Degree Requirements

Majors

36 total credits are required of the English Major. Majors must complete the introductory Gateway classes (6 credits) and take 30 additional credits in one of three areas of concentration. No more than 12 transfer credits may be used to fulfill major requirements. Publishing courses do not meet the requirements for either the English major or minor.

Mandatory for All English Majors (6 credits):

(1) The Gateway classes must be fulfilled through the one-semester Introduction to Literary Studies (ENGL 25000 [formerly ENGL 31132]) and an additional 300- level elective course (an Historical Survey course or a Representative Writers course). These Gateway classes must be taken at the beginning of your work for 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. Shira Epstein in NA 5/208B for English Education advising (X5995).

Minors

The English Department offers a minor of 15 credits.

(1) 3 credits of the Gateway course: ENGL 25000*.

(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) 650-5407.

*The previous Gateway classes-ENGL 31132, 33000, or 33100- will also fulfill Gateway requirement.