The bachelor of arts in English offers students the opportunity to study literature, creative writing, film and media studies, writing and rhetoric, linguistics, folklore and mythology, and cultural studies. Of these seven concentrations, students pursue one or two that best match their interests and career objectives. Students are encouraged to pursue internships related to their concentrations and receive faculty mentorship throughout that process. In fact, English classes are kept small so faculty members may provide students with personalized attention. Students write in a range of traditional and digital forms and in a variety of contexts; student work culminates in a research project written for the major capstone course in their concentration. For students who want to challenge themselves even further, there is an Honors Program in English, which includes a thesis option, as well as other opportunities to pursue advanced research or creative projects; for those who want to become teachers, there is a bachelor’s/accelerated master’s program that English offers in conjunction with the College of Education and Human Development.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Highly qualified students in the BA in English program may pursue advanced work leading to graduation with honors in the major. To graduate with honors in the major, students must complete a two-course honors sequence and receive a minimum GPA of 3.50 in all courses counted toward the major and, separately, a minimum GPA of 3.50 in their honors courses. Honors courses may simultaneously satisfy concentration and distribution requirements in the major.
Students may satisfy the honors course sequence in one of the following ways:
BA students with a concentration in creative writing may write a creative honors thesis in ENGH 401 RS: Honors Thesis Writing Seminar (Mason Core). In special cases, BA students with a concentration in creative writing may apply to the Honors Coordinator and ENGH 495 instructor for permission to use ENGH 495 as a substitute for ENGH 401.
Students interested in pursuing honors in the major should consult the English Department for more information.
Total credits: minimum 120
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
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 Dimensions of Writing and Literature as a prerequisite.
Students choose at least one and no more than two of seven concentrations.
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold Course | ||
| ENGH 301 | The Fields of English | 3 |
| Field Introduction Courses | ||
| ENGH 305 | Dimensions of Writing and Literature | 3 |
| Select 3 credits from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| General Linguistics (Mason Core) | ||
| Folklore and Folklife | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Studies | ||
| Introduction to Film (Mason Core) | ||
| Introduction to Writing and Rhetoric | ||
| Introduction to Creative Writing (Mason Core) | ||
| Theory Course | ||
| ENGH 308 | Theory and Inquiry | 3 |
| Capstone Course | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| RS: Honors Thesis Writing Seminar (Mason Core) | ||
| RS: Topics in Folklore Research (Mason Core) | ||
| RS: Topics in Literary Research (Mason Core) | ||
| RS: Topics in Film/Media History (Mason Core) | ||
| First Language Acquisition (Mason Core) | ||
| RS: Writing Ethnography (Mason Core) | ||
| RS: Writing Nonfiction for Publication (Mason Core) | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| 1 |
For many students this requirement will be met within the concentration. Those students will complete an additional 3 credit ENGH course above ENGH 302 Advanced Composition (Mason Core). |
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Literature before 1800 | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Literature of the Middle Ages | ||
| English Poetry and Prose of the 16th Century | ||
| Shakespeare | ||
| Shakespeare: Special Topics | ||
| English Renaissance Drama | ||
| English Poetry and Prose of the 17th Century | ||
| Augustan Age: 1660-1745 | ||
| Age of Sensibility: 1745-1800 | ||
| Restoration and 18th Century Drama | ||
| British Novel of the 18th Century | ||
| Early American Literature | ||
| Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Literature | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Milton | ||
| Literature before 1915 | ||
| Select 3 credits from courses listed above and the following: | 3 | |
| British Poetry of the Romantic Period | ||
| Prose and Poetry of the Victorian Period | ||
| British Novel of the 19th Century | ||
| Literature of the American Renaissance | ||
| Development of the American Novel to 1914 | ||
| Beginnings of African American Literature Through 1865 | ||
| African American Literature: Reconstruction to 1903 | ||
| Continental Fiction, 1770-1880 | ||
| Continental Fiction, 1880-1950 | ||
| Minority, Folkloric, or Popular Literary and Cultural Traditions | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Topics: Women and Literature | ||
| Folklore and Folklife | ||
| Popular Culture | ||
| Beginnings of African American Literature Through 1865 | ||
| African American Literature: Reconstruction to 1903 | ||
| African American Literature Through 1946 | ||
| Contemporary African American Literature | ||
| Topics in Ethnic American Literature | ||
| Global Voices (Mason Core) | ||
| The Idea of a World Literature (Mason Core) | ||
| World Literatures in English | ||
| Topics in Folklore Studies | ||
| Folklore and the Supernatural | ||
| Folk Arts and Folk Artists | ||
| Ethnicity and Migration in Folklore | ||
| RS: Topics in Folklore Research (Mason Core) | ||
| Topics in Popular Literature | ||
| Science Fiction | ||
| Critical Study of Children's Literature | ||
| RS: Writing Ethnography (Mason Core) | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take 0-12 elective credits in the major as needed to meet the 36-credit requirement. | 0-12 | |
| Total Credits | 0-12 | |
Students choose one and no more than two concentrations. Special topics courses may be used to fulfill the requirements for a concentration when so designated by department.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Digital Creative Writing | ||
| Poetry Writing | ||
| Fiction Writing | ||
| Creative Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop | ||
| Advanced Workshop in Nonfiction | ||
| Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop | ||
| Topics in Creative Writing | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGH 305 | Dimensions of Writing and Literature | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements.
Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.
In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the coursework below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (Mason Core requirements or requirements for the major).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
|
PHIL 1
|
||
| 1 |
Note that the following courses may not be used to fulfill this requirement:
|
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 3 credits of social and behavioral sciences from the following (additional to the Mason Core social and behavioral sciences requirement) 1 | 3 | |
| ANTH | ||
| CRIM | ||
| ECON | ||
| GOVT | ||
| HIST 2 | ||
| LING | ||
| PSYC | ||
| SOCI | ||
| Or choose from the following GGS courses: | ||
|
GGS 101
|
Major World Regions (Mason Core) | |
|
GGS 103
|
Human Geography (Mason Core) | |
|
GGS 110
|
Introduction to Geoinformation Technologies | |
|
GGS 301
|
Political Geography | |
|
GGS 303
|
Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core) | |
|
GGS 304
|
Population Geography (Mason Core) | |
|
GGS 305
|
Economic Geography | |
|
GGS 306
|
Urban Geography | |
|
GGS 315
|
Geography of the United States | |
|
GGS 316
|
Geography of Latin America | |
|
GGS 320
|
Geography of Europe | |
|
GGS 325
|
Geography of North Africa and the Middle East | |
|
GGS 330
|
Geography of the Soviet Succession States | |
|
GGS 357
|
Urban Planning | |
|
GGS 380
|
Geography of Virginia | |
| 1 |
The two courses used to fulfill the combined college and Mason Core requirements must be from different disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. |
| 2 |
HIST 100 History of Western Civilization (Mason Core) and HIST 125 Introduction to World History (Mason Core) may not be used to fulfill this requirement. |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language, fulfilled by: 1 | ||
|
Or achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test
|
||
|
Or completing the following ASL three course sequence:
|
||
|
EDSE 115
|
American Sign Language (ASL) I | |
|
EDSE 116
|
American Sign Language (ASL) II | |
|
EDSE 219
|
American Sign Language (ASL) III | |
| 1 |
Students who are already proficient in a second language may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement. Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. |
Select 3 credits of an approved course in the study of a non-Western culture (additional to the Mason Core requirement in global understanding)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 3 credits (additional to Mason Core Global Understanding requirement) 1 | ||
| ANTH 114 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ANTH 300 | Civilizations | 3 |
| ANTH 301 | Native North Americans | 3 |
| ANTH 302 | Peoples and Cultures of Latin America (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ANTH 303 | Peoples and Cultures of the Andes | 3 |
| ANTH 306 | Peoples and Cultures of Island Asia (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ANTH 307 | Ancient Mesoamerica (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ANTH 308 | Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ANTH 309 | Peoples and Cultures of India (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ANTH 313 | Myth, Magic, and Mind (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ANTH 314 | Zombies | 3 |
| ANTH 316 | Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ANTH 323 | Digging and Dealing in the Dead: Ethics in Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 330 | Peoples and Cultures of Selected Regions: Non-Western | 3 |
| ANTH 332 | Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Globalization (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ANTH 381 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 383 | Cities of the Global South | 3 |
| ANTH 396 | Issues in Anthropology: Social Sciences (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARAB 360 | Topics in Arabic Cultural Production | 3 |
| ARAB 420 | Survey of Arabic Literature | 3 |
| ARAB 440 | Topics in Arabic Religious Thought and Texts (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 203 | Survey of Asian Art (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 204 | Survey of Latin American Art (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 206 | Survey of African Art (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 318 | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | 3 |
| ARTH 319 | Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 320 | Art of the Islamic World (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 382 | Arts of India (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 383 | Arts of Southeast Asia (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 384 | Arts of China (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 385 | Arts of Japan (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 386 | The Silk Road (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ARTH 482 | RS: Advanced Studies in Asian Art | 3 |
| CHIN 318 | Introduction to Classical Chinese (Mason Core) | 3 |
| CHIN 320 | Contemporary Chinese Film | 3 |
| CHIN 325 | Major Chinese Writers (Mason Core) | 3 |
| DANC 118 | World Dance (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ECON 361 | Economic Development of Latin America (Mason Core) | 3 |
| ECON 362 | African Economic Development (Mason Core) | 3 |
| FREN 451 | Topics in Sub-Saharan Francophone Literature and Culture | 3 |
| FREN 454 | Topics in Caribbean Francophone Literature and Culture | 3 |
| GGS 101 | Major World Regions (Mason Core) | 3 |
| GGS 316 | Geography of Latin America | 3 |
| GGS 325 | Geography of North Africa and the Middle East | 3 |
| GGS 330 | Geography of the Soviet Succession States | 3 |
| GGS 399 | Select Topics in GGS | 3 |
| GOVT 328 | Global Political Theory | 3 |
| GOVT 332 | Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| GOVT 333 | Government and Politics of Asia | 3 |
| GOVT 338 | Government and Politics of Russia | 3 |
| GOVT 340 | Central Asian Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 341 | Chinese Foreign Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 345 | Islam and Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 433 | Political Economy of East Asia | 3 |
| HIST 251 | Survey of East Asian History (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 252 | Survey of East Asian History (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 261 | Survey of African History (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 262 | Survey of African History (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 271 | Survey of Latin American History (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 272 | Survey of Latin American History (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 281 | Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 282 | Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 326 | Stalinism | 3 |
| HIST 327 | The Soviet Union and Russia Since World War II | 3 |
| HIST 328 | Rise of Russia (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 329 | Modern Russia and the Soviet Union (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 353 | History of Traditional China | 3 |
| HIST 354 | Modern China | 3 |
| HIST 356 | Modern Japan (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 357 | Postwar Japan (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 358 | Post-1949 China (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 360 | History of South Africa (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 364 | Revolution and Radical Politics in Latin America (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 365 | Conquest and Colonization in Latin America (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 366 | Comparative Slavery | 3 |
| HIST 367 | History, Fiction, and Film in Latin America | 3 |
| HIST 387 | Topics in Global History (Mason Core) | 3-6 |
| HIST 426 | The Russian Revolution | 3 |
| HIST 460 | Modern Iran (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 461 | Arab-Israeli Conflict | 3 |
| HIST 462 | Women in Islamic Society (Mason Core) | 3 |
| HIST 465 | The Middle East in the 20th Century | 3 |
| JAPA 310 | Japanese Culture in a Global World (Mason Core) | 3 |
| JAPA 340 | Topics in Japanese Literature (Mason Core) | 3 |
| KORE 320 | Korean Popular Culture in a Global World | 3 |
| MUSI 103 | Musics of the World (Mason Core) | 3 |
| RELI 211 | Religions of the West (Mason Core) | 3 |
| RELI 212 | Religions of Asia (Mason Core) | 3 |
| RELI 240 | Death and the Afterlife in World Religions | 3 |
| RELI 272 | Islam | 3 |
| RELI 313 | Hinduism (Mason Core) | 3 |
| RELI 314 | Chinese Philosophies and Religious Traditions | 3 |
| RELI 315 | Buddhism (Mason Core) | 3 |
| RELI 337 | Mysticism: East and West | 3 |
| RELI 365 | Muhammad: Life and Legacy | 3 |
| RELI 374 | Islamic Thought (Mason Core) | 3 |
| RELI 375 | Qur'an and Hadith | 3 |
| RELI 379 | Islamic Law, Society, and Ethics | 3 |
| RELI 387 | Islam, Democracy, and Human Rights | 3 |
| RELI 490 | Comparative Study of Religions (Mason Core) | 3 |
| RUSS 353 | Russian Civilization (Mason Core) | 3 |
| RUSS 354 | Contemporary Post-Soviet Life (Mason Core) | 3 |
| 1 |
A course used to fulfill the Mason Core global understanding requirement may not be simultaneously used to satisfy this college-level requirement. A course used to fulfill this requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill any other requirements (Mason Core requirements, college-level requirements, or requirements for the major). Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. |
Some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Requirements | ||
| Written Communication (ENGH 101) | 3 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Information Technology and Computing | 3 | |
| Exploration Requirements | ||
| Arts | 3 | |
| Global Understanding | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 7 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Western Civilization/World History | 3 | |
| Integration Requirements | ||
| Written Communications (ENGH 302) | 3 | |
| Writing-Intensive 1 | 3 | |
| Synthesis/Capstone 2 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
| 1 |
Most programs include the writing-intensive course designated for the major as part of the major requirements; this course is therefore not counted towards the total required for Mason Core. |
| 2 |
Minimum 3 credits required. |