Guide to the English Major
The English Major consists of 15 courses; 2 prerequisite courses, 11 major courses, and 2 related courses.
- Prerequisite Courses:
- Major Courses:
- Complete the 210 or 270 sequence you began as a prerequisite (if you took Eng 210-2, you must take 210-1).
- At least nine courses must be at the 300-level
- One additional course at either the 200- or 300-level
- At least eight must be English Department courses, literature courses offered by the African American Studies Department, or courses taught by members of the English Department through other departments or programs and that deal substantially with literary works originally written in English (not in translation).
- Three must deal substantially with texts written before 1798, and three must cover texts written after 1798.
- At least one class must be in American literature.
- At least one class must be in literary criticism or theory.
- Related Courses:
The prerequisites for the major consist of two 200-level courses--one quarter of either 210 or 270, followed by English 298--before being allowed to declare the major.
Note: for students seeking entry to the Major in Writing, the prerequisite courses are 206 and 207 or 208. Please see the description of the English Major in Writing.
Two 200- or 300-level courses in subjects other than literature, that are appropriate to the student's concentration (For variations, see descriptions of individual concentrations).
Declaring an English Major
You may declare the English Major after you have completed one quarter of either English 210 or 270 and have begun English 298. At that time, you will need to fill out a Declaration of Major form (available in the Department Office, UH 215) and take it to the Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval. You can find out who the current director is either through the About Us page here on this website, or by asking at the Department Office. Once your Declaration form has been signed, you must first return part of it to the Department Office (after which you will be added to the English listserv), and then take the remainder to the Office of Studies at 1922 Sheridan Road.
Pre-registration
Pre-registration occurs during the week prior to Advanced Registration each quarter. During this time, English majors can register for up to two English courses. Please note however that if you are a double major, or have a minor in another program, you are still limited to a maximum of two courses during pre-registration, regardless of how many departments. Appointment times are based on your year and social security number, with seniors beginning on Monday morning. The Registrar's website will have the specific schedule of times.
Advising
Each quarter, all majors must meet with one of the designated English faculty advisors to plan their schedule and to address any other concerns the student may have. These advisors will hold extended office hours during Advising Week (the week prior to pre-registration). One calendar year prior to your anticipated date of graduation, you must have your Petition to Graduate and Major Worksheet signed by one of the English faculty advisors.
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