In addition to the University core requirement in English, majors take a minimum of 10 upper-division classes. One of these must be English Literary History Before 1800 (EN 300 ), which students are urged to take early in their careers as majors. Four of the remaining courses must be chosen from courses covering primarily literature written before 1800 (EN 300-359), and five from courses covering primarily English, American, and postcolonial literature written after 1800 (EN 340-399). Two of the required minimum of 10 upper-division classes must be seminars.

An honors option, involving a seminar and a thesis, is available to qualified seniors. Students are invited to enroll in the seminar at the close of their junior year. The Senior Honors Seminar (EN 409 ) counts as an upper-level seminar in the major. Each year the chair determines, on the basis of course material, whether EN 409  counts as a pre- or post-1800 course. Whether the Senior Honors Thesis (EN 410 ) may count as one of the 10 required upper-division courses is subject to the approval of the chair.

Students choosing an interdisciplinary major take a minimum of five upper-division English classes while at the same time fulfilling the interdisciplinary requirements of a second department. Two of the five required English classes must cover primarily literature written before 1800, and two must cover primarily literature written after 1800. One of the five required courses must be a seminar.