English
Degrees ...BA, MA, MFA, PhD
The undergraduate degree in English emphasizes knowledge and awareness of:
- canonical and non-canonical works of English and American literature;
- the general outlines of the history of British and American literature;
- literary theories, including recent theoretical developments; and
- the social and historical contexts in which the traditions developed.
In addition, students completing the degree in English are expected to acquire the ability and skills to:
- analyze literary texts;
- interpret texts on the basis of such analysis;
- relate analyses and interpretations of different texts to one another; and
- communicate such interpretations competently in written form.
The undergraduate degree in creative writing emphasizes knowledge and awareness of:
- literary works, including the genres of fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting, and the major texts of contemporary writers;
- literary history, including the origins and development of genres, major writers of the past, and the role of the writer in society; and
- literary analysis, including theories of literary composition and critical theory.
In addition, students completing the degree in creative writing are expected to acquire the ability and skills to:
- write in various poetic modes and styles;
- write in various fictive styles;
- write in various nonfiction styles; and
- evaluate other students' written work.
Bachelor's Degree Programs +
Expository writing courses (except ENGL 1001 and 3151) do not apply toward the major. English courses taken on a pass/fail basis do not fulfill major requirements. Independent study credit hours cannot fulfill a major requirement unless that requirement is not being offered or available within the year that the student graduates. A minimum of 12 hours of upper-division course work for the English major must be completed on the Boulder campus. English courses taken at other colleges must be evaluated by the Department of English. Courses taken in other departments (except approved cross-listed courses) normally do not count toward the English major.
Note: For the Advanced Placement examination in English literature and composition, students will receive credit for ENGL 1500 for an exam score of 3, or ENGL 1500 and 2502 for an exam score of 4 or 5.
Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and one of the two programs listed below.
Literature +
Students are subject to the major requirements in effect at the time they formally declare the major. A minimum of 36 credit hours must be earned in the Department of English, 18 of which must be upper division. Requirements may be fulfilled by taking specific courses designated by the Department of English.
| Required Courses | Semester Hours |
| ENGL 2000 Literary Analysis | 3 |
| ENGL 2010 Introduction to Literary Theory | 3 |
| One course from each: backgrounds to literature in English, British literature to 1660, British literature after 1660, and American literature | 12 |
| One course from both categories: advanced theory/genre studies/popular culture and multicultural/gender studies | 6 |
| ENGL 4038 Critical Thinking in English Studies or ENGL 4728 Seminar:Topics in English | 3 |
| Three elective courses in English | 9 |
| In addition to the 36 hours required for the major, another 9 hours may be taken, for a maximum of 45 hours in English. | |
| The recommended sequence of courses to be taken during the initial year of the literature program is ENGL 2000 and an English elective for the first semester, and ENGL 2010 and a 2000-level ENGL course for the second semester. | |
Creative Writing +
Students are subject to those major requirements in effect at the time they formally declare the major.
A minimum of 36 credit hours must be earned in the Department of English, 18 of which must be upper division.
| ENGL 2000 Literary Analysis | 3 |
| ENGL 2010 Introduction to Literary Theory | 3 |
| One course from any two of the following: backgrounds to literature in English, British literature to 1660, British literature after 1660, and American literature | 6 |
| One course from advanced theory/genre studies/popular culture or multicultural/gender studies | 3 |
| ENGL 4038 Critical Thinking in English Studies or ENGL 4728 Seminar: Topics in English | 3 |
| Six creative writing workshops, three of which must be upper division | 18 |
| In addition to the 36 hours required for the major, another 9 hours may be taken, for a maximum of 45 hours in English. | |
| The recommended sequence of courses to be taken during the initial year of the creative writing program is ENGL 2000 and ENGL 1191 for the first semester, and ENGL 2010 and a 2000-level workshop for the second semester. | |
Admission to the creative writing program is not automatic. Students must have completed at least 6 hours of writing within the program before being considered; for transfer students, 3 hours of creative writing can be transferred in. In addition, they must submit two copies of a manuscript (at least 7 poems, 20 pages of fiction, or a short stage or screen play) to the admissions committee for approval. Students should apply no later than the second semester of their junior year.
In order to take a workshop beyond the 2000-level, students who have not been formally admitted to the creative writing program must submit a manuscript to the Department of English prior to registration. Each workshop may be taken three times for credit. Students may not take two poetry or two fiction workshops in the department in the same semester.
Advising +
The associate chair for undergraduate studies oversees the department advising program, working in conjunction with the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Center. Upon declaring an English major, students are assigned to one of two primary English advisors. The primary advisors are available to meet with students by appointment or on a drop-in basis. The primary advisors monitor and evaluate student progress in completing the arts and sciences core curriculum and major requirements, evaluate transfer credit, preapprove study abroad course work, and certify students for graduation. The department encourages students to meet with their primary advisor at least once each semester to update their student file and ensure that they are making satisfactory progress in meeting the core and major requirements.
Graduating in Four Years +
Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress in English, students should meet the following requirements:
| Declare the English major and begin course work in the major no later than the beginning of the second semester. | |
| Successfully complete one-third of the hour requirements for the major by the end of the fourth semester. For literature track majors, this includes ENGL 2000, 2010, an English elective, and any 2000-level course for the major. For creative writing track majors, this includes ENGL 2000, 1191, 2010, and 2021 or 2051, as well as formal admission to the program. | |
| Successfully complete two-thirds of the hour requirements for the major by the end of the sixth semester. | |
| Successfully complete the remaining major requirements by the end of the eighth semester. |
Departmental Honors +
Students interested in pursuing a special program leading to graduation with departmental honors should confer with the associate chair for undergraduate studies as soon as possible, but definitely no later than the beginning of spring term in their junior year.
Students Who Contemplate Teaching +
Sheets listing the curriculum required for a teaching license for secondary schools may be obtained in Education 151. Since fulfilling requirements for both education and English makes a very tight schedule, students should seek early advising to complete their college requirements.
Undergraduate English Awards and Prizes +
The Katherine Lamont Scholarship. The Lamont scholarship is a variable annual award to a continuing English major in recognition of sustained excellence and exceptional scholarly performance in the major.
The Harold D. Kelling Essay Prize. The Kelling prize is a variable cash award for the best essay on literature submitted by an undergraduate currently enrolled in the university. The essay must have been written for an English class at CU-Boulder and should be submitted to the English department before March 15.
The Jovanovich Imaginative Writing Prize. The Jovanovich prize is an annual award for excellence in poetry, fiction, playwriting, or nonfiction prose. Information is available in Hellems 111.
Graduate Degree Programs +
Admission Requirements +
Master's Degree in English. The MA program offers theory and literary history combined with a rigorous training in either critical analysis or creative writing. Applicants interested in English literature should have satisfactory scores on the verbal and analytical writing sections of the GRE General Test. In addition, at least 24 credit hours in English (exclusive of composition, creative writing, and speech) are normally required for admission. Fifteen of the 24 hours must be in upper-division courses.
Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing. Applicants interested in creative writing must submit satisfactory scores on the verbal and analytical writing sections of the GRE. In addition, a BA degree, with an English major or at least 18 credit hours in English, is normally required. Each student must submit a manuscript of at least 10 pages of poetry or a minimum of 25 pages of fiction, nonfiction prose (other than literary criticism), or a screen or stage play for evaluation.
Doctoral Degree in English. Students must present satisfactory scores on the verbal and analytical writing sections of the GRE General Test and on the Advanced Literature Test, and must have either an MA degree in English or at least 30 hours of postgraduate English course work beyond the BA degree. Entering graduate students with no degree beyond the BA are normally admitted to the MA program. They may later apply for admission to the PhD program.
Degree Requirements +
Students wishing to pursue graduate work in English should note requirements for advanced degrees in the Graduate School section and write the department for a more complete description of graduate programs in English, or visit www.colorado.edu/English.
