George Mason University

Icelandic sagas. Shakespeare's sonnets. Workplace writing. Digital poetry. Toni Morrison's "Beloved." In the literary classics or the latest Hong Kong cinema, in folklore or phonology, in creative writing or cultural studies, English majors at George Mason immerse themselves in an exciting range of courses dealing with language, literature and culture. They explore literature and their lives, they reflect on culture and politics, and they exercise their own powers of literary creativity and critical inquiry. In the process they develop superior reading, writing and thinking skills.

In addition to the rich array of courses offered by the department, English majors find opportunity in the distinctively small size of courses in the major. Thus, there is ample room in the classes for discussion, and students can develop personal relationships with members of the faculty, which has a strong record in teaching and scholarship.

Also offered is a comparative literature option toward furthering global understandings, an Honors Program in English for exceptional students, and resources to earn secondary education teaching licensure.

What do English majors do after graduation? They pursue a wide variety of careers, including in education and the arts, business, government, professional writing and law. They also go on to further study in graduate programs, including the department's own Master of Fine Arts program, one of the top creative writing programs in the country.

For more information contact us.

Degree Requirements (Catalog Year 2008-2009)

See the university catalog for policies governing all baccalaureate degrees.

In addition to satisfying the university-wide general requirements and the requirements for a BA degree in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English majors must complete 30 credits (nine courses) in English beyond ENGL 302 with a minimum GPA of 2.00. Students must achieve a GPA of 2.00 in the courses counting toward the English major. The 30 credits are distributed as follows.

• One required course (6 credits): ENGL 325 Dimensions of Writing and Literature, with a minimum grade of C (2.00).
• Four courses (12 credits) in a concentration.
• Four core courses (12 credits), distributed as follows:
  • One course (3 credits) in literature before 1800 (may simultaneously satisfy a concentration). This requirement is satisfied by ENGL 335/336, 400, 401, 402, 404, 405, 431, 440, 443, 450, 471, 472, 474, and by special topics courses as approved by the -department.
  • One course (3 credits) in literature before 1915 (may simultaneously satisfy a concentration). This requirement is satisfied by courses listed above; by ENGL 368, 370, 406, 407, 423, 425, 436, 452, 453; and by special topics courses as approved by the department.
  • One course (3 credits) in minority, folkloric, or popular literary and cultural traditions (may simultaneously satisfy a concentration). This requirement is satisfied by ENGL 333, 334, 349, 350, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 375, 439, 460, 479, 480, 481, 491, 492, 493, and by special topics courses as approved by the department.
  • One course (3 credits) of an English or Linguistics elective above ENGL 302.

Students should consult with an English Department advisor to learn about ways in which the university-wide general education requirements can also satisfy college-level requirements or the English major. Graduating majors participate in assessment of the degree by preparing a dossier of writing completed in their upper-level courses.

Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Contact Information

Debra Lattanzi Shutika
Director of the BA in English
Robinson Hall A 421, MSN 3E4
Fairfax, VA 22030
703.993.1178
dshutika@gmu.edu

Laura Scott
Robinson Hall A 481, MSN 3E4
Fairfax, VA 22030
703.993.1179
lscott@gmu.edu