Students ordinarily begin an English major in their sophomore year, after completing the First Year Writing Seminar and the Literature Core, or equivalents. In addition to the two Core courses, students must take ten courses from the Department's offerings. These must include Studies in Poetry and Narrative and Interpretation, usually taken in sequence in the sophomore year. Both courses train students intensively in the close reading of literary texts and in writing with critical awareness about literature.
Also required are three other courses that must include:
- (1) course in Pre-1700 English or American Literature
- (2) courses in Pre-1900 English
These courses may be taken at any time in the student's major, but preferably after the completion of Studies in Poetry.
During the sophomore year, historical survey courses such as Introduction to British Literature and Culture I & II and the American Literary History sequence may help fill in students' knowledge of the development of English and American literature. At this point, students should be in a position to begin making their own choices about how they will complete the major requirements. They will have many options from among the 30 or more electives the Department offers each semester in British, American and Irish Literature, in writing, in the different genres, and in particular themes.
Note: Courses taken through the College of Advancing Studies and/or over the summer cannot be counted toward the major.
By senior year students will have the opportunity to focus on some well-defined topics (individual authors, important single works, specialized themes). Each year the Department will offer seminars to enable students, usually seniors and juniors, to work closely with a faculty member on a topic of special interest.
Individually Designed Major
For some students with specific interdisciplinary interests, in American Studies for instance, an individually designed sequence of courses under the English major is appropriate. Students who satisfy their major requirements this way may count for English credit up to two courses taken in other departments. This plan must be approved by the Chairperson and the student's Department advisor by the end of the first semester of junior year.