Degree Requirements

All students are required to complete overall degree requirements in addition to their major.  Please see Degree Completion Requirements for full details for students entering in the 2024-2025 catalog year. 

Those students who started at Hiram prior to the 2024-2025 academic year will follow the Degree Requirements outlined in your catalog of record.

Major Requirements

The English major encourages students to develop a better understanding of their own culture and other cultures through the examination of literature and language. Through the literature that we read, we connect with others in our own communities and around the world. The program offers opportunities to examine the traditions of English and American literature as well as world and post-colonial works in English and in translation (from Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean as well as Europe, Canada, and Australia). The course of study in the English program offers interested students a structured opportunity to evaluate these texts from a variety of critical perspectives, and, for those so inclined, an array of writing courses in which to develop their creative and expository talents. The English major requires successful completion of 36-45 hours. 

Introductory Course (4 hours)

ENGL 10600 TELLING STORIES:READING LIT:IM

Two Courses in American Literature (6-8 hours)

Students must take two courses in American literature. Choose from the following courses:

ENGL 21900READ AM LIT:IM1-4
ENGL 32800STUDIES IN AMERICAN LIT:IM3
ENGL 35000AMERICAN LIT I:CA,UD4
ENGL 35100AMERICAN LITERATURE II:IM4
ENGL 41800ADV AMER LIT: *4

Two Courses in British Literature (6-8 hours)

Students must take two courses in British literature. Choose from the following courses:

ENGL 20900SHAKESPEARE IN PERFORMANCE:CM3
ENGL 22200READ BRIT LIT:CA, IM1-4
ENGL 26100SHAKESPEARE:IM3
ENGL 33000STUDIES IN BRITISH LIT:IM,CA3
ENGL 35300MEDIEVAL LITERATURE:IM,CA4
ENGL 35400RENAISSANCE LITERATURE:CA,IM4
ENGL 3550018TH CENTURY BRIT LIT:CA,IM4
ENGL 3560019TH CENTURY BRIT LIT:CA,IM4
ENGL 3570020TH CENTURY BRIT LIT:CA,IM4
ENGL 42800ADV BRIT LIT: *4

Two Courses in World Literature (6-8 hours)

Students must take two courses in world literature. Choose from the following courses:

CLAS 24700THE ANCIENT WORLD IN FILM:CA3
ENGL 22600READ WORLD LIT:IM,EW1-4
ENGL 24010/SPAN 24000SPAN/LATIN AMERICAN FILM:CA,EW4
ENGL 35900WORLD LITERATURE:EW,IM4
ENGL 43800ADV WRLD LIT: *4
LITR 12600FREN LITR IN TRANSLATION:IM,EW3

*Two Advanced Literature Courses

Students must take two of the following advanced literature courses in their junior or senior year:
ENGL 41800ADV AMER LIT:4
ENGL 42800ADV BRIT LIT:4
ENGL 43800ADV WRLD LIT:4
 
These courses do not appear separately in the schedule. Students should consult with their major advisor and with faculty teaching 20000- and 30000-level English courses to identify an appropriate course that they will register for at the 40000-level. These courses also fulfill the breadth requirements in American, British, and world literatures.


In these courses, students will gain more in-depth knowledge of the topic of the connected course by engaging with extensive secondary materials. They will practice information literacy through original research on their chosen topic. They will develop their interpretive and close reading skills through the completion of a substantial (12-15 pages) analytical essay. These courses may be repeated for credit.

Three Electives (9-12 hours)

Students must take an additional three electives from the 3- and 4-credit courses listed above or from the following courses:

ENGL 20300INTRO TO FILM ANALYSIS:IM3
BIMD 23000LITERATURE AND MEDICINE:IM4
ENGL 23500CONTEMPORARY POETRY4
ENGL 24100LIT PERSPECTIVE ON WOMEN:IM,CA3
ENGL 25200ENGL LANG:LINGUISTIC INTRO:CA3
ENGL 25500HOW WE TALK:DIALECTOLOGY:MM3
ENGL 25700HISTORY OF FILM AND CINEMA:IM4
ENGL 33200STUDIES IN GENRE:IM3
BIMD 35000AUTOBIO,ILLNESS,EMBODIMENT:IM4
ENGL 47000LITERARY THEORY4

English majors NOT minoring in writing may also count up to two WRIT courses as English major electives.

Senior Capstone (4 hours)

Students must take the following two capstone courses in the fall of their senior year:

ENGL 48010SENIOR SEMINAR PART I1
ENGL 48000SENIOR SEMINAR3

Required Correlative: One Course in Career Exploration (1 hour)

Students must take one course in researching and preparing for careers in the humanities.

STDV 21200EXPLORECAREERSHUMANITIESMAJORS1

Foreign Language

A foreign language is not required. Students must complete a foreign language through the 10200-level only if they plan to receive departmental honors upon graduation. 

Minoring in Writing

As of spring 2017, students completing the English major may combine it with a minor in writing. Students interested in this option should consult with English faculty members about how to complete the coursework for both the English major and writing minor in a timely manner. Students may NOT count writing courses toward both the English major and the writing minor. 

AP Credit

Students who have received a 4 or 5 on the English Literature Advanced Placement (AP) test receive credit for one of the required elective literature courses in the major. However, the English program encourages students who are considering graduate work to take additional courses in the major.

Requirements for Honors in English

Program honors are a privilege conferred upon the English program’s most outstanding students each year upon completion of the honors requirements. To apply for Honors in English, students must meet the Hiram College Honors GPA requirements (overall GPA of 2.80, program GPA of 3.60, and a sum of these two GPAs of 6.80). In addition, students must complete a foreign language through the 10200-level and receive an A or A- in the English capstone courses (ENGL 48000 SENIOR SEMINAR and ENGL 48010 SENIOR SEMINAR PART I). At that time, students who are eligible for honors are invited to submit an honors application to the English program for further consideration.

Pathway

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall 12 WeekHours
UCS 10101 FIRST-YEAR ENDURING QUESTIONS 4
ENGL 10600 TELLING STORIES:READING LIT:IM 1 4
Foreign Language (required only for program honors) 4
 Hours12
Fall 3 Week
Hiram Core Requirement (MM or SM core recommended) 3-4
 Hours3-4
Spring 12 Week
UCS 20201 ADDRESSING URGENT QUESTIONS 4
ENGL XXXXXAmerican, British, or World Literature Course 4
Foreign Language (required only for program honors) 4
 Hours12
Spring 3 Week
Hiram Core Requirement 3-4
 Hours3-4
Second Year
Fall 12 Week
ENGL XXXXXAmerican, British, or World Literature 4
Hiram Core Requirement (MM or SM core recommended) 4
Hiram Core Requirement 4
 Hours12
Fall 3 Week
Elective 3-4
 Hours3-4
Spring 12 Week
ENGL XXXXXAmerican, British, or World Literature Course 4
Hiram Core Requirement 4
Elective, Second Major, Minor Course 4
 Hours12
Spring 3 Week
Elective, Second Major, Minor Course 3-4
 Hours3-4
Third Year
Fall 12 Week
UCS 30301 URGENT CHALLENGE SEMINAR:TT 4
ENGL XXXXXAmerican, British, or World Literature Course 4
ENGL 4XXXXAdvanced Literature Course 4
 Hours12
Fall 3 Week
Hiram Core Requirement 3-4
 Hours3-4
Spring 12 Week
ENGL 4XXXX Advanced Literature Course 4
Hiram Core Requirement 4
Elective, Second Major, Minor Course 4
STDV 21200 EXPLORECAREERSHUMANITIESMAJORS 1
 Hours13
Spring 3 Week
ENGL XXXXXEnglish Elective 3-4
 Hours3-4
Fourth Year
Fall 12 Week
ENGL 48010 SENIOR SEMINAR PART I 1 1
ENGL XXXXXEnglish Elective 4
Hiram Core Requirement 4
Elective, Second Major, Minor Course 4
 Hours13
Fall 3 Week
ENGL 48000 SENIOR SEMINAR 1 3
 Hours3
Spring 12 Week
ENGL XXXXXEnglish Elective 4
Elective, Second Major, Minor Course 4
Elective, Second Major, Minor Course 4
 Hours12
Spring 3 Week
Elective, Second Major, Minor Course 3-4
 Hours3-4
 Total Hours122-129
1

"Critical'' to timely degree progression.