Neither the foundation seminar in creative writing (ENGL 090) nor the mult-genre introductory course (ENGL 106) count toward the requirements for the concentration.

Students electing the concentration in creative writing will take a minimum of eight courses, including:

  • A survey course in literature
  • One course in literature before the 19th century
  • One course in 19th-century literature
  • One course in 20th-century literature (One of the above courses must be a seminar)
  • ENGL 202 Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction or ENGL 203 Introduction to Creative Writing: Nonfiction
  • ENGL 204 Creative Writing: Poetry
  • ENGL 210 Special Topics in Creative Writing
  • One seminar in creative writing

Concentration in Film/Media Studies (for the Class of 2013)

The Concentration in Film/Media Studies applies traditional literary practices of close textual reading and critical thinking to the realm of film and media. This option allows students to learn about film and media practices through historical study of American and world cinema, theoretical analysis, and creative production.

The Minor in English (for the Class of 2013)

There are three minors available in the department of English:

  • The English minor in American literature consists of five courses in English above the 100 level. At least three of the five courses must be in the study of American literature. One of the five courses must be a literature seminar (ie. not in creative writing).
  • The English minor in British literature consists of five courses above the 100 level. At least three of the five courses must be in the study of British literature. One of the five courses must be a seminar.
  • The English minor in Creative Writing requires five courses. At least four of the five courses must be selected from among the following:
    • ENGL 202 Creative Writing - Fiction
    • ENGL 203 Creative Writing - Creative Nonfiction
    • ENGL 204 Creative Writing - Poetry
    • ENGL 210 Special Topics in Creative Writing
    • ENGL 303 Seminar in Writing Creative Nonfiction
    • ENGL 308 Seminar in Writing Poetry
    • ENGL 309 Seminar in Writing Fiction

The fifth course must be a literature class above the 100 level in which fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction is studied as a genre (e.g., Survey of the Novel, Seminar in Poetry, The Modern Novel, etc.)

Neither ENGL 090 nor ENGL 106 counts toward the minor

Honors in English (for the Class of 2013)

The student, under the guidance of a staff member, undertakes a specifically tailored sequence of courses and independent work culminating in an honors thesis, evaluated by a panel of three faculty members. It is also possible to write a departmental honors thesis without applying for Honors in English. Students writing theses should enroll in ENGL 379 (Senior Thesis) during the semester in which they plan to complete the thesis.

Teaching English (for the Class of 2013)

For information on teaching English and communication in secondary school, see Professor Saundra Morris.