Degree Requirements

Majors

36 total credits are required to fulfill the English Major. English majors must complete English 33000, English 33100, and take 30 additional credits in one of three areas of specialization. No more than 12 transfer credits can be used to fulfill major requirements. Also, please note that publishing courses do not fulfill major or minor requirements.

Mandatory for All English Majors (6 credits):

(1) The two required Critical Reading and Writing classes, Engl 33000 and Engl 33100, help students develop the basic vocabulary and skills of close textual analysis, and also introduce influential theoretical concepts. These can be taken in any order and at any time, but we recommend that they be taken early in the major.

Electives (30 credits in one of the following areas of specialization):

(2a) Literature Specialization:
30 credits of literature courses (30000 level or above). We recommend that all students, and especially those looking ahead to graduate school, study a variety of literary genres and periods. One elective creative writing course may be taken in place of a literature course.

(2b) Creative Writing Specialization:
18 credits of creative writing courses (22000 or above) and 12 credits of literature (30000 level or above). Creative writing workshops may be taken repeatedly for credit.

(2c) Secondary English Education Specialization:
30 credits in specific course areas required by the state. This specialization is for students planning to teach at the junior-high or high-school levels, and is usually taken in conjunction with English Education courses toward a teaching certificate.

See Prof. Elizabeth Rorschach at NAC 5/207C for English Education advising (X6291).

Minors

The English Department offers a minor of 15 credits.

(1) 3 credits of either one of the Critical Reading and Writing classes, Engl 33000 or Engl 33100.

(2) 12 credits of elective courses in English (22000 or above).

More Information

Each semester the English Department produces an undergraduate course description booklet that gives detailed information on all 22000-and-higher-level courses offered the following semester. These booklets are freely available at the main office, NAC 6/219. Future course descriptions will be posted online as well.

For more information, advising, walk-in registration, or to sign up as a major or minor, please meet with an undergraduate English advisor at NAC 6/219 or call (212) 650-6360.