English Major with Literature Concentration

For students who entered UM in Fall 2023 or later. All other students may choose to follow these requirements for the Literature major, or they may follow the old requirements listed below.

Requirements

Students who declare a major in English with a Literature concentration should meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Of the 10 total classes (30 credits) required for the major, at least FIVE must be numbered at 300 or above, of which at least TWO must be numbered 400 or above.
1. Select ONE 200-Level Literature course 3 credits
2. Select TWO Literature courses numbered 200 or above that fulfill the following area requirements: 6 credits
Select one course in Forms, Methods, and Genres  
Select one course in Diversity and Global Understanding
3. Select THREE Literature courses numbered 300 or above that fulfill the following historical distribution requirements: 9 credits
Select one course numbered 300 or above in Literature before 1700
Select one course numbered 300 or above in Literature between 1700 and 1900
Select one course numbered 300 or above in Literature since 1900
4. Select FOUR additional English electives numbered 200 or above (can include creative writing workshops) 12 credits
TOTAL CREDITS: 30 credits (36 credits for Department Honors)

 

Old Requirements

For students who entered UM before Fall 2023. These students may also choose to follow the current requirements for the English major with a concentration in Literature listed above. To do this, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

1. ONE of the following courses: 3 credits
ENG 201, ENG 202, ENG 205, ENG 211, ENG 212, ENG 213, ENG 214, ENG 215, ENG 260, ENG 261. (ENG 210 may not be used toward the fulfillment of this requirement.)  
 
2. FIVE (5) literature courses numbered 300 or above, at least two (2) of which must be numbered 400 or above. These five courses must be distributed as follows: 15 credits
 
  • Two (2) courses in literature before 1700
  • Two (2) courses in literature between 1700 and 1900
  • One (1) course in literature since 1900
 
3. FOUR (4) additional English courses other than ENG 106 (i.e., any courses designated ENG and numbered 200 or above). 12 credits
 
TOTAL CREDITS: 30 credits

Departmental Honors in Literature

To enter the program a student must have achieved by the end of the junior year a 3.5 GPA in English courses and a 3.3 GPA overall. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the English Major with a concentration in Literature, the candidate for Departmental Honors must:

  1. Take at least three literature courses at the 400-level or higher.
  2. Complete a six-credit Senior Thesis. This thesis is a documented essay of about 10,000 words on a literary subject. The student undertaking a Senior Thesis normally registers in ENG 497, Special Topics/Independent Study, for the first semester of the project, and in ENG 498, Senior Thesis, for the second semester. The student must receive a grade of B or higher in both courses in order to qualify for honors.6 credits
  3. Over the course of this two-semester sequence, students will be expected to participate in 3-4 workshops addressing different aspects of the writing process for independent research projects.
  4. Receive for the thesis a recommendation for honors by the director of the Senior Thesis and by one other faculty reader from the Department of English.
  5. Achieve a GPA in the major of at least 3.5, and an overall GPA
    of at least 3.3.Total: 36 credits

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