English - Literature (Bachelor of Arts)

The Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Literature requires a total of 120 hours. 

Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Literature may minor in Creative Writing or Professional Writing, but may not minor in Literature.  Students choosing to minor in Creative Writing or Professional Writing may not double count any 200-, 300-, and 400-level coursework toward both the major and minor.

The major requires 39 hours of English and approved courses, which must include the following thirty-hour (30) English core.

Course Title Credits
English Major Core
EH 250Introduction to English Studies (WI)3
Literature Surveys6
Select one six-hour literature survey sequence from the following:
American Literature I: Beginnings to 1865
and American Literature II: 1865 to Present
British Literature I: Beginnings to 1800
and British Literature II: 1800 to Present
Honors Literature I
and Honors Literature II
World Literature I: Beginnings to 1660
and World Literature II: 1660 to Present
Creative and Professional Writing3
Select three (3) hours from the following:
Introduction to Creative Writing
Introduction to Digital Humanities
Technical Writing (WI)
Writing for the Workplace (WI)
Writing for the Web (WI)
Writing for Social Media (WI)
Writing for Podcasts (WI)
Writing about Gaming (WI)
Creative Writing: Fiction
Creative Writing: Poetry
Creative Writing: Nonfiction
Creative Writing: Special Topics
Publishing Practicum
Writing for Nonprofits (WI)
Writing for Social Change (WI)
Professional Writing: Special Topics (WI)
Creative Collective (WI)
Grantwriting
Internship
Playwriting and Screenwriting
Rhetoric and the Study of English as a Language3
Select three (3) hours from the following:
English Grammar
Introduction to Linguistics
Advanced Grammar and Linguistics
Advanced Composition (WI)
Advanced Oral Communication
Theory of Speech
Theory of Composition
Advanced Argumentation (WI)
The History of the English Language
Literary History9
Select nine (9) hours from the following:
Film Noir, Classics, and Melodrama
Romantic Poetry
Twentieth-Century Poetry
Major Authors
Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature
Film Adaptation
The Literature of Young Adults
The American Novel
Contemporary Fiction
The Graphic Novel
Twentieth-Century Drama
Southern Literature
The Bible as Literature
Chaucer
Special Studies in the English Renaissance
Shakespeare's England
Shakespeare
The Art of the Film (WI)
American Drama
Eighteenth-Century Literature
Victorian Poetry
English Drama
Writing the Vietnam War
Milton
Alabama Literature
Special Topics in Film Studies
Special Topics in Adaptation Studies
Literary Criticism
The English Novel
Twentieth-Century English Fiction
Current New York Theatre
Diversity3
Select three (3) hours from the following:
Survey of African American Literature I
Survey of African American Literature II
Native American Literature
Major Authors (if topic is applicable)
Special Studies in the English Renaissance (if topic is applicable)
Women's Literature
Special Topics in Film Studies (if topic is applicable)
LGBTQ+ Literature
Non-Western Literature
Contemporary African American Writers
Senior Capstone3
Capstone Seminar (WI)
Total Hours30

For Literary History, students in the Literature concentration are required to select EH 406 Shakespeare (3) and one additional Pre-1900 Literary History course:  EH 311 Romantic Poetry (3), EH 325 Major Authors (3) (if topic is applicable), EH 370 The American Novel (3), EH 379 The Bible as Literature (3), EH 401 Chaucer (3), EH 402 Special Studies in the English Renaissance (3), EH 405 Shakespeare's England (3), EH 411 Eighteenth-Century Literature (3), EH 412 Victorian Poetry (3), EH 413 English Drama (3), EH 419 Milton (3), or EH 453 The English Novel (3).

The Literature Concentration consists of nine (9) hours in addition to the English core classes:

Course Title Credits
Literature Concentration
Literature Surveys6
In addition to completing either the American or English literature survey sequence, select six (6) hours from the following:
American Literature I: Beginnings to 1865
American Literature II: 1865 to Present
British Literature I: Beginnings to 1800
British Literature II: 1800 to Present
Honors Literature I
Honors Literature II
World Literature I: Beginnings to 1660
World Literature II: 1660 to Present
Literary History3
Select an additional three (3) hours from the following:
Film Noir, Classics, and Melodrama
Romantic Poetry
Twentieth-Century Poetry
Major Authors
Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature
Film Adaptation
The Literature of Young Adults
The American Novel
Contemporary Fiction
The Graphic Novel
Twentieth-Century Drama
Southern Literature
The Bible as Literature
Chaucer
Special Studies in the English Renaissance
Shakespeare's England
The Art of the Film (WI)
American Drama
Eighteenth-Century Literature
Victorian Poetry
English Drama
Writing the Vietnam War
Milton
Alabama Literature
Special Topics in Film Studies
Special Topics in Adaptation Studies
Literary Criticism
The English Novel
Twentieth-Century English Fiction
Current New York Theatre
Total Hours9

For the English major, a minimum of 12 of the 39 hours must be taken at the 300/400 level at JSU.  The English major also requires 12 hours of a single foreign language (FL 101-102, FL 201-202).  Students who plan careers in education should contact Teacher Education Services in the College of Education and Professional Studies, Ramona Wood Hall, Room 207, for information on certification and assessment into Education. 

In addition to courses noted below, candidates for graduation must successfully complete all JSU Academic Regulations. More information about general education requirements can be found in the Summary of Degrees/Requirements section of the catalog.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallHours
EH Composition sequence 3
Natural Science 4
MS 110 Finite Mathematics (or higher) 3
History Sequence 3
Social/Behavioral Science 3
SSC 101 First Year Experience 0
 Hours16
Spring
EH Composition sequence 3
EH 141 Speech 3
Natural Science 4
History Sequence 3
Elective 1
 Hours14
Sophomore
Fall
Fine Arts 3
Foreign Language sequence 1 3
Literature 3
Literature Sequence 3
EH 250 Introduction to English Studies (WI) 3
 Hours15
Spring
Literature Sequence 3
Literature 3
Foreign Language sequence 1 3
Social/Behavioral Science 3
CS 201 Introduction to Information Technology 3
 Hours15
Junior
Fall
Foreign Language sequence 1 3
Literary History Course 3
Rhetoric and the Study of English as a Language Course 3
Minor/Electives 6
 Hours15
Spring
Foreign Language sequence 1 3
EH 406 Shakespeare 3
Creative and Professional Writing Course 3
Minor/Electives 300+ 6
 Hours15
Senior
Fall
Diversity Literature Course 3
Literary History Before 1900 Course 3
Minor/Electives 300+ 9
 Hours15
Spring
EH 499 Capstone Seminar (WI) 3
Literary History Course 3
Minor/Electives 300+ 9
 Hours15
 Total Hours120