English, B.A.
Program Description
Students majoring in English earn the B.A. degree unless they are completing an additional major in a degree program other than the B.A. The minimum requirement for a major in English is 36 credit hours of coursework in the major.
The department recommends that students choose a variety of courses from among different periods and topics. Students progress through the major by taking ENG 221, ENG 222, ENG 223, ENG 299, and ENG 399. Students select among 300-level courses to meet intermediate degree requirements and complete at least two 400-level Advanced Studies courses. They also fulfill three distributional overlay requirements at the 300 and 400 level.
Courses taken to fulfill Arts and Humanities requirements may also fulfill requirements in the English major.
Degree Requirements
| Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education 1 | 41 |
| Foreign language classes (intermediate level required) 2 | 0-12 |
| Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses) | 3 |
| Major requirements | 36 |
| University electives | 28-40 |
| Total | 120 |
- 1
The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some requirements may be fulfilled by courses within the major.
- 2
The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student's chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of World Languages and Cultures' placement exam.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ENG 221 | Literature and Ideas [C2L] | 3 |
| ENG 222 | Literature and Genres [C2L] | 3 |
| ENG 223 | Literature and Cultures | 3 |
| ENG 299 | Introduction to Literary Studies 1 | 3 |
| ENG 399 | Advanced Writing in Literary Studies | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| In addition to the core courses above, students must: | ||
| Choose one course at the 200 or 300 level | 3 | |
| Choose four courses from the 300 level | 12 | |
| Choose two approved 400-level courses from the "Advanced Studies in..." courses | 6 | |
| See list of courses below to meet intermediate and advanced studies overlay requirements: | ||
One course at the 300 or 400 level, pre-1700 | ||
One course at the 300 or 400 level, pre-1900 | ||
One course from the Identity, Diversity and Power selections | ||
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major.
300 or 400 Level, Pre-1700
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 301 | Old English Language and Literature | 3 |
| ENG 306 | The Bible as Literature | 3 |
| ENG 311 | Medieval Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ENG 313 | Studies in Early Modern Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ENG 316 | Early Modern Drama | 3 |
| ENG 317 | Studies in Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG 319 | Teaching Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG 320 | Shakespeare on the Page and Stage in London | 3 |
| ENG 401 | Advanced Studies in Medieval Literature | 3 |
| ENG 402 | Advanced Studies in British Literature Before 1700 | 3 |
300 or 400 Level, Pre-1900
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 301 | Old English Language and Literature | 3 |
| ENG 306 | The Bible as Literature | 3 |
| ENG 311 | Medieval Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ENG 313 | Studies in Early Modern Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ENG 316 | Early Modern Drama | 3 |
| ENG 317 | Studies in Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG 319 | Teaching Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG 320 | Shakespeare on the Page and Stage in London | 3 |
| ENG 321 | Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Prose and Poetry | 3 |
| ENG 322 | Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Drama | 3 |
| ENG 325 | Romantic Literature | 3 |
| ENG 327 | Gothic Literature | 3 |
| ENG 329 | Victorian Literature | 3 |
| ENG 330 | Nineteenth-Century British Novel | 3 |
| ENG 342 | Early American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 343 | Antebellum American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 344 | Late Nineteenth-Century American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 352 | The American Novel to 1914 | 3 |
| ENG 363 | Native American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 401 | Advanced Studies in Medieval Literature | 3 |
| ENG 402 | Advanced Studies in British Literature Before 1700 | 3 |
Identity, Diversity and Power
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 358 | Oral Literature | 3 |
| ENG 359 | Studies in African American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 360 | Introduction to Ethnic American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 361 | African American Fiction | 3 |
| ENG 362 | African American Poetry | 3 |
| ENG 363 | Native American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 364 | Introduction to Asian American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 367 | Latinx Literature | 3 |
| ENG 368 | Women's Literature | 3 |
| ENG 369 | Feminist Literary Theory | 3 |
| ENG 370 | Queer Literature | 3 |
| ENG 374 | Contemporary Global Anglophone Literature | 3 |
| ENG 377 | Introduction to African Literature | 3 |
| ENG 378 | Studies in South Asian Literature | 3 |
| ENG 379 | Literature and Empire | 3 |
| ENG 408 | Advanced Studies in African American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 423 | Advanced Studies in Gender and Sexuality in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 432 | Advanced Studies in African Literature | 3 |
| ENG 434 | Advanced Studies in Latin American Literature in Translation | 3 |
| ENG 466 | Advanced Studies in Women's Literature | 3 |
400 Level
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 401 | Advanced Studies in Medieval Literature | 3 |
| ENG 402 | Advanced Studies in British Literature Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENG 403 | Advanced Studies in British Literature After 1700 | 3 |
| ENG 405 | Advanced Studies in Anglophone Literature | 3 |
| ENG 407 | Advanced Studies in American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 408 | Advanced Studies in African American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 410 | Advanced Studies in Author | 3 |
| ENG 413 | Advanced Studies in Literature and Ideas | 3 |
| ENG 414 | Advanced Studies in Genre | 3 |
| ENG 415 | Advanced Studies in Textuality and the History of the Book | 3 |
| ENG 417 | Advanced Studies in Linguistics and the English Language | 3 |
| ENG 420 | Advanced Studies in Theory and Cultural Studies | 3 |
| ENG 423 | Advanced Studies in Gender and Sexuality in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 430 | Advanced Studies in Comparative Literature | 3 |
| ENG 432 | Advanced Studies in African Literature | 3 |
| ENG 433 | Advanced Studies in Arabic Literature | 3 |
| ENG 434 | Advanced Studies in Latin American Literature in Translation | 3 |
| ENG 439 | Advanced Studies in Major Authors of Literature in Spanish in Translation | 3 |
| ENG 466 | Advanced Studies in Women's Literature | 3 |
Concentrations
In consultation with their advisors, students may choose nine credits of courses at the 300- or 400-level that acquaint them with the scope of one of the fields below. Students may consult with their advisors and individual professors about additional courses that may, because of content covered in a particular semester, be eligible for a concentration by special permission.
British Literature
Select appropriate courses in consultation with advisor.
American Literature
Select appropriate courses in consultation with advisor.
World Literature
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 305 | Mythology | 3 |
| ENG 306 | The Bible as Literature | 3 |
| ENG 358 | Oral Literature | 3 |
| ENG 360 | Introduction to Ethnic American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 361 | African American Fiction | 3 |
| ENG 362 | African American Poetry | 3 |
| ENG 363 | Native American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 364 | Introduction to Asian American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 368 | Women's Literature | 3 |
| ENG 377 | Introduction to African Literature | 3 |
| ENG 378 | Studies in South Asian Literature | 3 |
| ENG 379 | Literature and Empire | 3 |
| ENG 405 | Advanced Studies in Anglophone Literature | 3 |
| ENG 408 | Advanced Studies in African American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 423 | Advanced Studies in Gender and Sexuality in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 430 | Advanced Studies in Comparative Literature | 3 |
| ENG 432 | Advanced Studies in African Literature | 3 |
| ENG 433 | Advanced Studies in Arabic Literature | 3 |
| ENG 434 | Advanced Studies in Latin American Literature in Translation | 3 |
| ENG 436 | Studies in German Literature | 3 |
| or GER 436 | Studies in German Literature | |
| ENG 437 | Studies in Italian Literature | 3 |
| or ITAL 437 | Studies in Italian Literature | |
| ENG 438 | Studies in Russian Literature | 3 |
| or RUS 438 | Studies in Russian Literature | |
| ENG 439 | Advanced Studies in Major Authors of Literature in Spanish in Translation | 3 |
| ENG 466 | Advanced Studies in Women's Literature | 3 |
Environmental Literature and Writing
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 363 | Native American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 371 | Literature and the Environment | 3 |
| ENG 390 | The Environmental Imagination | 3 |
Language and Theory
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 301 | Old English Language and Literature | 3 |
| ENG 303 | History of the English Language | 3 |
| ENG 308 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| ENG 309 | Traditional English Grammar | 3 |
| ENG 310 | Structure of the English Language | 3 |
| ENG 348 | Studies in Linguistics and the English Language | 3 |
| ENG 358 | Oral Literature | 3 |
| ENG 366 | Contemporary Critical Theory | 3 |
| ENG 369 | Feminist Literary Theory | 3 |
| ENG 417 | Advanced Studies in Linguistics and the English Language | 3 |
| ENG 420 | Advanced Studies in Theory and Cultural Studies | 3 |
Print Culture
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 313 | Studies in Early Modern Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ENG 358 | Oral Literature | 3 |
| ENG 415 | Advanced Studies in Textuality and the History of the Book | 3 |
Gender and Sexuality Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 327 | Gothic Literature | 3 |
| ENG 368 | Women's Literature | 3 |
| ENG 369 | Feminist Literary Theory | 3 |
| ENG 370 | Queer Literature | 3 |
| ENG 423 | Advanced Studies in Gender and Sexuality in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 466 | Advanced Studies in Women's Literature | 3 |
Race and Ethnicity Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 358 | Oral Literature | 3 |
| ENG 360 | Introduction to Ethnic American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 361 | African American Fiction | 3 |
| ENG 362 | African American Poetry | 3 |
| ENG 363 | Native American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 364 | Introduction to Asian American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 377 | Introduction to African Literature | 3 |
| ENG 378 | Studies in South Asian Literature | 3 |
| ENG 379 | Literature and Empire | 3 |
| ENG 408 | Advanced Studies in African American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 432 | Advanced Studies in African Literature | 3 |
| ENG 433 | Advanced Studies in Arabic Literature | 3 |
Creative Writing
Students with a strong interest in writing should include in their program nine credit hours of electives from the following courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose three of the following: | 9 | |
| Playwriting | ||
or THEA 347 | Playwriting | |
| The Environmental Imagination | ||
| Introduction to Creative Writing - Nonfiction | ||
| Introduction to Creative Writing - Poetry | ||
| Introduction to Creative Writing - Fiction | ||
| Narrative Form | ||
| Poetic Craft and Creativity | ||
| Advanced Creative Nonfiction | ||
| Advanced Poetry Writing | ||
| Advanced Fiction Writing | ||
| Advanced Topics in Creative Writing | ||
Additional Information for English Teaching Licensure
For students interested in pursuing English teacher licensure, refer to the English Teaching Licensure program for specific requirements.
Additional Information
Other courses may be applied to these requirements via course directive. Students should consult advisors and the departmental semester course offerings about other options.
Recommended Schedule for Majors
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign language requirement | 6 | |
| General Education requirement | 24 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Two of three required courses 1 | 6 | |
| ENG 299 | Introduction to Literary Studies | 3 |
| General Education requirement | 15 | |
| Foreign language requirement | 6 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Remaining requirement from General Education | 3 | |
| English 300-level courses | 12 | |
| Other elective(s) | 15 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| English 400 level advanced studies courses | 6 | |
| English 300-400 level courses | 9 | |
| Other elective(s) | 15 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |