This concentration provides intensive work and study in Medieval and/or Renaissance literature. Students choose a genre, such as poetry or drama, and broaden their experiences by taking a course in art, history or philosophy of the periods.

Degree Requirements (Catalog Year 2015-2016)

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the BA in English, students receiving this concentration must complete 4 courses (12 credits) chosen from the following. Special topics courses may be used to fulfill the requirements for the concentration when so designated by the department.

Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor's degrees, including Mason Core requirements. Students pursuing a BA in English must complete additional college requirements for the BA degree in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students pursuing this degree must complete 36 credits in English/Linguistics beyond ENGH 300 (not including ENGH 302) with a minimum GPA of 2.00.  At least 12 credits (including the capstone requirement) must be at the 400 level.

300-level courses in English and linguistics teach the foundational principles for a field of study, include courses of broad scope, and provide an introduction to a genre, literary period, or methodology.

400-level courses in English and linguistics provide an in-depth approach to a field of study, a single genre, literary period, or methodology.  They include special topics classes and English honors classes.  Some 400 level courses require ENGH 305 as a prerequisite.

Students choose one of 13 concentrations or an emphasis in comparative literature.

Students should consult with an English Department advisor to learn ways in which the Mason Core requirements can also satisfy college-level requirements for the English major.

BA in English with a concentration

Five required courses (15 credits)

Threshold course (3 credits)

ENGH 301 - The Fields of English

Field introduction courses (6 credits)

One required course (3 credits)

ENGH 305 - Dimensions of Writing and Literature

Additional course (3 credits) chosen from:

For many students this requirement will be met within the concentration. Those students will complete an additional 3 credit ENGH course above ENGH 302.

LING 306 - General Linguistics

ENGH 315 - Folklore and Folklife

ENGH 318 - Introduction to Cultural Studies

ENGH 372 - Introduction to Film

ENGH 380 - Introduction to Writing and Rhetoric

ENGH 396 - Introduction to Creative Writing

Theory course (3 credits)

ENGH 308 - Theory and Inquiry

Capstone course (3 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 401 - RS: Honors Thesis Writing Seminar

ENGH 458 - Topics in Literary Research

ENGH 470 - RS: Topics in Film/Media History

ENGH 484 - RS: Writing Ethnography

ENGH 486 - RS: Writing Nonfiction for Publication

Three core courses (9 credits)

Courses taken to fulfill this requirement may simultaneously satisfy a concentration.  Special topics courses, when relevant, may be used to fulfill this requirement with the prior written approval of the department.

One course (3 credits) in literature before 1800 chosen from:

ENGH 320 - Literature of the Middle Ages

ENGH 321 - English Poetry and Prose of the 16th Century

ENGH 322 - Shakespeare

ENGH 323 - Shakespeare: Special Topics

ENGH 324 - English Renaissance Drama

ENGH 325 - English Poetry and Prose of the 17th Century

ENGH 330 - Augustan Age: 1660-1745

ENGH 331 - Age of Sensibility: 1745-1800

ENGH 332 - Restoration and 18th Century Drama

ENGH 333 - British Novel of the 18th Century

ENGH 340 - Early American Literature

ENGH 421 - Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Literature

ENGH 422 - Chaucer

ENGH 424 - Spenser

ENGH 428 - Milton

One course (3 credits) in literature before 1915 chosen from courses listed above and the following courses:

ENGH 334 - British Poetry of the Romantic Period

ENGH 335 - Prose and Poetry of the Victorian Period

ENGH 336 - British Novel of the 19th Century

ENGH 341 - Literature of the American Renaissance

ENGH 343 - Development of the American Novel to 1914

ENGH 348 - Beginnings of African American Literature Through 1865

ENGH 349 - African American Literature: Reconstruction to 1903

ENGH 360 - Continental Fiction, 1770-1880

ENGH 361 - Continental Fiction, 1880-1950

One course (3 credits) in minority, folkloric, or popular literary and cultural traditions chosen from:

ENGH 310 - Topics: Women and Literature

ENGH 315 - Folklore and Folklife

ENGH 319 - Popular Culture

ENGH 348 - Beginnings of African American Literature Through 1865

ENGH 349 - African American Literature: Reconstruction to 1903

ENGH 350 - African American Literature Through 1946

ENGH 351 - Contemporary African American Literature

ENGH 352 - Topics in Ethnic American Literature

ENGH 362 - Global Voices

ENGH 366 - The Idea of a World Literature

ENGH 367 - World Literatures in English

ENGH 412 - Topics in Folklore Studies

ENGH 414 - Folklore of the Spirit World

ENGH 415 - Folk Arts and Folk Artists

ENGH 416 - Ethnicity and Migration in Folklore

ENGH 419 - Topics in Popular Literature

ENGH 451 - Science Fiction

ENGH 452 - Critical Study of Children's Literature

One elective course (0-3 credits)

Students whose concentration courses met the additional course requirement above (LING 306, ENGH 315, ENGH 318, ENGH 372, ENGH 380, ENGH 396) complete an elective course beyond ENGH 302.

Four courses (12 credits) in one concentration

Special topics courses may be used to fulfill the requirements for a concentration when so designated by department.

Concentration in American Literature (ALIT)

Four courses (12 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 315 - Folklore and Folklife

ENGH 340 - Early American Literature

ENGH 341 - Literature of the American Renaissance

ENGH 343 - Development of the American Novel to 1914

ENGH 344 - Development of the American Novel since 1914

ENGH 345 - American Drama of the 20th Century

ENGH 346 - American Poetry of the 20th Century

ENGH 348 - Beginnings of African American Literature Through 1865

ENGH 349 - African American Literature: Reconstruction to 1903

ENGH 350 - African American Literature Through 1946

ENGH 351 - Contemporary African American Literature

ENGH 352 - Topics in Ethnic American Literature

ENGH 355 - Recent American Fiction

ENGH 356 - Recent American Poetry

ENGH 416 - Ethnicity and Migration in Folklore

ENGH 441 - Topics: American Authors

Concentration in Creative Writing (CW)

Four courses (12 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 377 - Digital Creative Writing

ENGH 397 - Poetry Writing

ENGH 398 - Fiction Writing

ENGH 399 - Creative Nonfiction Writing

ENGH 492 - Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop

ENGH 494 - Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop

ENGH 497 - Topics in Creative Writing

Concentration in Cultural Studies (CULT)

Four courses (12 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 308 - Theory and Inquiry

ENGH 310 - Topics: Women and Literature

ENGH 315 - Folklore and Folklife

ENGH 318 - Introduction to Cultural Studies

ENGH 319 - Popular Culture

ENGH 348 - Beginnings of African American Literature Through 1865

ENGH 349 - African American Literature: Reconstruction to 1903

ENGH 350 - African American Literature Through 1946

ENGH 351 - Contemporary African American Literature

ENGH 352 - Topics in Ethnic American Literature

ENGH 362 - Global Voices

ENGH 372 - Introduction to Film

ENGH 412 - Topics in Folklore Studies

ENGH 414 - Folklore of the Spirit World

ENGH 415 - Folk Arts and Folk Artists

ENGH 416 - Ethnicity and Migration in Folklore

ENGH 418 - Cultural Constructions of Sexualities

ENGH 419 - Topics in Popular Literature

ENGH 452 - Critical Study of Children's Literature

ENGH 474 - Topics in Film/Media Studies

May include one course from outside the English Department chosen from:

COMM 465 - Topics in Communication and Gender

CULT 320 - Globalization and Culture

PSYC 362 - Psychology of Gender

SOCI 315 - Contemporary Gender Relations

WMST 300 - Current Issues in Women and Gender Studies

WMST 330 - Theoretical Perspectives in Women and Gender Studies

Concentration in Drama (DRA)

A maximum of one course (3 credits) may be from courses on Shakespeare.

Four courses (12 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 322 - Shakespeare

ENGH 323 - Shakespeare: Special Topics

ENGH 324 - English Renaissance Drama

ENGH 332 - Restoration and 18th Century Drama

ENGH 339 - British and Irish Drama after 1900

ENGH 345 - American Drama of the 20th Century

ENGH 368 - Modern Drama

ENGH 455 - Topics in Drama

May include one course from outside the English Department chosen from:

RUSS 407 - Russian Drama and Theater

SPAN 565 - Studies in Spanish American Drama

THR 350 - Script Analysis

THR 351 - Dramatic Theory and Criticism

THR 352 - Dramatic Literature Seminar

THR 380 - Playwriting I

THR 381 - Playwriting II

Concentration in Fiction (FIC)

Three courses (9 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 333 - British Novel of the 18th Century

ENGH 336 - British Novel of the 19th Century

ENGH 338 - British Novel after 1900

ENGH 343 - Development of the American Novel to 1914

ENGH 344 - Development of the American Novel since 1914

ENGH 355 - Recent American Fiction

ENGH 361 - Continental Fiction, 1880-1950

ENGH 398 - Fiction Writing

ENGH 451 - Science Fiction

ENGH 452 - Critical Study of Children's Literature

ENGH 453 - Topics in Fiction

One course (3 credits) in fiction before 1915 chosen from:

ENGH 333 - British Novel of the 18th Century

ENGH 336 - British Novel of the 19th Century

ENGH 343 - Development of the American Novel to 1914

ENGH 360 - Continental Fiction, 1770-1880

Concentration in Film and Media Studies (FILM)

Four courses (12 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 318 - Introduction to Cultural Studies

ENGH 319 - Popular Culture (with department approval)

ENGH 362 - Global Voices (with department approval)

ENGH 370 - Introduction to Documentary

ENGH 371 - Television Studies

ENGH 372 - Introduction to Film

ENGH 418 - Cultural Constructions of Sexualities (with department approval)

ENGH 470 - RS: Topics in Film/Media History

ENGH 472 - Topics in Film/Media Theory

ENGH 474 - Topics in Film/Media Studies

May include one course from outside the English Department chosen from:

COMM 365 - Gender, Race, and Class in the Media

COMM 380 - Media Criticism

COMM 465 - Topics in Communication and Gender

FAVS 300 - Global Horror Film

FAVS 352 - Ethics of Film and Video

FREN 470 - French and Francophone Cinema

FRLN 331 - Topics in World Cinema

JAPA 320 - Japanese Cinema

MUSI 301 - Music in Motion Pictures

RUSS 470 - Topics in (Post) Soviet Film

Concentration in Folklore, Mythology, and Literature (FML)

At least two courses (6 credits) in folklore and mythology chosen from:

ENGH 315 - Folklore and Folklife

ENGH 316 - Topics in Myth and Literature

ENGH 412 - Topics in Folklore Studies

ENGH 414 - Folklore of the Spirit World

ENGH 415 - Folk Arts and Folk Artists

ENGH 416 - Ethnicity and Migration in Folklore

ENGH 459 - Internship

ENGH 484 - RS: Writing Ethnography

ENGH 591 - Topics in Folklore Studies

May include one course from outside the English Department chosen from:

ANTH 450 - Qualitative Methods: Nonstatistical Approaches in Culture and Social Research

CLAS 340 - Greek and Roman Epic

Up to two courses (6 credits) related to folklore and mythology chosen from:

ENGH 318 - Introduction to Cultural Studies

ENGH 320 - Literature of the Middle Ages

ENGH 322 - Shakespeare

ENGH 323 - Shakespeare: Special Topics

ENGH 339 - British and Irish Drama after 1900

ENGH 348 - Beginnings of African American Literature Through 1865

ENGH 349 - African American Literature: Reconstruction to 1903

ENGH 350 - African American Literature Through 1946

ENGH 351 - Contemporary African American Literature

ENGH 362 - Global Voices

ENGH 422 - Chaucer

ENGH 424 - Spenser

ENGH 428 - Milton

May include one course from outside the English Department chosen from:

ANTH 301 - Native North Americans

ANTH 302 - Peoples and Cultures of Latin America

ANTH 306 - Peoples and Cultures of Island Asia

ANTH 307 - Ancient Mesoamerica

ANTH 308 - Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East

ANTH 313 - Myth, Magic, and Mind

ANTH 332 - Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Globalization

ARTH 319 - Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East

ARTH 321 - Greek Art and Archaeology

ARTH 322 - Roman Art and Archaeology

ARTH 340 - Early Renaissance Art in Italy, 1300-1500

ARTH 342 - High Renaissance Art in Italy, 1480–1570

ARTH 345 - Northern Baroque Art, 1600-1750

ARTH 382 - Arts of India

ARTH 383 - Arts of Southeast Asia

ARTH 384 - Arts of China

ARTH 385 - Arts of Japan

Concentration in Linguistics (LING)

One required course (3 credits):

LING 306 - General Linguistics

Three courses (9 credits) chosen from:

LING 307 - English Grammar

LING 450 - Introduction to Sociolinguistics

LING 485 - Semantics and Pragmatics

LING 486 - Syntax I

LING 490 - Generative Phonology

LING 499 - Independent Study

LING 507 - Field Work in Applied Linguistics

LING 521 - Applied Linguistics: Teaching English as a Second Language

LING 523 - English Phonetics

LING 581 - Psycholinguistics

LING 582 - Second Language Acquisition

Concentration in Medieval and Renaissance Literature (MRL)

Four courses (12 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 320 - Literature of the Middle Ages

ENGH 321 - English Poetry and Prose of the 16th Century

ENGH 322 - Shakespeare

ENGH 323 - Shakespeare: Special Topics

ENGH 324 - English Renaissance Drama

ENGH 325 - English Poetry and Prose of the 17th Century

ENGH 421 - Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Literature

ENGH 422 - Chaucer

ENGH 424 - Spenser

ENGH 428 - Milton

May include one course from outside the English Department chosen from:

ARTH 333 - Early Christian and Byzantine Art

ARTH 334 - Western Medieval Art

ARTH 340 - Early Renaissance Art in Italy, 1300-1500

ARTH 341 - Northern Renaissance Art

ARTH 342 - High Renaissance Art in Italy, 1480–1570

ARTH 344 - Baroque Art in Italy, France, and Spain, 1600–1750

ARTH 345 - Northern Baroque Art, 1600-1750

HIST 304 - Western Europe in the Middle Ages

HIST 305 - The Renaissance

HIST 306 - The Reformation

Concentration in Modern British Literature (MBL)

Four courses (12 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 330 - Augustan Age: 1660-1745

ENGH 331 - Age of Sensibility: 1745-1800

ENGH 332 - Restoration and 18th Century Drama

ENGH 333 - British Novel of the 18th Century

ENGH 334 - British Poetry of the Romantic Period

ENGH 335 - Prose and Poetry of the Victorian Period

ENGH 336 - British Novel of the 19th Century

ENGH 337 - British Poetry after 1900

ENGH 338 - British Novel after 1900

ENGH 339 - British and Irish Drama after 1900

Concentration in Poetry (POE)

Four courses (12 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 320 - Literature of the Middle Ages

ENGH 321 - English Poetry and Prose of the 16th Century

ENGH 322 - Shakespeare

ENGH 323 - Shakespeare: Special Topics

ENGH 325 - English Poetry and Prose of the 17th Century

ENGH 330 - Augustan Age: 1660-1745

ENGH 334 - British Poetry of the Romantic Period

ENGH 335 - Prose and Poetry of the Victorian Period

ENGH 337 - British Poetry after 1900

ENGH 346 - American Poetry of the 20th Century

ENGH 356 - Recent American Poetry

ENGH 397 - Poetry Writing

ENGH 422 - Chaucer

ENGH 454 - Topics in Poetry

Concentration in World Literature (WLIT)

At least two courses (6 credits) chosen from:

Special topics courses, when relevant, may be applied to this concentration when designated by the department.

ENGH 360 - Continental Fiction, 1770-1880

ENGH 361 - Continental Fiction, 1880-1950

ENGH 362 - Global Voices

ENGH 366 - The Idea of a World Literature

ENGH 367 - World Literatures in English

ENGH 368 - Modern Drama

2 additional courses (6 credits)

Courses may be chosen from the list above or the lists below, but no more than one course can be chosen from each of the lists below.

One course chosen from designated concentrations

Students can choose up to one course (3 credits) from courses listed under the concentrations above in Medieval and Renaissance literature, American literature, or Modern British literature.

Up to one course chosen from:

Students may apply up to one course from this list to the WLIT concentration when the topic is relevant, subject to the approval of the department.

ANTH 300 - Civilizations

CULT 320 - Globalization and Culture

HIST 308 - Nineteenth-Century Europe

HIST 309 - Europe in Crisis: 1914-1948

HIST 387 - Topics in Global History

CHIN 310 - Survey of Chinese Literature

CHIN 311 - Modern Chinese Literature in Translation

CHIN 325 - Major Chinese Writers

CHIN 328 - Asian American Women Writers

FRLN 330 - Topics in World Literature

FREN 325 - Major French Writers

FREN 329 - Problems of Western Civilization in French Literature

GERM 325 - Major Writers

JAPA 320 - Japanese Cinema

RUSS 325 - Major Russian Writers

RUSS 326 - A Survey of Russian Literature

RUSS 327 - A Survey of Russian Literature

SPAN 325 - Major Hispanic Writers

SPAN 329 - Special Topics in Spanish and Latin American Literature

Concentration in Writing and Rhetoric (WRTR)

Four courses (12 credits) chosen from:

ENGH 375 - Web Authoring and Design

ENGH 376 - Rhetoric and New Media

ENGH 380 - Introduction to Writing and Rhetoric

ENGH 382 - Writing Nonfiction Genres

ENGH 386 - Editing for Audience, Style, and Voice

ENGH 388 - Professional and Technical Writing

ENGH 399 - Creative Nonfiction Writing

ENGH 459 - Internship

ENGH 484 - RS: Writing Ethnography

ENGH 486 - RS: Writing Nonfiction for Publication

ENGH 488 - Topics in Writing and Rhetoric

Total: 36 credits

BA in English with a Comparative Literature Emphasis

The English Department and the Modern and Classical Languages Department offer a BA in English with an emphasis in comparative literature. This program combines the study of literature in English with the study of one or more foreign literatures and with cross-cultural literary study. It requires 10 courses above ENGH 302.  Students should consult with their advisor to design a program of study that best suits their particular interests and goals.

Two required courses (6 credits)

CL 300 - Introduction to Comparative Literature

CL 514 - Theories of Comparative Literature

One course (3 credits) in literary criticism chosen from:

Students choose a course appropriate for their focus.

ENGH 305 - Dimensions of Writing and Literature

FREN 381 - Introduction to Literary Analysis

Two courses (6 credits) in English or American literature

Two courses (6 credits) in literature other than English or American

Students meet this requirement with courses in a literature other than English or American, either in translation or, for those pursuing foreign language study, with selected readings in the original language.

Three courses (9 credits) in comparative or world literature

Comparative or world literature courses are designated by the comparative literature committee and generally selected in consultation with the advisor every semester. Examples are:

various 300-level CLAS courses

FRLN 330 courses

Special topics courses, when relevant, in ENGH, FREN, GERM, RUSS, SPAN, or other language

ENGH 366 - The Idea of a World Literature

ENGH 421 - Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Literature

ENGH 360 - Continental Fiction, 1770-1880

ENGH 361 - Continental Fiction, 1880-1950

ENGH 367 - World Literatures in English

Total: 30 credits

Writing Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in English fulfill this requirement by successfully completing ENGH 305. Students doing the comparative literature emphasis who do not take ENGH 305 will have to meet the writing intensive requirement with another non-English course.

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