English (BA)
The undergraduate major program equips students with the skills and concepts that make the English major an asset in the modern world. In addition to literary analysis in both traditional and contemporary forms, the major helps students explore historical and cultural developments and invites them into the worlds of textual studies and digital humanities. All courses at all levels of the program encourage students to become clear and effective writers.
Curriculum
Twelve courses (36 hours), nine of which (27 hours) must be at the 300-level. Up to three elective courses (9 hours) may be drawn from UCLR-E 100 and advanced 200-level (ENGL 270 and above) courses. At least one course must be among those designated by the department as "multicultural." The Advanced Seminar (ENGL 390 Advanced Seminar) is considered the capstone of the major. These courses must also meet the following criteria:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Literary Theory | ||
| ENGL 354 | Contemporary Critical Theory | 3 |
| or ENGL 355 | Studies in Literary Criticism | |
| Shakespeare | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Shakespeare: Selected Major Plays 2 | ||
| Studies in Shakespeare 2 | ||
| Capstone: Advanced Seminar | ||
| ENGL 390 | Advanced Seminar 3 | 3 |
| English Literature Before 1900 (See List) | ||
| Select at least one course prior to 1700 4 | 3 | |
| Select at least one course from 1700 to 1900 | 3 | |
| One additional course chosen from either of the previous categories | 3 | |
| English Literature Since 1900 (See list) | 3 | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Complete five ENGL elective courses | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Note that ENGL 274 Exploring Shakespeare will not fulfill this requirement for English majors.
- 2
If both ENGL 326 Shakespeare: Selected Major Plays and ENGL 327 Studies in Shakespeare are taken, one may be used to satisfy the literature prior to 1700 requirement.
- 3
Open to students with junior or senior standing; students may take an additional ENGL 390 Advanced Seminar if they wish.
- 4
If a student takes both ENGL 326 Shakespeare: Selected Major Plays and ENGL 327 Studies in Shakespeare, one of these may be used to satisfy this requirement; the other will satisfy the Shakespeare requirement.
English Literature Before 1900
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English Courses Prior to 1700 | ||
| ENGL 306A | Studies in Women Writers Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 312A | Studies in World Literature in English Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 313A | Border Literature Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 320 | English Literature: Medieval Period | 3 |
| ENGL 321 | Intro to Anglo-Saxon | 3 |
| ENGL 322 | Chaucer | 3 |
| ENGL 323 | Studies in Medieval Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 325 | British Literature-The Renaissance | 3 |
| ENGL 328 | Studies in The Renaissance | 3 |
| ENGL 329 | Milton | 3 |
| ENGL 359A | High and Low Culture Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 362A | Studies in Poetry Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 363A | Major Author, Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 368A | Studies in Drama Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 369A | Women in Drama Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 372A | Studies in Fiction Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 379A | Studies in American Literature Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 381A | Comparative Literature Before 1700 | 3 |
| ENGL 382A | Studies in American Culture Before 1700 | 3 |
| English Courses Between 1700 and 1900 | ||
| ENGL 306B | Studies in Women Writers 1700-1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 312B | Studies in World Literature in English 1700-1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 313B | Border Literature 1700-1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 335 | British Literature - The Romantic Period | 3 |
| ENGL 338 | Studies in The Romantic Movmnt | 3 |
| ENGL 340 | British Literature - The Victorian Period | 3 |
| ENGL 343 | Studies in the Victorian Period | 3 |
| ENGL 359B | High and Low Culture 1700-1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 362B | Studies in Poetry 1700-1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 368B | Studies in Drama 1700-1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 369B | Women in Drama 1700-1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 372B | Studies in Fiction 1700-1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 375 | American Literature to 1865 | 3 |
| ENGL 376 | American Literature 1865-1914 | 3 |
| ENGL 379B | Studies in American Literature 1700-1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 381B | Comparative American Literature 1700 - 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 382B | Studies in American Culture 1700-1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 384B | Studies in African American Literature, 1700-1900 | 3 |
English Literature Since 1900
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 306C | Studies in Women Writers Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 311 | U.S. Latino/a Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 312C | Studies in World Literature in English Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 313C | Border Literature Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 315C | South Asian Literature Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 316C | Caribbean Literature in English Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 344 | Studies in Modernism | 3 |
| ENGL 345 | British Literature Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 348 | Studies in British Literature Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 351 | Contemporary Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 359C | High and Low Culture Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 361 | Modernist Poetry | 3 |
| ENGL 362C | Studies in Poetry Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 363C | Major Author, After 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 367 | Modern Drama | 3 |
| ENGL 368C | Studies in Drama Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 371 | The Modern Novel | 3 |
| ENGL 372C | Studies in Fiction Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 377 | American Literature 1914-1945 | 3 |
| ENGL 379C | Studies in American Literature Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 381C | Comparative American Literature Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 382C | Studies in American Culture Since 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 384C | Studies in African American Literature Since 1900 | 3 |
Suggested Sequence of Courses
Students can begin the English (BA) degree at any point in their undergraduate studies, in consultation with their adviser. The major is designed to be flexible, engaging students with literature from diverse historical, national, and global traditions, but with no set sequence of courses. Students are encouraged, however, to take ENGL 354 (Contemporary Critical Theory) or ENGL 355 (Studies in Literary Criticism) early on, since these courses make them more conscious of what it means to read literature. Once students have declared the major, they are encouraged to contact their adviser in the English Department or the Department’s Undergraduate Program Director for further guidance on how best to progress with their studies.
College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to take two Writing Intensive courses (6 credit hours) as well as complete a foreign language requirement at 102-level or higher (3 credit hours) or a language competency test. More information can be found here.
Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101. SCPS students are not required to take UNIV 101. Nursing students in the Accelerated BSN program are not required to take core or UNIV 101. You can find more information in the University Requirements area.
Learning Outcomes
English majors will:
- be able to perform close readings of literature and other kinds of texts, paying careful attention to textual detail.
- demonstrate an understanding of human diversity as it is represented in literature and other kinds of texts.
- be able to communicate their ideas clearly, in writing that employs appropriate word choice, diction, structure, and mechanics.
- be able to create focused and well-supported arguments and analyses.
- where applicable, demonstrate their understanding of literary and cultural theories by incorporating them into their work in precise and effective ways.
- where applicable, demonstrate their ability to employ in their own creative works their understanding of the conventions and techniques of particular literary genres.
- where applicable, demonstrate their knowledge of textual genres, histories, movements, traditions, and innovations.
- demonstrate an understanding of how texts reflect and affect societies and cultures.