The Literature concentration is designed to provide the students with a broad background in English and American literature, some exposure to non-Western literature, and training in the critical skills of reading, interpretation and analysis.

A concentration designated as Literature may be established in one of two ways:

1. Completion of 36 credits, at appropriate levels, in the major historical periods of English and American Literature. Some studies in World Literature other than Great Britain and the United States are recommended.
2. The GRE Subject Test in Literature, evaluated at 18 credits (15 lower, 3 upper), plus 18 credits, approved by the faculty, beyond the lower level, and at least 12 of which must be upper level. Introductory English and American Literature courses or CLEP tests will be duplicative.

A concentration with more than 6 credits in imaginative, editorial, critical or technical writing should be proposed as Applied Arts.

Students intending to go on to graduate school should include some work in genre studies (poetry, drama, the novel), history of the English language, and the history or theory of literary criticism.

Concentration Plan of Study Forms

The concentration plan of study (CPS) is the tool you will use to plan your degree completion program. The CPS form offers information on how subject requirements can be met. You may download the form below as a Microsoft Word document (form will open in a new window). To request a course subsitution in a CPS, use the Request for Substitution Form. Additional information on the concentration is also available in the Official Catalog.

• Literature CPS Form

Please Note: for prospective students this form should simply serve as a guide. Once you have matriculated (enrolled), you will receive personalized degree planning advice from your Academic Counselor.