English Language and Literature, BA

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Required Credit Hours: 36

(at least 27 of which must be in courses numbered 300 and above)

Major Computing Requirement:

ENGL 475 - Research Seminar in English (4)
ENGL 494 - Junior Honors Seminar (4)

Major Writing Requirement:

The great majority of courses offered in English are writing-intensive. Students officially satisfy the Major Writing Requirement by successfully completing ENGL 475, Research Seminar in English.

Methods:

ENGL 250 - Interpreting Literature (3)

Research Seminar:

As a capstone experience, ENGL 475 also satisfies COLL 400 in the College Curriculum. Irrespective of its topic, ENGL 475 may not be used to satisfy the other requirements listed below.

ENGL 475 - Research Seminar in English (4)

Distribution:

At least four courses numbered 300 or above that, in combination, satisfy the following requirements. A single course can be used to satisfy no more than two requirements at once.

British Literature before 1700:

One course (3 credits) from:

ENGL 311 - Epic and Romance (3)
ENGL 315 - Beowulf (3)
ENGL 322 - Medieval Literature (3)
ENGL 323 - The English Renaissance (3)
ENGL 324 - The Early Seventeenth Century (3)
ENGL 325 - English Renaissance Drama (3)
ENGL 420 - Chaucer (3)
ENGL 421 - Shakespeare History and Comedy (3)
ENGL 422 - Shakespeare Tragedy (3)
ENGL 426 - Milton (3)
The following are also options when the topic covers British Literature before 1700.
ENGL 380 - Topics in a Literary Period (3)
ENGL 412 - Topics in Literature and Other Arts (3)
ENGL 414 - Topics in Women Writers (3)
ENGL 416 - Topics in Gender and Sexuality (3)
ENGL 417 - Topics in Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality (3)
ENGL 419 - Study of a Single Author or Auteur (3)
ENGL 465 - Topics in English (1-3)

British Literature between 1700 and 1900:

One course (3 credits) from:

ENGL 331 - English Literature, 1660-1744 (3)
ENGL 332 - English Literature, 1744-1798 (3)
ENGL 333 - The Novel to 1832 (3)
ENGL 341 - The English Romantic Period (3)
ENGL 342 - The Victorian Age (3)
ENGL 343 - English Novel, 1832-1900 (3)
The following are also options when the topic covers British Literature between 1700 and 1900.
ENGL 380 - Topics in a Literary Period (3)
ENGL 412 - Topics in Literature and Other Arts (3)
ENGL 414 - Topics in Women Writers (3)
ENGL 416 - Topics in Gender and Sexuality (3)
ENGL 417 - Topics in Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality (3)
ENGL 419 - Study of a Single Author or Auteur (3)
ENGL 465 - Topics in English (1-3)

American Literature before 1920:

One course (3 credits) from:

ENGL 361 - American Literature to 1836 (3)
ENGL 362 - The American Renaissance (3)
ENGL 363 - American Literature, 1865-1920 (3)
ENGL 365 - Early Black American Literature (3)
The following are also options when the topic covers American Literature before 1920.
ENGL 371 - Topics in American Literature (3)
ENGL 380 - Topics in a Literary Period (3)
ENGL 412 - Topics in Literature and Other Arts (3)
ENGL 414 - Topics in Women Writers (3)
ENGL 416 - Topics in Gender and Sexuality (3)
ENGL 417 - Topics in Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality (3)
ENGL 419 - Study of a Single Author or Auteur (3)
ENGL 465 - Topics in English (1-3)

Literature since 1900:

One course (3 credits) in literature since 1900. Courses that address American literature, literature of the British Isles and Commonwealth, world literature, or critical theory in the 20th or 21st centuries can be counted toward this requirement.

ENGL 352 - Modern British Literature (3)
ENGL 355 - Modern Fiction (3)
ENGL 356 - Modern Poetry to 1930 (3)
ENGL 357 - Modern Poetry since 1930 (3)
ENGL 358 - Modern Drama to 1940 (3)
ENGL 359 - Modern Drama since 1940 (3)
ENGL 360 - Contemporary Literature (3)
ENGL 364 - American Literature, 1912-1960’s (3)
ENGL 366 - Modern Black American Literature (3)
ENGL 411 - Topics in Literary Theory (3)
ENGL 414A - Major African American Women Writers (3)
ENGL 416A - Literature and the Formation of Homosexuality (3)
ENGL 417A - Literature of the Americas (3)
ENGL 417B - Harlem in Vogue (3)
The following are also options when the topic covers Literature since 1900.
ENGL 380 - Topics in a Literary Period (3)
ENGL 412 - Topics in Literature and Other Arts (3)
ENGL 414 - Topics in Women Writers (3)
ENGL 416 - Topics in Gender and Sexuality (3)
ENGL 417 - Topics in Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality (3)
ENGL 419 - Study of a Single Author or Auteur (3)
ENGL 465 - Topics in English (1-3)

Single Author or Film Auteur:

One course (3 credits) studying the work of a single author or film auteur.

ENGL 419 - Study of a Single Author or Auteur (3)
ENGL 420 - Chaucer (3)
ENGL 421 - Shakespeare History and Comedy (3)
ENGL 422 - Shakespeare Tragedy (3)
ENGL 426 - Milton (3)

Constructions of Race:

One course (3 credits) focusing on constructions of race. Courses in literature and expressive culture by people of color and those that take race as a central conceptual category for critical examination can be counted toward this requirement. Courses in English-language linguistics that address language variation associated with race can also be counted toward this requirement.

ENGL 365 - Early Black American Literature (3)
ENGL 366 - Modern Black American Literature (3)
ENGL 410 - Language Attitudes (4)
ENGL 414A - Major African American Women Writers (3)
ENGL 417B - Harlem in Vogue (3)
The following are also options when topic covers Constructions of Race.
ENGL 371 - Topics in American Literature (3)
ENGL 380 - Topics in a Literary Period (3)
ENGL 412 - Topics in Literature and Other Arts (3)
ENGL 414 - Topics in Women Writers (3)
ENGL 416 - Topics in Gender and Sexuality (3)
ENGL 417 - Topics in Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality (3)
ENGL 419 - Study of a Single Author or Auteur (3)
ENGL 465 - Topics in English (1-3)

Additional Information

English majors can count a maximum of nine credit hours in creative writing, expository writing, and English-language linguistics toward the major.

Major courses are chosen in consultation with a departmental advisor on the basis of the student’s preparation, background, career expectations, and educational interests. The department encourages students to design a program of study that exposes them to a range of historical periods and critical approaches to literature. A sound major program should include, in addition to the requisite courses in English, a coherent pattern of complementary courses in other departments and allied fields chosen in consultation with the advisor.