Major and Minor

For information on specific classes offered by the department, please see the Whitman College Course Catalog.

The English major: A minimum of 36 credits selected to include the following:

English/World Literature 290, Approaches to the Study of Literature.
Four period courses in English and American literature from English 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 347, 348, 349. At least two courses must be in English literature with one of them chosen from 336, 337, 338; at least one course must be in American literature.
One course in a major English writer from English 350, 351, 352, 357.
English 491, Seminars in English and American Literature.
Two additional courses in English above 300, except 401, 402, and 498. (One of the electives may, with the written approval of the English Department, be a literature course in World Literature numbered 300 or higher or a course in literature offered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature numbered above 306.)

Other Important Facts:

A non-honors thesis course is available to students. This course is designed to further independent research projects leading to the preparation of an undergraduate thesis. Deadline for proposals: October 15, 2007. For December candidates or those wishing to write a thesis in the fall, proposals must be in by the seventh week of the previous semester.
The English Department strongly recommends at least two years of a foreign language, especially for students planning to attend graduate school.
Courses taken P-D-F may not be used to satisfy course and credit requirements for the major. No more than twelve transfer credits may be used to satisfy major requirements.

The English minor: a minimum of 20 credits selected so as to include the following:

Two period courses in English literature from English 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341.
One period course in American literature from English 347, 348, 349.
One course in a major English author from English 350, 351, 352, 357.
One additional literature or writing course in English or World Literature numbered above 300.
Courses taken P-D-F may not be used to satisfy course and credit requirements for the minor.