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The Major Course of Study

The English major at Wesleyan consists of ten full-credit courses at the 200-level or higher, or the equivalent if half-credit courses are counted. All but three of these credits, and all courses taken to meet the literary history, literatures of difference, and theory requirements, must be taken at Wesleyan or in the Department’s Sussex Program.

A major program consists of the gateway course, Ways of Reading (ENGL 201), and three overlapping sets of courses—requirements, concentration, and electives--each intended to serve a particular purpose: 

Requirements: Because the Department believes that the study of English should include attention to the historical range of literature in English, to voices of difference defined by such factors as race, gender, and sexual preference, and to philosophical thinking about the structure and function of literature, we require each major to take at least one course in each of four areas: literature written in English before 1680, literature written in English between 1680 and 1800, literatures of difference, and literary theory.

Concentration: Because we believe that an English major should include some concentrated attention to one area of study, we require each major to choose one of 5 concentrations: American Literature, British Literature, Race and Ethnicity, Theory and Literary Forms, Creative Writing.  

Electives: And because we recognize the value of divergent interests, we offer the opportunity to include elective courses from the department as well as one related course from outside the department as part of the English major.

 Required Courses 

Each of the following requirements must be fulfilled by taking a full-credit course designated by the Department as meeting the requirement. Single courses designated as fulfilling more than one requirement may be used to fulfill more than one requirement. Courses fulfilling requirements must be taken for a letter grade.

• Ways of Reading (ENGL 201), in the frosh or sophomore year
A grade of B- or higher is required for admission to the major. Students currently enrolled in 201 will be admitted provisionally, pending receipt of their final grade in the course. Students who have not taken and are not taking 201 will ordinarily not be admitted.  (Please see ENGL 201 for a fuller explanation.)
• Literary History I: Courses focusing on literature written in English before 1680
• Literary History II: Courses focusing on literature written in English between 1680 and 1800
• Literatures of Difference: Courses focusing on literature concerned with racial, ethnic, sexual, and/or cultural difference.
• Theory: Courses that emphasize a theoretical or philosophical consideration of concepts and problems important to literary language and expression--including theories of language, representation, literature and literary form, culture and related matters, such as subjectivity, sexuality, gender, and race

 

Field of Concentration
Students declaring English as a major must also declare a field of concentration in one of five areas: American Literature, British Literature, Race & Ethnicity, Theory & Literary Forms, or Creative Writing. Each concentration consists of four courses. Courses fulfilling major requirements may also be used to fulfill the concentration.  Please see a fuller decription of each under Concentrations.

Elective Courses

Electives provide an opportunity to extend the focus within the major in directions that will enrich as well as expand the student’s understanding of literature. A related course from another department may be counted toward the major.  Prior approval from the student’s major advisor is ordinarily required.

Other English Major Information

 

• ENGL 491 and 492: Ford Seminars and Teaching Apprentice Tutorials:  When they designate Ford Seminars for writing tutors, these courses may be counted for the major only if the actual tutoring is associated with an upper-level English course that the tutor has not taken. When they designate Teaching Apprentice tutorials associated with a course in English, they may be counted whether or not the teaching apprentice has taken the course.
• Student forum classes do not count toward the major.
• Honors thesis credits do not count toward the 10 credit minimum required for the major.
• Individual and group tutorials may not be used to fulfill the literary history, literatures of difference, and theory requirements. Individual tutorial projects usually taken in the Senior year are not for Honors. They may be counted toward the concentration.
• AP Credit.  Students who scored 4 or 5 on the AP in English Literature or English Composition or both, or 5, 6, or 7 on the English A1 or AS IB exam, will automatically receive a total of one credit.  The same credit is awarded for taking one exam as for taking more than one.  This credit counts toward graduation but not toward General Education expectations or the English major.

• Oversubscription:
  University rules state that no more than 14 course credits (or 16.00 credits with a two-term Honors thesis) in any single department may be counted toward the 32 credits required for graduation. Cross-listed courses count toward the oversubscription limit regardless of which department listing a student chooses at the time of registration.  Students who wish to take more than the maximum allowed number of English credits (16.00) courses (14 numbered 201 or above, 16 with a two-term Honors thesis) must be aware that these courses cannot count toward the 32 credits required for the B.A.  The maximum of 16.00 credits for purposes of oversubscription can be comprised of department credits, University of Sussex-English Department Exchange Program credits, and, with departmental approval, prematriculant, study abroad, and/or transfer credits.