Effective Autumn 2016 through Spring 2019. If you declared your English major prior to Autumn 2016, please see the older requirement sets pertaining to the quarter and year when you became an English major officially. If you are not yet an English major and are planning to declare the major in Summer 2019 or later, please follow the current requirements.
A minimum of 60 credits in English courses:
ENGL 202 [formerly ENGL 301] (Introduction to English Language and Literature)
Minimum grade of 2.0 required. 202 will not count as a pre-1900 after Fall, 2018.
ENGL 302 (Critical Practice): 5 credits
Minimum grade of 2.0 required. Must be taken within two quarters of declaring the English major per department continuation/satisfactory progress policy.
English Distribution: 15 credits
Five credits from each of the three distribution categories below.
- Theories and Methodologies of Language and Literature
- Forms and Genres of Language and Literature
- Histories of Language and Literature
English Electives: 30 credits
(Excluded courses are ENGL 285, Writers on Writing; ENGL 297, 298, and 299 Interdisciplinary Writing courses; ENGL 491, Internships; and ENGL 474-476, courses associated with the Puget Sound Writing Project; these cannot be counted toward the English major Distribution or Electives requirement.)
English Senior Capstone course: 5 credits
Minimum grade of 2.0 required. We suggest that you take this requirement during the final two quarters in the major, and after successful completion of ENGL 302.
One course chosen from the capstone list:
- ENGL 407 (Special Topics in Cultural Studies)
- ENGL 430 (British Writers: Studies in Major Authors)
- ENGL 431 (Topics in British Literature)
- ENGL 440 (Special Studies in Literature)
- ENGL 442 (The Novel: Special Studies)
- ENGL 443 (Poetry: Special Studies)
- ENGL 444 (Dramatic Literature: Special Studies)
- ENGL 451 (American Writers: Studies in Major Authors)
- ENGL 452 (Topics in American Literature)
- ENGL 473 (Current Development in English Studies)
- ENGL 496 (English Honors Thesis) - available to English Honors Program students only
- ENGL 498 (Senior Seminar)
Pre-1900 Literature:
At least 15 credits in ENGL courses must be focused on pre-1900 literature taught by the English Department. (These pre-1900 literature credits may overlap with other English major requirements.) 202 will not count as a pre-1900.
Limit on 200-level ENGL credit:
No more than 15 credits in 200-level ENGL courses (beyond the introductory ENGL 202 ) may be applied toward the English major electives: all other English credits must be taken at the 300 or 400 level.
Limit on Creative Writing courses:
No more than 5 credits in creative writing courses may be applied to the Language & Literature English major. Students who have been accepted by the competitive admission process to the English: Creative Writing option follow different requirements.
Grades and GPA Requirements:
ENGL 202 [formerly 301], 302, and the Senior Capstone require minimum grades of 2.0 in each course. English majors must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.00 in all UW ENGL courses.
Residency:
At least 30 ENGL credits applicable to the English major must be taken in residence at the UW Seattle.
University Diversity Requirement
The English department supports the central importance of the UW's requirement that students take at least one course dedicated at a primary level to the study of diversity. English courses that satisfy the DIV requirement include:
- ENGL 257 (Asian-American Literature)
- ENGL 258 (Introduction to African American Literature)
- ENGL 259 (Literature and Social Difference)
- ENGL 265 (Introduction to Environmental Humanities)
- ENGL 312 (Jewish Literature: Biblical to Modern)
- ENGL 316 (Postcolonial Literature and Culture)
- ENGL 317 (Literature of the Americas)
- ENGL 318 (Black Literary Genres)
- ENGL 319 (African Literatures)
- ENGL 357 (Jewish American Literature and Culture)
- ENGL 358 (African American Literature)
- ENGL 359 (Contemporary American Indian Literature)
- ENGL 361 (American Political Culture: After 1865)
- ENGL 362 ( Latino Literary Genres)
- ENGL 367 (Gender Studies in Literature)
- ENGL 368 (Women Writers)
- ENGL 372 (World Englishes)
- ENGL 466 (Gay and Lesbian Studies)
- ENGL 478 (Language and Social Policy)
- ENGL 479 (Language Variation and Language Policy in North America)
Recommended:
The department also strongly recommends, but does not require, 5 credits in one of the following English language courses:
- ENGL 370 (English Language Study)
- ENGL 371 (English Syntax)
- ENGL 373 (History of the English Language)
- ENGL 374 (The Language of Literature)
- ENGL 478 (Language and Social Policy)
- ENGL 479 (Language Variation and Policy in North America)
- LING 200 (Introduction to Linguistic Thought) -- through Department of Linguistics