English Literature

What Is English Literature ?

Responding to an increasingly interdisciplinary, multicultural and media-rich age, the English department offers not only a strong core of literature courses, but also opportunities to pursue different specializations in the study and production of texts. Whether your interest is American or British literature, multicultural literatures, cultural studies, creative writing, rhetoric & professional writing or journalism, you’ll find a wide array of courses and options to choose from. Whatever your path, you’ll become a more empowered and responsible reader and writer, prepared to make a contribution to your field of knowledge, profession, community and the world at large. 

Success Factors

English majors pride themselves on being able to think, read and write critically. In order to read and write well about complicated texts such as novels, poems, theoretical works and multimedia documents -- and to be able to write such texts themselves -- English majors learn to interpret words, genres, visuals and communication technology in their historical contexts. They also become adept at synthesizing knowledge from diverse fields (politics, history, sociology, economics, technological studies). While their aspirations vary, they all become more nimble thinkers and writers, gaining a sophisticated understanding of the many uses and effects of language.

Career Possibilities

While an interest in English can lead to careers in areas such as journalism, publishing, technical writing and secondary school teaching, the skills of analysis, research, reading and writing that a student majoring in English acquires are highly valued in a wide range of positions in business and industry. English is also an excellent base for professional studies in law, business and medicine. There isn’t much you can’t do with an English degree. English majors have gone on to become:

• Actors
• Authors
• CEOs
• Coaches
• Columnists
• Comedians
• Directors of Non-Profits
• Editors
• Educators
• Film Critics
• Grant Writers
• Librarians
• Marketers
• Medical Writers
• Science Writers
• Poets
• Politicians
• Social Policy Makers
• Technical Writers
• Television Producers
• Training Specialists

Additional career options are listed on the Career Development Center's Web site.

Major Details

The recently revised English major now consists of three parts: 24 hours of core courses, 18 hours of courses in one of four tracks and 12 hours of free English electives. Except for the 200-level creative writing workshops, all courses counting toward the major must be at the 300 level or above.

The core courses, taken by all English majors, are:

• Introduction to English Studies
• Writing for English Majors
• Shakespeare
• American Literature Survey (choose 2)
• British Literature Survey (choose 2)
• A course in Multicultural Literatures in English.
  
  Students then choose from one of four specialized tracks, each culminating with a capstone course:
  
• Literary and Cultural Studies (L&CS)
• Creative Writing Track: Poetry Focus (CWP)
• Creative Writing Track: Fiction Focus (CWF)
• Rhetoric and Professional Writing (R&PW)

English electives can come from any field of study represented in the department’s course offerings: literature, cultural studies, creative writing, journalism, rhetoric/professional writing, linguistics, women’s studies, ethnic literatures and so forth.

A journalism major is offered by the English department as well. Questions should be directed to the program director at Jon.Hughes@uc.edu.

McMicken College's flexible degree requirements allow for and highly encourage students to pursue multiple areas of study. Free electives allow for enough credits for students to pursue a minor, certificate program or even complete a second major. Some of the most common pairings are listed below.

• Anthropology
• Arabic 
• Asian studies 
• Business French
• Business majors
• Classic civilization
• Classics
• Communication
• Creative writing
• Deaf studies
• Education
• Geology
• German studies
• Journalism
• Organizational leadership
• Political science
• Women's studies 

Minor Details

The minor in English is available to students who major in other disciplines. It combines the major’s core strengths with a degree of latitude and specialization.

Course Requirements for Minor:

•  Introduction to English Studies
•  Shakespeare
•  American Literature Survey (choose 2) 
•  British Literature Survey (choose 2)
•  English Electives (choose 4 English courses, 300 level or above)
  
  Students may use their electives to sample a wide variety of courses in reading and writing or to focus in one particular area. Those interested in more in-depth study of an area may want to consider completing one of the department’s certificate programs.
  
  The department also offers four undergraduate certificates in journalism, creative writing, professional writing and American Ethnic Studies. While these 27-hour programs of study are pursued mostly by nonmajors, English majors may consider completing one of these certificates to complement their chosen track.

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

Majors should see the departmental advisor early to discuss departmental requirements and plan their schedules. The lead adviser for English majors is the director of undergraduate studies, room 251 McMicken Hall. The English major necessitates planning to match the particular needs of the individual student with the requirements of the department. Beyond the first year, one should work with an English department adviser. The checklist for English majors is available at: www.artsci.uc.edu/english/ugrad/programs.

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
First Year
*English Composition	ENGL101 & 15ENGL102	6
*Quantitative Reasoning (QR)	see checklist	9
*Foreign Language	see checklist	9-15
*Historical Perspectives (HP)	see offerings	9
*Social Sciences (SS)	see offerings	3
*Humanities (HU)	see offerings	3
Courses in minor or other program, or free electives	see options	0-6
Total for first year		45

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Second Year
*Intermediate Composition	15ENGL289	3
*Foreign Language (if necessary)	see checklist	0-9
Introduction to English Studies	15ENGL300	3
Writing for English Majors	15ENGL305	3
English Electives	see department's list	3
Survey of American Literature (or British) (pick two)	15ENGL301, 302, or 303	6
Multicultural Literatures course	see list below	3
*Natural Sciences (NS)	see offerings	9
*Social Sciences (SS)	see offerings	6
Courses in minor or other program, or free electives	see options	0-9
Total for first year		45

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Third & Fourth Years
Survey of British Literature (or American) (pick two)	15ENGB334, 335, or 336	6
Introduction to Shakespeare	15ENGB306	3
English Electives	see department's list	9
Required Track Courses	see list for chosen track	15
Capstone Course	see list for chosen track	3
*Social & Ethical Issues (if not already taken, SE)	see offerings	3
*Diversity & Culture (if not already taken, DC)	see offerings	3
Courses in minor or other program (get a double major!)	see options	48
Total for third & fourth years		90
	Minimum total overall: 180

*Needed to fulfill A&S college requirements.

Multicultural Literatures in English Courses
See adviser for approval of courses not on this list
15ENGL341 Intro: American Ethnic Literature
15ENGC342 Third World Literature
15ENGL342 Topics: American Ethnic Literature  
15ENGL343 Issues of Race in African American Lit
15ENGC363 African Literature I: Intro 
15ENGC364 African Literature II: Topics 
15ENGC365 African Literature III: Drama 
15ENGC366 Caribbean Literature 
15ENGC373 Modern Fiction III 
15ENGL388 American Women Writers: pre-1900 
15ENGL389 American Women Writers: post-1900 
15ENGC504/505/506 Intro to Folklore

The checklist for each of the four tracks for English majors and booklets describing English courses to be offered each term is available in the departmental office in 248 McMicken Hall.

Special Opportunities

Students in the UC McMicken College of Arts and Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, tri-state location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Special Programs

Study tours of other countries, for which you will receive course credit, are offered to experience cultures you previously only read about in a traditional classroom. The Institute for Global Studies and Affairs (IGSA) and the Department of English will even help you pay for it. All UC students are eligible to apply for a grant from IGSA of up to $500. In addition, students majoring in an A&S Taft department are eligible to apply for graduate or undergraduate Taft Enrichment Awards of up to $2,000.

Some of the exciting study tours you could embark on are:

• Chaucer Study Tour
• Gothic Paris Study Tour
• Venice Study Tour
• Victorian to Virtual Study Tour

Internships and service-learning opportunities enable English majors, minors and certificate students to gain real-world experience putting their reading and writing abilities to work. Whether individually or as part of a class, English students have worked with many non-profits, community groups, schools, businesses and other kinds of organizations. An English adviser can help you decide the best way to incorporate such learning experiences into your chosen program of study.

The George Elliston Poetry Fund has fostered the development of promising young poets and honored the achievements of established poets since 1951. Each year, through the Poet-in-Residence program, a distinguished poet is brought to campus to give public lectures and readings and to conduct poetry seminars and workshops.

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA. Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following State of Ohio articulation requirements with no more than two units missing:

• English (4 units)*
• College-preparatory mathematics (3 units)*
• Science (2 units)
• Social science (2 units)
• Foreign language (2 units)*
• Fine arts (1 unit)
• Additional college-prep subjects (2 units)

*McMicken College of Arts & Sciences does not allow units missing from these areas.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was not in any of the UC colleges must apply through the Office of Admissions. Applicants in this category must submit transcripts for all secondary school and college-level work. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all college-level work is required for admission consideration. Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus applicants who have received the associate degree from an accredited college or university and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

Although midyear off-campus transfer students are not able to participate in early registration in the quarter prior to their enrollment, they are included in the summer registration period prior to their fall quarter enrollment.

Changing Major Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was as a degree-seeking student in one of UC’s other colleges can apply directly to the A&S college office. Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus students who have:

• at least a 2.0 GPA in all college-level courses (both at UC and at other institutions),
• successfully completed two quarters of English Composition or its equivalent and
• gained credit for a college-level mathematics course.

Further details on individual programs are available online or in the A&S Office of Undergraduate Student Affairs and Advising (102 McMicken Hall).

Graduation Requirements

In addition to meeting the university's General Education requirements, the requirements listed in the McMicken College Core Requirements are common to all potential graduates of the college, whether they are pursuing a bachelor of arts, bachelor of science or bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree.

Application Deadlines

UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning in late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, fall quarter is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that quarter. Applicants to the UC McMicken College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree-seeking students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in McMicken 102). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).