English & American Literatures Requirements

Requirements for the Major: Twelve courses are required of all students majoring in English and American Literatures. 1) ENAM 0103 or CMLT 0101; 2) ENAM 0201 or 0204; 3) ENAM 0205; 4-5) two courses concerning literature written prior to the year 1700 (Period I); 6-7) two courses concerning literature written between 1700 and 1910 (Period II), at least one of which must concern American Literature (AL); 8-10) three ENAM electives; 11) an ENAM Junior Seminar (4xx), and, ; and 12) a senior essay or thesis. In addition, students wishing to write a creative senior essay or thesis must complete three workshop courses (one at the 100-level and two at the advanced level) prior to beginning the senior project. Creative writing workshops may NOT be used to fulfill other ENAM major requirements. LITS 0705, Senior Colloquium in Literary Studies can also be used to fulfill the Junior Seminar requirement in ENAM. Students should complete a Junior Seminar prior to beginning a critical senior essay or thesis project.

Joint Major: A joint major in English and American Literatures requires a minimum of seven ENAM courses, including the following: 1) ENAM 0103 or CMLT 0101; 2) ENAM 0201 or 0204; 3) one ENAM course concerning literature written prior to the year 1700 (Period I); 4) one ENAM course concerning literature written between 1700 and 1910 (Period II); 5) one ENAM elective; and 6) an ENAM junior seminar (4xx). Of 3-6 above, at least one course must concern American literature (AL).  Joint majors must also design a senior essay or thesis project that brings together aspects of the two majors. Joint majors must be approved by the chairs of both departments or programs involved.

Minor: A minor in English and American Literatures requires six courses: 1) ENAM 0103 or CMLT 0101; 2) ENAM 0201 or 0204; 3) Four ENAM courses, at least one of which must concern literature written prior to the year 1700 (Period I), and one must concern American literature (AL).

Senior Program: The ENAM senior program consists of a required one-term independent essay or a two-term independent thesis (ENAM 0700, CRWR 0701, ENAM 0710, CRWR 0711). Students may do a creative writing essay or thesis, provided they have completed at least two 0300-level creative writing workshops prior to beginning the project. Students writing literary criticism for senior work must complete a Junior Seminar (0400 or higher) before beginning the project. Essays may be written in the fall or spring semester; theses may be scheduled fall/spring, fall/winter, winter/spring or spring/fall (for Febs). For guidelines and deadlines for senior work in ENAM, see A Complete Guide to the Critical ENAM Senior Essay or Thesis and A Complete Guide to the Creative ENAM Senior Essay or Thesis on the ENAM Department website. You can pick up copies of these guides in the department office, Axinn 306.

Honors: Departmental honors will be determined on the basis of course grades in the major, and the essay or thesis grade. To be considered for honors in any of the three categories (honors, high honors, highest honors), a minimum average of 3.5 in the course grades and a minimum grade of B+ on the essay or thesis is required. In determining the numerical average of course grades all courses designated ENAM will be counted, as will all other courses that fulfill requirements for the major.

Courses for Non-Majors: The Department of English and American Literatures offers a wide variety of courses in literature that are open without prerequisite to all students in the college. These include most 0100 and 0200-level courses and some 0300-level courses. The ENAM 0103/CMLT 0101, 0201/0204 sequence is intended for declared or potential majors and minors. The 0100 level courses are recommended for students, primarily in their first or second years, with interests in comparative, thematic, and theoretical approaches to literature. They are especially suitable for meeting the colleges Literature (LIT) distribution requirement.