The Literature Option offers a collaborative learning experience through the reading and discussion of ground-breaking books. Seminars focus on the meaning of these works for past readers and the experience of reading together in our own contemporary moment.

Program Learning Goals

English Literature Requirements

*Note: These requirements will take effect at the start of Fall 2021. Majors are welcome to remain in the plan that they are currently following, or to shift to the new program plan once the Fall 2021 semester begins.

General Requirements

Students majoring in English must complete a total of 39 hours in English (composition courses ENG 1010, 1020, and 2030 do not count toward the English Major). None of the required 39 hours may be taken Pass/Fail. Only courses completed with a grade of C- (1.7) or better may be counted toward the major. Twenty-seven (27) hours must be earned in upper-division courses. A minimum of 15 upper-division (3000-level and above) ENGL credit hours must be taken with CU Denver English faculty.

Advanced Standing

CLEP and AP credit will not count toward the English Major or the English Writing Major. Such credit may apply toward the College writing requirement (ENGL 1020 and 2030) or be counted as general electives. Check with CLAS Advising for details.

Minors

The English Department also offers minors in Film Studies, Creative Writing, and English Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology. Courses counted in a minor cannot be counted toward the major.

Honors Program

Latin Honors may be earned by participating in the department’s Honors Program. You are encouraged to begin the program in your junior year. The program requires additional coursework and affords you the opportunity to work individually with the professor of your choice. Guidelines are available in the English office.

Internships

Internships are available to students who have completed over 60 credit hours; for information, contact The Experiential Learning Center.

Catalog 

I. General Requirements (9 credit hours - 3 courses)

  A.  Lower-division Elective (3 Credit hours—1 course) 

• ENGL 1601 Storytelling: Literature, Film, & Television 
• ENGL 2600 Greatest Hits

  B.   Required Courses 

• ENGL 2450 Introduction to Literature and Film
• ENGL 3001 Critical Writing

II. Area Requirements (24 credit hours - 8 courses)

A. Before 1650 (6 credit hours - 2 courses) 

• ENGL 3332 Topics in Literature: Before 1650* 
• ENGL 3661 Shakespeare 
• ENGL 4002 Major Authors: Before 1650* 
• ENGL 4500 Medieval Literature  
• ENGL 4510 Whores and Saints: Medieval Women 
• ENGL 4730 Chaucer 
• ENGL 4520 English Renaissance   
• ENGL 4774 Topics in English: Film and Lit: before 1650*  

B. 1650-1900 (6 credit hours - 2 courses)

• ENGL 3333 Topics in Literature: 1650-1900* 
• ENGL 4530 Milton 
• ENGL 4540 Restoration and the Eighteenth Century 
• ENGL 4200 Survey of the English Novel to 1900 
• ENGL 4560 English Romanticism  
• ENGL 4580 The Victorian Age 
• ENGL 3700 American Literature to the Civil War  
• ENGL 4003 Major Authors: 1650-1900* 
• ENGL 4775 Topics in English: Film and Lit: 1650-1900* 

C. American Literature (3 credit hours - 1 course)

• ENGL 3331 Topics in Literature: American Lit* 
• ENGL 3700 American Literature to the Civil War  
• ENGL 3750 American Literature after the Civil War  
• ENGL 3795 Race and Ethnicity in American Literature
• ENGL 4166 History of American Poetry 
• ENGL 4220 African-American Literature 
• ENGL 4230 The American Novel  
• ENGL 4236 The American Short Story  
• ENGL 4350 History of American Drama  
• ENGL 4001 Major Authors: American Lit* 
• ENGL 4773 Topics in English: Film and Lit:  Am. Lit* 

D. Modern Literature and Culture (9 credit hours - 3 courses)

• ENGL 3334 Topics in Literature: After 1900* 
• ENGL 3450 Contemporary Women Writers
• ENGL 4250 Twentieth-Century Fiction 
• ENGL 4460 Contemporary World Literature 
• ENGL 4600 Modernism 
• ENGL 3750 American Literature after the Civil War  
• ENGL 4004 Major Authors: After 1900* 
• ENGL 4776 Topics in English: Film and Lit: After 1900* 
• Any 3000-4000 level ENGL Film Course* 
• Any ENGL Feminist Theory or Women’s Literature Course* 
• Any ENGL Ethnic Literature Course* 
• Any ENGL Identity Course (e.g., LGBT Lit, Queer Theory)* 

III. Required Electives (6 credit hours - 2 courses)

• ENGL any level
• ENGL any level

*Any of these courses can be taken more than once if the topic/title differs.

To complete the major: 39 hours

Apply