In this concentration, you will gain broad knowledge of literature and culture, study authors from diverse backgrounds, situate literary works in context, apply critical methods, and develop strong research and writing skills. As part of our shared core, you will also learn to write for the workplace and gain valuable job searching skills.
BA English Literary and Cultural Analysis - Advising Worksheet (pdf)
At a Glance
Core Requirements (21 credits)
- ENG 2130 Introduction to Literary Studies
- Literature and Culture (choose two)
- ENG 3346 American Literature and Culture
- ENG 3347 British Literature and Culture
- ENG 3348 World Literature and Culture
- ENG 3333 Advanced Writing for English Majors
- ENG 3371 Professional Writing
- ENG 3382 Contemporary Literary Theory and Criticism
- ENG 4401 Seminar in Literary Studies
Literary and Cultural Analysis Concentration (18 credits)
- ENG 2268 Survey of British Literature
- ENG 2278 Survey of American Literature
- Diversity (choose one)
- ENG 3326 Women’s Literature
- ENG 3327 African-American Literature
- ENG 3328 Lesbian and Gay Literature
- Genre or Author (choose one)
- ENG 3376 Genre in Context
- ENG 3385 Author in Context
- English Electives (choose two)
- Choose from among any ENG courses at the 3000 or 4000 level, or the following at the 2000-level: ENG 2225 English Grammar or ENG 2226 History of the English Language
Core Requirements: 21 Credits
All English B.A. majors must complete a 21-credit set of core ENG courses. The lower division core courses emphasize the foundational knowledge and skills essential to the field of English studies. The upper division core courses build on and further develop the knowledge and skills instilled in the lower-division foundational courses. Together, the core courses emphasize the importance of key influential texts; writing as a process that includes attending to rhetorical conventions and contexts (ENG 2130, 3333, 3371, and 4401); careful reading, productive research, and critical analysis of literature and non-print media (ENG 2130, 3333, 3382, and 4401); speaking and listening skills (ENG 4401); and the use of technology in literary studies (2130).
• ENG 2130: Introduction to Literary Studies
Prepares students for the advanced literary analysis and interpretation that they will find in upper division content courses. Students become acquainted with literary genres and terms and learn strategies for reading and understanding literature. Offered in the fall semesters. No prerequisites.
• Literature and Culture (take two of the following)
ENG 3346: American Literature and Culture
A focused study in a period of American literature using representative texts covered in their historical and cultural contexts. Authors may include Douglass, Wharton, Faulkner, and Morrison. Appropriate for both majors and non-majors. Prerequisite: ENG 1112.
ENG 3347: British Literature and Culture
A focused study in a period of British literature using representative texts in historical and cultural contexts. Authors may include Austen, the Romantic poets, and Shakespeare. Appropriate for both majors and non-majors. Prerequisite: ENG 1112.
ENG 3348: World Literature and Culture
A focused study of world literature written in English and/or in English translation using representative texts in historical and cultural contexts. Authors may include Achebe, Murakami, and Tagore. Appropriate for both majors and non-majors. Prerequisite: ENG 1112.
• ENG 3333: Advanced Writing for English Majors
Designed to refine the writing skills of English majors, with an emphasis on critical analysis and the mechanics of writing. Students will read and write about a literary, rhetorical, or linguistic concept chosen by the instructor (irony in literature, for example) and revise at least one essay from their English portfolio. Offered fall semesters. Prerequisites: ENG 1130 and two upper division ENG classes.
• ENG 3371: Professional Writing
Teaches students to write for various purposes in professional contexts. Particular attention will be paid to issues of audience awareness and style. Students will write texts for various contexts, including, but not limited to, letters, resumes, memos, press releases, reports, analyses, and grants. Prerequisite: ENG 1112.
• ENG 3382: Contemporary Literary Theory and Criticism
Surveys recent approaches to literature, including formalist, structuralist, post-structuralist, reader-response, psychoanalytic, feminist, Marxist, new historical, and/or post-colonial literary criticism. Offered spring semesters. Prerequisites: ENG 1112 and ENG 1130.
• ENG 4401: Seminar in Literary Studies
Provides students with a sustained, in-depth study of literature which draws on the expertise developed in previous English courses. Topics vary, but each offering requires that students complete a seminar-length researched paper/project, culminating in the public presentation of that work. Offered spring semesters. Prerequisites: ENG 1112 and 75 earned credits.
Literary and Cultural Analysis Concentration: 18 Credits
• ENG 3268 Survey of British Literature
Survey of major British literature from Old English through the present. Prerequisite: ENG 1112.
• ENG 3278 Survey of American Literature
Survey of American writers from the 17th century to the present. Prerequisite: ENG 1112.
• Diversity (take one of the following)
ENG 3326: Women's Literature
A study of literature by and about women in its literary, cultural, and social contexts. The course may be topical, thematic, or period-based. May include such authors as Austen, Bronte, Chopin, Woolf, Emecheta, Morrison, and Tan. Prerequisite: ENG 1112
ENG 3327: African-American Literature
Studies a prominent dimension of African-American literature. Possible topics includes: specific genres, important time periods, major or minor authors, and comparative multicultural contexts. Students hone their critical reading and writing skills in this important and growing area of American literature. Prerequisite: ENG 1112
ENG 3328: LGBTQ Literature
This course focuses on literature by LGBTQ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) and the experiences of LGBTQ people in our society. Representations in film, music, television, and art will also be examined. The emphasis of the course will be on active discussion and close scrutiny of the literature, our society, and ourselves. Prerequisite: ENG 1112
• Genre or Author (ake one of the following)
ENG 3376: Genre in Context
A study of poetry, drama, the novel, short fiction, nonfiction prose, or film. Prerequisite: ENG 1112 and ENG 1130.
ENG 3385: Author in Context
A detailed study of a major author/auteur (or pair of authors/auteurs), such as Chaucer, Milton, Dickens, Brontë, Woolf, Faulkner, Morrison, or Hitchcock. Prerequisite: ENG 1112 and ENG 1130.
• English Electives:
Students choose two courses from among ENG 2225: English Grammar, ENG 2226: History of the English Language, and/or any 3000 or 4000 level ENG courses.
Foreign Language Requirement: 6 Credits Through 1102 Level
Additionally, students in the BA program must fulfill a Foreign Language Requirement, which consists of course work through the 1102 level. Students must then either complete an additional 6 credits through the 2202 level OR declare a minor.
English Program Assessment Portfolio
All English degree program students must compile a program assessment portfolio. The completed portfolios are to be used as a tool to track each student's performance across a range of assessment tasks within the degree program, and to assess the extent to which the program itself is meeting its designated expectations and outcomes.
The portfolios will be evaluated by the English Curriculum Committee on a regular basis using the criteria listed on the evaluation rubric. Students should submit electronic copies of their portfolio essays to the department chair. The portfolios-in-progress will be kept on file electronically in the department office. The completed portfolio will consist of the following items:
The Final Research Essay from ENG 2130: Introduction to Literary Studies. This assessment is a research project conducted at the conclusion of the students' second semester. Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to analyze a text closely, to utilize secondary source material (both print and electronic) productively, to be conversant with key terms from literary history and criticism, to situate a text within its historical, literary, and/or cultural context, and to conform to the rules of standard written English.
The Major Revision Essay from ENG 3333: Advanced Writing for English Majors, including the original, unrevised version (the unrevised version may be the essay from ENG 1130 or one of the upper division essays already included in the portfolio). This assessment requires students to revise an essay completed for a previous ENG course, and focuses on the students' ability to revise an essay effectively, to analyze a text closely, to utilize secondary source material (both print and electronic) productively, to be conversant with key terms from literary history and criticism, to situate a text within its historical, literary, and/or cultural context, and to conform to the rules of standard written English. The resulting essay should be suitable for submission to an undergraduate-level journal and/or adaptable for submission to an undergraduate-level conference.
The Research Project from ENG 4401: Seminar in Literary Studies. A substantial inquiry into a specific topic within the field of literary studies, this assessment focuses on the students' ability to analyze a text (or texts) closely; to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the available secondary source material (both print and electronic) on the topic; to incorporate key terms, theories and approaches from literary history and criticism effectively; to situate a text (or texts) within its historical, literary, and/or cultural context; and to conform to the rules of standard written English. The final project should contribute to the critical conversation on the chosen topic. The project culminates in a public oral presentation of each student's research before a university-wide audience of students and faculty.