Undergraduate Information

English Major

English Department courses involve many different approaches to the study of literature, language, writing, folklore, and other forms of representation. The department's offerings have proved useful to students with a variety of goals-from employment in business, to professional preparation in fields such as law and journalism, to graduate work in English.

Declaring the Major

To declare the English major, meet with the Director or Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, who will review the major requirements and answer any questions about the major.

The Associate Director holds walk-in hours Monday-Thursday, 9:30-3:30, in 413 Denney Hall. You may also call (614/292-6735) or email (talbert.2@osu.edu) to make an appointment. The Director's office hours are available on the Undergraduate Bulletin Board and at the reception desk in 421 Denney Hall.

Major Requirements

1. Completion of a minimum of 60 hours of course work in the English Department (or in other departments as approved by the major adviser). The first and second GEC writing courses (i.e. English 110 and 367) do not count towards the 60 hours. A minimum of 35 hours must be at the 400-level or above, with the exception of English 364 and English 378.
   
   
2. A cumulative minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) for all courses in the major program, and a minimum grade of C- for an individual major course. A minimum grade of C is required in English 398.
   
   
3. As part of the required 60 hours, completion of the following courses, in any order. Students must take the three required surveys by the end of their sophomore year.
   
   
   English 201:
   Selected Works of British Literature I
   
   
   English 202:
   Selected Works of British Literature II
   
   One of the following:
   
   
   English 290:
   Colonial and U.S. Literature to 1865
   
   
   English 291:
   U.S. Literature, 1865 to the Present
   
   (Note: Honors students are not required to take these courses. See section on Honors major, below.)
   
   
4. As part of the required 61 hours, completion of English 398 (Critical Writing). Along with English 110 and a 367 writing course in any department, English 398 is used to satisfy the Writing and Related Skills requirement in the GEC. English 398 should be taken as soon as the second GEC writing course is completed and must be taken by the end of the junior year.
   
   
5. The 35 hours of course work must be distributed as follows:
   1. At least two courses in literature written before 1900 (including at least one course in literature written before 1800);
   2. At least one course in literature written after 1900;
   3. At least one course in an area of English study other than literature (e.g., creative writing, critical theory, film, folklore, language, rhetoric).
   4. At least three elective courses at the 400- to 500-level in English. Students may also count English 364 and English 378 as upper-level choices.
   
   
6. Up to five (5) hours of English 693 (Individual Study) may be used as part of the required 60 hours. Although English 693 is repeatable to 10 hours, only five hours may be counted towards the major.

Worksheet for the English Major

The English major consists of a minimum of 60 hours, excluding First- and Second-Year Writing Courses. In consultation with your major adviser, use this worksheet to plan your courses.

1. General Education Curriculum Prerequisites (Note: GECs do not count toward the major)
   1. First-Year Writing (110 or equivalent)_________________
   2. Second-Year Writing (a 367 from any department)_________________
   3. GEC in Literature____________
   
   

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2. The English Major
   1. Core Courses
      
      English 201________________ English 202______________
      
      English 290 or 291__________
      
      English 398_________________
      
      
   2. Major Elective, 200-500 level______________
      
      (Note: More than one 200-level course in this category will raise your major above 60 hours.)
      
      
   3. Major Upper-level Courses (a minimum of seven courses at the 400-level and above; English 364 and 378 also count as upper-level courses)
      1. Two courses in literature written before 1900, including at least one course in literature written before 1800 ________________ ; ________________
      2. Course in literature written after 1900 ______________
      3. Course in an area of English study other than literature______________
         
         (e.g. creative writing, critical theory, rhetoric, film, folklore, language studies)
         
         
      4. Three additional 400- and 500-level courses:
         
         _______________ _______________ _______________

The Department of English, 421 Denney Hall, 164 W 17th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210-1340 Phone: (614) 292-6065 Fax: (614) 292-7816

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