Majors & Minors

The Department of English Language & Literature offers the major in English, the major in English with creative writing emphasis, and the minor in English. Students should plan their course of study, in consultation with their faculty advisors, as soon as they have decided upon the major. For additional information on both the major and the minor, consult the English Department Handbook.

GUIDELINES FOR the MAJOR IN ENGLISH

1. A minimum of 36 credits, at least 24 of which are at the 300 level or above, and the following courses:
2. Major British Writers to 1785, ENGL 220.
3. Major British and American Writers from 1660, ENGL 221.
4. At least one course from Courses in Writing and Language (see Whittier College Catalog).
5. At least one course from the four categories of Advanced Courses in Literature (see Whittier College Catalog).
6. At least one course from each of the three following major genres:

  • Fiction: 331, 332, 336, 352, 358, 363, 370.
  • Poetry: 324, 329, 334, 335, 364, 371.
  • Drama: 326, 328, 350, 355.

7. Shakespeare, ENGL 328.
8. The two senior capstone courses: Critical Procedures in Language and Literature, ENGL 400, and Senior Seminar, ENGL 410.

Strongly Recommended

  • Reading knowledge of a second language.
  • Language and Critical Thought, ENGL 155
  • History of Literary Criticism, ENGL 382 (for those considering graduate study in English).

Additional Notes on the Major in English

  • INTD 100 Freshman Writing Seminar is not a departmental course. Neither it nor a course which met the freshman writing requirement at another institution may be counted toward the English major or minor.
  • ENGL 120, or an equivalent, is a prerequisite to all literature courses with a number of 300 or above.
  • As noted above, all majors must take ENGL 220 and 221. It is required that they be taken sequentially. It is recommended, but not required, that they be taken before enrolling in upper-division literature courses. Courses for which one or both is especially recommended are noted below. 

GUIDELINES FOR the MAJOR IN ENGLISH, EMPHASIS IN CREATIVE WRITING

1. A minimum of 36 credits, at least 24 of which are at the 300 level or above, and the following:
2. Major British Writers to 1785, ENGL 220
3. Major British and American Writers from 1660, ENGL 221
4. Three creative writing workshops, including at least one at the advanced level, and covering at least two genres: fiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, and/or creative nonfi ction. An appropriate internship or independent study can be substituted for one of these courses. Modern American Poetry or Contemporary American Poetry can be substituted for Advanced Poetry Writing, and will also fulfill the poetry genre course requirement. Journalism does not count as one of the two genres.
5. At least one course from each of the three following major genres:

  • Fiction: 331, 332, 336, 352, 358, 363, 370.
  • Poetry: 324, 329, 334, 335, 364, 371.
  • Drama: 326, 328, 350, 355.

6. Shakespeare, ENGL 328.
7. The two senior capstone courses: Critical Procedures in Language and Literature, ENGL 400, and Senior Seminar, ENGL 410. 

GUIDELINES FOR the MINOR IN ENGLISH

A minor in English requires 18 credits, including ENG 120 and at least nin (9) upper-division credits. (ENGL 220 and ENGL 221 are recommended, but not required, for the minor.) Minors should be planned in consultation with a departmental advisor and must include one course from each of the following:

  • A genre (324, 326, 328, 329, 331, 332, 334, 335, 336, 350, 352, 355, 358, 362, 363, 364, 370, 371);
  • A historical period; and
  • A major figure (323, 324, 328, 329).