English, Literature Track, B.A.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Combining tradition and innovation, the major in English gives students an understanding of imaginative and cultural processes and products that is broad, deep, and contextually rich. Courses in English help students develop skills and knowledge necessary for an examined life, a successful career, and responsible membership in a global society.

Students pursuing the B.A. in English, Literature Track, gain a solid grounding in British, American, and Global Anglophone literature, traditional and non-traditional. At the same time, it incorporates innovative requirements and opportunities based on the recognition that diversity - in authorship, subject matter, genre, textual medium, and interpretive approach - is both the reality of our culture and a value to be appreciated and sustained.

Our students learn writing and speaking skills that enable them to communicate and express themselves effectively in the classroom and beyond it, as learners, as jobholders, as citizens.

The English major provides solid preparation for anyone seeking to pursue advanced graduate study, professional training in fields such as law and medicine, or a career in teaching.

Program Learning Outcomes

The ability to read texts closely.
The ability to write clear and effective prose.
The ability to write analytically about texts in accordance with the conventions of textual criticism.
An understanding of how criticism as a practice gives rise to questions about how to conduct that practice, questions that are constitutive of the discipline: e.g., questions concerning what we should read, why we should read, and how we should read.
The ability to read texts in relation to history.
An understanding of how texts are related to social and cultural categories (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, ability), enterprises (e.g., philosophy, science, and politics), and institutions (e.g., of religion, of education).
An understanding hat language changes with time, informing and reflecting systems of power.
The ability to “join the conversation” that is always ongoing among critics and scholars regarding texts, authors, and topics engaging with secondary sources.
An in-depth understanding of a single author, a small group of authors, or a narrowly-defined topic, theme, or issue.

General Education Requirements (30-40 Credits)

Prerequisite coursework may be required to satisfy certain General Education courses and will count as elective credit.

Total Credits Required to Complete Major: 40

Basic Requirements: (16 Credits)

ENGL 203 - Reader and Text: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
One English course in the period designated “Early” Credit(s): 4
One English course in the period designated “Modern” Credit(s): 4
One English course in the period designated “Recent” Credit(s): 4

Electives in English selected under advisement in accordance with the following guidelines: (24 Credits)

ENGL 203 - Reader and Text: (subtitle) is the prerequisite for English courses at the 300 and 400 levels.
Majors must successfully complete at least 8 credits of English at the 300 level.
Majors must successfully complete at least 16 credits of English at the 400 level.
Majors may apply a maximum of 8 credits in English at the 100 level to meet these requirements.
Film Studies (FMST) courses at the appropriate level may be used to meet these requirements.
Majors must successfully complete the department self-reflective advising requirement.
At least 28 credits of the student’s English courses counted in fulfillment of the major must be in literature.

Minimum Competence Requirement

A grade of C- or better is required for each of the following courses: all courses submitted in fulfillment of the 40 hour requirement for the English major.

Department Writing Requirement

For the English major, at least 16 credits must be at the 400-level. All courses in English emphasize the skills of effective writing. In addition, all 400-level Literature courses teach students how to join the conversation among critics and scholars regarding texts, authors and topics.

Sample Course Map

For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2022: please select the bulletin year in which you entered the college (matriculated) at the top right of this page.

Curriculum Map

First Year
- Fall - 15 Credit Hours
  - ENGL 103 - Introduction to the English Major
  - ENGL 1xx-2xx Elective - Credit(s): 4
    - Counts for Global Society: CAI
  - WRTG 105 - Writing Seminar: (subtitle)
  - Natural Science with lab - Credit(s): 4
  - Math/Quantitative Reasoning - Credit(s): 3
- Spring - 14 Credit Hours
  - ENGL 203 - Reader and Text: (subtitle)
  - World Language 101 - Credit(s): 4
  - Global Society: DPP - Credit(s): 3
  - Global Society: SST - Credit(s): 3
Second Year
- Fall - 15 Credit Hours
  - ENGL 3xx Elective - Credit(s): 4
  - World Language 102 - Credit(s): 4
  - Global Society: CGC - Credit(s): 3
  - Global Society: WCV - Credit(s): 4
- Spring - 16 Credit Hours
  - ENGL 3xx Elective - Credit(s): 4
  - ENGL 4xx Elective - Credit(s): 4
  - Electives - Credit(s): 8
Third Year
- Fall - 15 Credit Hours
  - ENGL 3xx Elective - Credit(s): 4
  - ENGL 4xx Elective - Credit(s): 4
  - Electives - Credit(s): 7
- Spring - 15 Credit Hours
  - ENGL 4xx Elective - Credit(s): 4
  - Electives - Credit(s): 11
Fourth Year
- Fall - 15 Credit Hours
  - ENGL 4xx Elective - Credit(s): 4
  - Integrated & Applied Learning - Credit(s): 4
  - Electives - Credit(s): 7
- Spring - 15 Credit Hours
  - ENGL 3xx/4xx Elective - Credit(s): 4
  - Electives - Credit(s): 11

Total Credit Hours: 120

Note: Variation in the order of courses is possible, depending upon prerequisites. Consult course information in the bulletin or your academic advisor to customize your eight semester plan.

KEY - Participation in a Global Society (PGS)

Attributes:

Sub Areas

Abbreviation	Definition
DPP	Diversity, Pluralism, Power
WCV	World Cultures & Values
CGC	Contemporary Global Challenges
CAI	Creativity & Innovation
SST	Sustainability

Learning Areas

Abbreviation	Definition
ARTS	Arts
HUMA	Humanities
SOSC	Social Science