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Requirements
Moving to a new curriculum
The English Department updated its major and minor requirements in Spring 2022. The requirements shown on the lower portion of this page reflect this revision. Students who entered Beloit College before Fall 2023 may use these new requirements or the old requirements listed in the 2021-23 course catalog.
What if you still plan to graduate with the old requirements? No worries: you’ll still find helpful guides and documents immediately below. New majors and minors—we’ve included guides for you, too.
- Use these old requirement checklists to track your progress.
- ENGL 194 (Questioning Literary Traditions) can count for either ENGL 195 (British Literary Traditions) or ENGL 196 (American Literary Traditions).
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If you have taken one of the ENGL 195/196 series, for the 2nd unit you may substitute:
- an upper-level ENGL course on British/ Anglophone texts for ENGL 195 —OR
- an upper-level ENGL course on American texts for ENGL 196.
- More questions? See the old curriculum in full (from the 2021-23 catalog).
- If you entered the college prior to Fall 2023, you can choose whether to pursue the new requirements or old requirements.
- As always, check with your English advisor and department chair about substitutions.
- You may use these new requirement checklists to track your progress
- See below for more about courses, requirements, and learning goals in the new curriculum.
- If you entered Beloit College prior to Fall 2023, you can choose whether to pursue the new requirements or old requirements.
English
The English department offers two majors: literary studies and creative writing. Majors in both areas develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills and cultivate essential reading and writing skills that are both unique to these disciplines and invaluable beyond them. Students work with peers and faculty in a variety of collaborative and supportive settings that provide them with interpersonal and professional development skills as preparation for a wide range of careers. Both majors celebrate student work in public.
Literary studies majors explore various approaches to understanding and appreciating literatures in English. Majors examine literary forms, historical contexts, connections with other media and disciplines, and the social significance of English as a discipline, including how literature can reinforce injustices such as colonialism and systemic racism as well as build more just worlds.
In creative writing, students practice creative composition in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, screenwriting and other media. Their creative work is informed by the critical study of literature, culture, and other media. The English department features the Beloit Fiction Journal, a national publication that majors assist in editing, as well as the Mackey professorship, which brings writers of international renown to campus each year as teachers.
Majors
- Ten course units:
- English 190, 194, and 205.
- Three units from advanced creative writing workshops: English 210, 215, 220, 223, 224, 226, or 310. (Majors may not double-count for b. the same 310 class taken for the capstone seminar requirement.)
- One unit of pre-1900 literature, such as English 250, 251, or 254.
- One unit of English focused on anti-racism and/or social power structures, such as English 261 or 263. Upper-level English courses in literary studies or creative writing with this topical focus can also meet this requirement.
- One elective unit, chosen to develop the student’s particular strengths as a writer, such as studio art, media studies, or literature in translation.
- A capstone seminar chosen from English 301 or 310.
- Completion of one of the following:
- Public performance of the student’s writing; OR
- Printed booklet containing student’s writing; OR
- Student’s writing communicated through other media (subject to departmental approval).
Majors who plan graduate study are strongly advised to select additional courses in literature in consultation with the major advisor. Such students should also acquire a thorough knowledge of at least one foreign language.
- Ten course units:
- English 190, 194, and 205.
- One unit of pre-1800 literary history from English 250 or 251.
- One unit of post-1800 literary history from English 254 or 258.
- One unit of English focused on anti-racism and/or social power structures, such as English 261 or 263. Upper-level English courses in literary studies or creative writing with this topical focus can also meet this requirement.
- One unit of media or genre studies from English 262, 264, or 265. Upper-level English courses in literary studies with this topical focus can also meet this requirement.
- One unit of literature in translation chosen from English 250 or a department or program outside of English (Chinese; Comparative Literature; Critical Identity Studies, French; Greek, Latin, and Mediterranean Studies; Japanese; Russian; or Spanish).
- One elective unit of literary studies, editing, or writing at the 200-level or above, chosen from English or Writing Program courses.
- A capstone seminar chosen from English 301 or 310.
- Public or digital presentation of the student’s writing.
Majors who plan graduate study are strongly advised to select additional courses in literature in consultation with the major advisor. Such students should also acquire a thorough knowledge of at least one foreign language.
Minors
Students with a major in the English department may not elect this minor.
- English 190 and 205.
- One unit of literary history from English 194, 251, 254, or 258.
- Three additional units from creative writing (English 210, 215, 220, 223, 224, 226, or 310) or literary studies (English 250, 251, 254, 258, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, or 301).
Students with a major in the English department may not elect this minor.
Additional Information
- Double Majors: Students who complete requirements for any two English majors are recognized as double majors in English. Double majors also are subject to the normal restriction of a maximum of 13 department course units for major credit, and a minimum of 18 course units outside the department for graduation credit.
- Special Projects: No more than 1 unit of standard special projects credit may be applied toward any major.
- Teacher Certification: Students intending to teach at the elementary or secondary level should confer as soon as possible with the Department of Education and Youth Studies and with the appropriate advisor in the Department of English.