In addition to the University core requirement in English (EN 101 ), majors take a minimum of 11 upper-division classes. One EN 200-level core may count toward the major. Students take three pre-1800 courses (EN 300-339; 407; 411-439), one course in 19th-century literature (350-369; 450-469), and one course in 20th- and 21st-century literature (370-399; 470-499). The other courses (EN 300-499) are at the student's discretion. Two of the eleven courses must be seminars (EN 400-level).

An honors option, involving a seminar and a thesis, is available to qualified seniors. Students are invited to enroll in EN 430 , EN 450 , and EN 470  at the close of their junior year. The seminar counts as an upper-level seminar in the major. Each year the chair determines, on the basis of course material, which seminars will be offered.

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. One of the five required English classes must cover primarily literature written before 1800. One of the five required courses must be a seminar.