English/English and Creative Writing Majors

Goals for English/English and Creative Writing Majors

Students who major in English will strive to:

• Acquire a knowledge of English literary history, including both the canonical works of the past and works from emerging traditions and multicultural literature;
• Recognize and demonstrate an ability to work with critical methodologies employed in the discipline of literary studies; 
• Write with clarity, originality, and style;
• Recognize and construct a lucid and persuasive argument;
• Read literature with deep attention and intensive responsiveness to content, language and form.

Those who major in English and Creative Writing should fulfill all the goals above and in addition should:

• Develop a distinctive literary voice;
• Acquire a knowledge of the history and cross-cultural diversity of the genres, traditions, and styles in which they are working.

Requirements for the English Major

• 10 units total 
• 8 of these taken in the English department and in areas other than creative writing
• 7 courses above the 100-level 
• 2 300-level courses (not creative writing; not 350s)
• 1 course that focuses on postcolonial, minority, or ethnic writing 
• English 120: only if you entered the college before fall 2024
• English 223 or 224 (Shakespeare): only if you entered the college before fall 2022
• Period requirements:
• For students who entered Wellesley before Fall 2022: two courses focused on literature written before 1900. One of these must focus on literature before 1800. Shakespeare courses do not count.
• For students who entered Wellesley in or after Fall 2022: three courses focused on literature written before 1900. Two of these must focus on literature before 1800. Shakespeare courses can fulfill this requirement.

Notes:

The First-Year Writing requirement does not count toward the major unless it is cross-listed as an English course.

Independent work (ENG 350, ENG 360, or ENG 370) does not count toward the minimum requirement of two 300-level courses for the major or toward the 10 courses required for the major. 

300-level courses in creative writing do not count toward the minimum requirement of two 300-level courses for the major.

With the approval of a student’s major advisor, two courses from other departments or programs at Wellesley or from outside the college may be counted toward the major. These may include literature courses taught in translation or in the original language. 

Courses taken in other departments at Wellesley may not be used to satisfy any of the above distribution requirements for the major, except the postcolonial/minority/ethnic writing requirement.  

With the chair’s permission, summer school courses or courses taken abroad or via the Twelve College Exchange, may satisfy certain distribution requirements. Students planning to study for a full academic year in the United Kingdom should seek the counsel of their advisors or the department chair.

Transfer students may apply to the chair to earn major credit for more than two literature-based courses taken outside the College.

If you are a transfer student or Davis Scholar who entered before fall 2024 and who has done work equivalent to ENG 120 elsewhere, you may apply to the chair for exemption from this requirement.

Requirements for the English and Creative Writing Major

• 12 units total
• 8 of these taken in the English department and in areas other than creative writing
• 4 creative writing courses (most creative writing courses can be taken twice and receive credit twice; 350 is an option but not encouraged)
• 9 courses above the 100-level 
• 2 300-level courses (not 350s, not creative writing)
• 1 course that focuses on postcolonial, minority, or ethnic writing 
• English 120: only if you entered the college before fall 2024
• English 223 or 224 (Shakespeare): only if you entered the college before fall 2022
• Period requirements:
• For students who entered Wellesley before Fall 2022: at least two courses focused on literature written before 1900. At least one of these must focus on literature before1800. Shakespeare courses do not count.
• For students who entered Wellesley in or after Fall 2022: at least three courses focused on literature written before 1900. At least two of these must focus on literature before1800. Courses on Shakespeare do fulfill this requirement.

Please see Notes for the English Major above.

Honors in English

The department offers a single path toward honors. The honors candidate does two units of independent research culminating in a critical thesis or a project in creative writing. Applicants for honors should have a minimum 3.5 GPA in the major (in courses above 100 level) and must apply to the department in their junior spring for admission to the program. Except in special circumstances, it is expected that students applying for honors will have completed five courses in the major, at least four of which must be taken in the English department at Wellesley. A more detailed description of the department’s application procedure is available from the department’s academic administrator.

Graduate Study in English

Students expecting to do graduate work in English should ordinarily plan to acquire a reading knowledge of one and, if possible, two foreign languages. They should take ENG 382 (Literary Theory) or an equivalent course in literary theory. They should also consult with the department’s graduate school advisor, and with their major advisor, about courses that are appropriate for those considering graduate work in English.

Teacher Certification in English

Students interested in obtaining certification to teach English in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should consult with the chair of the Education department and the English department liaison to the Education department.

Advanced Placement Policy in English

Students may receive credits toward their Wellesley degree for their performance on AP or IB examinations. Because no high school course is considered the equivalent of a course in the English department, the English department does not grant credit toward the major for AP or IB courses. First-year students and other undeclared majors contemplating further study in English are encouraged to consult the department chair or the department pre-major advisor in relation to their course selection. Students majoring in English should discuss their programs with the chair or their major advisors, and should consult with them about any changes they wish to make during their junior and senior years.