Catalog Listings | Course/Exam Schedule
Senior Program | Creative Writing Program
Those students matriculating prior to September of 2008 have the option of fulfilling either the OLD or the NEW requirements of the major in English and American Literatures. (See below for descriptions of both sets of requirements.) Those matriculating in or after September 2008 must fulfill the new requirements.
Professors: Alison Byerly, Cates Baldridge, John Bertolini, Robert Cohen, John Elder, Brett Millier (Chair), Elizabeth Napier, William Nash, Michael Newbury, Jay Parini, David Price; Associate Professors: Timothy Billings, Gary Margolis (part time); Antonia Losano, Yumna Siddiqi, Kathleen Skubikowski (part time; Director of College Writing Program and First-Year Seminar Program), Marion Wells; Assistant Professors: Dan Brayton (on leave academic year), Deborah Evans, Kathryn Kramer; Visiting Assistant Professor: James Berg; Visiting Lecturer: David Bain, Writer in Residence: Julia Alvarez; Department Coordinator: Anna Harlan
Major Program: The Department of English and American Literatures offers a program of intensive study in literature by major writers from the medieval period to the present. It also provides experience in a variety of interpretive methods and cultural contexts and fosters the understanding and appreciation of literature as an artistic expression of human experience. In addition, the Department offers rich and varied opportunities for the development of creative writers in all genres. The English and American Literatures major cultivates students' powers of rigorous analysis and clear and persuasive writing, whatever their eventual career goals. Course work begins with a core sequence designed to introduce students to close reading, literary theory and criticism, and the historical foundations of literature in English. This core sequence is followed by courses that expose students to the important periods and works of British, American, and post-colonial literature. Majors beginning with the class of 2012 will pursue independent research and writing by producing a one-semester essay or two-semester thesis during their senior year; students in earlier classes have the option to pursue such independent senior work.
New Requirements for the Major
(optional for students entering prior to September 2008; required for all others) : Twelve courses are required of all students majoring in English and American Literatures. 1) ENAM 0103; 2) ENAM 0201 or 0204; 3) ENAM 0205; 4) ENAM 0206; 5-10) Six ENAM courses, of which at least three must concern literature written prior to the year 1800; 11) an Advanced Seminar (numbered 0400 or higher); and 12) a senior essay or thesis. All students undertaking senior creative-writing projects must have already completed two 0300-level creative writing workshops. LITS 0705, Senior Colloquium in Literary Studies, can also be used to fulfill the seminar requirement in ENAM. Students should complete an Advanced 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; 2) ENAM 0201 or 0204; 3) ENAM 0206; 4-7) Four ENAM courses, at least two of which must concern literature written prior to the year 1800. Joint majors must also design a senior project that brings together aspects of the two majors (typically an essay or thesis). 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; 2) ENAM 0201 or 0204; 3) ENAM 0206; 4-6) Three ENAM courses, at least one of which must concern literature written prior to the year 1800.
Senior Program: The ENAM senior program consists of a required one-term essay or a two-term thesis (ENAM 0700, 0701; ENAM 0710, 0711). Students undertaking two-term theses normally begin them in the fall term. Students completing one-term essays may register for them in either the fall or spring terms of their senior year.
Fall term and spring term senior essays must be submitted no later than the last day of classes. Late essays will receive a grade no higher than C. Senior theses (two-term projects) must be submitted no later than two weeks before the last day of classes in either term. Late theses will receive a grade no higher than a C and will have no oral examination or outside reader. No one is permitted to register for the second term in a thesis program unless he or she has accomplished and submitted a substantial amount of work during the first term.
Honors: Departmental honors will be determined on the basis of course grades in the major, and the essay or thesis grade. For honors in any of the three categories (honors, high honors, highest honors), a minimum average of B+ in the course grades (3.33) 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, 0204/0201 sequence is intended for declared or potential majors and minors.
OLD Requirements for the Major: (an option for students entering prior to September 2008 only): A minimum of twelve courses, including: 1) ENAM 0103; 2) ENAM 0201 or 0204; 3) ENAM 0205; 4) ENAM 0206; 5) an ENAM course in narrative fiction (FI); 6) an ENAM course in poetry (PO); 7) an ENAM course in drama other than Shakespeare (DR); 8) a course on Shakespeare (SH); 9) a 0400-level ENAM or LITS seminar; 10) and 11) ENAM literature electives; and 12) EITHER a Comprehensive Exam and Seminar, to be taken in Winter Term of the senior year; OR a one-term critical or creative essay (ENAM 0700 or 0701), or two-term critical or creative thesis (ENAM 0710 or 0711). Two courses must involve literature prior to the year 1800, at least one of which must be in British literature, and neither of which can be 0201 or 0204 (unless both have been taken, whereupon one can be counted) or a class fulfilling the Shakespeare requirement; one course in addition to 0206 must concern American Literature (AL); and one must carry the literature, culture, and history (LCH) designation. Note: students fulfilling these requirements should consult with an ENAM advisor to confirm which courses count for each of these categories.
COLLEGE WRITING PROGRAM
ENAM 0103 satisfies the college writing requirement. Some sections of other courses may also fulfill this requirement; consult the Web catalog for changes and additions.
0100-LEVEL COURSES: INTRODUCTORY COURSES
These 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 college’s Literature (LIT) distribution requirement.
Core Courses:
The ENAM 0103, ENAM 0201, ENAM 0204 sequence introduces students to skills of close reading and analytical writing and, in some depth, to writers whose works are regarded as central to the English and American literary traditions. Those intending to major in English are advised to complete the ENAM 0103, ENAM 0201, ENAM 0204, ENAM 0206 sequence before they elect other courses above the 0200-level. ENAM 0103 is a writing intensive course that meets the college writing (CW) requirement.
For more information of the Creative Writing Program please click here.