General Requirements:
- At least one-half of the English major must be completed at New Paltz.
- Composition credits (ENG160, ENG170, ENG180, ENG206, ENG207) do not count toward the major requirement.
- Courses taken S*/U* (student-elected Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) or receiving a grade below C- will not count toward the major.
NOTE: Students who transfer 3-credit courses that are equivalent to 4-credit ENG courses at New Paltz may need to take more English electives than are noted in the plans of study below. All students majoring in English (Liberal Arts) must complete at least 37 credits; English majors with a concentration in Creative Writing must complete at least 38 credits.
English: Liberal Arts major - 37-40 credits
Foundational courses..................................................................16 credits
ENG300 Seminar in Critical Practices (4)
ENG303 Introduction to British Literature (4)
ENG333 Introduction to American Literature (4)
and one of the following:
ENG343 Transnational Literature (4)
ENG353 Multiethnic & Diasporic Literature (4)
Theory requirement.....................................................................4 credits
One of the following:
ENG420 Literary Criticism (4)
ENG423 Contemporary Literary Theory (4)
Capstone course.........................................................................4 credits
ENG451 Senior Seminar (4)
English electives...................................................................13-16 credits
One of the following upper-division courses in literature before 1800 (3-4 credits):
ENG355 The Bible (4)
ENG404 Medieval Literature (4)
ENG405 Elizabethan Literature (4)
ENG406 Shakespeare I: Selected Works (4)
ENG407 Shakespeare II: Selected Works (4)
ENG408 Seventeenth-Century English Literature (4)
ENG413 Eighteenth-Century English Literature (4)
ENG414 The Rise of the Novel (4)
ENG425 The Epic Tradition (4)
ENG435 Early American Literature (4)
ENG470 Major Authors (4), if appropriate
ENG493 Selected Topics (4), if appropriate
plus one of the following upper-division courses in literature before 1900 (3-4 credits):
ENG355 The Bible (4)
ENG404 Medieval Literature (4)
ENG405 Elizabethan Literature (4)
ENG406 Shakespeare I: Selected Works (4)
ENG407 Shakespeare II: Selected Works (4)
ENG408 Seventeenth-Century English Literature (4)
ENG413 Eighteenth-Century English Literature (4)
ENG414 The Rise of the Novel (4)
ENG415 Nineteenth-Century English Novel (4)
ENG417 The Romantics in England (4)
ENG418 Victorian Literature (4)
ENG435 Early American Literature (4)
ENG436 Nineteenth-Century American Literature (4)
ENG437 The American Renaissance (4)
ENG469 Literature & Culture in the Age of Darwin (4)
ENG470 Major Authors (4), if appropriate
ENG493 Selected Topics (4), if appropriate
plus one 400-level course in English (4 credits), excluding ENG445, ENG448, ENG452, ENG453, ENG454, ENG455
and one additional course in English (3-4 credits), excluding ENG160, ENG170, ENG180, ENG206, ENG207, ENG224, ENG226, ENG345, ENG348, ENG445, ENG448, ENG452, ENG453, ENG454, ENG455
English major with concentration in Creative Writing - 38-39 credits
Required foundational courses.....................................................12 credits
ENG303 Introduction to British Literature (4)
ENG333 Introduction to American Literature (4)
and one of the following courses:
ENG343 Transnational Literature (4)
ENG353 Multiethnic & Diasporic Literature (4)
Introductory creative writing workshops.....................................7 credits
ENG345 Creative Writing Workshop I (3)
ENG445 Creative Writing Workshop II (4)*
*Portfolio review:
All Creative Writing majors are required to submit a portfolio for review after taking Creative Writing Workshop II. You must pass the portfolio review before you are permitted to take the Craft courses. Instruction and dates for portfolio submission are available in the English Department office.
Craft courses (taken only after passing the portfolio review)..........8 credits
Choose at least two of the following:
ENG452 The Craft of Fiction (4)
ENG453 The Craft of Poetry (4)
ENG454 The Craft of Creative Nonfiction (4)
ENG455 The Craft of Dramatic Writing (4)
Elective courses.................................................................................11-12 credits
Two 400-level courses in English (8 credits), excluding ENG452, ENG453, ENG454, ENG455
plus
one 300-level or above course in English (3-4 credits), excluding ENG348, ENG452, ENG453, ENG454, ENG455
