Department of English - Undergraduate

THE ENGLISH MAJOR

The major emphasizes the historical reach of literary study through its historical distribution requirement. The theory requirement introduces influential concepts and debates underlying the study of language, literature, and their cultural impact. The range of electives and seminars that make up the bulk of the curriculum allows for flexibility in designing individual majors while ensuring a comprehensive grasp of the varieties of literary study.

How to Declare an English Major

Email your campus Associate Chair to set up a meeting to discuss declaration of major. You can find the list of contacts here.
Fill out the Contact Information Form for Majors and bring this to your meeting with your campus Associate Chair.

ENGLISH MAJOR Requirements

The English major consists of a total of 10 required courses*
*Courses in which a student receives a D or F will not count toward the major.

Junior Theory
All majors are required to take "Theory for English Majors" (ENGL 3045) or "Theories of Comparative Literature" (COLI 3000). These courses introduce the English major to debates in literary and critical theory. The goal of these courses is to reflect on reading strategies, textual practices and language itself. Students will engage with a range of critical, theoretical and social issues shaping the field of literary studies today.

Historical Distribution
From the nine remaining elective courses, at least three must be designated in a historical period before 1800. While the English curriculum grants students considerable freedom to pursue their individual interests, the department urges majors to consult regularly with their advisers in selecting their electives, in order to ensure historical diversity in their course of study.

Creative Writing Courses
English majors may apply up to two writing courses (either English creative writing courses at the 3000-level or above, or communication courses cross-listed with English) toward their elective requirements. Majors who wish to take more writing courses should consider the creative writing option or the creative writing minor. For creative writing options for both English majors and non-English majors, please see Undergraduate in Creative Writing.

Recommendations for english major

Although seniors may enroll in the course, Theory for English Majors or Theories of Comparative Literature should ordinarily be taken during junior year.
English majors should take a seminar (4000-level) during their senior year.
English majors are permitted to take one or two courses with an interdisciplinary or comparative literature focus, including cross-listed courses offered by other programs or departments (termed "Cognate Courses"). English Major students who wish to take Cognate Courses must fill out the Cognate Course Approval Form and submit it to the Associate Chair of English for approval.

Core Curriculum for ENGLISH MAJORS

All future English majors are required to fulfill the first-level core English requirements (ENGL 1102 and ENGL 2000) before beginning the major, but neither ENGL 1102 nor ENGL 2000 counts toward the major. However, if an English elective is taken toward the core requirement in Advanced Disciplinary Courses in Literature, History, and Social Science, that elective will count as one of the ten courses in the major.

Core Curriculum Requirements: Students in the class of 2013 and beyond should follow the updated core requirements. Students in the class of 2012 and earlier should make sure that they follow the old core requirements.

Advanced Placement Credits: AP Credits in English Literature and in English Language count toward a student's total number of credits in the college but not within the major. Additionally, the English department accepts a score of 4 or 5 on the AP English Literature exam in lieu of the "Texts and Contexts" core requirement, but not for credit within the major. This last exemption does not apply to students in the Gabelli School of Business.

THE ENGLISH MINOR

ENGLISH MINOR Requirements
The minor in English consists of any six English courses beyond the freshman-level core English requirements (ENGL 1102 and ENGL 2000), one of which may be a sophomore literature course and at least four of which must be literature courses. Courses in which a student receives a D or F will not count toward the minor.

How to Declare an English Minor

Email your campus Associate Chair to set up a meeting to discuss declaration of major. You can find the list of contacts here.

Fill out the Contact Information form for minors located here and bring this to your meeting with your campus Associate Chair.

THE CREATIVE WRITING MINOR

For English Majors
The Creative Writing minor for English majors allows a student to take 4 creative writing classes. This increases the total number of required courses for the English Major from 10 to 14. A typical course of study for this option is:

1 Theory course

3 Pre-1800 courses

4 Creative Writing courses (at 3000 level or above). For policy on cross-listed Communications writing courses, click here.

6 Literature Electives (At 3000 level or above. 2 of these courses may be Cognate Courses.

FOR non-English Majors
The minor in Creative Writing, available to students in majors other than English, will consist of:

Four (4) four-credit courses which must be drawn from 3000-level and above English Creative Writing courses. For policy on cross-listed Communications writing courses, click here. Independent studies, approved by the Director of Creative Writing, are also accepted. Please note: Students minoring in Creative Writing may count no more than 2 courses [or 8 credits] applicable to the Creative Writing minor for their major.

Two (2) advanced courses (3000-level and above) in Literature offered through the English department. Cognate Courses (3000-level and above) and courses that meet literature requirements in the Classics department, the Literary Studies program or the Modern Languages department may be utilized to fulfill this requirement.

How to Declare Creative Writing Minor:

Fill out the "Intention to Declare CW Minor" form located here.

Contact your class dean (for example: the LC Associate Dean for seniors) for permission.