A major requires a minimum of eleven courses (44 units). A maximum of two courses taken at the 200-level can be applied to the Group 1-4 requirement.
Major (no concentration)
Historical Surveys
| ENGL 287 | Literary Experiments from Chaucer to Milton | 4 units |
| ENGL 288 | Modern British Literary Traditions | 4 units |
| ENGL 289 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
Seminars
| ENGL 290 | Introduction to Literary Methods | 4 units |
| ENGL 390 | Junior Seminar in English | 4 units |
| ENGL 490 | Senior Seminar: Comprehensive Project | 4 units |
Group 1 - Medieval and Renaissance Literature
Students must select one course numbered:
Group 2 - 18th and 19th Century Literature
Students must select one course numbered:
Group 3 - 20th and 21st Century Literature
Students must select one course numbered:
Group 4 - Emergent Literature
Students must select one course that focuses on literature previously excluded from the canon:
| ENGL 142/BLST 142 | Joyful Noise! On Black Literature and Musicality | 4 units |
| ENGL 241 | The "Deviant" | 4 units |
| ENGL 274 | Women Writers | 4 units |
| ENGL 341 | Race, Law, and Literature | 4 units |
| ENGL 345 | On Tyranny in American Literature before 1900 | 4 units |
| ENGL 347 | 19th Century Novel and Bollywood Cinema | 4 units |
NOTE: "Emergent Literature" courses will typically fall under the Group II or III categories. However, they cannot count for both a period requirement (such as Group II or III) and the Emergent Literature requirement.
Electives
| ENGL | One additional ENGL course | |
Students considering graduate work in literature are strongly encouraged to take additional English courses beyond the minimum of eleven in order to broaden and deepen their knowledge of literary history and their practice of literary interpretation. They should also take ENGL 370. Most graduate programs require proficiency in at least one foreign language.
Major with a concentration in Creative Writing
Students majoring in English may elect to take additional courses in order to complete a concentration in Creative Writing, a special track that provides a strong background in both literary history and creative writing skills. Students choosing this concentration will take a total of 13 courses.
Historical Surveys
| ENGL 287 | Literary Experiments from Chaucer to Milton | 4 units |
| ENGL 288 | Modern British Literary Traditions | 4 units |
| ENGL 289 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
Seminars
Students must complete the courses listed below:
| ENGL 290 | Introduction to Literary Methods | 4 units |
| ENGL 390 | Junior Seminar in English | 4 units |
| ENGL 490 | Senior Seminar: Comprehensive Project | 4 units |
Three Upper Division Electives
Choose from categories noted above as Groups I, II, III and IV (only one of these may be a 200-level course).
Creative Writing Electives
Students must complete four creative writing electives. At least two of these must be from the English department. Other departments and programs that have offered writing courses include French, Media Arts and Culture, Theater, and Writing and Rhetoric. Students interested in pursuing concentration in creative writing must work out a careful program in consultation with their adviser and the department chair.
| ENGL 280 | Creative Writing: Introduction to Fiction Writing | 4 units |
| ENGL 281 | Creative Writing: Poetry | 4 units |
| ENGL 380 | Creative Writing: Advance Fiction Writing | 4 units |
| ENGL 382 | Advanced Creative Writing | 4 units |
| MAC 220 | Introduction to Screenwriting and Narrative Practices | 4 units |
| MAC 222 | Creating and Writing Television/Streaming Series | 4 units |
| THEA 380 | Playwriting | 4 units |
| WRD 285 | Principles of Journalism I: Covering News Across Media | 4 units |
| WRD 286 | Principles of Journalism II: Narrative Nonfiction: True Stories Told Well | 4 units |
| WRD 301 | Creative Nonfiction | 4 units |
Honors in the Major
Honors may be awarded to graduating seniors who demonstrate excellence in course work and who successfully develop their comps project into an honors thesis. To be eligible, students must have a 3.65 grade point average in courses taken toward the major and an overall 3.5 grade point average. Qualified students will be invited to apply for permission to proceed to honors by the department prior to the beginning of the spring semester. Upon review by department faculty, students whose applications are accepted will register for ENGL 499 (Independent Study), for two units in the spring semester. They will complete a thesis to be orally defended before a faculty committee during the spring semester. Honors candidates are encouraged to take ENGL 370, preferably in the junior year. For further details, consult with your department advisor.
Minor
Five courses or 20 units.
Historical Surveys
Students must select two courses from the list below:
| ENGL 287 | Literary Experiments from Chaucer to Milton | 4 units |
| ENGL 288 | Modern British Literary Traditions | 4 units |
| ENGL 289 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
| ENGL 290 | Introduction to Literary Methods | 4 units |
Electives
Any three ENGL courses, two of which must be taken at the 300-level.