Getting Started

College: HFA

Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting starting with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.

How to Explore / Get Started in the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.

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 Introduction to Literary Studies.

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

For current & admitted students: This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting.

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 during New Student Orientation and Transition 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 - There is a minor. Refer to the Minor page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

For further information, contact:
Professor Janis Greve
E345 South College; 413-545-1612
jgreve@english.umass.edu