Literature (Undergraduate)

The undergraduate plan in Literature leads to the bachelor of arts (BA) degree. Students in the plan may select from a wide range of courses in American, English, European or comparative literature. Students who plan to teach English in secondary schools should select this plan area. For information, contact the advising coordinator.

Students Preparation

There are no specific prerequisites for admission to the plan. Students who plan to teach English in secondary school should have dual advisement in their subject field and in education.

Degree Requirements

• In addition to general education requirements in Humanities and Fine Arts, students seeking a bachelor of arts degree in Literature must complete 30 hours of college literature courses-24 hours of which must be upper-level and 18 hours of which must be taken in residence. HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033, HUMN 3035, LITR 4031 and writing courses are not included as part of the 30 hour requirement, with the exception of upper-level creative writing courses such as LITR 3731. Within the 24-hour upper-level minimum, each student must complete:
• LITR 4130: Literary Studies: Genres and Critical Perspectives
• Three hours of American literature (recommended: LITR 4135 The American Novel, LITR 4232 The American Renaissance, LITR 4233 American Realism and Naturalism, LITR 4234 American Literature: Modernism);
• Three hours of British literature; Three hours of World/Multicultural literature, for example: LITR 3334 Mythology, LITR 4231 Early American Literature, LITR 4332 American Minority Literature, LITR 4333 American Immigrant Literature, LITR 4435 Medieval Literature, LITR 4530 Masterpieces of 19th C. European Literature, LITR 4531 Masterpieces of 20th C. European Literature. HUMN 3035 Basic Texts III also fulfills the World/Multicultural requirement. It cannot, however, be counted toward the required 30 hours of upper-level LITR courses.
• Three hours of a pre-1700 literature course, usually LITR 4631 Chaucer or LITR 3631 Shakespeare. Students wishing to teach must follow the 4 to 8 or 8 to 12 Literature Language Arts Plans.