General Requirements
English majors take ten literature or writing courses above the first-year level. Students must take four out of seven of these literary periods: Medieval, Renaissance, 18th-century British, 19th-century British, 19th-century American, 20th-century British, and 20th-century American. At least two of the four period courses must be before 1800. Also, two of the four courses must be sophomore-level "Readings" courses. First-year majors normally will be enrolled in two semesters of Critical Reading and Writing designated for majors. Students who declare English their major anytime after their first semester must take Critical Reading and Writing-Poetry (English 120) as a prerequisite to further pursuit of the major.
The remaining courses required for the major can come from any of the upper-division courses listed below, including courses that are approved for Study Abroad and tutorials and honors theses devoted to British or American literature. The Department recommends that majors take 200-level Readings courses before 300-level courses and advanced seminars. Ideally, the two required Readings courses will be completed by the end of the second year. If the student intends to study abroad in a non-English speaking country in the junior year, it is particularly important that the Readings courses be completed in the sophomore year. If the student is in the Teacher Certification Program, which requires a full semester of the senior year, it is also necessary to take all of the requirements for the major by the end of the first term of the senior year. Each semester the English Department offers approximately 25 upper-division courses for majors. Some are organized in terms of historical periods of English and American literature (Medieval Women Writers, Restoration and 18th-century Literature, Early American Literature, African-American Literary Tradition); some are organized according to literary type (Modern Drama, 19th-Century Novel); and some are by author (Chaucer, Dickens, Shakespeare, Frost/Bishop); others are arranged thematically (Tragic View, Nature/ Poetry); some deal with aesthetics and criticism (Feminist Literary Theory and Criticism); and others concentrate upon the art of writing (Composition, Creative Writing: Poetry and Fiction, and Expository Writing).
Tutorials, seminars, and lecture courses on special topics are also offered, as well as a range of courses cross-listed with the College’s concentrations in Women’s Studies, African-American Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, and International Studies.