Getting Started (Majors Guide)

College: HFA

 (Revised Spring 2018)  

How to Explore / Get Started in the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened.

In general, History, Art History, Legal Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology and Communication courses provide good support for the English major.

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

ENGLWRIT 112, then ENGLISH 200 Intensive Literary Studies Seminar for Intended Majors.

Before students can register for ENGLISH 200, they need to have declared the major as well as to have completed (or be exempt from) ENGLWRIT 112.

How to Declare the Major

Before enrolling in ENGLISH 200, students must declare the major and must have ENGLWRIT 112 completed. They can do so at any time at the English undergraduate office located in E345 South College. They are assigned a faculty advisor at this time. While enrolled in ENGLISH 200, students may also take many other English courses concurrently. Students must also attend a mandatory orientation session as part of their ENGLISH 200 course.

Transfer Students:

Before registering for ENGLISH 200, transfers should see the English department advisor at summer orientation to declare the English major.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 32

In addition to ENGLWRIT 112 and ENGLISH 200, all majors are required to take:

  • One course in British literature and culture before 1700.
  • Two courses total: one course each in two of the following three distributions: British literature and culture after 1700; American literature and culture before 1865; American literature and culture after 1865.
  • One course in global Anglophone or ethnic American literature, culture or rhetorics at a 200 or higher level.
  • Three English electives: one elective must be at a 200 or higher level; one elective must be at a 300 or higher level; one elective must be at a 400 or higher level.
  • One pre-approved 3-credit internship for a letter grade can count for the 300-level elective.
  • Junior Year Writing and the Integrative Experience (IE)

Is there a minor? If so what are the requirements?
Yes. A total of six courses (19 credits) are required for the minor, including the following:

  • ENGLISH 200
  • One course in British literature and culture
  • One course in American literature and culture
  • One course in global Anglophone or ethnic American literature, culture or rhetorics at a 200 or higher level
  • Two upper level electives,* one of which may be at the 200-level.

Specializations in American Studies; Creative Writing; New Media and Digital Humanities (NMDH); Professional Writing and Technical Communication (PWTC); and the Study and Practice of Writing (SPOW) are also available for students of any major to pursue.

For further information, contact:
Professor Janis Greve
E345 South College; 545-0388
jgreve@english.umass.edu