The Literature, Film, Folklore and Popular Culture Studies specialization gives students a strong foundation in literary history and invites them to consider other types of cultural production. Trained to analyze diverse cultural objects and to create persuasive arguments about their meanings and values, students study “texts” such as Toni Morrison novels, Shakespeare film adaptations, Alison Bechdel’s graphic novels, and television series like Orange is the New Black. Whether you’re interested in contemporary Latinx comics, popular depictions of vampires, or environmental humanities – or all of the above – this specialization will help you explore your current interests and discover new ones.
Basic Information
- Students pursuing the English major with a Literature, Film, Folklore, and Popular Culture Studies Specialization will complete a minimum of 12 unique courses (36 hours).
- Students must have a cumulative minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) for all courses in the major program and a minimum grade of C- for each individual major course. A minimum grade of C is required for English 3398.
- 27 credit hours must be at 3000+ level.
- 3 credits (of 36) must be an identified Embedded Literacy-Technology course (indicated with ∞).
- Up to 6 credit hours may be counted towards your GE Theme requirements. These courses are indicated with §. Please consult with your advisor to get more information on how you can (and can't) overlap GE Theme requirements with major requirements.
- Not all courses are offered every term: please consult with your advisor.
Requirements for Literature, Film, and Popular Culture Specialization
3 credit hours. Select one of the following:
- 2201(H): British Lit: Origins to 1800
- 2220(H): Intro to Shakespeare
- 2221: Introduction to Shakespeare, Race, and Gender
- 2290: Colonial & US Literature to 1865
- 4513: Intro to Medieval Lit
- 4514: Middle English Lit
- 4515: Chaucer
- 4520.01: Shakespeare
- 4520.02: Topics in Shakespeare
- 4521: Renaissance Drama
- 4522: Renaissance Poetry
- 4523: Topics in Renaissance Lit/Culture
- 4531: Restoration & 18th c. Lit
- 4533: Early British Novel: Origins to 1830
- 4535: Topics in Restoration & 18th c. British Lit/Culture
- 4550: Topics in Colonial & Early National Lit. of the US
3 credit hours. Select one of the following:
- 2202(H): British Lit: 1800 to Present
- 2281: Intro to African American Lit
- 2381: Intro to the Black Atlantic
- 2581: Intro to US Ethnic Literatures
- 2291: US Lit: 1865–Present
- 4540: 19th c. British Poetry
- 4542: 19th c. British Novel
- 4543: 20th c. British Fiction
- 4547: 20th c. Poetry
- 4551: Topics in 19th c. US Lit
- 4552: Topics in American Poetry
- 4553: 20th c. US Fiction
- 4563: Contemporary Lit
- 4581: Topics in US Ethnic Literatures
- 4582: Topics in African American Lit/Culture
- 4586: Studies in American Indian Lit/Culture
- 4587: Studies in Asian American Lit/Culture
- 4588: Studies in Latinx Lit/Culture
3 credit hours. Select one of the following:
- 4577.01: Folklore I: Groups & Communities
- 4580: Topics in LGBTQ Lit/Cultures
- 4581: Topics in US Ethnic Literatures
- 4582: Topics in African American Lit/Culture
- 4586: Studies in American Indian Lit/Culture
- 4587: Studies in Asian American Lit/Culture
- 4588: Studies in Latinx Lit/Culture
- 4589: Studying the Margins: Power, Language, & Culture
- 4592: Women in Lit & Culture
- 4597.01: Disability Experience
English 3398 (Methods for the Study of Literature) is a required course for this specialization. 3 credit hours. This course fulfills GEN Embedded Literacy: Advanced Writing and Data Analysis
3 credit hours. Select one of the following
- 4513: Intro to Medieval Lit
- 4514: Middle English Lit
- 4515: Chaucer
- 4520.01: Shakespeare
- 4520.02: Topics in Shakespeare
- 4521: Renaissance Drama
- 4522: Renaissance Poetry
- 4523: Topics in Renaissance Lit/Culture
- 4531: Restoration & 18th c. Lit
- 4533: Early British Novel: Origins to 1830
- 4535: Topics in 18th c. British Lit/Culture
- 4550: Topics in Colonial & Early National Lit. of the US
- 4564.01: Major Author, Med. & Ren.
- 4590.01H: The Middle Ages
- 4590.02H: The Renaissance
- 4590.03H: The Long 18th C.
- 5710: Intro to Old English Lang & Lit
- 5720.01: Grad Studies, Shakespeare
- 5721.01: Grad Studies, Renaissance Drama
- 5722.01: Grad Studies, Renaissance Poetry
3 credit hours. Select one of the following:
- Any course from the 4000+-level pre-1800 English literature course list above
- 4540: 19th c. British Poetry
- 4541: 19th c. British Novel
- 4551: Topics in 19th c. US Lit
- 4552: Topics in American Poetry to 1915
- 4564.02: Major Author, 18th & 19th c.
- 4564.03: Major Author, Am Lit to 1900
- 4590.04H: Romanticism
- 4590.05H: The Later 19th c.
- 4590.08H: US & Colonial Literature
9 credit hours. Select three of the following:
- § 3110: Citizenship, Justice, and Diversity in Literatures, Cultures, and Media
- § 3264: Monsters Without and Within
- 3331: Thinking Theoretically
- § 3340: Reimagining Climate Change
- § 3350: Time & Space Travel in SF
- § 3360: Ecopoetics
- 3361: Narrative & Medicine
- 3364: Topics in Popular Culture
- 3372: Topics in SF/Fantasy
- 3378: Topics in Film & Lit.
- § 3395: Literature & Leadership
- 4321: Environmental Lit, Culture, and Media
- 4400: Literary Locations
- 4450: Lit & Culture of London
- 4513: Intro to Medieval Lit.
- 4514: Middle English Lit
- 4515: Chaucer
- 4520.01: Shakespeare
- 4520.02: Topics in Shakespeare
- 4521: Renaissance Drama
- 4522: Renaissance Poetry
- 4523: Topics in Ren. Lit & Culture
- 4531: Restoration & 18th c. Lit
- 4533: Early British Novel
- 4535: Topics in 18th c. Lit/Culture
- 4540: 19th c. British Poetry
- 4542: 19th c. British Novel
- 4543: 20th c. British Fiction
- 4547: 20th c. Poetry
- 4550: Colonial & Early Nation Lit. of US
- 4551(E): 19th c. US Lit
- 4552: American Poetry through 1915
- 4553: 20th c. US Fiction
- 4559: Intro to Narrative & Narrative Theory
- 4563: Contemporary Lit
- 4564.01: Major Author, Med & Renaissance
- 4564.02: Major Author, 18th & 19th c. British
- 4564.03: Major Author in Am. Lit to 1900
- 4564.04: Major Author in 20th c. Lit.
- 4575: Special Topics in Lit Forms & Themes
- 4576.01: Critical Theory I
- 4577.01: Folklore I
- 4577.02: Folklore II
- 4577.03: Folklore III
- ∞4578: Special Topics in Film
- 4580: Special Topics in LGBTQ Lit & Culture
- 4581: Special Topics in US Ethnic Lit
- 4582: Special Topics in African American Lit
- 4583: Special Topics in World Lit 4586: Studies in American Indian Lit & Culture
- 4587: Studies in Asian American Lit & Culture
- 4588: Studies in Latino/a Lit & Culture
- 4589: Studying the Margins: Language, Power, and Culture
- 4592: Women in Literature & Culture
- 4595: Literature & Law
- 5664: Studies in Graphic Narrative
- 5189S: Comparative Studies Field School
- 5710: Intro to Old English Lang & Lit
- 5720: Grad Studies in Shakespeare
- 5721: Grad Studies in Renaissance Drama
- 5722: Grad Studies in Renaissance Poetry
- 5723: Grad Studies in Renaissance Lit & Cult
3 credit hours. Select one of the following:
- § 3011.01: Digital Activism
- § 3020: Writing About Sustainability
- § 3022: Media Sustainability
- § 3031: Rhetorics of Health, Illness, Wellness
- 3271: Structure of English Language
- 3304: Business & Professional Writing
- 3305: Technical Writing
- 3405: Topics in Professional Communication
- 3465: Intermediate Fiction Writing
- 3466: Intermediate Poetry Writing
- 3467S: Issues & Methods in Tutoring Writing
- 3468: Intermediate Non-fiction Writing
- 3662: Intro to Literary Publishing
- 4150: Culture of Professional Writing
- 4554: English Studies & Global Human Rights
- 4555: Rhetoric & Legal Argumentation
- 4565: Advanced Fiction Writing
- 4566: Advanced Poetry Writing
- 4567S: Rhetoric & Community Service
- 4568: Advanced Nonfiction Writing
- ∞4569: Digital Media & English Studies
- 4571: Special Topics in English Linguistics
- 4572: English Grammar and Usage
- 4573.01: Rhetorical Theory & Criticism
- 4573.02: Rhetoric & Social Action
- 4574: History & Theories of Writing
- 4584: Topics in Literacy Studies
- 4591.01H Topics of CW
- 4591.02H: Topic in the Study of Rhetoric
- 4597.01: Disability Experience
- 5189S: Comparative Studies Field School
- 5191.01: English Internship
6 credit hours. Choose two elective courses either from the accordions above or from the courses listed below:
- 2176: Rhetorics of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender
- 2201(H): British Lit: Origins to 1800
- 2202(H): British Lit: 1800 to Present
- 2220(H): Intro to Shakespeare
- 2221: Introduction to Shakespeare, Race, and Gender
- 2260(H): Intro to Poetry
- 2261(H) Intro to Fiction
- 2262: Intro to Drama
- ∞2263: Intro to Film
- ∞2264: Intro to Popular Culture Studies
- 2265: Introductory Fiction Writing
- 2266: Introductory Poetry Writing
- 2267: Intro to Creative Writing
- 2268: Intro to Nonfiction Creative Writing
- ∞2269: Digital Media Composing
- 2270(H): Intro to Folklore
- 2275: Thematic Approaches to Lit
- § 2276: Arts of Persuasion
- § 2277: Intro to Disability Studies
- 2280(H): English Bible
- 2281: Intro to African American Lit
- 2282: Intro to Queer Studies
- 2290: Colonial & US Literature to 1865
- 2291: US Lit: 1865 to present
- § 2367.05: Writing about US Folk Exp
- § 2367.07S: Literacy Narratives of Black Columbus
- 2381: Intro to the Black Atlantic
- ∞2463: Intro to Video Game Analysis
- 2581: Intro to US Ethnic Literatures
- 4189: Capstone Internship in PW
- 4562: Studies in Lit & the Other Arts
- 4590.01H: The Middle Ages
- 4590.02H: The Renaissance
- 4590.03H: The Long 18th century
- 4590.04H: Romanticism
- 4590.05H: The Later 19th century
- 4590.06H: The Modern Period
- 4590.07H: Literature in English after 1945
- 4590.08H: U.S. & Colonial Literature
Honors and Research Distinction Information
English majors in the Literature, Film, Folklore, and Popular Culture Specialization need to fulfill requirements above, but 2 courses must be from the following list of honors seminars, which can be used to fulfill distribution requirements in categories 2, 3, 5, and 6 above (and as noted in brackets below).
- 4590.01H: The Middle Ages [pre-1800]
- 4590.02H: The Renaissance [pre-1800]
- 4590.03H: The Long 18th c. [pre-1800]
- 4590.04H: Romanticism [post-1800]
- 4590.05H: Later 19th c. [post-1800]
- 4590.06H: The Modern Period [post-1800]
- 4590.07H: Lit in English after 1945 [post-1800]
- 4590.08H: US and Colonial Lit [varies]
- 4591.01H: Topics in Study of CW [outside the specialization]
- 4591.02H: Topics in Study of Rhetoric [outside the specialization]
Students planning to pursue research distinction in English will complete at least 4 credit hours of English 4999 (4999H for honors students), the course number assigned for work on undergraduate theses, in addition to the 36 hours required for the major. To graduate with research distinction in English, students must meet the following requirements at the time of their graduation: (a) have completed 60 graded hours at Ohio State, (b) have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (note: the GPA requirement for honors students is 3.4), and have successfully defended their thesis during an oral examination.
Information about the thesis process and requirements can be found on the Research Distinction page on the ASC advising website.
Honors students should consult the information and requirements available at the Honors Distinction page on the Honors Program website.
All English majors are encouraged to consider completing a thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor(s). Thesis projects may involve the drafting of a scholarly research paper; the production of a novel, set of short stories, or collection of poems; the analysis of narratives and/or other qualitative data collected from a particular cultural or regional community; and/or the creation of a digital media artifact. Students are encouraged to talk with members of the English faculty and their English Undergraduate Advisors, as early as possible in their undergraduate careers, if they are interested in developing a thesis project or would like more information about the thesis process and requirements.