undergraduate english major and minor
major | minor | english 398 and 399 | graduating with honors | internships
English Major Curriculum
English majors who declared
their major prior to Fall 2004 are eligible to graduate under
the former curriculum.
The English major curriculum provides for a significant broad-based knowledge as well as a degree of independent choice and specialization for each undergraduate major. It is designed to ensure a dynamic and coherent intellectual experience, to train students for further work in the discipline, and to draw on the diverse strengths of the English faculty.
Please click here for a complete overview
of the English major. 
Please click here for a model
plan of study.
The English Major is composed of four required core courses:
• ENGL 240: a survey course
in methods of literary study
• ENGL 241: a survey course in British literature (Beginnings to 1660)
• ENGL 242:
a survey course
in British
literature (1660 to 1900)
• ENGL 243:
a survey course
in American literature
Students also take three
courses
in their concentration and five elective courses (descriptions
of the areas of concentration and course
options for each concentration).
Students must meet four different distribution requirements
within their elective and concentration courses. The
distribution requirements include:
• one course in
materials before 1660
• one course in materials between
1660-1900
• one course in materials
after 1900
• one course in one of the following
concentration groups: American Ethnic and
Minority Literatures; Colonial,
Postcolonial, and New Literatures in
English other than British or American; Cultural and Media Studies; Gender, Sexuality,
and the Body
Please click here to
see the distribution
categories and course options.
To track your progess
through the major, use the complete
advising form.
Students who previously took
courses under the old curriculum, may consult their curriculum here. All students who
declared their major in Fall 2004 or later must adhere to
the revised curriculum.
English Minor Curriculum
As of Fall 2004, all English
Minors must meet the new English Minor requirements. All English
Minors must take three core courses. In addition to these core
requirements, students must take one course
from one of the following concentration fields:
• ENGL 240: a survey course
in methods of literary study
•
ENGL 243: a survey course
in
American
Literature
• ENGL 241 or ENGL 242: one of
the two survey courses in British literature
In addition to these core requirements, students must take one course from one of the following concentration fields:
(1)
American Ethnic and Minority Literatures
(2) Colonial,
Postcolonial, and New Literatures in English other
than British and
American
(3) Cultural and Media Studies
(4)
Gender, Sexuality, and the Body
as well as two additional
electives, only one of which may be at the
100-level.
English 398 and English 399
English 398 is the Senior Honors Thesis. Please note that English 398 is required for students to be eligible to graduate with Highest Distinction. Students in English 398 will produce a sustained piece of critical or creative writing that qualifies as a senior thesis. This course must either follow, or be taken in conjunction with, an advanced 400-level seminar. The 400-level instructor will serve as the faculty sponsor for English 398, and students will be required to attend regular meetings with the course supervisor to discuss research methods and thesis progress. The application for 398 must be filled out and returned to the Undergraduate Studies Office for approval. Please click here to download the Application Form for English 398.
English 399 is the Independent Study in English. It is open to both English and non-English majors; senior standing is required. Students should first consult with the instructor who will direct the independent study. The instructor must approve the student's written prospectus; this prospectus must then be given to the Undergraduate Studies Office to be approved. Please click here to download the Prospectus Form for English 399.
Graduating with Honors
In order to graduate with Distinction, a student must have attended UIC for three semesters, attained a cumulative GPA of 3.00, and completed a minimum of 21 hours of major coursework at UIC. A student must also have attained a GPA of 3.50 in courses required for the major.
In order to graduate with High Distinction, a student must have met all the requirements for Distinction and also have attained a GPA of 3.75 in courses required for major.
In order to graduate with Highest Distinction, a student must have met the requirements for High Distinction and also have received an "A" in English 398 (English Honors Thesis).
Internship Program
The English Department offers a three-credit internship course for English majors and minors. Students enroll in the course (English 493) while working 10 hours a week for a newspaper, public relations firm, online publication, non-profit organization, or other employer. Please click here for more information
