Log on
Apply | Contact Us | Give a Gift | VU Home | Site Index | Text only
About VU Admission Academics Campus Life Athletics and Recreation Libraries Alumni and Friends of VU
You are exploring: VU > Arts & Sciences > English > Undergraduate Programs > Major in English  Print This Page
Course Planning Chart

A total of 11 courses (33 credits) is required for the major (and you will also need an additional literature course to fulfill the College advanced literature requirement). There is no prerequisite to the major, aside from English 1050 or Advanced Placement, but we strongly recommend that you take English 2101 (The British Literary Tradition I) early, since it will introduce you to writers, texts, and issues that are crucial to most subsequent courses.  (English 2101, 2102, 2103, and 2104, which provide broad surveys covering more than one area, count as English electives, and do not fulfill these area requirements.  English majors may count only two of those courses for the major and the Advanced Literature requirement.)
For a pdf file of this chart, along with a list of all English courses that fulfill area requirements, click here.

1. Two courses in British/Irish literature before 1800, in two different areas.
This field is divided into three areas: Medieval; Renaissance; and Restoration and 18th Century. To fulfill the requirement, you take two courses in different areas. (Of course you may take more than two courses in this area.)
 
 
2. Two courses in literature primarily after 1800: one in British/Irish literature and one in American literature. One of these courses must be in 19th century literature and one must be in literature after 1900.
To fulfill this requirement, you will end up taking one of these two pairs of courses:
  • (2A) a course in British/Irish literature after 1900 with a course in American literature to 1900 or
  • (2B) a course in American literature after 1900 with a course in 19th century British/Irish literature.

British/Irish literature after 1900
 

 or

American literature after 1900

American literature to 1900
 

19th century British/Irish literature
Note your flexibility here: if you happen to take courses in both areas of American literature, you can fill in the other part of the requirement with a course in either British/Irish area; similarly, if you happen to take courses in both areas of British/Irish literature, you can fill in the other part of the requirement with a course in either American area.
3. The Junior Research Seminar.

This course, numbered 2250, must be taken in the junior year or earlier.
 
4. A Senior Seminar.
This course, numbered 5000, is meant to serve as a capstone course for your experience as an English major. At least two senior seminars, limited to English majors and normally capped at 15 students each, are offered each term.
 
5. Five electives.
These courses can be any English department courses numbered 2000 and above, with the partial exception of the British Literary Tradition and American Literary Tradition courses (2101, 2102, 2103, 2104); a student may count only two of those courses towards the major.
 
 
 
 
 
6. An additional literature course for the Advanced Literature requirement.
  • English courses numbered below 2100 (courses in writing and rhetoric) do not fulfill this requirement.
  • This course does not have to be an English course; some courses in other departments (especially Classical and Modern Languages) can also fulfill this requirement.