College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
English Major Requirements
Major in English: 36 semester hours (approximately 12 courses) including a minimum of 7 literature courses and 1 writing course.
Detailed Course Requirements for the English Major
The major in English requires a minimum of 36 s.h. of coursework (12 courses). Students may count up to 6 s.h. of courses with the prefix CW (Creative Writing) toward the English major; additional CW courses may be taken as elective credit toward graduation. Coursework is divided into six areas and three historical periods. The area and historical period that each regularly offered course fulfills is identified in the course description on MyUI. Information and course lists are also available from the English advisor and on the department’s website.
All English majors must complete two introductory courses and are encouraged to enroll in them as soon as they declare the major. Students must take ENGL:2010 Foundations of the English Major as well as one reading and writing about a genre course (ENGL:2012-ENGL:2016).
All English majors must complete one class (a minimum of 3 s.h.) in multiethnic literature and culture. This course may also contribute to satisfying area and period requirements. A list of approved courses follows.
| ENGL:2460 Black Literature and Politics | ENGL:2462 The Look of Blackness | ENGL: 2463 Topics in African American Literature |
| ENGL:2465 Selected African American Authors | ENGL:2475 Topics in Asian American Literature | ENGL:3441 Native American Literature |
| ENGL: 3444 Literatures of the American Peoples | ENGL:3455 Jewish American Literature | ENGL:3459 African American Literature Before 1900 |
| ENGL:3460 African American Literature After 1900 | ENGL:3462 African American Drama | ENGL:3465 African American Autobiography |
| ENGL:4410 Midwest African American Literature and Culture |
The following courses will sometimes be designated as fulfilling the Multiethnic American Literature and Culture requirement depending on course content, which varies by semester. Consult MyUI for semester-specific information.
| ENGL:2409 Selected American Authors Before 1900 | ENGL:2410 Selected American Authors After 1900 | ENGL:3431 American Novel Since 1945 |
At least one course from each of the following six areas is required:
- Literary Theory and Interdisciplinary Studies
- Medieval and Early Modern Literature and Culture
- Modern British Literature and Culture
- American Literature and Culture
- Transnational Literature and Postcolonial Studies
- Nonfiction and Creative Writing
Students also must take at least two courses from each of the following three historical periods:
- Early Literatures through the 17th Century
- 18th/19th Century Literature
- 20th/21st Century Literature
Since most courses satisfy both an area and a historical period, most students complete the historical period requirements as they complete the area requirements and are able to choose additional elective coursework to complete the major. Of the 36 s.h. required for the major, 15 s.h. may be transferred from another institution. We do not accept online coursework or community college coursework towards the major. At least 21 s.h. in the major must be taken in residence at The University of Iowa.