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Department of English

Undergraduate Studies

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in English

Welcome to the Department of English! We’re delighted that you are interested in our major. We have designed a major that gives you a solid foundation in literary history and theory and that encourages you to pursue your interests in the field. No two English majors are the same. Only two specific courses are required for the major (ENG 201 and ENG 202); you choose the rest from a wide array of offerings, including creative writing and film. This flier provides you with an overview of the requirements for the English major, followed by a detailed checklist to help you plan your semesters here at URI.

General Overview

  • You must take the introductory courses ENG 201 and ENG 202, preferably in your first or second year. Only declared English majors may register for these courses. If you are not officially registered as an English major, the e-Campus system will not allow you to enroll for them. Be sure to declare your major officially in order to avoid this inconvenience.

  • You will take at least one course in each of five historical periods. The following courses fulfill the historical period requirements:

    1. Pre-1500: ENG 251 British Literature I; ENG 366 Greek and Roman Drama; ENG 367 The Epic; ENG 368 The Bible; ENG 381 Topics in Medieval Literature; ENG 478 Medieval Authors.

    2. 1500-1660: ENG 251 British Literature I; ENG 280 Introduction to Shakespeare; ENG 345 Topics in American Colonial Literatures; ENG 373 British Literature of the Renaissance; ENG 382 Topics in Renaissance Literature; ENG 472 Shakespeare; ENG 479 Renaissance Authors.

    3. 1660-1800: ENG 241 U.S. Literature I; ENG 251 British Literature I; ENG 345 Topics in American Colonial Literatures; ENG 374 British Literature: 1660-1800; ENG 377 Topics in Romanticism; ENG 480 British restoration and Enlightenment Authors; ENG 482 American Enlightenment Authors.

    4. 1800-1900: ENG 241 U.S. Literature I; ENG 242 U.S. Literature II; ENG 252 British Literature II; ENG 347 Antebellum U.S. Literature and Culture; ENG 348 U.S. Literature and Culture from 1865 to 1914; ENG 376 Topics in Victorian Literature and Culture; ENG 377 Topics in Romanticism; ENG 448 Traditions of the Novel in the Americas.

    5. 1900-present: ENG 242 U.S. Literature II; ENG 248 African-American Literature from 1900 to the Present; ENG 252 British Literature II; ENG 317 Contemporary Women Novelists of the Americas; ENG 348 U.S. Literature and Culture from 1865 to 1914; ENG 362 African-American Literary Genres (Other than Short Story and Novel); ENG 363 African-American Fiction; ENG 364 Contemporary African Literature; ENG 378 Aspects of Postmodernism; ENG 379 Contemporary Literature; ENG 383 Modernist Literature, 1900-1945; ENG 387 Foundational Texts in Modern Gay and Lesbian Culture; ENG 446 Modern Drama; ENG 447 Modern Poetry; ENG 448 Traditions of the Novel in the Americas; ENG 469 The Modern Novel.

  • Beyond the introductory courses and the historical courses, you will take 15 additional credits of electives (five courses) chosen from among the department’s offerings at the 200-level and above.

  • At least 18 credits (six courses) of the major must be completed at the 300-level or above.

  • You may take as few as 36 credits (12 courses) and as many as 51 credits (17 courses) in English toward completion of the Bachelor’s degree.

Worksheet and checklist for the English major

Introductory courses:

  ENG 201
  ENG 202

Historical periods (please refer to list of appropriate courses):

  Pre-1500:  
  1500-1660:  
  1660-1800:  
  1800-1900:  
  1900-present:  


Electives:

  Elective one:  
  Elective two:   
  Elective three:    
  Elective four:     
  Elective five:  

Number of 300- and 400-level courses: ___ out of 6 (minimum)

To keep in mind as you plan your own version of the major:

  • You need 120 credits to complete a BA in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Rhode Island. This total includes credits from your major(s), and minor(s), general education courses, and transfer credits, internship credits, and electives.

  • Of the 120 credits required for the BA, 42 of them must be at the 300- and 400-level. We require that you take a minimum of 18 credits (6 courses) at the 300-level of above for the English major. The minimum in English will thus leave you 24 credits short of the overall total you need to graduate. A good option for most English majors is to take more than six courses in English at the 300- and 400-levels.

  • Please note: English majors cannot take ENG courses toward the satisfaction of the General Education requirements in the Literature or Letters categories. You may take approved General Education courses cross-listed with English (such as ENG/AAF 248 or ENG/CLS 160) or appropriate courses in other departments. This restriction does not pertain to most double majors (please check with an advisor to be sure of your status).