Program: English - Eastern Illinois University

English Major Requirements

Group 1 - Foundation Courses (12 credits). All of:

ENG 2205 - Introduction to Literary Studies. Credits: 3
ENG 2601 - Backgrounds of Western Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 2901 - Structure of English. Credits: 3
OR
ENG 3901 - Language and Linguistics. Credits: 3
OR
ENG 4901 - History of the English Language. Credits: 3

One additional course in writing, chosen from:

Any 4000-level course in creative writing (note prerequisites)

ENG 2760 - Introduction to Professional Writing. Credits: 3
ENG 3001 - Advanced Composition. Credits: 3
ENG 3002 - Research Writing for Literary Studies. Credits: 3
ENG 3005 - Technical Communication. Credits: 3

Group 2 - Focused Study in Multicultural Literatures (3 credits). One of:

ENG 2705 - African-American Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 2850 - Postcolonial Literatures in English. Credits: 3
ENG 3705 - American Multicultural Literatures. Credits: 3
ENG 4750 - Studies in African-American Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 4850 - Studies in Third World Literatures. Credits: 3

Group 3 - Breadth in Historical Literary Studies (15 credits).

A. Literature before 1800. Two of:

Courses in Group 5 when so designated by the Department Chair in consultation with the instructor.

ENG 3700 - American Literature: 1450 to 1800. Credits: 3
ENG 3800 - Medieval British Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 3803 - Renaissance and Seventeenth-Century British Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 3805 - Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Literature. Credits: 3

B. Nineteenth Century. One of:

Courses in Group 5 when so designated by the Department Chair in consultation with the instructor.

ENG 3701 - American Literature: 1800 to Mid-19th Century. Credits: 3
ENG 3702 - American Literature: Mid-19th Century to 1900. Credits: 3
ENG 3806 - British Romantic Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 3807 - Victorian Literature. Credits: 3

C. Twentieth Century and After. One of:

Courses in Group 5 when so designated by the Department Chair in consultation with the instructor.

ENG 3703 - American Literature: 1900 to 1950. Credits: 3
ENG 3704 - American Literature: 1950 to present. Credits: 3
ENG 3808 - Modern British Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 3809 - Contemporary British and Anglophone Literatures. Credits: 3

D. Major Author Study. One of:

Courses in Group 5 when so designated by the Department Chair in consultation with the instructor.

ENG 3601 - Studies in Major Writers. Credits: 3
ENG 3801 - Chaucer. Credits: 3
ENG 3802 - Shakespeare. Credits: 3
OR ENG 3892 - Shakespeare, Honors. Credits: 3
ENG 3804 - Milton. Credits: 3

Group 4 - Capstone Courses (6 credits)

ENG 4300 - Senior Seminar. Credits: 3
OR
ENG 4390 - Senior Seminar, Honors. Credits: 3

AND

ENG 4775 - Studies in Literary and Cultural Criticism and Theory. Credits: 3
OR
ENG 4950 - Literary History. Credits: 3

English Electives (15 credits)

Five additional courses in English, chosen from any of the above or from Group 5. General Education courses are excluded, except for 3009G/3099G. Two courses in a single foreign language may be counted if numbered 2000 or above, not taught in English, and not offered for Gen Ed credit.

Group 5 - English Electives

ENG 2001 - Creative Writing: Nonfiction. Credits: 3
ENG 2003 - Creative Writing: Poetry. Credits: 3
ENG 2005 - Creative Writing: Drama. Credits: 3
ENG 2007 - Creative Writing: Fiction. Credits: 3
ENG 2602 - World Literature since the Renaissance. Credits: 3
ENG 2603 - Greek and Roman Mythology. Credits: 3
ENG 2692 - World Literature since the Renaissance, Honors. Credits: 3
ENG 2760 - Introduction to Professional Writing. Credits: 3
ENG 3005 - Technical Communication. Credits: 3
ENG 3009G - Myth and Culture. Credits: 3
ENG 3099G - Myth and Culture, Honors. Credits: 3
ENG 3405 - Children's Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 3504 - Film and Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 3600 - The Bible as Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 3604 - Special Topics in Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 3606 - Modern Drama. Credits: 3
ENG 3706 - American Regional Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 3903 - Women, Literature, and Language. Credits: 3
ENG 3970 - Study Abroad. Credits: 1 to 15
ENG 4275 - Internship in Professional Writing. Credits: 4
ENG 4752 - Studies in Drama. Credits: 3
ENG 4760 - Studies in Professional Writing Credits: 3
ENG 4761 - Creative Nonfiction Writing Credits: 3
ENG 4762 - Poetry Writing. Credits: 3
ENG 4763 - Fiction Writing. Credits: 3
ENG 4764 - Play Writing. Credits: 3
ENG 4903 - Young Adult Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 4905 - Studies in Children's Literature. Credits: 3
ENG 4906 - Problems in the Teaching of English. Credits: 3

Footnotes:

Concurrent or prior registration in ENG 2205 is strongly recommended for majors in all courses at the 2000-level or above.

Except for ENG 3009G and 3099G, English courses in the General Education Program do not fulfill requirements in the English major or minors. (Major GPA based on all English courses taken at EIU except ENG 0990, 0995, 1000, 1001G, 1002G, 1091G, 1092G, and General Education courses other than 3009G or 3099G.)