English Literature Major (B.A.)
This is an archived copy of the 2018-2019 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.unh.edu.
https://cola.unh.edu/english/program/ba/english-literature
The English literature major serves those students who want to focus particularly on the study of literature — its many forms and styles, its rich history, and the range of approaches to its analysis. The English literature track is an especially attractive major for those who plan to go on to graduate school in English or other fields in the humanities, but it is also an excellent program for those who want to develop an in-depth knowledge of literature in English in all its formal, historical, cultural and theoretical dimensions.
As an English Literature major, a student will learn about various literary traditions, both British and American literature as well as traditions organized around other principles, such as post-colonial literature, women's literature, African-American literature and genres like poetry and drama. Courses are designed to expose students to many different sorts of works and to help them develop questions and strategies of critical thinking that will make all kinds of literary expression meaningful. And the works students will study will provide many ways of looking at the world and enrich their quality of life. What's more, students have many opportunities to hone critical writing and research skills and to practice the art of presenting research findings to a group, all skills in high demand in today's workplace. The English literature major is an excellent way to combine development of interpretive and writing skills with an exciting, in-depth encounter with some of the very best writing ever produced in the English language.
As an English literature major, you must complete a minimum of 40 credits of major coursework with a grade of C- or better, with the exception of ENGL 419 Introduction to Literary Analysis, which you must complete with a grade of C or better. You may not use ENGL 401 First-Year Writing, ENGL #403 Exploring Literature, ENGL 415s, "Literature and..." courses, or ENGL 444 classes to satisfy major requirements.
A minimum of six courses must be completed at the 600 level or higher.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework must meet the following distribution requirements (a single course may satisfy multiple requirements): | ||
| Introduction to Literary Analysis 1 | ||
Select two 500-level literature courses (select from list below) | ||
Select two pre-1800 literature courses (select from list below) | ||
Select two post-1800 literature courses (select from list below) | ||
| Critical Approaches to Literature | ||
Select one American literature course at the 600/700 level | ||
Select one British literature course at the 600/700 level | ||
Select two courses that investigate and question representations of identity; genre, including film; and/or theoretical positions (select from list below) | ||
Select one course that addresses race, the construction of race, and racial theories (select from list below) | ||
Capstone: | ||
| English Major Seminar | ||
| 1 | This must be completed with a minimum grade of “C.” ENGL 419 Introduction to Literary Analysis is the only 400-level class that may count towards the English Literature major. ENGL #403 Exploring Literature will NOT count towards this major. |
500-Level Literature Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one survey course of the following: | 4 | |
| British Literature I Age of Heroes: Beowulf to Dr. Faustus | ||
| British Literature II Age of Revolutions: Shakespeare to Austen | ||
| British Literature III: Revolts, Renewals, Migrations | ||
| American Literature I Conquest and Nation: First Contact to the Civil War | ||
| American Literature II Money, Migration, and Modernity: Huck Finn to Beloved | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| British Literature I Age of Heroes: Beowulf to Dr. Faustus | ||
| British Literature II Age of Revolutions: Shakespeare to Austen | ||
| British Literature III: Revolts, Renewals, Migrations | ||
| American Literature I Conquest and Nation: First Contact to the Civil War | ||
| American Literature II Money, Migration, and Modernity: Huck Finn to Beloved | ||
| Introduction to African American Literature and Culture | ||
| Nature Writers | ||
| Poetry | ||
| Introduction to Drama: How to Read a Play | ||
| Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures in English | ||
| Introduction to Women in Literature | ||
| Total Credits | 8 | |
Pre-1800 Literature Courses
Either two advanced courses (600-level and above) or one advanced course and either ENGL 512 British Literature I Age of Heroes: Beowulf to Dr. Faustus or ENGL 513 British Literature II Age of Revolutions: Shakespeare to Austen. Choose from:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 657 | Shakespeare | 4 |
| ENGL 741 | Literature of Early America | 4 |
| ENGL 751 | Medieval Epic and Romance | 4 |
| ENGL #753 | Old English | 4 |
| ENGL #756 | Chaucer | 4 |
| ENGL 758 | Advanced Shakespeare | 4 |
| ENGL 759 | Milton | 4 |
| ENGL 767 | Literature of the Restoration and Early 18th Century | 4 |
| ENGL 768 | Literature of the Later 18th Century | 4 |
| ENGL #780 | Drama of Shakespeare's Contemporaries: Will and Company | 4 |
| ENGL #781 | English Drama, 1660-1800 | 4 |
| ENGL 783 | English Novel of the 18th Century | 4 |
Other courses may count. Please see your advisor if you have questions about other courses that might fulfill this requirement
Post-1800 Literature Courses
Either two advanced courses, or one advanced course and one of the following: ENGL 514 British Literature III: Revolts, Renewals, Migrations, ENGL #515 American Literature I Conquest and Nation: First Contact to the Civil War or ENGL 516 American Literature II Money, Migration, and Modernity: Huck Finn to Beloved.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL #609 | Ethnicity in America: The African American Experience in the 20th Century | 4 |
| ENGL 650 | Studies in American Literature and Culture 1 | 4 |
| ENGL 681 | Introduction to African Literatures in English | 4 |
| ENGL 690 | Introduction to African American Literature in America | 4 |
| ENGL 739 | American Indian Literature | 4 |
| ENGL 742 | American Literature, 1815-1865 | 4 |
| ENGL #743 | American Literature, 1865-1915 | 4 |
| ENGL #744 | American Literature, 1915-1945 | 4 |
| ENGL 745 | Contemporary American Literature | 4 |
| ENGL 746 | Studies in American Drama | 4 |
| ENGL 747 | Studies in American Poetry | 4 |
| ENGL #748 | Studies in American Fiction | 4 |
| ENGL #749 | Major American Authors | 4 |
| ENGL #769 | English Romantic Period | 4 |
| ENGL 771 | English Victorian Period | 4 |
| ENGL #772 | English Victorian Period | 4 |
| ENGL 773 | Literary Modernisms: Return, Revolt, Recycle | 4 |
| ENGL 774 | Modern & Contemporary British Literature: New Departures | 4 |
| ENGL 777 | Postcolonial Novel | 4 |
| ENGL 782 | Modern and Contemporary Drama | 4 |
| ENGL 784 | English Novel of the 19th Century | 4 |
| 1 | If topic is appropriate. (Please see your advisor if you have questions about other courses that might fulfill this requirement.) |
Courses That Investigate and Question Representations of Identity; Genre, including Film1; and/or Theoretical Positions
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 517 | Introduction to African American Literature and Culture | 4 |
| ENGL 550 | Introduction to the Literature and Culture of Race | 4 |
| ENGL 581 | Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures in English | 4 |
| ENGL 585 | Introduction to Women in Literature | 4 |
| ENGL 681 | Introduction to African Literatures in English | 4 |
| ENGL #685 | Women's Literary Traditions | 4 |
| ENGL 690 | Introduction to African American Literature in America | 4 |
| ENGL 738 | Topics in Asian American Studies | 4 |
| ENGL 739 | American Indian Literature | 4 |
| ENGL #740 | Indigenous New England | 4 |
| ENGL 775 | Modern Irish Literature: A Changing Landscape | 4 |
| ENGL 777 | Postcolonial Novel | 4 |
| ENGL 616A | Studies in Film/Genre | 4 |
| ENGL 616B | Studies in Film/Authorship | 4 |
| ENGL 616C | Studies in Film/Culture and Ideology | 4 |
| ENGL 616D | Studies in Film/Narrative and Style | 4 |
| ENGL 618 | Film Theory | 4 |
| ENGL 733 | Special Studies in Film | 4 |
Other courses may count. Please see your advisor if you have questions about other courses that might fulfill this requirement
| 1 | With the exception of ENGL 533 Introduction to Film Studies |
Courses that Address Race, the Construction of Race, and Racial Theories
Choose from:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 517 | Introduction to African American Literature and Culture | 4 |
| ENGL 550 | Introduction to the Literature and Culture of Race | 4 |
| ENGL #609 | Ethnicity in America: The African American Experience in the 20th Century | 4 |
| ENGL 690 | Introduction to African American Literature in America | 4 |
| ENGL 739 | American Indian Literature | 4 |
| ENGL #740 | Indigenous New England | 4 |
| ENGL 693 | Special Topics in Literature (subtopic R) | 4 |
| ENGL 797 | Special Studies in Literature (subtopic R) | 4 |
Other courses may count. Please see your advisor if you have questions about other courses that might fulfill this requirement
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.
The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.
English literature majors may use one major-required course to satisfy one Discovery category requirement.
Majors may only count one online course toward their English major requirements.
Students interested in majoring in English Literature should consult Carla Cannizzaro, Coordinator of the Department of English, 230F Hamilton Smith Hall, (603) 862-1313 or the director of the English Literature program.