COURSE CURRICULUM

The English Literature major requires students to complete at least 40 credits of coursework with a minimum grade of C- in each course and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 in major subjects, ensuring a solid academic foundation in literary studies while allowing limited flexibility such as counting one course toward a Discovery requirement and permitting only one online course to be included in the major, while also requiring that at least six courses be taken at the advanced 600 level or higher to build deeper analytical and critical expertise; the curriculum is structured around a broad yet balanced distribution that includes a required introductory course focused on critical reading skills, followed by selections from 500-level literature courses, and specific coverage of both pre-1800 and post-1800 literary traditions to ensure historical breadth, alongside mandatory advanced coursework such as Critical Skills and a capstone seminar that synthesizes learning through research and discussion; students must also complete specialized requirements including one American literature course and one British literature course at the upper level, a course examining community and culture within a U.S. context, a course exploring global or transnational Anglophone literature, and a genre-focused course such as poetry, fiction, drama, or film, enabling them to develop a well-rounded understanding of literary forms and perspectives; overall, the program emphasizes critical thinking, interpretive analysis, research, and communication skills while offering diverse elective choices across topics like postcolonial literature, race and culture, film studies, and creative writing, thereby preparing students for graduate study or careers requiring strong analytical and writing abilities, while maintaining structured academic standards and encouraging intellectual depth through progressively advanced coursework.