Majoring & Minoring
Major requirements ensure that majors are exposed to a broad range of issues and texts representative of the discipline.
The major features courses that present the historical and cultural range of literary production in English, a deliberate encounter with interpretive strategies under the heading of critical theory, and, under “emergent literatures or popular cultures,” a set of courses that exceed established, national canons of literature. Special topics courses (10-304) are frequently offered that, where designated, fulfill these requirements.
English 10-284 is strongly recommended to the prospective major or minor, as is one or more courses among 10-154, 164, and 174.
Major in English
9 courses (Majors consist of a minimum of 30 credits.) English 10-284; one course in English literature written before 1785 from 10-154, 604, 614, 624, 634, 654; one course in English literature written since 1785 from 10- 164, 664, 674, 684; one course in American literature from 10-174, 714, 734, 754; one course in emergent literatures and popular cultures from 10-514, 524, 534, 544, 574, 594; one course in critical theory from 10-404, 444, 474; 10-934 (Capstone); enough additional hours of English to total 30 hours overall, and at least 18 hours above the introductory level.
Minor in English
5 courses (Minors consist of a minimum of 18 credits.) English 10-284; one survey or period course in English literature written before 1785 from 10-154, 604, 614, 624, 634, 654; 3 additional courses in English, with sufficient upper-level courses such that the student will take at least three upper-level courses in the minor.
It is possible to complete a 15-course paired major in English and Feminist Studies by double counting three of the five courses cross-listed in English and Feminist Studies: Feminist Film Studies (10-474), Topics in Women’s Literature (10-574), Topics in Romanticism (10-664), and Topics in Victorian Literature and Culture (10-674). The department frequently offers other, more specialized, cross-listed courses that might substitute for one of these cross-listed courses with the approval of both the English and Feminist Studies chairs.
Tutorials and Independent Study (10-901, 902, 903, 904 and 10-951, 952, 953, 954) are open to majors and minors who wish to develop special projects.
See the Education Department for information regarding teacher certification in English.
Courses for Spring 2012
See the course schedule on Webadvisor for details
10-284 Literary Analysis and Methods (2 sections)
Courses that fulfill the requirement in British literature before 1785
10-624 Shakespeare
10-654 Restoration Drama
Courses that fulfill the requirement in British literature after 1785
10-164 Survey of English Literature II
10-684 20th-century British Women Writers
Courses that fulfill the requirement in American literature
10-174 Survey of American Literature
10-714-01 Race and Ethnicity in American Literature
10-714-02 Law and Literature
Courses that fulfill the requirement in emergent literatures & popular cultures
10-514 World Cinema
10-684 20th-century British Women Writers*
10-714-01 Race and Ethnicity in American Literature*
Courses that fulfill the requirement in critical theory
10-404 Literary Criticism/Literary Theory
10-444 The Teaching of Writing
Capstone Seminar
10-934 Popular culture and Dylan
Additional Elective Offerings
10-314 Playwriting
10-324 Creative Writing: Fiction
10-334 Advanced Writing: Eat, Read, Write
10-384 Shakespeare through Performance: Pericles
Looking Ahead
Capstones 2012-13: Meyers (fall) and Kilfoyle (spring)
Additional Courses for fall 2012 (tentative)
10-164 Survey of English Literature II
10-174 Survey of American Literature
10-524 American Movies
10-534 Postcolonial Literature
10-574 American Women Writers
10-614 Monstrous Women in Earlier English Literature
10-624 Shakespeare
10-714 Contemporary Jewish American Literature
10-754 Vietnam and Post-Vietnam War Literature
Additional Courses for spring 2013 (tentative)
10-114 College Writing
10-144 Introduction to Literature
10-154 Survey of English Literature 1
10-174 Survey of American Literature
10-284 Literary Analysis and Methods
10-444 Teaching of Writing
10-474 Topics in Theory: Feminist Film Studies
10-514 World Cinema
10-574 Black Women Writers
10-674 Austen/Brontë
10-754 20th-century American Literature
*May be taken in fulfillment of this category with a substitution card signed by department chair.
