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 2022-2023 catalog year.
Those students who started at Hiram prior to the 2022-2023 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 38-47 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:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 21900 | READ AM LIT:IM,UD | 1-4 |
| ENGL 32800 | STUDIES IN AMERICAN LIT:IM | 3 |
| ENGL 35000 | AMERICAN LIT I:CA,UD | 4 |
| ENGL 35100 | AMERICAN LITERATURE II:IM | 4 |
Two Courses in British Literature (6-8 hours)
Students must take two courses in British literature. Choose from the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 20900 | SHAKESPEARE IN PERFORMANCE:CM | 3 |
| ENGL 22200 | READ BRIT LIT:CA, IM | 1-4 |
| ENGL 26100 | SHAKESPEARE:IM | 3 |
| ENGL 33000 | STUDIES IN BRITISH LIT:IM,CA | 3 |
| ENGL 35300 | MEDIEVAL LITERATURE:IM,CA | 4 |
| ENGL 35400 | RENAISSANCE LITERATURE:CA,IM | 4 |
| ENGL 35500 | 18TH CENTURY BRIT LIT:CA,IM | 4 |
| ENGL 35600 | 19TH CENTURY BRIT LIT:CA,IM | 4 |
| ENGL 35700 | 20TH CENTURY BRIT LIT:CA,IM | 4 |
Two Courses in World Literature (6-8 hours)
Students must take two courses in world literature. Choose from the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLAS 24700 | THE ANCIENT WORLD IN FILM:CA | 3 |
| ENGL 22600 | READ WORLD LIT:IM,EW | 1-4 |
| ENGL 33200 | STUDIES IN GENRE:IM | 3 |
| ENGL 35900 | WORLD LITERATURE:EW,IM | 4 |
| LITR 12600 | FREN LITR IN TRANSLATION:IM,EW | 3 |
| LITR 16000 | JAPANESE LITERATURE | 3 |
| SPAN 24000 | SPAN/LATIN AMERICAN FILM:CA,EW | 4 |
Two Advanced Research and Writing Courses (2 hours)
Students must take two of the 1-credit advanced research and writing course as supplementary courses to two of 3- or 4-credit English courses of their choice other than ENGL 10600 TELLING STORIES:READING LIT:IM.
ENGL 4XXXX Advanced Research and Writing (1 hour)
In this course, 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. This course 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:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 20300 | INTRO TO FILM ANALYSIS:IM | 3 |
| BIMD 23000 | LITERATURE AND MEDICINE:IM | 4 |
| ENGL 23500 | CONTEMPORARY POETRY | 4 |
| ENGL 24100 | LIT PERSPECTIVE ON WOMEN:IM,CA | 3 |
| ENGL 25200 | ENGL LANG:LINGUISTIC INTRO:CA | 3 |
| ENGL 25500 | HOW WE TALK:DIALECTOLOGY:MM | 3 |
| ENGL 25700 | HISTORY OF FILM AND CINEMA:IM | 4 |
| ENGL 33200 | STUDIES IN GENRE:IM | 3 |
| BIMD 35000 | AUTOBIO,ILLNESS,EMBODIMENT:IM | 4 |
| ENGL 47000 | LITERARY THEORY | 4 |
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:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 48010 | SENIOR SEMINAR PART I | 1 |
| ENGL 48000 | SENIOR SEMINAR | 3 |
Required Correlative: One Course in Career Exploration (1 hour)
Students must take one course in researching and preparing for careers in the humanities.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| STDV 21200 | EXPLORING HUMANITIES CAREERS | 1 |
Foreign Language
A foreign language is not required. Students must complete a foreign language through the 10200-level only if they plan to receive program 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
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall 12 Week | Hours | |
| UCS 10101 | FIRST-YEAR ENDURING QUESTIONS | 4 |
| ENGL 10600 | TELLING STORIES:READING LIT:IM 1 | 4 |
| Foreign Language (required only for program honors) | 4 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fall 3 Week | ||
| Hiram Core Requirement (MM or SM core recommended) | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 3-4 | |
| Spring 12 Week | ||
| UCS 20201 | ADDRESSING URGENT QUESTIONS | 4 |
| ENGL XXXXX | American, British, or World Literature Course | 4 |
| Foreign Language (required only for program honors) | 4 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring 3 Week | ||
| Hiram Core Requirement | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 3-4 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall 12 Week | ||
| ENGL XXXXX | American, British, or World Literature | 4 |
| Hiram Core Requirement (MM or SM core recommended) | 4 | |
| Hiram Core Requirement | 4 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fall 3 Week | ||
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 3-4 | |
| Spring 12 Week | ||
| ENGL XXXXX | American, British, or World Literature Course | 4 |
| Hiram Core Requirement | 4 | |
| Elective, Second Major, Minor Course | 4 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring 3 Week | ||
| Elective, Second Major, Minor Course | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 3-4 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall 12 Week | ||
| UCS 30301 | URGENT CHALLENGE SEMINAR:TT | 4 |
| ENGL XXXXX | American, British, or World Literature Course | 4 |
| ENGL XXXXX English Elective PLUS ENGL 4XXXX Advanced Research and Writing Course (sequence can be taken in the spring) | 4-5 | |
| Hours | 12-13 | |
| Fall 3 Week | ||
| Hiram Core Requirement | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 3-4 | |
| Spring 12 Week | ||
| ENGL XXXXX English Elective PLUS ENGL 4XXXX Advanced Research and Writing Course (sequence can be taken in the fall) | 4-5 | |
| Hiram Core Requirement | 4 | |
| Elective, Second Major, Minor Course | 4 | |
| STDV 21200 | EXPLORING HUMANITIES CAREERS | 1 |
| Hours | 13-14 | |
| Spring 3 Week | ||
| ENGL XXXXX | American, British, or World Literature Course | 3-4 |
| Hours | 3-4 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall 12 Week | ||
| ENGL 48010 | SENIOR SEMINAR PART I 1 | 1 |
| ENGL XXXXX | American, British, or World Literature Course | 4 |
| Hiram Core Requirement | 4 | |
| Elective, Second Major, Minor Course | 4 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Fall 3 Week | ||
| ENGL 48000 | SENIOR SEMINAR 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring 12 Week | ||
| ENGL XXXXX | American, British, or World Literature Course | 4 |
| Elective, Second Major, Minor Course | 4 | |
| Elective, Second Major, Minor Course | 4 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring 3 Week | ||
| Elective, Second Major, Minor Course | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 3-4 | |
| Total Hours | 122-131 | |
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