The English Major
A major in English gives the student an appreciation of literary works in the English language and an introduction to critical approaches to those works. It develops skills in reading, critical thinking, and writing.
A degree in English is not intended to provide specific vocational training, but to give a broad, open-ended education which can lead to many different careers. Recent graduates have gone on to careers in publishing, television, film, advertising, public relations, teaching, insurance, and government. In addition, English is an excellent preparation for professional schools, and recent graduates have gone on to graduate programs in architecture, library (information) science, business, educational technology, law, and medicine. More information about career opportunities for an English major is available at the Career Center and from the English Department Advisor, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Requirements
English majors must complete 30 hours of course work in English. A minor is recommended. At least 24 hours in the major must be in courses numbered 3000 or above. No more than 40 hours of English courses may be counted toward graduation. The required hours of English composition are excluded from this maximum and must be taken before the student enrolls in any literature courses numbered 2000 or above. The English courses must be distributed among the following four units as indicated.
Unit One: Sophomore Seminar (3 hours)
- 2100 Writing About Literature
Unit Two: Literature (18 hours)
At least 3 hours in each of the four areas listed below (Courses that cover more than one historical period may be used in either area where they appear.)
A. Beginning to 1603
- 3200 Survey of British Literature, part one
- 4166 Major Authors to 1603
- 4210 Medieval Literature
- 4226 Renaissance and 17th Century British Literature
B. 1603 to 1789
- 3200 Survey of British Literature, part one
- 3300 Survey of American Literature, part one
- 3400 Survey of Anglophone Africana Literature, part one
- 4167 Major Authors 1603-1789
- 4227 Renaissance and 17th Century British Literature
- 4240 Restoration and 18th Century British Literature
- 4300 Early American Literature
C. 1789 to 1890
- 3400 Survey of Anglophone Africana Literature, part one
- 3210 Survey of British Literature, part two
- 3300 Survey of American Literature, part one
- 3310 Survey of American Literature, part two
- 4168 Major Authors 1789-1890
- 4250 19th Century British Literature
- 4310 19th Century American Literature
D. 1890 to the Present
- 1810/1820 Introduction to Film, parts one and two
- 2140 20th Century Literature
- 3180 Historical Survey of Women Writers
- 3210 Survey of British Literature, part two
- 3310 Survey of American Literature, part two
- 3410 Survey of Anglophone Africana Literature, part two
- 4140 Modern Literature
- 4169 Major Authors 1890 to Present
- 4260 20th Century British Literature
- 4320 20th Century American Literature
- 4420 Africana Womanism
Unit Three: Folklore/Oral Literature, Language, Writing and Rhetoric, and Theory (Minimum 6 hours)
Folklore/Oral Literature
- 2700 Introduction to Folklore
- 2770 Introduction to Oral Literature
- 3700 American Folklore
- 4700 Themes in Folklore
- 4710 Themes in Africana Folklore
- 4770 Oral Tradition
- 4780 Women's Folklore and Feminist Theory
Language/Linguistics
- 1060 Introduction to Language
- 4200 Introduction to Old English
- 4600 Structure of American English
- 4610 History of the English Language
- 4620 Regional and Social Dialects of American English
- 4630 Phonology
- 4640 Syntax
- 4650 Teaching English as a Second Language
Writing/Rhetoric
- 2010 Intermediate Composition
- 2030 Professional Writing
- 3010 Advanced Composition
- 4040 Topics in Writing
- 4050 Historical Survey of Rhetoric
Criticism/Theory, Honors Seminar
- 3080 Sexuality and Gender Theory
- 4060 Studies in Critical Theory
- 4070 History of Criticism
- 4996 Honors Seminar in English Studies
Unit Four: Capstone Experience (3 hours)
4970 Capstone Experience or 4995 Honors Senior Essay (honors students only)
To graduate "with Honors in English," students must have a 3.3 GPA and take English 4996 and, as their capstone, English 4995. Click here for the 4995 Honors Senior Essay guidelines.
Options
Students may choose an optional track in Africana studies, creative writing, folklore or language. Choosing one of these tracks increases the major requirements to 33 credits. The requirements in Units II and III (described above) are reduced by 3 credits each and a student takes 9 credits in one of the four tracks described below. (Note: tracks do not appear on transcripts or diplomas.)
- The English language track requires three courses in the English language, choosing from English 1060, 4200, 4600, 4610, 4620, 4630, 4640, and 4650.
- The creative writing track requires three courses in one of the creative writing genres: Fiction: English 1510, 2510, and 4510. Poetry: English 1530, 2530, and 4530. Creative Nonfiction: English 1520, 2520, and 4520. Playwriting: English 2560, 3560, and 4560.
- The folklore track requires three courses in Folklore and Oral Literature, choosing from English 2700 (or 2770), 3700, 4700, 4710, 4770, and 4780. The folklore student also takes a minimum of three courses in associated fields outside the English department (such as anthropology, linguistics, art history, or classics); these courses can be used as Related Field credit or to fulfill general requirements in the College of Arts and Science.
- The Africana track requires three courses in Africana studies from among English 2400, 3400, 3410, 3420, 4410, 4420, 4400, 4480, and 4710.
Please direct questions about the undergraduate major in English to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .