Requires a minimum of 33 hours in courses ENG 150 and above. (WRI 110 and WRI 111, basic writing requirements, do not count toward the major or minor nor do they count as a divisional requirement.) The courses for the major must include:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Courses | 9 | |
| British Literature before 1800 | ||
| British Literature 1800 to the Present | ||
or ENG 275 | American Literature | |
| Foundations in Literary Criticism | ||
| Overlay Requirements | 12 | |
Two 300-level pre-1800 literature courses | ||
One 300-level American Literature course | ||
One 300-level Race and Racialization course | ||
| Certain 300-level courses may satisfy more than one overlay requirement at the same time. Students may count one course toward multiple overlays, but will still be required to complete 33 hours overall (at least 21 at the 300 level) for the major. | ||
| Electives | 12 | |
Select nine hours of electives at 300-level (may include up to two 300-level Creative Writing or Writing courses) | ||
Select any three-hour ENG course numbered 150 or above, or a three-hour 200-level course in either Creative Writing or Writing | ||
All students must take two 300-level ENG courses that fulfill the pre-1800 literature requirement, one 300-level ENG course that fulfills the American literature requirement, and one 300-level course that fulfills the Race and Racialization requirement. These are “overlay" requirements, which means that one course may be designated as fulfilling more than one of these requirements. Students who count one course towards multiple overlays will still be required to complete 33 hours overall for the major, of which at least 21 hours must be at the 300 level.
Majors and their advisors plan individual programs to meet these requirements; majors are urged to take their gateway requirements as early as possible in their college careers. No more than two courses (six hours) taken elsewhere may be counted toward the major. This limitation applies to courses taught in approved non-Wake Forest programs, not to courses in programs offered or sponsored by Wake Forest.
Highly qualified majors recommended by the English faculty are invited to apply to the honors program in English during the second semester of their junior year. To graduate with “Honors in English,” students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.2 in all course work. Students must also fulfill the 10-page writing requirement in the fall semester that allows them to enroll in ENG 388 the spring semester of their senior year. Finally, they must satisfy the requirements of the program by completing and successfully defending their honors thesis as part of ENG 388 Honors in English. Interested students may consult the director of the English honors program for further information.