The English Department has changed the curriculum of the English major. Students who enter the University in Fall 2023 and subsequent semesters are subject to the new curriculum.
Lower Division Requirements (16 semester hours):
One Disciplinary Research course:
- ENGL 2000 Disciplinary Research 4 semester hours
One History of Literature, Media, and Culture course:
- (includes all courses numbered 2300) 4 semester hours
One Reading and Writing Genres course:
- (includes all courses numbered 2400) 4 semester hours
One Theory, Power, and Rhetoric course:
- (includes all courses numbered 2500) 4 semester hours
Note: A grade of C (2.0) is required in each premajor course before qualifying for upper division status as an English major. Students transferring into the English major after their sophomore year may enroll in upper-division courses in the major concurrently with the premajor courses. Students must complete all upper-division courses in the major with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in order to maintain status as English majors. Failure to maintain this standard or failure to make sufficient progress toward completion of the major will result in probation or disqualification from the English Major.
ENGL majors interested in creative writing are advised to take one lower-division ENGL 2100 course to satisfy the Core Curriculum EXP: Creative Experience requirement.
Upper Division Requirements (28 semester hours):
One Pre-1800 Literature course:
- (includes all courses numbered 3100) 4 semester hours
One Race, Intersectionality, and Power course:
- (includes all courses numbered 3600) 4 semester hours
One Creative/Artistry course:
- (includes all courses numbered 4500) 4 semester hours
One Seminar course:
- (includes all 5000-level courses) 4 semester hours
Electives (12 semester hours):
- (includes all courses numbered 4600 as well as 3100, 3600, 4500, and 5000)
The upper-division electives of the English major may be fulfilled by taking courses in any upper-division category (Pre-1800 Literature, Creative/Artistry, Race, Intersectionality, and Power, Seminar 5000-Level, and Electives.
In consultation with your advisor, pursue upper-division coursework in areas that interest you. You may consider focusing on a particular area such as multi-ethnic literatures, creative writing, literary theory, literary criticism, or rhetorical theory. One course may include the Capstone seminar.
Total Lower-Division and Upper-Division Requirements: 44 Semester Hours:
Students who entered the University and declared the English Major prior to Fall 2023 follow the old curriculum. These students also have the option to follow the new curriculum. Continuing students should consult with their faculty academic advisors.
Lower Division Requirements (16 semester hours):
Two courses in Genres:
ENGL 2200 Genres: Drama 4 semester hours
- ENGL 2201 Genres: Poetry 4 semester hours
- ENGL 2202 Genres: Fiction 4 semester hours
- ENGL 2296 Special Studies in Genres 4 semester hours
- JOUR 2100 Language of Journalism 4 semester hours
Two courses in Histories:
- ENGL 2203 Histories: British Literature I 4 semester hours
- ENGL 2204 Histories: British Literature II 4 semester hours
- ENGL 2297 Special Studies in Histories 4 semester hours
Note: A grade of C (2.0) is required in each premajor course before qualifying for upper division status as an English major. Students transferring into the Department after their sophomore year may enroll in upper division courses in the major concurrently with the premajor courses. Students must complete all upper division courses in the major with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in order to maintain status as English majors. Failure to maintain this standard or failure to make sufficient progress toward completion of the major will result in probation or disqualification from the Department.
Upper Division Requirements (28 semester hours):
Explorations (16 semester hours):
- One Author(s) course
Includes courses on single authors such as Shakespeare, and other special studies. Check with your advisor to determine which courses may be used to fulfill this requirement.
- One Critical/Theoretical course
Includes most English and American literature courses and literary theory courses. Check with your advisor to determine which courses may be used to fulfill this requirement.
- One Comparative course
Includes any course in multi-ethnic literature, gender-based literature, world literature, or foreign language literature in translation. Check with your advisor to determine which courses may be used to fulfill this requirement.
- One Creative/Artistry course
Includes courses in creative writing and journalism. Check with your advisor to determine which courses may be used to fulfill this requirement.
Specialization (12 semester hours):
In consultation with your advisor, pursue upper-division coursework in a specific area to develop a specialization within English studies. Areas of possible specialization include: multi-ethnic literatures, creative writing, literary theory, literary criticism, rhetorical theory. With advisor approval, one course toward the specialization may be taken outside English. One course may include the Capstone seminar.
Note: A minimum grade of C (2.0) must be obtained in each course in the major.