Requirements for the Major
(The New Major as of July 1, 2000)
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The following information, excerpted
from Section 3
of the English Department's Undergraduate Handbook, lays
out the requirements of the English major for students declaring
in the major after July 1, 2000. (Students who declared before this
date are enrolled in the old major. However, they may petition to
switch to the new major; see Switching
to the New Major. See also comparison
of old and new majors and new
specializations.)
Consult the Undergraduate
Handbook for further information about the English major.
| 3.1
The major requires 56 units
in English, at least 44 of which must be upper-division,
distributed in the manner outlined below. In addition,
students must complete the foriegn language requirement.
Students who declared the major between July 1, 2000
and July 1, 2002 may have slightly different unit requirements
Please see the Undergraduate
Staff Advisor for details. |
| 3.2
Preparation for the Major
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3.2.1
English 15: Introduction to Shakespeare, lower
division, 4 units
Students entering the major with upper-division standing
may substitute English 105A or 105B for the English 15
requirement. Students electing this option may not apply
their English 15 substitute toward the minimum 44 upper
division units. |
3.2.2 English
10: Introduction to Literary Study, lower division, 4
units
Students entering the major
with upper-division standing may substitute with equivalent
coursework from their previous institution. English 10
may also be used to satisify the Area A requirement
under
the general education requirements. Students who declared
the major between July 1, 2000 and July 1, 2002 may
be
exempt from this requirement. Please see the Undergraduate
Staff Advisor for details. |
3.2.3
Foreign Language Requirement
The ability to read a foreign literature in its original
language gives valuable insights into the operations
of the English language itself and into the difference
between reading a translation and the original. There
are two ways to satisfy the foreign language requirement
for the English major: Option 1 or Option 2. Option
1 is the recommended way to fulfill this requirement
for all majors.
Option 1 develops the ability to read in a foreign
language at an advanced undergraduate level (as defined
below). Students who intend graduate work in literature
are well advised to take Option 1. In addition, election
to Phi Beta Kappa requires a foreign language at an
advanced level.
To fulfill Option 1, students can either complete the
fifth quarter in any foreign language taught at UCSB
or demonstrate equivalent ability at the prescribed
level by taking a placement exam. (Consult the General
Catalog and language departments for information
on placement examinations; consult the English department
undergraduate advisor about other means of satisying
the requirement that may apply to a student's individual
situation). Foreign languages other than those taught
at UCSB may be considered by petition. Language classes
taken in fulfillment of Option 1 may be taken P/NP through
the fourth quarter, but the final quarter must be taken
for a letter grade.
Option 2 complements the English major with
the study of foreign literature in translation taught
by those who are expert in the original language.
To fulfill Option 2, a student needs to complete the
third quarter (or its equivalent in a placement exam)
in any foreign language taught at UCSB; and also complete
three upper-division foreign-literature-in-translation
courses to be selected from a list available in the
English department office. The third quarter of courses
in a foreign language, as well as all three literature-in-translation
courses, must be taken for a letter grade. Click
here for a list of applicable
courses. |
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3.3
Upper Division Requirements in
English
Forty-eight
units in English are required, as follows.
3.3.1
Four Courses Offering a Broad Overview of British and American
Literature (16 units)
- English 101: English Literature from the Medieval period
to 1650
- English 102: English and American Literature from
1650-1789
- English 103A: American Literature from 1789-1900
-or- English 103B:
British Literature from 1789-1900
- English 104A: American Literature from 1900-Present
-or- English 104B:
British Literature from 1900-Present
3.3.2
English 197 - Upper Division Seminar (4.0 units)
This seminar is designed as a small class limited to
fifteen students in which there will be opportunity for in-depth
discussion and a more advanced level of scholarship. Because
enrollment is strictly limited to fifteen per class, do not
wait until the last quarters of your senior year to enroll.
3.3.3
Electives and Specializations (28 units) Twenty-eight units of English
electives are required of which at least 24 must be upper
division. Up to four may be lower division. English 10, 108,
108T and 117E may not apply. Upper division Comparative Literature
courses taught by English department faculty may apply toward
these electives.
The English Department
encourages upper-division students with particular literary/critical
interests to pursue them formally by selecting an area
of Specialization.
The English Department offers the Cultures
of Information, the Early
Modern Studies Specialization, and the American
Cultures Specialization. A Specialization consists
of a minimum of four English department courses constellated
around a specific area of study. For instance, a student
interested in the interrelation between literature and
digital technology might elect to pursue the Culture
of Information Specialization. Or, a student interested
in Renaissance and Eighteenth Century literature could
study that subject within the Early Modern Studies Specialization.
Or a student interested in how different aspects of
American cultures interact in their regional, hemispheric,
and global contexts could choose the American Cultures
Specialization. The fundamental idea informing the Specializations
is that students should be enabled to explore particular
areas of interest through a disciplined itinerary of
courses. In addition, each specialization will encourage
the sense of a collaborative community of research by
offering certain extra-curricular events—e.g.,
conferences or colloquia involving undergraduates, field
trips to scholarly or other resources, etc.
Additionally, students are encouraged to develop their
own particular Specialization in consultation with a
faculty advisor. Working together, the student and faculty
advisor would tailor a Specialization from already established
course offerings. |
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