English (BA)
A minor in English is described in the “Minors” section.
Location
- Avery Point Campus
- Hartford Campus
- Stamford Campus
- Storrs Campus
- Waterbury Campus
Modality
- In Person
Requirements
To satisfy the English major, students must present for the degree 30 credits of English courses numbered 2000 or above. At least one three-credit English course taken by the student must be at the 3000 level. The following courses cannot be used to satisfy this distribution requirement: ENGL 3091 Writing Internship, ENGL 3699 Independent Study, ENGL 3693 Foreign Study. Nor can transfer courses labelled 93XXX be used to satisfy this requirement. These credits shall be distributed as follows:
English Core Requirements
Each of these core requirements must be satisfied by a unique course. A single course may not be applied to two different requirements within the core requirements.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Methods for the Major | ||
| ENGL 2600 | Introduction to Literary Studies | 3 |
| Early Literary, Cultural, and Linguistic History | ||
| Select six credits from the following: | 6 | |
| British Literature I | ||
| The British Empire, Slavery, and Resistance | ||
| Literature and Culture of North America before 1800 | ||
| American Literature to 1880 | ||
| Literary Approaches to the Bible | ||
| Medieval English Literature | ||
| Renaissance English Literature | ||
| Literature of Enlightenment, Empire, and Revolution: 1660-1800 | ||
| Romantic British Literature | ||
| Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century African American Literature | ||
| Celtic and Norse Myth and Legend | ||
| Studies in Early Literature in English | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Shakespeare I | ||
| Milton | ||
| Maritime Literature to 1800 | ||
| Antiracism, Globality and Embodiment | ||
| Students take one course from group 1, and a second course from either group 1 or 2 | 6 | |
| Group 1: Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian/American Literary and Cultural Traditions | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Indigenous Literatures and Cultures | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| Multi-Ethnic Literature and Culture of the United States | ||
| Introduction to Asian American Literature and Culture | ||
| Anglophone Literatures | ||
| Modern Japanese Literature | ||
| Literature of Migration | ||
| Introduction to Indigenous Film | ||
| Environmental Justice Writing | ||
| Native American Literature | ||
| Asian American Literature | ||
| Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century African American Literature | ||
| Twentieth- and Twenty-First Century African American Literature | ||
| Studies in African American Literature and Culture | ||
| Studies in Latina/o Literature | ||
| Race and the Scientific Imagination | ||
| Literature and Culture of the Third World | ||
| Topics in Postcolonial Studies | ||
| Literature and Culture of India | ||
| Latina/o Literature | ||
| Indigenous Horror | ||
| Group 2: Difference and Diaspora | ||
| Select one of the following or a second course from Group 1 | ||
| Disability in American Literature and Culture | ||
| Reading and Writing the Medical Humanities | ||
| Writing the City | ||
| Writing Across Cultures | ||
| Irish Literature in English to 1939 | ||
| Irish Literature in English since 1939 | ||
| Jewish American Literature and Culture | ||
| Language Diversity and Social Justice in the English Classroom and Beyond | ||
| Women's Literature | ||
| Women's Literature 1900 to the Present | ||
| LGBTQ+ Literature | ||
| Holocaust Memoir | ||
| Advanced Study: Writing in the Major | ||
| Select three credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced Study: British Literature | ||
| Advanced Study: American Literature | ||
| Advanced Study: Ethnic Literature | ||
| Advanced Study: Anglophone Literature | ||
| Advanced Study: Literature of Ireland | ||
| Advanced Study: Poetry | ||
| Advanced Study: Prose | ||
| Advanced Study: Seminars in Literature | ||
| Advanced Study: LGBTQ+ Literature | ||
| Advanced Studies in Early Literature | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Electives or Optional Tracks
(12 credits)
Courses used to satisfy credits in the core curriculum may also be applied toward one or more of the tracks below, as long as the student completes the 30 unique credits for the major. Students may forego tracks and opt to take 12 credits of electives instead.
The following courses may be counted toward a specific track if approved by the Associate Head of English:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 2627 | Topics in Literary Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 2640/2640W | Studies in Film | 3 |
| ENGL 3319 | Topics in Postcolonial Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 3509/3509W | Studies in Individual Writers | 3 |
| ENGL 3619 | Topics in Literature and Human Rights | 3 |
| ENGL 3621 | Literature and Other Disciplines | 3 |
| ENGL 3623 | Studies in Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ENGL 3627 | Studies in Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 3693 | Foreign Study | 1-6 |
| ENGL 3695 | Special Topics | 1-6 |
| ENGL 3698 | Variable Topics | 3 |
| ENGL 3699 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
ENGL 4897 Honors VIII: Honors Thesis may be applied to a specific track if approved by the Honors English Advisor.
Track: Creative Writing
Twelve credits distributed as follows:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 2701 | Creative Writing I | 3 |
| Select two 3000-level Creative Writing Workshops from the following: | 6 | |
| Creative Writing II | ||
| Writing Workshop | ||
| Playwriting | ||
| Film Writing | ||
| Creative Writing for Child and Young Adult Readers | ||
| Nature Writing Workshop | ||
| Literary Genres or Methods | ||
| Select one elective focused on Literary Genres or Methods from the following: | 3 | |
| Poetry | ||
| Drama | ||
| The Short Story | ||
| Modern Drama | ||
| The Modern Novel | ||
| Popular Literature | ||
| The Graphic Novel | ||
| Introduction to Digital Humanities | ||
| Digital Literary Studies | ||
| Writing with Algorithms | ||
| Digital Games and Literature | ||
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| Studies in Film | ||
| Writing the City | ||
| Travel Writing | ||
| Creative Criticism | ||
| Topics in Writing Studies | ||
| Books and Book Publishing | ||
| Media Publishing | ||
| American Nature Writing | ||
| Children's Literature | ||
| Young Adult Literature | ||
| British Film | ||
| Literary Magazine Editing | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Track: Cultural Studies/Media Studies
Select twelve credits from the following
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 2276/2276W | American Utopias and Dystopias | 3 |
| ENGL 2411/2411W | Popular Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 2413/2413W | The Graphic Novel | 3 |
| ENGL 2470 | Texts, Images, Objects | 3 |
| ENGL 2608 | Introduction to Indigenous Film | 3 |
| ENGL 2610 | Introduction to Digital Humanities | 3 |
| ENGL 2612 | Digital Literary Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 2614 | Writing with Algorithms | 3 |
| ENGL 2616 | Artificial Intelligence: Creative and Critical Approaches | 3 |
| ENGL 2618 | Digital Games and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 2640/2640W | Studies in Film | 3 |
| ENGL 2645 | The Classical Hollywood Cinema | 3 |
| ENGL 2648 | Introduction To Fan Studies | 3 |
| ENGL 3265W | American Studies Methods | 3 |
| ENGL 3420 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 3422 | Young Adult Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 3623 | Studies in Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ENGL 3633W | The Rhetoric of Political Discourse in Literature and Society | 3 |
| ENGL 3640 | British Film | 3 |
Track: English Teaching
Twelve credits distributed as follows:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural, Genre, and Media Studies | ||
| Select three credits of Cultural, Genre, and Media Studies from the following: | 3 | |
| American Utopias and Dystopias | ||
| Poetry | ||
| Drama | ||
| The Short Story | ||
| Modern Drama | ||
| The Modern Novel | ||
| Popular Literature | ||
| The Graphic Novel | ||
| Capitalism, Literature, and Culture | ||
| Fascism and its Opponents | ||
| Introduction to Digital Humanities | ||
| Digital Literary Studies | ||
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| Studies in Film | ||
| American Nature Writing | ||
| American Studies Methods | ||
| Topics in Literature and Human Rights | ||
| Studies in Literature and Culture | ||
| Literature, Culture, and Humanitarianism | ||
| The Rhetoric of Political Discourse in Literature and Society | ||
| British Film | ||
| Maritime Literature to 1800 | ||
| Maritime Literature Since 1800 | ||
| Nature Writing Workshop | ||
| Advanced Composition | ||
| Select one of the following Advanced Composition courses: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Writing Studies | ||
| Writing through Research | ||
| Writing, Rhetoric, and Environment | ||
| Topics in Writing Studies | ||
| Advanced Composition for Prospective Teachers | ||
| Creative Writing II 1 | ||
| Grammar | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The English Language | ||
| Language Diversity and Social Justice in the English Classroom and Beyond | ||
| Children’s or Young Adult Literature | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Children's Literature | ||
| Young Adult Literature | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
Sections of this course may be applied to the track only if approved by the Coordinator of the Teaching Concentration.
Track: Irish Literature
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Irish Literature in English to 1939 | ||
| Irish Literature in English since 1939 | ||
| Celtic and Norse Myth and Legend | ||
| Studies in Individual Writers 1 | ||
| Studies in Literature and Culture 1 | ||
| Studies in Literature 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
Sections of these courses may be applied to the track only if approved by the Coordinator of the Irish Literature program.
Track: Literature, Antiracism, and Social Justice
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| The British Empire, Slavery, and Resistance | ||
| Empire and U.S. Culture | ||
| Introduction to Indigenous Literatures and Cultures | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| Multi-Ethnic Literature and Culture of the United States | ||
| Introduction to Asian American Literature and Culture | ||
| Disability in American Literature and Culture | ||
| Anglophone Literatures | ||
| Literature of Migration | ||
| Capitalism, Literature, and Culture | ||
| Introduction to Indigenous Film | ||
| Fascism and its Opponents | ||
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| Environmental Justice Writing | ||
| Reading and Writing the Medical Humanities | ||
| Irish Literature in English to 1939 | ||
| Irish Literature in English since 1939 | ||
| Native American Literature | ||
| Asian American Literature | ||
| Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century African American Literature | ||
| Twentieth- and Twenty-First Century African American Literature | ||
| Studies in African American Literature and Culture | ||
| Jewish American Literature and Culture | ||
| Studies in Latina/o Literature | ||
| Literature and Culture of the Third World | ||
| Topics in Postcolonial Studies | ||
| Latina/o Literature | ||
| Women's Literature | ||
| Women's Literature 1900 to the Present | ||
| LGBTQ+ Literature | ||
| Indigenous Horror | ||
| Topics in Literature and Human Rights | ||
| Holocaust Memoir | ||
| Literature, Culture, and Humanitarianism | ||
| The Rhetoric of Political Discourse in Literature and Society | ||
| Law and Literature | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Track: Literary Histories and Legacies
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| British Literature I | ||
| British Literature II | ||
| Literature and Culture of North America before 1800 | ||
| American Literature to 1880 | ||
| American Literature Since 1880 | ||
| Introduction to Indigenous Literatures and Cultures | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| Introduction to Asian American Literature and Culture | ||
| Anglophone Literatures | ||
| Literary Approaches to the Bible | ||
| Medieval English Literature | ||
| Renaissance English Literature | ||
| Literature of Enlightenment, Empire, and Revolution: 1660-1800 | ||
| Romantic British Literature | ||
| Victorian British Literature | ||
| Irish Literature in English to 1939 | ||
| Irish Literature in English since 1939 | ||
| British Literature from 1890 to the Mid-Twentieth Century | ||
| American Literature since the Mid-Twentieth Century | ||
| Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century African American Literature | ||
| Twentieth- and Twenty-First Century African American Literature | ||
| Celtic and Norse Myth and Legend | ||
| Studies in Early Literature in English | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Shakespeare I | ||
| Milton | ||
| Studies in Individual Writers | ||
| Maritime Literature to 1800 | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Track: Literature of Place and Environment
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Writing, Rhetoric, and Environment | ||
| American Utopias and Dystopias | ||
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| Environmental Justice Writing | ||
| Writing the City | ||
| Travel Writing | ||
| American Nature Writing | ||
| Maritime Literature to 1800 | ||
| Maritime Literature Since 1800 | ||
| Nature Writing Workshop | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Track: Writing and Composition Studies
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing | ||
| Technical Writing and Design | ||
| Introduction to Writing Studies | ||
| Writing through Research | ||
| Writing, Rhetoric, and Environment | ||
| Writing the City | ||
| Travel Writing | ||
| Topics in Writing Studies | ||
| Advanced Composition for Prospective Teachers | ||
| Books and Book Publishing | ||
| Media Publishing | ||
| Writing Across Cultures | ||
| Writing Center Practicum | ||
| Writing Internship 1 | ||
| Language Diversity and Social Justice in the English Classroom and Beyond | ||
| The Rhetoric of Political Discourse in Literature and Society | ||
| Literary Magazine Editing | ||
| Nature Writing Workshop | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
A maximum of six credits may be counted towards the Writing and Composition Studies concentration.
University Common Curriculum Requirements
Every student must meet a set of core requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree, in addition to those required by the student's major course of study and other requirements set by the student's school or college. For more information about these requirements, please see Common Curriculum Requirements.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements
Students must meet a set of requirements established by the college in addition to the University's Common Curriculum requirements. For more information, see the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.
Learning Objectives
- Contextualized literary knowledge: Understand and can fluently discuss literary works in their historical, geographical, and cultural contexts.
- Critical reading and analysis: Know how to read complex texts and are able to analyze the nuances of such texts in written and verbal forums.
- Effective writing and communication skills: Communicate clearly and effectively using a variety of different styles, genres, and media, demonstrating an awareness of different readers and audiences.
- Technical knowledge and theoretical awareness: Employ effectively the technical vocabulary used to analyze literature, understand the distinguishing features of literary genres and modes, and can articulate and apply theoretical principles of literary and cultural analysis.
- Social awareness: Be cognizant of and sensitive to the histories of social stratification that have oppressed groups of people and marginalized bodies of literature. For example, understand the historical contours of explicit and implicit racism and white supremacy, especially the roles that literature plays in those histories.
- Ethical research and scholarship: Conduct ethical and thorough research and know how to communicate their research in writing to different audiences and for different purposes.
- Creation and creativity: Express themselves creatively in different genres and find creative solutions to solve conceptual and interpretive problems of the sort one encounters in literary and cultural study.