Advising Handbook for Majors in

  English  & Theatre

Academic Program Guide for English Majors

[ First Year ] [ Sophomore Year ] [ Junior Year ] [ Senior Year ]

First Year

*Comments:

Major requirements:

1)   ENLT 140 is the ordinary gateway into the major, for it introduces you to the major genres of literature you will encounter during the rest of your studies, as well as to the techniques appropriate to the oral and written analysis of each genre. Equivalents to this course are ENLT 120-139, and if you take one of these courses before declaring an English major, you should not take ENLT 140 unless you feel that you need extra preparation for different kinds of literature.  (If you do decide to take ENLT 140, you could use any other introductory course numbered from 120-139 to satisfy one major elective requirement.)

2)   No more than two courses with a number between 120-179 can be counted toward the major.

3)   MAJOR AREA REQUIREMENTS (second semester): The department requires that you take six courses representing six different chronological periods of British and American literature. The department does not require that you take the area requirements in chronological order, though it does require that you take ENLT 140 (or an equivalent course numbered from 120-179) before taking a 200-level course. If you think you might join the Honors Program, put off your area C course because Honors course work begins in the second semester of sophomore year, and one of the choices includes a Victorian Studies course in Humanities that counts for Area C of the English major.

4)   MAJOR ELECTIVES (second semester):  During your four years you must take six courses (18 hours) in addition to ENLT 140 and your area requirements.  You may satisfy these six major electives in English by taking courses in English literature (ENLT), Writing (WRTG), or Theatre (THTR), as long as these courses do not have a zero as a middle digit. For example, WRTG 107 would not count as an elective for the major, and its middle digit would tell you so.

General Education (GE) requirements:

1)   WRTG 107: In general, students will take WRTG 107, COMM 100, and C/IL 102 to satisfy the General Education skills requirements for that area (SJLA and ADP students will fulfill these requirements differently, as will students with advanced AP credits or those who pass exemption exams). As an English major, you should take WRTG 107 as early in your curriculum as possible because you write a lot while taking classes in your major. You may take C/IL 102 and COMM 100 either semester of your first year.

2)   SKILLS REQUIREMENT EXEMPTION EXAMS:  You may fulfill the skills requirements in writing, speech, or computer literacy by passing an exemption exam.  (The dates of such exams will be posted at the beginning of the year in the CAS Advising Center.)  If you pass any of these exams, 3 credits will be transferred from the Basic Skills requirement to the Free Elective area.  Many students have found these "extra" credits useful when they adopt second majors, minors, concentrations, engage in foreign study, or join the Honors Program.

3)   HUMANITIES ELECTIVES: The English Department recommends that if you plan advanced studies in English, you should take a foreign language, a course of study which might also prepare you for foreign study. If you do take a language, you may put off your quantitative elective (GE Q) for a later semester so that you may continue the foreign language in the spring semester. The English department also suggests History 120-21 as appropriate courses.  However, you should think about your own interests and long-term plans as you select courses.

4)   AP/TRANSFER CREDITS:  If you have earned AP or transfer credits, you should pay attention to the way in which these credits have satisfied curricular requirements.  Go to the CAS Advising Center and ask to look at your CAPP report.  If, for instance, you have 6 AP credits in history, these will probably be applied to the Humanities elective area, and you should satisfy requirements in an area of your curriculum other than humanities.

5)   AP Exam scores for English.  If you earned a 4 or better on the English Language and Composition exam, you earned credit for WRTG 107 and for ENLT 197.  You will not need to take Composition, and the ENLT 197 will be applied to your free elective area.  If you earned a 4 or better on the English-Literature and Composition exam, you earned credit both for WRTG 107 and for ENLT 179.  The latter course counts toward your English major as an introductory course, so you do not need to take ENLT 140.

Total Credits:  The figure listed in the Program Guide and in the catalogue (for instance, 16 in the fall semester of your first year) is not cast in stone.  The number simply represents the number of credits you need to take during a given semester to make sufficient progress toward the total number of credits you will need to graduate in four years. Some members of Sigma Tau Delta (the English Honors Society) have suggested that taking more credits as a freshman will make it easier for you to do a double or triple major later on, to engage in foreign study programs, or to participate in the Honors Program.  Strong students, then, may certainly put off taking a physical education class and take an extra three-credit course, for a total of 18 credits.

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Academic Program Guide for English Majors

Sophomore Year

*Comments:

Major electives (ENLT/THTR/WRTG):

1)   If you plan to study abroad in your Junior Year, you should plan to satisfy area requirements early.  Thus, instead of taking ENLT/WRTG/THTR electives, you should save these courses to add flexibility to your Junior year curriculum.

2)   Writing Intensive courses.  Once you have taken WRTG 107, you may take courses designated "Writing Intensive" (W).  Many of the 200-level literature courses are so designated, and you may wish to enroll for courses that both fulfill an area requirement and satisfy the University's Writing intensive requirement. You need to complete two writing intensive courses to graduate.

3)   Diversity courses.  Remember that you will need to take two courses designated “Diversity” before you graduate. Many of the department’s courses are so designated (in fact, it is possible to fulfill one Writing Intensive requirement and one Diversity requirement as well as completing an area requirement for the English major in a single course.) Plan accordingly.

4)   Tracks. English majors can organize their major electives in a "track," which will be noted on their transcript.  Tracks, which require 15 credits, may be completed either in Theatre or Writing.  The Writing Track includes courses numbered 200 or above and prefixed WRTG (at least one of these courses must be in applied writing).  The Theatre track includes all THTR courses, WRTG 215, 217, and 315, and ENLT 211, 220, 295, 340, 341, 345, 355, and 461. To complete the Theatre track entirely within your major courses, take ENLT 341 or ENLT 345, which counts both as theory intensive and as a theatre track course (other courses may be added). You cannot complete the Writing Track within the major, but must place at least one writing course in your free electives.

Cognate electives:

1)   Because the English major is a pre-professional major, you should begin to consider which cognate will best serve you as you prepare for a career in law, teaching, business, public service, or some other profession.  Spend some time reflecting on your interests and talents.  Are you good at speaking up in class?  At writing essays?  Do you prefer creative or analytical writing?  Visit the Career Development and Placement Center and try out SIGI Plus or view videotapes such as Corporate Careers for Humanities Graduates.  Your reflections will help you make an informed and intelligent decision about choosing a cognate.

Between your cognate and your free electives you have 42 credits to complete.  Other students have used these credits to take courses which would prepare them for advanced studies in English, Law, or Education, or to enter the working world.  Others use the cognate to enrich the English major in other ways, perhaps by taking history, art history, or theatre courses which deepen their understanding of the literature they study.

Think about using those 42 credits for a second major or for a minor or two: to accomplish a double major, you need to complete the major and required cognate courses for that major.

2)   Minors in Writing and Theatre.  English majors may take minors in Writing or Theatre, but may not count the same courses toward the English major and the minor.  If you take courses as part of a minor, those courses will be placed in your Cognate, Free Elective, or relevant General Education section of your curriculum. Plan carefully:  English majors may not take courses with a CL designation to fulfill the Humanities requirement.  You may, however, take one theatre course designated CA.

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Academic Program Guide for English Majors

Junior Year

*Comments:

Major courses:

1)   Begin advanced courses.  English majors are required to take at least one 300-level course, and at least one 300- or 400-level course.  Majors must also take a Theory-intensive course (ENLT 225, 227, 228, 341, 345, 362, 443, and 462 are currently designated "Theory Intensive"; watch for additions to the list.)  If you take these courses now you will be better prepared for your senior seminar.

Cognate electives:

1)   Continue progress towards a second major or minor using your cognate and free electives to do so.

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Academic Program Guide for English Majors

Senior Year

*Comments:

Major courses:

1)   Seniors should register for at least one 400-level senior seminar either in the spring or fall semester.

2)   If you haven't yet completed at least one 300-level course, at least one 300- or 400-level course (aside from senior seminar), and a Theory-intensive course, you should do so.

Cognate electives:

1)   Continue progress towards a second major or minor using your cognate and free electives to do so.

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