Undergraduate Studies

English majors and minors must take required courses in the order established by the Department. Sophomore Seminar 1 (Engl 104) must be completed before students can take additional courses within the curriculum. Students, however, may enroll in one of the foundation courses—Engl 113, 112, or 111—while taking Sophomore Seminar I (Engl 104). Sophomore Seminar II (Engl 105) must be taken in the second semester. Students may enroll in one of the foundation courses—Engl 113, 112, or 111—while taking Sophomore Seminar II. Engl 110 (Linguistic Foundations) is recommended for students who have completed the first year of the English major program.

The Sophomore Seminars and other core courses provide English majors and minors a sound foundation for the specialized courses that will be taken in the junior and senior years. Advanced level courses such as the major author series, the cross-cultural genre or period courses, and the special-focused topic courses build upon the knowledge and skills acquired in the foundation courses. It is imperative, therefore, that students follow the sequence outlined below:

FIRST YEAR

First semester 

First-Year Writing (ENGW 101 or 102, or 104)

Second semester

First-Year Writing (ENGW 103 or 105)

FIRST-YEAR MAJOR FOUNDATION (CORE) COURSES
Sophomore Year)

First semester 

Engl 104 Sophomore Seminar I
Engl 113 British Literary Foundations

Second semester 

Engl 105 Sophomore Seminar II
Engl 112 American Literary Foundations

*Students cannot enroll in additional English courses until they have earned a C or better in Engl 104 (Sophomore Seminar I).

*Students must satisfy first semester courses with C or better before taking second semester courses.

SECOND-YEAR MAJOR FOUNDATION (CORE) COURSES
(Junior Year)

First semester 
Engl 110 Linguistic Foundations
Engl 111 African/Amer. Literary Foundations

Second Semester 
Engl --- Cross-Cult. Genre or Period Course
Engl --- English Elective

*Students should satisfy first semester courses with C or better before taking second semester courses.

THIRD-YEAR MAJOR MAJOR
(Senior Year)

First semester 

Engl 201, 202, 203, 204 Major Author
205, 206, 207, 208, 209
226

Engl -- English Elective

Second semester 
Engl -- English Elective
Engl -- English Elective

*Students are not considered seniors until they have completed satisfactorily the first and second-year major foundation (core) courses.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: To graduate, you must pass the Senior Comprehensive Examination.

Credits required: 36 hours

1. Core courses required: 
Sophomore Seminar I Engl 104 3 hrs.
Sophomore Seminar II Engl 105 3 hrs.
British Literary Foundations Engl 113 3 hrs.
American Literary Foundations Engl 112 3 hrs.
African-American Literary Foundations Engl 111 3 hrs.
Linguistic Foundations Engl 110 3 hrs.

2. Genre or Period course requirement:

One (1) cross-cultural genre course 
Engl 140 3 hrs.
Engl 141 3 hrs.
Engl 142 3 hrs.

Or

One (1) Period course

Engl 210 3 hrs.
Engl 211 3 hrs.
Engl 212 3 hrs.
Engl 225 3 hrs.
Engl 230 3 hrs.
Engl 231 3 hrs.
Engl 232 3 hrs.
Engl 241 3 hrs.
Engl 242 3 hrs.
Engl 243 3 hrs.
Engl 244 3 hrs.
Engl 245 3 hrs.

Major Author Course Requirement

[Choose one from the Single Author Series]

Engl 201 3 hrs. Engl 206 3 hrs.
Engl 202 3 hrs. Engl 207 3 hrs.
Engl 203 3 hrs. Engl 208 3 hrs.
Engl 204 3 hrs. Engl 209 3 hrs.
Engl 205 3 hrs. Engl 226 3 hrs.

3. Electives Requirement

[Choose 4 (four) courses above the 100-level.]

TOTAL: 36 Hrs.

Credits Required: 18 hours

1. Core courses required

Sophomore Seminar I Engl 104 3 hrs.
Sophomore Seminar II Engl 105 3 hrs.

2. Electives requirement

[Choose 4 courses above the 100 level.]

TOTAL: 18 Hrs.

English majors may concentrate in Creative Writing, focusing on Creative Writing Fiction, Poetry, or Non-fiction. Similar to the traditional English major course requirements, course requirements for the Creative Writing Concentration include Sophomore Seminar I and II; British, American, and African American Literary Foundations courses; a Genre, Major Author, Major Period, or Linguistic Foundations course; the introductory course to Fiction, Poetry, or Non-fiction; the workshop course to Fiction, Poetry, or Non-fiction; the thesis course in Fiction, Poetry, or Non-fiction; and relevant electives. See your advisor for more information.

Degrees & Programs | Howard University College of Arts and Sciences 

  https://coas.howard.edu/information/faculty/wac-program