Undergraduate Program
Majors
Literature
Note: The requirements listed directly below are for students enrolling in the Literature major in Fall 2009 or later; requirements for those who enrolled in the program prior to Fall 2009 can be found further down on this page.
Literature majors complete 42 hours, beginning with two introductory courses and a course in literary and cultural studies. After this introduction, majors complete 33 hours of advanced courses: nine literature courses, chosen according to the distribution requirements outlined below and including two senior seminars; a course in literary, cultural, or other theory; and a capstone.
For descriptions of courses not listed in the Miami Bulletin, click on Courses on the navigation tab at the top of this page.
ENG 111-112 or equivalent are the prerequisites for all advanced literature courses taken by non-majors (including minors in literature). ENG 298 and two 100-level literature courses are the prerequisites for all literature courses taken by majors who entered the program in August 1999 or after.
Major Requirements
(42 semester hours)
PREREQUISITE INTRODUCTORY COURSE
This one:*
- ENG 298 Introduction to Literary and Cultural Studies (3)
* Completed first semester of sophomore year at Miami or first semester after declaring the literature major, whichever is later.
SENIOR CAPSTONE IN ENGLISH
(counts for credit only after you have earned 96 credit hours)
One of these:
- ENG 460 Capstone in Creative Writing (3)
- ENG 495 Capstone in Literature (3)
AN ENGLISH DEPARTMENT COURSE IN LITERARY, CULTURAL, or OTHER THEORY
One of these:
- ENG 368 Feminist Literary Theory (3)
- ENG 370 Literary and Cultural Theory (3)
- ENG 435 Queer Theory (3)
- ENG 470 Topics in Literary Theory (3)
NINE LITERATURE COURSES, including:
No more than two 100-level courses:
- ENG 121 Introduction to Comedy or Tragedy (3)
- ENG 122 Popular Literature (3)
- ENG 123 Introduction to Poetry (3)
- ENG 124 Introduction to Fiction (3)
- ENG 125 Introduction to Drama (3)
- ENG 131 Life and Thought in English Literature, to 1660 (3)
- ENG 132 Life and Thought in English Literature, 1660-1901 (3)
- ENG 133 Life and Thought in English Literature, 1901-Present (3)
- ENG 134 Introduction to Shakespeare (3)
- ENG 141 Life and Thought in American Literature, to 1865 (3)
- ENG 142 Life and Thought in American Literature, 1865-1945 (3)
- ENG 143 Life and Thought in American Literature, 1945-Present (3)
- ENG 144 Major American Writers (3)
- ENG 161 Literature and Politics (3)
- ENG 162 Literature and Identity (3)
- ENG 163 Literature and Travel (3)
- ENG 165 Literature and Sexuality (3)
- ENG 220 Literature and Film (3)
- ENG 221 Shakespeare and Film (3)
- ENG 231 The Short Story (3)
- ENG 232 American Women Writers (3)
- ENG 233 British Women Writers (3)
- ENG 237 Gay and Lesbian Literature (3)
- ENG 246 Native American Literature (3)
- ENG 247 Appalachian Literature (3)
- ENG 248 Asian American Literature (3)
- ENG 251 Life and Thought in European Literature, to 1800 (3)
- ENG 252 Life and Thought in European Literature, 1800-Present (3)
- ENG 254 Latino/a Literature and the Americas (3)
- ENG 259 The Modern Novel (3)
- ENG 261 Modern Drama (3)
- ENG 262 Children’s Literature (3)
- ENG 271 Cultures and Literature of the American South (3)
- ENG 281 The English Novel (3)
- ENG 282 American Fiction (3)
- ENG 283 Modern Poetry (3)
- ENG 284 English Drama, 1660-1800 (3)
- ENG 293 Contemporary American Fiction (3)
- ENG 327 Medieval Literature (3)
- ENG 328 The Renaissance: Non-Dramatic Literature (3)
- ENG 331 17th-Century Poetry and Prose (3)
- ENG 334 English Literature of the Restoration (3)
- ENG 335 English Literature of the 18th Century (3)
- ENG 336 African American Writing, 1746-1877 (3)
- ENG 337 African American Writing, 1878-1945 (3)
- ENG 338 African American Writing, 1946-Present (3)
- ENG 339 Writers of the Early Romantic Period (3)
- ENG 342 Writers of the Later Romantic Period (3)
- ENG 343 Literature of the Early Victorian Period (3)
- ENG 344 Literature of the Later Victorian Period (3)
- ENG 345 British Modernism (3)
- ENG 346 Modern English and American Drama (3)
- ENG 347 Postwar/Postcolonial British Literature (3)
- ENG 348 Ethnic American Literatures (3)
- ENG 349 Colonial and Early National American Literature, to 1810 (3)
- ENG 352 American Literature, 1810-1865 (3)
- ENG 353 American Literature, 1865-1914 (3)
- ENG 354 American Literature, 1914-1945 (3)
- ENG 355 American Literature, 1945- Present (3)
- ENG 369 Colonial and Postcolonial Literature (3)
- ENG 372 Shakespeare’s Principal Plays: The Early Period (3)
- ENG 373 Shakespeare’s Principal Plays: The Later Period (3)
- ENG 390 Studies in American Regionalism (3)
At LEAST two of these [NOTE: ENG 440, 450, 480, and 490 may be repeated once for credit when topic changes. Capstones DO NOT COUNT toward this requirement].
- ENG 440 Major English and American Writers (3)
- ENG 450 Studies in Genre (3)
- ENG 480 English Honors (3)
- ENG 490 Special Topics in Literary Study (3)
- ENG 468 Gender and Genre (3)
DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
Choose literature courses above to also meet the following group requirements. ENG 440, 450, and 490 MAY count when the topic/time period is appropriate.
1. Two courses in Literature before 1700 (of which no more than one on Shakespeare):
- ENG 131 Life and Thought in English Literature to 1660 (3)
- ENG 134 Introduction to Shakespeare (3)
- ENG 221 Shakespeare and Film (3)
- ENG 327 Medieval Literature (3)
- ENG 328 The Renaissance: Non-Dramatic Literature (3)
- ENG 331 17th Century Poetry and Prose (3)
- ENG 334 English Literature of the Restoration (3)
- ENG 372 Shakespeare’s Principal Plays: The Early Period (3)
- ENG 373 Shakespeare’s Principal Plays: The Later Period (3)
2. Two courses in Literature 1700-1860 (more than one national tradition, i.e., both courses cannot focus on the same national tradition, e.g., British)
British Literature
- ENG 132 Life and Thought in English Literature 1660-1901
- ENG 284 English Drama 1660-1800
- ENG 335 English Literature of the 18th Century
- ENG 339 Writers of the Early Romantic Period
- ENG 342 Writers of the Later Romantic Period
- ENG 343 Writers of the Early Victorian Period
American Literature
- ENG 141 Life and Thought in American Literature to 1865
- ENG 336 African-American Literature 1746-1877
- ENG 349 Colonial and Early National American Literature
- ENG 352 American Literature 1810-1865
3. Two courses in Literature after 1860 (more than one national tradition, i.e., both courses cannot focus on the same national tradition, e.g., British)
British Literature
- ENG 133 Life and Thought in English Literature 1901-present
- ENG 344 Literature of the Later Victorian Period
- ENG 345 British Modernism
- ENG 347 Postwar/Postcolonial British Literature
American Literature
- ENG 142 Life and Thought in American Literature 1865-194
- ENG 143 Life and Thought in American Literature 1945-present
- ENG 293 Contemporary American Fiction
- ENG 337 African-American Literature 1878-1945
- ENG 338 African-American Literature 1946-Present
- ENG 353 American Literature 1865-1914
- ENG 354 American Literature 1914-1945
- ENG 355 American Literature 1945-Present
Other Anglophone Traditions
- ENG 369 Colonial and Postcolonial Literature
4. One course in minority, ethnic, or women’s literature
- ENG 232 American Women Writers
- ENG 233 British Women Writers
- ENG 237 Gay and Lesbian Literature
- ENG 246 Native American Literature
- ENG 248 Asian American Literature
- ENG 254 Latino/a Literature
- ENG 336 African-American Literature 1746-1877
- ENG 337 African-American Literature 1878-1945
- ENG 338 African-American Literature 1946-Present
- ENG 348 Ethnic American Literatures
- ENG 369 Colonial and Postcolonial Literature
- ENG 468 Gender and Genre
5. One course in literary genre
- ENG 231 The Short Story
- ENG 259 The Modern Novel
- ENG 261 Modern Drama
- ENG 281 The English Novel
- ENG 282 American Fiction
- ENG 283 Modern Poetry
- ENG 450 Studies in Genre
Optional
An elective course, offered in the English Department, may be taken for credit toward major hours but not toward any core or distribution requirements. Courses that cannot count toward major hours include ENG 108, 109, 111, 112, 113. The purpose of this elective is to allow students to take a course in another English program (e.g., creative writing, linguistics, technical and scientific communication), if desired.
For students enrolled in the major prior to Fall 2009
Literature majors enrolled in the program prior to Fall 2009 complete 39 hours, beginning with two introductory courses and a course in literary and cultural studies. After this introduction, majors complete 30 hours of advanced courses: eight literature courses, chosen according to the distribution requirements outlined below and including two senior seminars; a course in literary, cultural, or other theory; and a capstone.
For descriptions of courses not listed in the Miami Bulletin, click on Courses on the navigation tab at the top of this page.
ENG 111-112 or equivalent are the prerequisites for all advanced literature courses taken by non-majors (including minors in literature). ENG 298 and two 100-level literature courses are the prerequisites for all literature courses taken by majors who entered the program in August 1999 or after.
Course requirements:
(39 semester hours)
Prerequisite literature courses. Two of these:
- ENG 121 Introduction to Comedy or Tragedy (3)
- ENG 122 Popular Literature (3)
- ENG 123 Introduction to Poetry (3)
- ENG 124 Introduction to Fiction (3)
- ENG 125 Introduction to Drama (3)
- ENG 131 Life and Thought in English Literature, to 1660 (3)
- ENG 132 Life and Thought in English Literature, 1660-1901 (3)
- ENG 133 Life and Thought in English Literature, 1901-Present (3)
- ENG 134 Introduction to Shakespeare (3)
- ENG 141 Life and Thought in American Literature, to 1865 (3)
- ENG 142 Life and Thought in American Literature, 1865-1945 (3)
- ENG 143 Life and Thought in American Literature, 1945-Present (3)
- ENG 144 Major American Writers (3)
- ENG 161 Literature and Politics (3)
- ENG 162 Literature and Identity (3)
- ENG 163 Literature and Travel (3)
- ENG 165 Literature and Sexuality (3)
Prerequisite introductory course. This one:*
- ENG 298 Introduction to Literary and Cultural Studies (3)
* Completed first semester of sophomore year at Miami or first semester after declaring the literature major, whichever is later.
Eight literature courses, including:
No more than three of these:
- ENG 220 Literature and Film (3)
- ENG 221 Shakespeare and Film (3)
- ENG 231 The Short Story (3)
- ENG 232 American Women Writers (3)
- ENG 233 British Women Writers (3)
- ENG 237 Gay and Lesbian Literature (3)
- ENG 248 Asian American Literature (3)
- ENG 251 Life and Thought in European Literature, to 1800 (3)
- ENG 252 Life and Thought in European Literature, 1800-Present (3)
- ENG 254 Latino/a Literature and the Americas (3)
- ENG 259 The Modern Novel (3)
- ENG 261 Modern Drama (3)
- ENG 262 Children’s Literature (3)
- ENG 271 Cultures and Literature of the American South (3)
- ENG 281 The English Novel (3)
- ENG 282 American Fiction (3)
- ENG 283 Modern Poetry (3)
- ENG 284 English Drama, 1660-1800 (3)
- ENG 293 Contemporary American Fiction (3)
And no more than six of these:
- ENG 327 Medieval Literature (3)
- ENG 328 The Renaissance: Non-Dramatic Literature (3)
- ENG 331 17th-Century Poetry and Prose (3)
- ENG 334 English Literature of the Restoration (3)
- ENG 335 English Literature of the 18th Century (3)
- ENG 336 African American Writing, 1746-1877 (3)
- ENG 337 African American Writing, 1878-1945 (3)
- ENG 338 African American Writing, 1946-Present (3)
- ENG 339 Writers of the Early Romantic Period (3)
- ENG 342 Writers of the Later Romantic Period (3)
- ENG 343 Literature of the Early Victorian Period (3)
- ENG 344 Literature of the Later Victorian Period (3)
- ENG 345 British Modernism (3)
- ENG 346 Modern English and American Drama (3)
- ENG 347 Postwar/Postcolonial British Literature (3)
- ENG 348 Ethnic American Literatures (3)
- ENG 349 Colonial and Early National American Literature, to 1810 (3)
- ENG 352 American Literature, 1810-1865 (3)
- ENG 353 American Literature, 1865-1914 (3)
- ENG 354 American Literature, 1914-1945 (3)
- ENG 355 American Literature, 1945- Present (3)
- ENG 372 Shakespeare's Principal Plays: The Early Period (3)
- ENG 373 Shakespeare's Principal Plays: The Later Period (3)
- ENG 390 Studies in American Regionalism (3)
- ENG 468 Gender and Genre (3)
And at least two of these:
- ENG 440 Major English and American Writers (3)
- ENG 450 Studies in Genre (3)
- ENG 480 English Honors (3)
- ENG 490 Special Topics in Literary Study (3)
Literary, cultural, or other theory.
One of these:
- ENG 368 Feminist Literary Theory (3)
- ENG 370 Literary and Cultural Theory (3)
- ENG 435, Queer Theory (3)
- ENG 470 Topics in Literary Theory (3)
Senior Capstone.
This one:
- ENG 495 Capstone in Literature (3)
Distribution Requirements
Choose literature courses above to also meet the following group requirements. A course may count in more than one requirement (e.g., ENG 337 meets American, ethnic/minority/women’s, and 1660-1900 requirements).
British literature.
Five of these:
- ENG 131, 132, 133, 134, 221, 233, 281, 284, 327, 328, 331, 334, 335, 339, 342, 343, 344, 345, 347, 372, 373.
American literature.
Three of these:
- ENG 141, 142, 143, 144, 232, 248, 254, 271, 282, 293, 336, 337, 338, 349, 352, 353, 354, 355, 390.
Ethnic, minority, or women’s literature.
One of these:
- ENG 232, 233, 237, 248, 254, 336, 337, 338, 348, 468.
Literature before 1660.
Two of these:
Literature between 1660 and 1900.
Three of these:
- ENG 141, 284, 334, 335, 336, 337, 339, 342, 343, 344, 349, 352, 353.
Literature from 1900 to the present.
One of these:
- ENG 133, 143, 259, 261, 282, 284, 293, 338, 345, 346, 347, 354, 355.
