Requirements.  There are two paths to a major in English.  You should declare your path when you pick the major.  For both tracks, majors complete 33 credits in English.  

Literature Track Requirements (Va)

Select at least 11 courses (33 cr.) above the 100 level, of which at least five must be on the 300-400 level

• Select one of the following in Language and Linguistics:  ENG-G2 05, ENG-G 207, or ENG-L 305 (3 cr.)
• Select two courses in British literature (6 cr.):
  • ENG-L 211 or one course from the sequence ENG-L 305 to ENG-L 315
  • ENG-L 212 or one course from the sequence ENG-L 326 to ENG-L 348
• Shakespeare:  ENG-L 315 (3 cr.)
• Select one course from the American literature sequence ENG-L 350 to ENG-L 363 (3 cr.) 
• Senior Seminar:  ENG-L 440 (3 cr) (also fulfills capstone requirement)
• Select one of the following in Literature in a World Context:  ENG-L 201, ENG-L 207, ENG-L 249, ENG-L 382, ENG-L 364, ENG-L 370 (3 cr.)
• Students must submit a Senior Portfolio. Requirements for this are available in the English Department.
• Students must also complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Total (33 cr.)

Writing Track Requirements (Va)

Select at least 11 courses (33 cr.) above the 100 level, of which at least five must be on the 300-400 level.  

• Grammar:  ENG-G 207 (3 cr.)
• Professional Writing:  ENG-W 231 (3 cr.)
• Writing Fiction:  ENG-W 301 (3 cr.)
• Writing Poetry:  ENG-W 303 (3 cr.)
• Select one of the following:  ENG-W W311 or ENG-W 350 (3 cr.)
• One literature class at the 300-400 level
• Shakespeare:  ENG-L 315 (3 cr.)
• ENG-L 440 (3 cr.) (also fufills capstone requirements)
• Students must submit a Senior Portfolio.  (Requirements for this are available in the English Department).  
• Students must also complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Total (33 cr.)

Recommendation

The department recommends that majors considering graduate work in English take elective courses in a variety of periods of English and American literature.

Students who expect to go on to graduate work are advised to take substantial work in at least one foreign language.  

We strongly encourage students in the Writing Track to take ENG-W 398, Internship in Writing.