Student smiling in a poetry class.

Majors and Minors

The English major requires 36 credits. In addition to a single required course, ENGL 300, students must take coursework in different historical periods and genres, and in various subject areas: international literature, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and class.

Major requirements vary depending on when you declared an English major and whether you are pursuing certification in teacher education. Students enrolled in programs from earlier than 2018 should seek advice from their academic major advisor.

The English department is also home to the minor in American Identities and Cultures, an interdisciplinary program that examines what it means to be American by studying the reciprocal relationship between identity and culture.  It asks how various cultural products (literature, film, music, etc.) shape identity, and how group identities of many kinds (race, gender, ethnicity) play a role in producing culture.

The catalog pages below provide specific information about the required coursework for each program.

We also offer combined BA/MA programs. Visit our Graduate Program page for more information.