English Major

Requirements for the Major in English

The major requires ten courses including the following.

1. A course numbered 1-49 introducing literary studies from a particular perspective.
2. ENGL 165 PO Theories and Methods in Literary Studies. Majors are advised to
   take 165 in their junior year.
3. One course in the ENGL 170 PO series. Majors electing the thesis option are
   advised to take their seminar during the junior year.

4. Participation in a senior exercise (two options):
   1. Thesis Option: Students who choose to write a senior thesis take the fall semester ENGL195 PO - Literary Criticism: Advanced Methods  (1 credit) and the two-semester ENGL191 PO - Senior Thesis  (0.5 credit/semester). Permission to write a senior thesis is based on an application solicited by the department in the spring semester of the student’s junior year.

2. Seminar Option:  Those who elect not to write a thesis take a second ENGL 170 PO  series seminar during either semester of their senior year.

All senior majors will present senior exercise research–either a portion of the senior thesis or written work produced for the second ENGL 170 PO  series seminar taken–at the Department Symposium toward the end of spring semester.

Other restrictions:

1. Up to three creative writing courses (from the ENGL064 PO series and/orENGL183 PO series) may be counted toward major requirements.
2. The Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) grading option is allowed only by petition to thedepartment. No more than two CR/NC courses are allowed for the major. ENGL 170 PO  and the Senior Thesis cannot be taken CR/NC.
3. We encourage our students to take courses relevant to their interests in study abroad, at schools outside the Five Colleges, and in disciplines or interdisciplinary programs besides English. If students want these courses to count toward an English major, they can provide syllabi which will be considered by the department. Only two courses outside English can be counted toward the major.

4. Majors seeking an emphasis in creative writing are required to:

1. Complete a course in the ENGL183 PO series, Advanced Creative Writing;
2. With permission of a creative writing faculty member, submit a portfolio* of creative work in the senior year, to be evaluated by the creative writing faculty; and
3. Participate in a public reading during the senior year.

*The portfolio must be accompanied by a brief, reflective introduction. Students are required to leave a bound copy of the portfolio with the department. The portfolio and public reading entail neither credit nor grade; their content is at the discretion of the student, in consultation with a creative writing faculty member.