Ranging from the medieval period to the 21st century, we teach major authors alongside popular culture, traditional literary genres alongside verbal forms that cut across media, canonical British literature alongside postcolonial, global, and trans-Atlantic literatures. At once recognizing traditional values in the discipline and reflecting its changing shape, the major points to three organizing principles for the study of literature history, genre, and geography. Requiring students not only to take a wide variety of courses but also to arrange their thinking about literature on these very different grids, the major gives them broad exposure to the study of the past, an understanding of the range of forms that can shape literary meaning, and an encounter with the various geographical landscapes against which literature in English has been produced. While students should feel free to consult with any faculty member in the department on academic and intellectual matters, the undergraduate advisers are specially equipped to deal with issues pertaining to the major and to help students think about their programs. It may be taken concurrently with the other courses that fulfill the requirements for the major.
Most courses fulfill more than one distribution requirement.
Courses not on the distribution list may count toward the major requirements only with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies. One of the nine courses must be a seminar. ENGL W3001 does not count toward the seminar requirement, nor do writing courses. Starting with the Class of 2002, this requirement will be more specifically designated as a senior seminar requirement. For details about this requirement, see Senior Seminars below.