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English Liberal Arts, BA

The English liberal arts curriculum is designed to provide intensive study in literature, language, and writing. The department also offers three professional tracks in secondary education, as well as minors in English and creative writing. Any of these programs can be meaningfully combined with majors or minors in such fields as history, international studies, psychology, linguistics, marketing, world languages, philosophy, professional writing, elementary or early childhood education, special education, urban education, and education of the deaf and hard of hearing.

Requirements for the Major (11 course units)

Critical Content Courses (2 course units)

  • LIT 101 – Cultures and Canons
  • LIT 102 – Approaches to Literature 

These two critical content courses should be completed satisfactorily (see the program standards) before the junior year, and transfer students should complete them as soon as possible.

CWR, LIT, and LNG Courses (7 course units) 

  • At least one of these courses must be in literature before the Restoration (that is, before 1660).
  • At least one of these courses must be in American literature.
  • At least one of these courses must be in British literature.

Capstone Courses (2 course units)

Two Capstones in different semesters. Most students will complete the requirement with two sections of LIT 499 Seminars in Research and Theory. These topics-based courses are writing and theory-intensive and will emphasize independent research. By permission of the Associate Chair, LIT 492 Seminar in Literary Theory may substitute for the second LIT 499, and a student writing an honors thesis in the senior year may do so in place of the second LIT 499. Both LIT 101 and LIT 102 are pre-requisites for LIT 499 and LIT 492.  

Note: At least 5 courses must be taken at the 300 level or above. Students are encouraged to explore minor concentrations such as African-American Studies, Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, US Studies, and Women and Gender Studies. It is college policy that only one course taken as part of a student’s major may also be counted toward the student’s minor.

Learn more about the goals of the English Major »