Literature majors must complete 42 semester hours of approved literature courses (with grades of C or better) in the major, of which at least 21 hours must be numbered 300 or above.

Distribution requirements must be met in order to insure excellence in the techniques of literary analysis and a breadth of knowledge. These requirements include a course designed to teach basic skills of literary analysis, three surveys of regional literatures, four courses in literary history, and one course focusing on literary process. In addition, all majors must take the senior seminar on the value of literature. Within these guidelines, students may shape their program to meet their own intellectual and professional goals.

As you plan your major, keep in mind the following:

• College Writing and College Writing Seminar do not count towards your major.
• Transfer students must take a minimum of 15 hours at the 300 level or above in residence.
• A maximum of 6 hours of co-op or internship may be counted toward the major.
• Courses are offered in some other departments, such as Language and Foreign Studies, which are explicitly literary in content. These may be counted toward the major with the prior approval of the advisor or Professor Leonard (kdl@american.edu), Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• You must check with the Professor Leonard (kdl@american.edu), every semester to register for the following semester and to be sure you are satisfying all of the requirements for the major, and to be sure you are taking full advantage of department and university opportunities.
• In your senior year, you must take LIT 498 (senior seminar, offered in fall ONLY) and LIT 480 (senior project, offered in spring ONLY).

Declaring a Major in Literature

• Complete the CAS Declaration of Major/Minor form available on the rack outside the Literature office, Battelle 237.
• Take this form to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Leonard (kdl@american.edu), who will sign the form and assist you in planning your academic program. If the Undergraduate Director is not available, you may ask the office personnel about speaking with the chair of the department, Professor Loesberg.
• Office Personnel will set up a file for you and see that your Declaration of Major form is forwarded to the Dean's office.

Internship Information

Please see http://www.american.edu/cas/lit/ma_internship.cfm for internship information.

Graduating

Students intending to graduate must file an Application for Graduation Form at the Office of the Registrar during the registration period for the last expected term of study. (For example, students graduating in the spring must apply in the middle of the fall semester.) The university confers degrees at the end of the fall, spring and summer terms. Once a student has applied for graduation, the Registrar will begin to process the information for final certification for graduation. The Registrar will send the student's report to the Literature Department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, who certifies the student for graduation clearance. If requirements for graduation have not been met, the student will be notified.