English, Literary Studies Concentration, B.A.

Department of English  
615-898-2576
Elvira Casal, program coordinator
E.Casal@mtsu.edu

A major in English with a concentration in Literary Studies consists of a minimum of 39 upper-division hours.

1. Students should take the required ENGL 3000  as soon as possible after declaring an English major or completing freshman and sophomore General Education requirements for English. The other core courses should be distributed throughout each student’s remaining time at the university. It is not recommended to take all three in one semester.
2. In addition to the four core courses (ENGL 3000 , ENGL 3010 , ENGL 3020 , and ENGL 3030 ) that all English majors must take, an English major with a Literary Studies concentration must take ENGL 4410 - Literary Criticism .
3. The Literary Studies concentration also includes a major figure course. This course may be selected from one of the following courses: ENGL 4110 , ENGL 4130 , ENGL 4140 , ENGL 4180 , ENGL 4230 , or an appropriate ENGL 4900  with approval from advisor.
4. In addition to ENGL 4410  and the major figure course, the Literary Studies concentration requires five more courses (15 hours) at the 3000 or 4000 level and two courses (6 hours) of 4000-level English (21 hours total). Students should select courses that reflect their special interests.
5. Including the concentration requirements, courses must represent at least six of the eight areas of English studies.
   1. British Literature I: Courses numbered 3100 or 4100 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on British literature before the Restoration)
   2. British Literature II: Courses numbered 3200 or 4200 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on British literature after the Restoration)
   3. American Literature: Courses numbered 3300 or 4300 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on American literature)
   4. International Literature and Intellectual Backgrounds: Courses numbered 3400 or 4400 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on world literature, or such courses outside the department as HUM 3950  and WGST 4209 )
   5. Grammar and Language: Courses numbered 3500 or 4500
   6.  Writing: Courses numbered 3600 or 4600
   7. Gender and Cultural Studies: Courses numbered 3700 or 4700 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on gender or cultural studies, or such courses outside the department as FREN 3130  and WGST)
   8. Film and Popular Literature: Courses numbered 3800 or 4800 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on popular literature or with a substantial film component)
6. Courses from the Special Topics 3900/4900 number sequence get credit in different categories depending on the topic.
7.  When taught by an English faculty member, certain interdisciplinary Honors seminars (UH 3500 and 4600) may be substituted, with approval, in one of the above groups.
8. Students who wish to pursue a license to teach English in grades 7-12 should carefully follow the major requirements outlined in English, Secondary English Teacher Licensure Concentration, B.A.  Students interested in the “classic” major without concentration should consult the description of the English, B.A.  Students interested in other concentrations should consult English, Cultural Studies Concentration, B.A.  or English, Writing Concentration, B.A. 
9. Students may not apply more than twelve (12) hours of upper-division distance learning (web-based, correspondence, videoconferencing, or other format) without special permission. No more than three (3) of these hours may be taken outside MTSU.
10. ENGL 1010 , ENGL 1020 , ENGL 2020 ,  ENGL 2030 , or other lower-division English courses may not be counted as part of the hours required for the English major.

Majors are expected to consult a member of the English staff each semester regarding the selection and arrangement of electives. Recommended minors for English majors include Foreign Languages, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Speech and Theatre, Film Studies, Writing, and Women’s and Gender Studies, but students may choose any minor from those listed under the B.A. requirements (see Academic Policies and Procedures ) or Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors .

Beginning with Fall 2012, English majors are instructed to keep the English 3000 essay and two other essays from different upper-division classes for submission in the senior writing portfolio. ENGL 4999  (senior writing portfolio) will be required of all English majors graduating under the 2012-13 or later catalogs.