English Major, Literature Emphasis, B.A./B.S.

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42 hours; 2.0 major GPA required

For lovers of reading, literature programs at the University of Southern Indiana provide a chance to study fiction, poetry and drama from a range of historical periods. Whether you’d like to improve your ability to understand what you read, learn to analyze and interpret any text, or improve your sense of history through literature and writing, the literature program will take you to imagined places that will enlarge your intellectual world. English majors with a literature emphasis are encouraged to apply for Endeavor Awards for Research and Creativity, which may provide funding to do advanced research at other major libraries around the country. If you are interested in learning to be an editor, or you have creative writing skills, there are internships available at Southern Indiana Review as well as opportunities to work on student publications.

The English department offers a major in English with a literature emphasis and a minor in Literature.

English Major

Notes: (1) English majors are normally expected to use HUM 241 - The Humanistic Tradition in Literature I or HUM 242 - The Humanistic Tradition in Literature II to fulfill Ways of Knowing-World Languages and Cultures in Core 39. (2) ENG 101 and ENG 201 do not fulfill any requirements for any major or minor in English or English Teaching.

English Courses (21 hours)

Shared English Core (12 hours)

All English and English Teaching majors are required to complete a 12-hour shared core of courses:

ENG 205 - Introduction to English Studies and Ways of Reading Credits: 3
ENG 255 - Introduction to British Literary History Credits: 3
ENG 265 - Introduction to American Literary History Credits: 3
ENG 301 - Advanced Composition Credits: 3

Shared English Electives (9 hours)

All English and English Teaching majors are required to complete 9 hours of shared electives at the 300- and 400-level:

Literature Emphasis (21 hours)

One Literature Course (3 hours)

Focusing on the period before the 18th Century:

ENG 424 - Chaucer Credits: 3
ENG 426 - The Literature of the Renaissance Credits: 3
ENG 449 - Major Author Credits: 3 (topic must be approved)
ENG 451 - Shakespeare’s Histories and Tragedies Credits: 3
ENG 453 - Shakespeare’s Comedies and Romances Credits: 3
ENG 459 - Special Studies in English Credits: 1-6 (topic must be approved)
ENG 473 - History of Western Drama I Credits: 3

One Literature Course (3 hours)

Focusing on the 18th or 19th Century:

ENG 427 - Neo-Classical and Eighteenth-Century Literature Credits: 3
ENG 431 - Nineteenth-Century Literature Credits: 3
ENG 435 - The Novel to the Twentieth Century Credits: 3
ENG 449 - Major Author Credits: 3 (topic must be approved)
ENG 459 - Special Studies in English Credits: 1-6 (topic must be approved)
ENG 474 - History of World Drama II Credits: 3

Shakespeare or Major Author (3 hours)

ENG 424 - Chaucer Credits: 3
ENG 449 - Major Author Credits: 3 (topic must be approved)
ENG 451 - Shakespeare’s Histories and Tragedies Credits: 3
ENG 453 - Shakespeare’s Comedies and Romances Credits: 3
ENG 459 - Special Studies in English Credits: 1-6 (topic must be approved)

Theory (Literary and Rhetorical) (3 hours)

ENG 387 - Women’s Literature and Gender Issues: 19th- and 20th-Century Theory Credits: 3
ENG 415 - History of Rhetoric Credits: 3
ENG 416 - Contemporary Issues in Rhetoric Credits: 3
ENG 448 - Literary Criticism and Theory Credits: 3

Upper-level Electives (9 hours)

At least six hours must be literature courses; ENG 302 excluded.

English Major, Literature Emphasis, B.A./B.S.

English Major

English Courses (21 hours)

Shared English Core (12 hours)

Shared English Electives (9 hours)

English Language (3 hours) Selected From

Theory (3 hours) Selected From

World and Multicultural Literature (3 hours) Selected From

Literature Emphasis (21 hours)

One Literature Course (3 hours)

One Literature Course (3 hours)

Shakespeare or Major Author (3 hours)

Theory (Literary and Rhetorical) (3 hours)

Upper-level Electives (9 hours)