BA in Literature

Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires a grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and departmental approval. 

University Requirements

• A total of 120 credit hours 
• 6 credit hours of college writing 
• 3 credit hours of college mathematics or the equivalent by examination 

General Education Requirements

• A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas
• At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component
• No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline
  

Tracks

General or Cinema Studies

Major Requirements

• 42 credit hours with grades of C or better, with at least 21 credit hours at the 300 level or above 

Course Requirements

General Track

• LIT-105 The Literary Imagination (3) or LIT-120 Interpreting Literature (3) or LIT-135 Critical Approach to the Cinema (3)
  

• LIT-480 Senior Project in Literature (3) 
• LIT-498 Senior Seminar on the Value of Literature (3) 
• Three survey courses from the following with at least one of LIT-210 or LIT-220: 

• LIT-150 Third World Literature (3) 
• LIT-210 Survey of American Literature I (3) 
• LIT-211 Survey of American Literature II (3) 
• LIT-220 Survey of British Literature I (3) 
• LIT-221 Survey of British Literature II (3) 
• LIT-225 The African Writer (3) 
• LIT-235 African-American Literature (3) 
• LIT-240 Asian American Literature (3)
  
• LIT-246 Cinema and the Twentieth Century (3)
  
• LIT-252 Survey of Literary Theory (3) 

• Four courses in literature written before 1900, of which at least two must be in literature written before 1800 
• One of the following: 

• LIT-215 Writers in Print/in Person
• Creative writing course 
• 300- or 400-level cinema course 

• Three additional courses offered or approved by the Department of Literature 

Cinema Studies Track

• LIT-135 Critical Approach to the Cinema (3)
• LIT-246 Cinema and the Twentieth Century (3)
• 6 credits from the following: LIT-346 Topics in Film (3), LIT-446 Advanced Studies in Film (3) (topics)
  
• LIT-480 Senior Project in Literature (3) 
• LIT-498 Senior Seminar on the Value of Literature (3) 
• Two survey courses from the following: 

• LIT-150 Third World Literature (3) 
• LIT-210 Survey of American Literature I (3) 
• LIT-211 Survey of American Literature II (3) 
• LIT-220 Survey of British Literature I (3) 
• LIT-221 Survey of British Literature II (3) 
• LIT-225 The African Writer (3) 
• LIT-235 African-American Literature (3) 
• LIT-240 Asian American Literature (3)
  
• LIT-252 Survey of Literary Theory (3) 

• Two courses in literature written before 1900
• Two additional 300- or 400-level courses in film or interdisciplinary topics
• Two additional 300- or 400-level courses offered or approved by the Department of Literature
  

University Honors Program

To graduate with University Honors, students must be admitted to the University Honors Program, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50, and receive grades of B or better in all University Honors course work. There are three levels of University Honors course requirements: Level I (100-200-level); Level II (300-level and above); and Level III (Honors Capstone Project). The department Honors coordinator advises students in the University Honors Program regarding requirements for graduating with University Honors in the major. For more information, go to the University Honors Program.

Combined BA and MA in Literature

Visit the bachelor’s/master’s program Webpage for information about receiving a combined BA and MA in literature.