Major Requirements
Note: This page is designed to assist students, faculty, and advisors by providing degree requirements and recommendations in an easy-to-use format. The course catalogue remains the official source of degree requirements -- please report any discrepancies with this page to the department chair.
Major Requirements
The following requirements are in effect for students declaring a major in English and Creative Writing in 2010-2011 or later. Students who declared an English major in prior years may need to consult the requirements outlined in the 2009 course catalogue.
Majors must complete a minimum of 11 courses, to include the following:
- Two of the following foundation courses in the field of English, one of which must be in the area of concentration (recommended to be completed by the end of sophomore year):
- Introduction to Literary Studies (ENG 201)
- Introduction to Film Studies (ENG 202)
- Introduction to Creative Writing (ENG 215)
- One of the following courses with emphasis on social and/or global issues
(may simultaneously fulfill one additional requirement for the English
major if eligible):
- Theatre, Architecture, and the Arts in England (ENG 240)
- Grammar and Politics of the English Language (ENG 311)
- Modern American Literature, when offered at the Wilderness Station (ENG 347)
- American Nature Writers (ENG 350)
- Studies in African-American Literature (ENG 351)
- Multicultural Literature (ENG 367)
- AIDS Literature, Film, and Social Theory (ENG 370)
- Any 200- or 300-level literature course in translation or in the target language offered by the Classical and Modern Languages Department, other than FRE 311: Introduction to Literary Analysis in French, GER 311: Introduction to Literature, SPA 311: Introduction to Textual Analysis.
- One of the following concentrations:
Literature
- 1 course from Medieval and Renaissance Literature: ENG 321-326
- 3 courses, to be distributed among at least two of the following literary-historical groups:
- Restoration and 18th Century: ENG 328, 329, 331
- 19th-Century Literature: ENG 333, 334, 343, 345
- 20th-21stCentury: ENG 335, 336, 347, 350, 351,361, 363, 364, 365 (depending on topic).
- 1 course from ENG 311, 319, 371
- 1 elective in the department
Creative Writing
- 3 courses, to be distributed among three of the following literary-historical groups:
- Medieval and Renaissance Literature: ENG 321-326
- Restoration and 18th Century: ENG 328, 329, 331
- 19th-Century Literature: ENG 333, 334, 343, 345
- 20th-21st Century: ENG 335, 336, 347, 350, 351,361, 363, 364, 365 (depending on topic).
- Either ENG 317 or ENG 318
- 1 additional course from ENG 317, ENG 318, ENG 381-383, THE 321 -322.
- 1 elective in the department
Film Studies
- 3 courses, to be distributed among three of the following literary-historical groups:
- Medieval and Renaissance Literature: ENG 321-326
- Restoration and 18th Century: ENG 328, 329, 331
- 19th Century: ENG 333, 334, 343, 345
- 20th-21st Century: ENG 335, 336, 347, 350, 351, 361, 363, 364, 365 (depending on topic).
- 2 additional courses from ENG 327, 365, 370, 371(depending on topic), 372, HIS 364, CLA 364 (depending on topic)
- 1 elective in the department
- ENG 411: Senior Seminar
Recommended Course Sequence
The department recommends that foundation courses be completed by the end of the sophomore year, and that majors consider an internship in an area of interest in the junior or senior year. Transfer students must take a minimum of six courses from Cornell College's Department of English and Creative Writing.
Teaching Major Requirements
Please refer to the course catalogue for more information.