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ENG (BA)

The English major exposes students to a broad range of literatures in English, strengthens their grasp of historical and critical principles, and hones their skill in using the written word. English majors study major authors, works, genres, and literary movements, approaching these texts both analytically and historically. Students in the Creative Writing concentration also take a number of workshops, practicing writing in a variety of literary genres. Both concentrations teach students to read perceptively and to write effectively, to deepen their understanding of the power of language, to think creatively and critically, and to develop an awareness of multiple points of view.​​​​​ ​ 

Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements 84
Major Requirements (Core) 20
Concentration Requirements (Creative Writing or Literary Studies) 36
Open Electives 52
Total hours required 192

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Explain the impact of social factors (such as culture, race, gender, sexuality, and/or class) on the reading and writing of literature.
  • Conduct research and incorporate that research into thesis-driven essays written in clear, accurate, and coherent prose.
  • Recognize and explain significant elements (such as themes, stylistic features, and/or genre conventions) associated with literatures in English during a specific historical period.
  • Produce creative work demonstrating imagination and literary technique. (Applicable only to students in the Creative Writing concentration).

College Core Requirements

Study in the Major Field

The student’s course of study in the College consists of three parts: Liberal Studies, the major field, and electives. Together these three parts contribute to the liberal education of the student which is the common purpose of all study in the College. By “liberal education” the College understands not only a deep and thorough knowledge of a particular area of study but a knowledge of the diverse areas of study represented by criticism, history, the arts, the behavioral  and social sciences, philosophy, religious studies, the natural science, and mathematics. 

The major field program generally is built upon a set of core courses and a specialized “concentration.” The number of courses required for a major varies by department. Most students go beyond the minimum requirements, electing additional courses which both broaden and deepen their understanding of their chosen discipline. 

Because no academic major program is built in isolation, students are required to pursue a number of electives of the student’s choice. The inherent flexibility of this curriculum demands that the student consult an academic advisor at each stage in the total program and at least once prior to each registration.

Students will be prompted to visit the College Office for their official graduation check early in their senior year.

Declaration of Major, Minor and Concentration

All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor in the major field department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience. 

Students must declare or change majors, minors, and concentrations, via Campus Connection. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.

The Modern Language Requirement (MLR)  

All students will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language (i.e., a language other than English) equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. This Modern Language Requirement (MLR) may be demonstrated by:

  • placing into 104 or above on the DePaul language placement exam
  • completing the last course or earning AP/IB credit for the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language (e.g. 103 for DePaul language classes)
  • completing a college course or earning AP/IB credit for a college course beyond the first-year level in any language (e.g. 104 or above for DePaul language classes)
  • completing the final course of a four-year sequence of the same modern language in high school*
  • completing a proctored exam by BYU and passing the exam (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
  • completing a proctored Written Proficiency Test (WPT) by Language Testing International (LTI) and achieving a score of Beginner High or above (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)

*Students are strongly encouraged to take the DePaul language placement exam even if they have met the MLR via study of a language in high school. This will ensure continuation of language study at the proper level.

Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.

Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College will abide by the MLR in place on the effective date of the ICT, regardless of when they first matriculated at DePaul.

Students who have met the MLR and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” (see below).

The Modern Language Option (MLO)

The Modern Language Option is available to all BA students who wish to study a modern language beyond the level required by their College, and to all other undergraduate students without a modern language requirement who wish to study a language at any level. 

Students selecting the MLO may substitute a sequence of three courses in the same language for three domain courses. 

The three MLO substitutions must be made in three different domains, and any substitutions must be consistent with the principle that students complete at least one course in each learning domain.

MLO substitutions may not be used to replace requirements in the Math & Computing, and Scientific Inquiry, domains. ​

Students majoring in one modern language may use the Modern Language Option for study of a second language at the Intermediate level or above.

Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.

NOTE: Please contact your college/school regarding additional information and restrictions about the Modern Language Option.

External Credit and Residency

A student who has been admitted to the College begins residency within the college as of the first day of classes of the term in which the student is registered. Students in residence, whether attending on a full-time or part-time basis, may not take courses away from DePaul University without the written permission of the college. Permission must be obtained in advance of registration to avoid loss of credit or residency in the college; see the LAS website for more information. 

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
LSP 112 FOCAL POINT SEMINAR 4
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Required 4
Senior Year
Capstone
ENG 390 SENIOR CAPSTONE SEMINAR 1,3 4
1

Students must earn a C- or better in this course.

2

Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

3

A student whose only major is English is required to complete the Capstone offered by the English Department. A student who is double majoring (or pursuing dual degrees) with the primary major (or primary degree) in English may substitute the Capstone of the secondary major or degree. An English major in the University Honors Program shall take only the University Honors Capstone, not both the Honors Capstone and the English Capstone.​

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

  •  1 Course Required

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 2 Courses Required 

Math and Computing (MC)

  • 2 Courses Required
    [1 CR Course and 1 SR Course]​​

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

  • 2 Courses Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 2 Courses Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 2 Courses Required
    [1 Lab Course and 1 SWK Course]​​

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

  • 3 Courses Required 

Notes

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a major elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

All English majors must complete the following core courses early in their studies:

Course Title Quarter Hours
ENG 101INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE4
or HON 101 WORLD LITERATURE
ENG 205LITERATURE TO 17004
ENG 206LITERATURE FROM 1700 TO 19004
ENG 207LITERATURE FROM 1900 TO THE PRESENT4
Select one course focused on Race, Ethnicity, and Sexuality (RES) from:4
GRAPHIC NOVELS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
LITERATURE ACROSS CULTURES
AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
GLOBAL ASIAN LITERATURE
LATINX LITERATURE
LGBTQ LITERATURE
POSTCOLONIAL LITERATURE
GLOBAL ENGLISH LITERATURE
TOPICS IN GLOBAL ASIAN LITERATURE
STUDIES IN LITERATURE ACROSS CULTURES
TOPICS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
MULTIETHNIC LITERATURE OF THE U.S.
NATIVE LITERATURE
TOPICS IN LATINX LITERATURE
TOPICS IN LGBTQ LITERATURE

ENG 101/HON 101ENG 205ENG 206, and ENG 207 are prerequisites for many of the 300-level literature courses in the major.

Concentration Requirements

English majors should declare a concentration in Literary Studies or Creative Writing by the time they complete the English core courses. All further course requirements are listed within the two concentrations.​

Concentration Requirements

Concentrations, tracks and specializations provide focus to the major. In addition to any college core requirements, liberal studies requirements and major requirements, students are required to choose one of the following: