Requirements

Gateway Course: Introduction to Literary Studies

1 course (3 credits)

This course provides beginning English majors with experience in the analysis, interpretation, and appreciation of literary works of different kinds and eras. Texts assigned will vary from one section to another. Works studied will introduce students to the practice of critical argument and will develop techniques for analysis of criticism as well as literature.

Cultures courses

2 courses (6 credits)

Cultures courses explore perspectives on cultural difference. These subject areas may include global Anglophone literature, literature translated into English, and the creative and critical work of historically marginalized and understudied groups. Courses may focus on borders, migration and diasporas, colonialism, counter-cultural movements, civil rights, race, gender, religious minorities, sexual orientation, disability, citizenship, community, and class and socio-economic status, among other topics.

At least one course must have a race, ethnicity, or indigeneity (REI) designation

Methods, Forms, and Genres course

1 course (3 credits)

Students will receive a grounding in one or more genres, critical methodologies, and/or analytical frameworks for the study of literature. Methods courses will include, for example, courses in creative writing, literary theory, digital humanities, performance studies, and disability studies, and courses using genre as an analytical framework (e.g. a course on prose, a course on poetry, a course on drama).

Histories of Literature courses

3 courses, 2 of which must be focused on pre-1800 periods (9 credits)

Histories of Literature courses explore literatures in English from earlier periods, or have an emphasis on how historical forces give shape and texture to literary texts, or how literature changes history. This category includes courses that focus on one specific literary period, or on particular authors, and courses with a transhistorical thematic focus, such as adaptation, literary legacies, and the afterlives of authors or texts.

Three additional English courses

The three elective courses can be any course within the Department of English.

Introduction to Literary Studies (ENGL 30101)

• This course introduces students to college-level study of literature, provides beginning English majors with experience in the analysis, interpretation, and appreciation of literary works of different kinds and eras.
• Texts assigned vary, but all sections include significant attention to poetry and treatment of at least one other genre (fiction, drama, non-fiction prose).
• Frequent writing about works studied introduces students to the practice of critical argument and consideration of how to read criticism as well as literature analytically.
• This is a concurrent prerequisite for the major (i. e. students cannot take a major elective unless they have completed this course or are currently enrolled in it).

Elective courses

Nine English courses at the 30xxx level or above.

Distribution requirements

In selecting elective courses, students must fulfill the following distribution requirements (for details about counting courses toward this requirement see below).

Note that a single course can satisfy more than one distribution requirement. For example, a course on Shakespeare's major plays would satisfy the 1500–1700 period, British, and drama requirements. It is possible to satisfy all of the requirements with five courses.

Literary History

• 1 course in the period before 1500
• 1 course in the period 1500–1700
• 2 courses in the period 1700–1900
• 1 course after 1900

Literary Culture

• 1 course in British literature
• 1 course in American literature
• 1 course in a literature in English outside of Britain and the United States or in American ethnic minority literature

Genre

• 1 course predominantly concerned with poetry.
• 2 courses predominantly concerned with 2 genres from the following list: fiction, non-fiction, drama or film, critical theory

A single course can fulfill the requirement in more than one distribution category, but it may not satisfy more than one category. For example, a survey of Renaissance literature might count for pre-1700 (history), British literature (culture), and drama (genre), but would not count for both poetry and drama (two genre categories).

Two creative writing courses may count toward the major (three for creative writing concentrators).

The number of courses needed to satisfy the distribution requirement will vary, depending on the courses the student selects, but not all electives need fulfill a distribution requirement.

5 Literary Courses (15 credits)

Gateway Course: Introduction to Literary Studies

1 course (3 credits)

This course provides beginning English majors with experience in the analysis, interpretation, and appreciation of literary works of different kinds and eras. Texts assigned will vary from one section to another. Works studied will introduce students to the practice of critical argument and will develop techniques for analysis of criticism as well as literature.

Cultures courses

2 courses (6 credits)

Cultures courses explore perspectives on cultural difference. These subject areas may include global Anglophone literature, literature translated into English, and the creative and critical work of historically marginalized and understudied groups. Courses may focus on borders, migration and diasporas, colonialism, counter-cultural movements, civil rights, race, gender, religious minorities, sexual orientation, disability, citizenship, community, and class and socio-economic status, among other topics.

At least one course must have a race, ethnicity, or indigeneity (REI) designation

Histories of Literature courses

2 courses, 1 of which must be focused on a pre-1800 period (6 credits)

Histories of Literature courses explore literatures in English from earlier periods, or have an emphasis on how historical forces give shape and texture to literary texts, or how literature changes history. This category includes courses that focus on one specific literary period, or on particular authors, and courses with a transhistorical thematic focus, such as adaptation, literary legacies, and the afterlives of authors or texts.

Creative Writing courses

4 courses, 12 credits

The courses should include:

• No more than one 20xxx-level ("Intro to") course.
• One 40xxx-level advanced course in either poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. 
• Two different genres (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction).

Creative Writing courses toward the concentration may also include:

• Creative Writing in Ireland
• Advanced Fiction Writing;
• Advanced Poetry Writing;
• Special Topics in Creative Writing.
• Other creative writing courses may also count towards the concentration; please consult with the Creative Writing Director to confirm that the course you wish to take counts for the concentration.

One additional English course

The additional elective course can be any English major course within the Department of English.

• Complete all the requirements for the English major.
• Complete four creative writing courses. These courses may include:
  • Introduction to Poetry Writing;
  • Introduction to Fiction Writing;
  • Poetry Writing;
  • Fiction Writing;
  • Creative Nonfiction;
  • Advanced Fiction Writing;
  • Advanced Poetry Writing;
  • Special Topics in Creative Writing.
  • Other creative writing courses may also count towards the concentration; please consult Creative Writing Director Roy Scranton and confirm that the course you wish to take counts for the concentration.
• A creative writing concentrator must take either Advanced Fiction Writing, Advanced Creative Nonfiction, or Advanced Poetry Writing.
• No more than one 200-level creative writing course counts toward the concentration.
• Three of the creative writing courses a student takes for the creative writing concentration may double count towards the English major; the remaining course may not. Therefore, an English major with a creative writing concentration normally takes 11 courses, while a regular English major only takes 10 courses. Double-counted courses must be at the 30xxx or 40xxx level.
• Spring of junior year is the ideal time to apply for a concentration in creative writing