Literary Studies, B.A.
The B.A. in Literary Studies can be completed either in-person or online. This program gives students the opportunity to develop their writing and close-reading skills through the application of critical and cultural theory in a vibrant learning community. Course offerings encompass a range of subject matter from Shakespeare and slave narratives to The Hunger Games and horror films. Going beyond written texts, this unique literature degree program also features courses that critically consider both cinematic and digital texts. Through Literary Studies, students develop fundamental skills in thinking, writing and communicating that will be needed in any career path in an ever-changing world. You will learn to examine and analyze, and be ready to expand on and augment ideas across all fields. You will work with excellent professors in Marshall’s English Department who are dedicated to your development as an educated person who is well-prepared for a successful life and career.
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Core 1: Critical Thinking | ||
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Critical Thinking Course | 3 | |
| Core 2 | ||
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Core II Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Texting the World(CT) (recommended) | ||
| Core II Social Science | 3 | |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Additional University Requirements | ||
| ENG Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| ENG Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Multicultural or International | 3 | |
| ENG 499 | Senior Capstone (not offered in summer) | 3 |
| College-Specific | ||
| Foreign Language 101 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 102 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 203 or MC, I, or GLC Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 204 orMC, I, or GLC Course | 3 | |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| COLA Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Major-Specific | ||
| ENG 350 | Intro to Textual Analysis (must be taken within the first 9 hours of coursework within the major) | 3 |
| ENG 355 | Intro to Critical Theory (not offered in summer) | 3 |
| ENG 499 | Senior Capstone (not offered in summer) | 3 |
| British Literature; select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Milton (Choose from:) | ||
| Shaks Com, Tragi & Rom | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Shaks Hist & Tragedies | ||
| 19th C British Novel | ||
| Victorian Poetry | ||
| Victorian Nonfiction | ||
| 20th C Brit & Irish Poetry | ||
| Medieval British Lit | ||
| British Romantic Poets | ||
| American Literature; select one from the following: | 3 | |
| American Lit to 1830 | ||
| American Lit 1830-1865 | ||
| American Lit 1865-1914 | ||
| American Literature after 1914 | ||
| 20th C American Poetry | ||
| Individual Author; select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Milton | ||
| Shaks Com, Tragi & Rom | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Shaks Hist & Tragedies | ||
| Studies in Authors or Genre | ||
| Diversity; select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Postcolonial Literature | ||
| African American Literatures | ||
| Multicultural Literatures | ||
| International Literature | ||
| Multicultural Identities (MC) | ||
| Young Adult Literature | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in Film | ||
| World Lit to Renaissance | ||
| World Lit Since Renaissance | ||
| Additional courses may be approved when topics are appropriate: | ||
| Studies in Authors or Genre | ||
| Contemporary Literature | ||
| Selected Topics in Film | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Internship | ||
| Literary Studies Electives; Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Texting the World(CT) | ||
| Texting the World (CT) | ||
| Appalachian Literature | ||
| Good Plays | ||
| Good Essays | ||
| Literature of Fantasy | ||
| Autobiography | ||
| Science Fiction | ||
| Sports Literature | ||
| Good Poems | ||
| Intro to Comics | ||
| Good Novels | ||
| The Political Novel | ||
| Postcolonial Literature | ||
| Southern Literature | ||
| Good Stories | ||
| Good Films | ||
| Crime and Sensation Literature | ||
| Forbidden Literature | ||
| African American Literatures | ||
| Multicultural Literatures | ||
| Women Writers | ||
| Intro Digital Literary Studies | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Introduction to Film Studies | ||
| Milton | ||
| Shaks Com, Tragi & Rom | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Shaks Hist & Tragedies | ||
| 19th C British Novel | ||
| Victorian Poetry | ||
| Victorian Nonfiction | ||
| Addiction Literature | ||
| American Lit to 1830 | ||
| American Lit 1830-1865 | ||
| American Lit 1865-1914 | ||
| American Literature after 1914 | ||
| Studies in Authors or Genre | ||
| International Literature | ||
| Multicultural Identities (MC) | ||
| Young Adult Literature | ||
| Contemporary Literature | ||
| 20th C Brit & Irish Poetry | ||
| 20th C American Poetry | ||
| Modernism | ||
| Medieval British Lit | ||
| Selected Topics in Film | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in Film | ||
| British Romantic Poets | ||
| World Lit to Renaissance | ||
| World Lit Since Renaissance | ||
| Advanced Critical Theory | ||
| Teaching Creative Writing | ||
| Form/Theory: Creative Writing | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Independent Study (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Independent Study (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Independent Study (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Independent Study (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| English Elective (choose from any 200-, 300-, or 400-level ENG class) | 6 | |
| Within the Major Requirements, students must take a Literary Studies course with a Pre-1914 focus; Select from the following: | ||
| Milton | ||
| Shaks Com, Tragi & Rom | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Shaks Hist & Tragedies | ||
| 19th C British Novel | ||
| Victorian Poetry | ||
| Victorian Nonfiction | ||
| American Lit to 1830 | ||
| American Lit 1830-1865 | ||
| American Lit 1865-1914 | ||
| Medieval British Lit | ||
| British Romantic Poets | ||
| World Lit to Renaissance | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
| Special Topics (When so designated by the chair) | ||
Major Information
-
The total number of free electives will depend on the amount of double and triple counting of requirements. Core II and COLA requirements may not be double counted.
-
See course attributes each semester for courses that meet multiple requirements.
-
Questions about requirements should be directed to your English Department advisor (304-696-6600) or to the College of Liberal Arts (304-696-2350).
-
Forty-eight credit hours (sixteen 3-hour courses) must be at the 300/400 level.
-
Students must earn a C or better in ENG 201 Advanced Composition, all ENG courses for the major, and all foreign language courses.
-
Minimum of 120 hours to graduate.
-
No more than six hours of 200-level may count toward the BA degree in Literary Studies.
-
Literary Studies majors who carefully select courses can earn a double major in Creative Writing by taking only 4 additional Creative Writing classes. Meet with your advisor to plan your choices.
Semester Plan
A Literary Studies degree can give you the critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills you’ll need for success in this quick and quickly-changing world. Our program is flexible, so you can pursue a wide range of interests. Our courses give you the ability to think differently, to expand on and augment the ideas and work made in all fields, not just literature. Where you go from here is up to you (though we’ve got some ideas for you). But our courses are designed to hone not just your writing, but your thinking skills, too. Our faculty and staff are dedicated. All this to say, really, we plan on preparing you for a successful professional life as well as an invaluable way of thinking, about everything.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Core II Social Science | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Texting the World(CT) (recommended) | ||
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| Core I Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENG 350 | Intro to Textual Analysis | 3 |
| Core II Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Foreign Language 101 | 3 | |
| ENG COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG 355 | Intro to Critical Theory | 3 |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| ENG Literary Studies (400) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 102 | 3 | |
| COLA Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| American Literature ENG 421, 422, 423, 424, 434 | 3 | |
| Individual Author course (ENG 409, 410, 411, 412, 427 | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 203 or MC, I or GLC Course | 3 | |
| ENG Diversity Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG Elective | 3 | |
| British Literature | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 204 or MC, I or GLC Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENG English Elective (300/400) | 3 | |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG 499 | Senior Capstone (C) | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |