English (B.A.)
English (B.A.)

What is English?
You love reading novels, you love to write, or you’re fascinated with the origins of the English language. These are all good reasons to pursue a degree in English, which will give you broad exposure to the history and literature of the English language, while you also learn critical thinking skills and how to write clearly and persuasively. English majors are experts in the art and science of words, allowing you to expand your imaginative potential and solve real-world problems.
Why study English at UNH?
creative non-fiction and poetry; or areas within linguistics, such as language formation. Other program highlights include our small discussion-and research-oriented seminars; internships with publishers, businesses, and arts and service organizations; and study-abroad opportunities in London, England. requirements, you’ll be able to focus your studies on literature; writing, including fiction,
Potential careers
- Business executive
- Communications specialist
- Editor
- Government consultant
- Lawyer
- Publisher
- Teacher
- Writer
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This form is only for prospective students who are not already enrolled at UNH. If you are a current UNH student and interested in this program, please reach out to the contact on this page.
Curriculum & Requirements
Our general English major has two objectives: provide our students with a common core of literary experience and expertise, and offer them opportunity to shape a course of study suited to their personal interests. By offering flexible requirements, we encourage students to devise a path through coursework that has an intelligent rationale. If students have a special interest in writing, for example, they can take the minimum number of literature courses (five) and complete the major by taking offerings in fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry writing; if students' interests are in literary studies, they can focus on offerings in that arena; or they can match up courses from different arenas in the department (say, literature and writing courses focused on poetry). All the undergraduate courses we offer in the English department are open to English majors so students can sample a range of courses in literature, linguistics, creative or nonfiction writing, and English teaching, according to how particular interests may change and grow.
The guiding principle of the general English major, then, is that it is open and liberal by design. It allows students to sample a variety of courses in order to study the operation of language from many perspectives.
Major Requirements
- Students must complete a minimum of 40 credits of with a minimum grade of C-.
- The required minimum overall GPA is 2.0.
- ENGL 401, 415s, "Literature and..." courses, 444s, ENGL 620 and ENGL 788 may not be used to satisfy major requirements.
- A total of six courses must be numbered 600 and above.
- One major-required course may be used to satisfy one Discovery category requirement.
- Only one online course may count toward major requirements.
- Special Topics in Literature courses (e.g. ENGL 693, 787, 797) may be used to satisfy Pre-1800 or Post-1800 and/or Race Requirement areas if the designated topic is appropriate.
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Capstone must be completed with a minimum grade of C. May not be double-counted toward major requirements. Submit a Capstone Declaration form indicating the English course to be taken at the time of registration.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required | ||
ENGL 419 | How to Read Anything (Minimum grade of C) | 4 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select two courses from the following: | 8 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
500-level Courses | ||
ENGL/LING 405 | Introduction to Linguistics | |
ENGL 501 | Introduction to Creative Nonfiction | |
ENGL 502 | Professional and Technical Writing | |
ENGL 503 | Persuasive Writing | |
ENGL 510 | Introduction to the Digital Humanities | |
ENGL 511 | Major Writers in English | |
ENGL 512 | British Literature I Age of Heroes: Beowulf to Dr. Faustus | |
ENGL 513W | British Literature II Age of Revolutions: Shakespeare to Austen | |
ENGL 514W | British Literature III: Revolts, Renewals, Migrations | |
ENGL 515W | American Literature I Conquest and Nation: First Contact to the Civil War | |
ENGL 516W | American Literature II Money, Migration, and Modernity: Huck Finn to Beloved | |
ENGL #517 | Black Creative Expression | |
ENGL 518W | Bible as Literature | |
ENGL 520 | Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction | |
ENGL 521 | Nature Writers | |
ENGL 526 | Introduction to Fiction Writing | |
ENGL 527 | Introduction to Poetry Writing | |
ENGL 533 | Introduction to Film Studies | |
ENGL 534 | 21st Century Journalism: How the News Works | |
ENGL 549 | In the Groove: African American Music as Literature | |
ENGL 550 | Introduction to the Literature and Culture of Race | |
ENGL 555 | Science Fiction | |
ENGL 560 | Introduction to Latinx Literature and Culture | |
ENGL 575 | Sex and Sensibility: The Rise of Chick Lit | |
ENGL 581 | Reading the Postcolonial Experience | |
ENGL 585 | Introduction to Women in Literature | |
ENGL 585R | Introduction to Women in Literature | |
ENGL 595 | Literary Topics |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select two courses from the following: | 8 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Pre-1800 Literature Courses | ||
ENGL 512 | British Literature I Age of Heroes: Beowulf to Dr. Faustus | |
or ENGL 513W | British Literature II Age of Revolutions: Shakespeare to Austen | |
ENGL 595 | Literary Topics (if topic is appropriate) | |
ENGL 657 | Shakespeare | |
ENGL 693R | Special Topics in Literature (if topic is appropriate) | |
ENGL #741 | Early American Literature: Colonialism, Revolution, Nation | |
ENGL 751 | Medieval Romance | |
ENGL 753 | Old English | |
ENGL 756 | Chaucer | |
ENGL 758 | Advanced Shakespeare | |
ENGL 758R | Advanced Shakespeare | |
ENGL 759 | Milton | |
ENGL 767 | Literature of the Restoration and Early 18th Century | |
ENGL 768 | Literature of the Later 18th Century | |
ENGL 780 | Drama of Shakespeare's Contemporaries: Will and Company | |
ENGL 783 | English Novel of the Eighteenth Century | |
ENGL 787 | English Major Seminar (if topic is appropriate) | |
ENGL 787R | English Major Seminar (if topic is appropriate) |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select two courses from the following: | 8 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Post-1800 Literature Courses | ||
ENGL 514W | British Literature III: Revolts, Renewals, Migrations | |
or ENGL 516W | American Literature II Money, Migration, and Modernity: Huck Finn to Beloved | |
ENGL 595 | Literary Topics (if topic is appropriate) | |
ENGL 609 | Ethnicity in America: The African American Experience in the 20th Century | |
ENGL 636 | Literature and the Environment | |
ENGL 650 | I Hear America Singing: Studying American Literature and Culture | |
ENGL 681 | Contemporary African Literature | |
ENGL 690 | African American Literature | |
ENGL 693R | Special Topics in Literature (if topic is appropriate) | |
ENGL 738 | Asian American Studies | |
ENGL 739 | American Indian Literature | |
ENGL 743R | American Literature, 1865-1915: The Birth of the American Empire | |
ENGL 745 | Contemporary American Literature | |
ENGL 749R | Major American Authors | |
ENGL 773 | Literary Modernisms: Return, Revolt, Recycle | |
ENGL 774R | Modern & Contemporary British Literature: New Departures | |
ENGL 775 | Modern Irish Literature: A Changing Landscape | |
ENGL 777 | The English Novel in the World | |
ENGL 782 | Modern and Contemporary Drama | |
ENGL #784 | English Novel of the 19th Century | |
ENGL 787 | English Major Seminar (if topic is appropriate) | |
ENGL 787R | English Major Seminar (if topic is appropriate) | |
ENGL 797R | Special Studies in Literature (Race & Racial Theories) (if topic is appropriate) |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one course from the following: | 4 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Race, the Construction of Race, and Racial Theory Courses | ||
ENGL 440A | On Race in Culture and Society | |
ENGL #441 | On Race and Culture in Society | |
ENGL #517 | Black Creative Expression | |
ENGL 549 | In the Groove: African American Music as Literature | |
ENGL 550 | Introduction to the Literature and Culture of Race | |
ENGL 560 | Introduction to Latinx Literature and Culture | |
ENGL 585R | Introduction to Women in Literature | |
ENGL 609 | Ethnicity in America: The African American Experience in the 20th Century | |
ENGL 650R | I Hear America Singing: Studying American Literature and Culture | |
ENGL 690 | African American Literature | |
ENGL 693 | Special Topics in Literature (subtopic R) | |
ENGL 693R | Special Topics in Literature | |
ENGL 738 | Asian American Studies | |
ENGL 739 | American Indian Literature | |
ENGL 743R | American Literature, 1865-1915: The Birth of the American Empire | |
ENGL 749R | Major American Authors | |
ENGL 758R | Advanced Shakespeare | |
ENGL 774R | Modern & Contemporary British Literature: New Departures | |
ENGL 778 | Race and Gender in Film and Popular Culture | |
ENGL 787R | English Major Seminar | |
ENGL 797R | Special Studies in Literature (Race & Racial Theories) |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one additional 500-, 600-, or 700- level ENGL course | 4 | |
Capstone (one 700-level ENGL course) | 4 |
Please see your advisor if you have questions about other courses that might fulfill these requirements.
If you're interested in majoring in English please contact Carla Cannizzaro, academic/career counselor, Department of English, 230F Hamilton Smith Hall, (603) 862-1313.
Undergraduate students in the English Department at the University of New Hampshire have many options as they advance to degree. They can choose to complete a general English major or opt to follow one of several specialized tracks: English Literature, Journalism, English Teaching, and Linguistics. I. All undergraduate English majors acquire the same core skills. These include:
- Proficiency in analytical writing, critical thinking, and public-speaking.
- Knowledge of important literary genres and subgenres
- Fluency in literary terminology,
- A broad understanding of British-and-American literature, from the medieval period in England and the moment of first contact in America to the present day.
- Demonstrated proficiency in writing an analytical essay that offers a sophisticated close-reading or explication of a literary text. This essay will have a clear thesis and proceed in a logical fashion, with interpretive claims supported by evidence from the text.
- Demonstrated proficiency in literary research and in writing an extended thesis-driven research paper in which sources are correctly and responsibly cited.
- Demonstrated understanding of how to read across the color line in the US and /or how to analyze literary works written in English from outside the UK and the US--from India, Africa, and the Caribbean, for example.