English major leading to BA degree

A major in English leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree requires 11 three or four credit courses, exclusive of ENGL 201. The credits must include:

1. One or two English courses numbered between 202 and 295
2. ENGL 299 (should be completed by the end of the sophomore year)
3. Literatures before 1700: at least two courses chosen from ENGL 311, 312, 313, 316, 319, 320, 326, 330, 386, and when the topic is appropriate, 380 and 403
4. Literatures from 1700-1900: at least one course chosen from ENGL 334, 335, 336, 341, 345, 348, 358, 362, 367, and when the topic is appropriate, 380 and 403
5. Literatures after 1900: at least one course chosen from ENGL 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 359, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 366, 368, 369, 370, 373, 375, 382, 384, 388 and when the topic is appropriate, 380 and 403
6. “Counter traditions”: at least one course chosen from ENGL 350, 351, 359, 361, 366, 382, and when the topic is appropriate, 380 and 403
7. Two or three additional courses numbered at the 300-level or above, with the optional inclusion of one course from designated departments and programs
8. Completion of the capstone writing requirement with either ENGL 413 (3) or 493 (3-3)

The English faculty urges majors to craft their courses of study to include lyric poetry, narrative, nonfiction prose, and drama.

Students may petition the chair to include one cognate course at any level in the English major. If a student has not taken ENGL 202, THTR 220 may be used as a cognate course. Courses that may be appropriate for such credit, such as some literature courses in languages other than English, must focus on reading literature closely and recognizing subtle and complex differences in language use; and require at least 15 formal graded pages of writing about literature or a substantial portfolio of creative writing.