Nov 03, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

English, B.A.


Minimum number of credits required to graduate:  124

Minimum cumulative GPA required to graduate:  2.0

Minimum number of credits to complete the major:  40

 

School: School of Arts and Sciences

Department: Humanities

Learn more about the program

 

This bachelor’s degree program requires a minimum of 124 credits. As part of that minimum, satisfying the requirements for the major in English includes completing a minimum of 40 credits. Students studying English  customize a major consisting of two required courses, ENG 2050: Introduction to LIterary Studies, and IDS 4200: Interdisciplinary Senior Seminar, along with eight Literature or Creative Writing electives of their choosing.  All students are strongly encouraged to pursue an external internship and have the opportunity to receive credit toward their major with ENG 4853: English Internship. Select internal internships are also available.

Major GPA. The GPA for the English major is calculated by taking the average of all ENG courses.

Teacher of English. In addition to the requirements for the major, English-Education Co-majors must also complete the required teacher preparation curriculum outlined under the Program for Teacher Preparation in the Education Department. Students planning to enter the teaching program need to bear in mind that the last semester of their senior year will be taken up by their off-campus practicum. All requirements for the major, including cognates, must be fulfilled by the end of the first semester of the senior year. Accordingly, English-Education Co-majors should take ENG 2050 Introduction to Literary Studies  by the end of their sophomore year. English-Education Co-majors must take specific English courses to fulfill major requirements and should consult current guidelines. Satisfying the requirements for the major in English with an Education Co-Major includes completing a minimum of 38 credits in the major.

Major Requirements


To complete the English major, students complete two required core courses (8 credits), eight required elective courses in specific areas (32 credits), to complete their flexible self-designed major

Note regarding the existing and new structures of the English major: Students admitted to the College prior to the Fall 2025 semester will have the option of completing the existing structure of the English major or transitioning to the new structure, which is outlined below. First-year students entering the program in Fall 2025 and forward will follow the new structure. The existing structure of the English major will close out in September of 2028.

Core Courses


Complete the following two required courses (eight credits):

Elective Courses


The English major is designed to allow students to focus their study on areas of interest. English majors who plan to attend graduate school, for instance, might elect to create a concentration that focuses on a historical period (e.g. literary modernism or British romanticism) that they will specialize in while pursuing their advanced degree. Future teachers at the K-12 level might elect to design a teaching-specific concentration that focuses on literary breadth and the development of classroom teaching skills. English majors who plan to pursue a career as a creative writer might decide to create a concentration on fiction, both writing it and studying its canonical exemplars. An internship is encouraged for all students to apply their valuable skills in writing, communication, and critical thinking to a wide range of professional contexts. 

 

British Literature Electives


Students interested in studying British Literature may choose from the following electives:

Additional Elective Options


Students may choose from the following additional English elective courses to complete their self-designed major.

Additional Non-English Electives Options


Students may choose two of the following courses from outside of the English program to count as one of the three concentration electives.