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 . Majors are advised to take ENGL 165 PO 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 ENGL 195 PO  and continue writing in a structured group setting in the spring in ENGL 195B PO. Only one semester of ENGL 195 is required, but ENGL 195B is strongly encouraged for all thesis students. ENGL 195 PO will be offered each semester to accommodate off-calendar students. These students must also enroll in ENGL 191 PO   with their first reader. English majors seeking to do a poetry or fiction thesis must have completed a course in the ENGL183 PO series. 
   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 the department. 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 Claremont 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.

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

1. Complete a course in the ENGL183 PO series;
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.