Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Twin Cities Campus
English B.A.English Language & Literature
College of Liberal Arts
Students who major in English study literature and other forms of verbal expression, literary history and criticism, critical theory, linguistics, and creative writing. Courses offered by the department explore a wide range of discourses written in English, including poetry, drama, fiction, film, popular culture, and electronic media. Students examine the cultural, social, political, and economic contexts that condition a variety of texts. Majors write extensively and learn to express themselves effectively, both orally and in writing. They gain practical insight into the words that they speak, read, and write.
The English department supports an engaged, civic-oriented curriculum and teaches the critical skills of reading and writing in the context of community involvement and real public spheres by incorporating community and service-learning components into literature classes.
Students transferring courses from other colleges and universities must complete five University of Minnesota three- or four-credit English courses in residence. These courses must include ENGL 3960W, ENGW 3960W, or ENGL 3883V (the senior project course), and at least four other upper-division courses (3xxx or higher).
Students wishing to transfer English courses from outside the University of Minnesota and apply them to the English major requirements should discuss this with the undergraduate adviser. Note: All English courses completed at two-year community colleges are accepted as equivalent to University lower-division (1xxx) courses, regardless of content. Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits are not included in the major.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
Prospective majors are encouraged to complete an introductory course in literature, creative writing, and/or English language, chosen from ENGL 1001-1701 and ENGW 1101-1104, before officially declaring the major. To declare a major, a student schedules an appointment with the Undergraduate Studies Office (227 Lind Hall; 612-625-4592; englmaj@umn.edu), and completes a Major Program form which is filed in CLA, the department, and with the student. Advisers recommend that students declare the major during the second semester of the freshman year.
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of
any second language.
with a grade of C-, or better, or S, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department
or college.
The major is fulfilled by a minimum of 34 credits and 10 courses. At least 31 of these 34 credits must be upper-division (3xxx or higher). Students may count one ENGL/W 1xxx course toward the electives sub-requirement. Independent study is limited to 12 credits of directed study, directed instruction, or independent and distance learning (IDL) courses. Students may earn a B.A. or a minor in English, but not both.
English majors are encouraged to study in other countries before their senior year, to increase understanding of English language and literatures from diverse cultural perspectives. Advanced planning facilitates academic success and progress. See the Learning Abroad Center Web site at www.UMabroad.umn.edu for more information.
English majors are also encouraged to incorporate courses that address racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, religious, economic, and ideological diversity when fulfilling their program requirements. The Undergraduate Studies Office maintains a list of courses that address diversity directly, and advisers can help students identify courses that incorporate diversity as part of another subject.
Beginning fall 2012, all incoming CLA freshmen must complete the appropriate First Year Experience course sequence. Specific information about this collegiate requirement can be found at: https://cla.umn.edu/student-services-advising/academic-requirements
Textual Analysis
The methods course provides skills in close and critical reading, background in history and culture, and multiple approaches to literary works.
ENGL 3001W - Textual Analysis: Methods
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
ENGL 3001V - Honors: Textual Analysis: Methods
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
Shakespeare
A 3xxx Shakespeare course, together with the required historical literature courses, situates literary works in historical, cultural, and theoretical perspectives.
ENGL 3007 - Shakespeare
[LITR]
(3.0 cr)
or
ENGL 3007H - Honors: Shakespeare
[LITR]
(3.0 cr)
or
Department-approved Shakespeare course at the 3xxx-level.
American/British Surveys and Historically-oriented Literature
The surveys and historically-oriented literature courses, together with a 3xxx Shakespeare course, situate literary works in historical, cultural, and theoretical perspectives. A third survey may be used to satisfy the historically-oriented literature requirement. A course used to satisfy the historically-oriented literature requirement may not also satisfy an elective requirement.
American/British Surveys
Take courses in Option I or Option II for a total of 2 courses and 8 credits.
Option I
ENGL 3003W - Historical Survey of British Literatures I
[HIS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
ENGL 3006W - Survey of American Literatures and Cultures II
[LITR, DSJ, WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
Option II
ENGL 3004W - Historical Survey of British Literatures II
[HIS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
ENGL 3005W - Survey of American Literatures and Cultures I
[LITR, DSJ, WI]
(4.0 cr)
Historically-oriented Literature
Take 1 or more course(s) from the following:
·
AMIN 3201W - American Indian Literature
[LITR, DSJ, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
CHIC 3507W - Introduction to Chicana/o Literature
[LITR, DSJ, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3003W - Historical Survey of British Literatures I
[HIS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3004W - Historical Survey of British Literatures II
[HIS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3005W - Survey of American Literatures and Cultures I
[LITR, DSJ, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3006W - Survey of American Literatures and Cultures II
[LITR, DSJ, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3025 - The End of the World in Literature and History
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3026 - Mediterranean Wanderings: Literature and History on the Borders of Three Continents
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3101 - Knights and Pilgrims in Medieval Literature
[LITR]
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3102 - Chaucer
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3116 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3132 - Between Heaven and Hell: The King James Bible as Literature
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3134 - Milton and Rebellion
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3141 - The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century: Sex, Satire, and Sentiment
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3151 - British Romantic Literature and Culture
[LITR]
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3161 - Victorian Literatures and Cultures
[LITR]
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3161H {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3175 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3212 - American Poetry from 1900
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3221 - American Novel to 1900
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3222 - American Novel from 1900
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3231 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3597W - Introduction to African American Literature and Culture I
[LITR, DSJ, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ENGL 3598W - Introduction to African American Literature and Culture II
[LITR, DSJ, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ENGL 4152 - Nineteenth Century British Novel
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 4232 - American Drama by Writers of Color
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 4233 - Modern and Contemporary Drama
[AH, CIV]
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 4311 - Asian American Literature and Drama
[LITR, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
ENGL 5593 - The African-American Novel
(3.0 cr)
Language, Theory, and Criticism
Take one course for a minimum of 3 credits. This requirement allows students to deepen their understanding of the English language or to concentrate on theoretical questions that shape readers' understanding of texts.
ENGL 3002 - Modern Literary Criticism and Theory
(3.0 cr)
or
ENGL 3601 - Analysis of the English Language
(4.0 cr)
or
ENGL 3741 - Literacy and American Cultural Diversity
[DSJ, LITR]
(4.0 cr)
or
ENGL 4003 - History of Literary Theory
(3.0 cr)
or
ENGL 4612 - Old English I
(3.0 cr)
or
ENGL 4613 - Old English II
(3.0 cr)
or
ENGL 4722 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
Electives
Electives are devoted to in-depth study of particular authors, topics, periods, or genres. Any ENGL/W 3xxx-5xxx not used to fulfill other major requirements may be used as an elective. A course used as an elective may not be used to satisfy the historically-oriented literature requirement.
Take 3 or more courses totaling 9 or more credits from the following:
Lower-division Elective
Students may, but are not required to, count one ENGL/W 1xxx toward the major.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
ENGL 1xxx
·
ENGW 1xxx
Upper-division Electives
Take 2 or more course(s) totaling 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
ENGL 3xxx
·
ENGL 4xxx
·
ENGL 5xxx
·
ENGW 3xxx
·
ENGW 4xxx
·
ENGW 5xxx
Senior Project
The program of study culminates in a writing project (4 credits), completed either in a rigorous and intensive seminar in which students produce an extended, scholarly essay (ENGL 3960W), or in an advanced creative writing workshop (ENGW 3960W) in which students produce a substantial manuscript of poetry, literary fiction, or literary nonfiction, or in a 2-semester, 4-credit honors thesis (ENGL 3883V). ENGL 3883V is usually taken in 2 semesters of 2 credits each.
ENGL 3883V {Inactive}
[WI]
(1.0-4.0 cr)
or
ENGL 3960W {Inactive}
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
ENGW 3960W {Inactive}
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
Upper-division Writing Intensive within the major
Students are required to take one upper-division Writing Intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
Honors courses ending with V will also count.
ENGL 3xxxW
ENGL 4xxxW
ENGL 5xxxW
ENGW 3xxxW
ENGW 4xxxW
ENGW 5xxxW
|
|
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3001W/3001V |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3001W/3001V |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3007/EngL 3007H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3007/EngL 3007H |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3006W/EngL 3006V |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3201W/EngL 3201W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chic 3507W/EngL 3507W |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3006W/EngL 3006V |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3025/RelS 3627 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3101/MeSt 3101 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3102/MeSt 3102 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3134/EngL 3134H |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3161/EngL 3161H |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmSt 3222H/EngL 3222/Eng 3222H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 3597W/EngL 3597W |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 3598W/EngL 3598W |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AAS 4232/EngL 4232 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AAS 4311/ENGL 4311 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 3593/Afro 5593/EngL 3593/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 3002/3002H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 4612/EngL 5612/MeSt 4612 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EngL 4613/MeSt 4613 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |