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Department of English
English Literature

Our English literature track will give you various tools to read critically works of diverse periods, genres, and authors. While we offer advanced courses in literature written originally in languages other than English, the focus of the major is English language literature.

You’ll improve your writing skills by developing the ability to construct arguments from the texts studied, be conversant in the terms of a particular genre and the historical period in which a work was written, and be able to write using a critical methodology. In ENGL 4800: Seminar, you’ll pull all these skills together to produce a document that can serve as a writing sample for a job or for graduate admission.

English-Literature Track (36 credit hours)

  • At least 18 credit hours must be completed at Auburn
  • At least 18 credit hours must be at the 4000 level or above
  • No more than 6 credit hours may be at the 2000 level
  • At least two 4000-level literature courses must cover material produced before 1800 and at least two 4000-level literature courses cover material produced after 1800. See department advisor for approved list of pre-1800 courses.

Gateway Course: 2020 Introduction to Literary Studies (3 hours)

Major Core (9 hours)

  • Group I: Globalism, Sustainability and Diversity Course (3)
    • 3730 Representations
    • 3740 Identities
    • 3750 Cultural Studies
    • 3850 Study in London
    • 3870 World English Literatures
    • 4160 Technology, Literacy and Culture
    • 4450 Topics in African-American Literature
    • 4710 Topics in Gender and Literature
    • 4720 Topics in Ethnic Literature
    • 4740 Environment, Literature and Culture
    • 4760 Topics in Diaspora Literature
  • Group II: Linguistics or Rhetoric Course (3)
    • 3110 Survey of Linguistics
    • 3120 Survey of Rhetoric
    • 4140 Language Variation
    • 4150 Topics in Language Study
    • 4160 Technology, Literacy and Culture
    • 4170 History of the English Language
    • 4180 Rhetorical Theory and Practice
  • 3130 Survey of Critical Theory (3)

Major Track (15 hours)

  • 4300-level British Literature Course (3)
  • 4400-level American Literature Course (3)
  • 3760 Popular Literature or 4500-level Genre Course (3)
  • 4600-level Author or 4700-level Topics Course (3)
  • Capstone Course: 4800 Seminar in English (3)

Major Electives (9 hours): Three additional English courses, at least two of which must be at the 3000-level or above