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

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

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

Note: ENG 101 - Rhetoric and Composition I: Literacy and the Self and ENG 201 - Rhetoric and Composition II: Literacy and the World 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)

Upper-Level Pre-1900 Literature (3 hours)

ENG 424 - Chaucer Credits: 3
ENG 426 - The Literature of the Renaissance Credits: 3
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 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)

Upper-Level British Literature (3 hours)

ENG 424 - Chaucer Credits: 3
ENG 426 - The Literature of the Renaissance Credits: 3
ENG 427 - Neo-Classical and Eighteenth-Century Literature Credits: 3
ENG 431 - Nineteenth-Century Literature Credits: 3
ENG 436 - The Novel of the Twentieth Century 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)

Upper-Level U.S. Literature (3 hours)

ENG 330 - Ethnic Literature in America Credits: 3
ENG 331 - African American Literature Credits: 3
ENG 431 - Nineteenth-Century Literature Credits: 3
ENG 432 - Twentieth-Century Poetry Credits: 3
ENG 437 - Contemporary Fiction 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)

Upper-Level World Literature (3 hours)

ENG 371 - Non-Western World Literature Credits: 3
ENG 372 - Western World Literature Credits: 3
ENG 373 - Introduction to African Literatures Credits: 3
ENG 375 - Modern Canadian Literature Credits: 3
ENG 386 - World Mythology 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)

Literature Electives (9 hours)

At least six (6) hours must be upper-level.

ENG 222 - Concepts of Good and Evil in Literature Credits: 3
ENG 224 - Social Change in American Culture Credits: 3
ENG 227 - Literature and Popular Culture Credits: 3
ENG 286 - Classical Mythology Credits: 3
ENG 288 - Introduction to Women in Literature Credits: 3
ENG 299 - Special topics of Literature Credits: 3
ENG 344 - Adolescent and Young Adult Literature Credits: 3
ENG 373 - Introduction to African Literatures Credits: 3
ENG 386 - World Mythology Credits: 3
ENG 387 - Women’s Literature and Gender Issues: 19th- and 20th-Century Theory Credits: 3
ENG 424 - Chaucer Credits: 3
ENG 426 - The Literature of the Renaissance Credits: 3
ENG 427 - Neo-Classical and Eighteenth-Century Literature Credits: 3
ENG 431 - Nineteenth-Century Literature Credits: 3
ENG 432 - Twentieth-Century Poetry Credits: 3
ENG 435 - The Novel to the Twentieth Century Credits: 3
ENG 437 - Contemporary Fiction Credits: 3
ENG 448 - Literary Criticism and Theory Credits: 3
ENG 449 - Major Author Credits: 3
ENG 451 - Shakespeare’s Histories and Tragedies Credits: 3
ENG 453 - Shakespeare’s Comedies and Romances Credits: 3