Major and Minor Requirements

Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate

Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credit may not count toward the major but may be applied toward the total number of units needed to graduate.

Units from Study Abroad and Transfer Credit

Students may receive up to one unit of credit toward the major or the minor for a class taken on study abroad. The course must first receive approval from the chair of the department. Students may also receive no more than one unit of transfer credit. As with a course being considered from study abroad, the course must get pre-approval from the chair of the department. Exceptions to these policies may be granted in unique circumstances and only through prior approval by the department.

Requirements for the Major in English

Number of Units

Ten units are required. A SIP in English is encouraged but not required.

An Advanced Literary Studies (ENGL 490, 491, or 492) or Applied Theory (any 300-level) course may satisfy another requirement for the major, depending on its subject matter, but it may not be double-counted for two requirements. In such a case, students must pass a second, different Advanced Literary Studies or Applied Theory course.

Some courses have changed their numerical designation. If you have taken a course and see it listed under a different number, do not retake the course.

The major in English does not require a senior comprehensive exam.

Required Courses

Foundations

  • One Reading the World course chosen from the following (only one can count toward the Major): ENGL 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156
  • ENGL 105: Introduction to Journalism OR ENGL 107: Introduction to Creative Writing
  • ENGL 109: Introduction to Literary Theory and Research Methods

Prospective majors are encouraged to take a Reading the World course and either ENGL 105 or ENGL 107 by the end of their first year. ENGL 109 is best taken in either spring of the first year or winter of the sophomore year.

Historical and Cultural Breadth

Four courses representing the three historical periods:

  • Pre-19th-Century Literature: ENGL 265, 266, 269, 324
  • 19th-Century Literature: ENGL 263, 270, 275, 325
  • 20th and 21st-Century Literature or Film: ENGL 218, 219, 220, 230, 245, 260, 262, 276, 318, 323, 331

One of these four courses must focus on literature that draws significantly from
minoritarian, diasporic, or transnational traditions: ENGL 217, 218, 219, 220, 222, 230, 260, 264, 318, 323, 331

Advanced Literary Study

ENGL 490, or 491 or 492: Advanced Literary Studies

Craft Sequences and Capstones

One of the following course sequences

  • Literary Criticism and Theory: ENGL 109: Introduction to Literary Theory and Research Methods; one Applied Theory course (any 300-level course); ENGL 436: Advanced Topics in Literary Theory OR ENGL 434: Advanced Film Theory
  • Film Criticism and Theory: ENGL 153: RTW: Classical Hollywood in Global Context; ENGL 260: African Cinemas of Belonging OR ENGL 262: Feelings and Sensations at the Movies; ENGL434: Advanced Film Theory OR ENGL 436: Advanced Topics in Literary Theory
  • Fiction: ENGL 107: Introduction to Creative Writing; ENGL 211: Intermediate Fiction Workshop; ENGL 438: Advanced Fiction Workshop
  • Poetry: ENGL 107: Introduction to Creative Writing; ENGL 210: Intermediate Poetry Workshop; ENGL 437: Advanced Poetry Workshop
  • Nonfiction: ENGL 107: Introduction to Creative Writing or ENGL 105: Introduction to Journalism; ENGL 215: Creative Nonfiction Workshop; ENGL 439: Advanced Nonfiction Workshop
  • Journalism: ENGL 105: Introduction to Journalism or ENGL 107: Introduction to Creative Writing; ENGL 205 Narrative Journalism; ENGL 439:  Advanced Nonfiction Workshop

Students planning on graduate work in English or film should take as many units of ENGL 490 as possible as well as the relevant craft sequence. Students planning on graduate work in journalism or creative writing should complete at least one craft sequence in your genre of interest.

Requirements for the Minor in English

Number of Units

Six units are required.

An Advanced Literary Studies (ENGL 490) or Applied Theory (any 300-level) course may satisfy another requirement for the minor, depending on its subject matter, but it may not be double counted for two requirements. In such a case, students must pass a second, different Advanced Literary Studies or Applied Theory course.

Required Courses

  • One Reading the World course (only one may count toward the minor): ENGL 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156
  • One course in literature before the 20th century: ENGL 265, 266, 269, 270, 275, 324, 325
  • One course in literature or film from 1900 to the present, or one course in literature or film that draws significantly from a minoritarian, diasporic or transnational tradition: ENGL 217, 218, 219, 220, 222, 230, 245, 247, 260, 262, 264, 276, 318, 323, 331

One of the following course sequences:

  • Literary Criticism and Theory: ENGL 109: Introduction to Literary Theory and Research Methods; one Applied Theory course (any 300-level course); ENGL 436: Advanced Topics in Literary Theory OR ENGL 434: Advanced Film Theory
  • Film Criticism and Theory: ENGL 153: RTW: Classical Hollywood in Global Context; ENGL 260: African Cinemas of Belonging OR ENGL 262: Feelings and Sensations at the Movies; ENGL434: Advanced Film Theory OR ENGL 436: Advanced Topics in Literary Theory
  • Fiction: ENGL 107: Introduction to Creative Writing; ENGL 211: Intermediate Fiction Workshop; ENGL 438: Advanced Fiction Workshop
  • Poetry: ENGL 107: Introduction to Creative Writing; ENGL 210: Intermediate Poetry Workshop; ENGL 437: Advanced Poetry Workshop
  • Nonfiction: ENGL 107: Introduction to Creative Writing or ENGL 105: Introduction to Journalism; ENGL 215: Creative Nonfiction  Workshop; ENGL 439: Advanced Nonfiction Workshop
  • Journalism: ENGL 105: Introduction to Journalism or ENGL 107: Introduction to Creative Writing; ENGL 205 Narrative Journalism; ENGL 439:  Advanced Nonfiction Workshop