English: Africana Literatures & Culture, BA
The massive dispersal, dislocation, and displacement that characterize New World Slavery, colonialism, and its legacies in Africa gave birth to an extraordinary rich, vibrant, and complex literature. The first African Americans to put pen to paper did so in an attempt to win the freedom of themselves and their fellow slaves. Alongside this tradition has arisen an equally rich tradition of African literatures in English, both before and after the end of colonialism in Africa. Even prior to this however, both created a dynamic oral tradition filled with witty folk tales and haunting spirituals and work songs. The oral tradition, along with the slave narratives, and the testimonials, essays, sermons and addresses of thousands of Black men and women form the beginnings of these two traditions. Students who choose to concentrate in African American literature will not only acquire a strong understanding of these early efforts, but will also have the opportunity to study with a diverse group of scholars whose interests range from Women’s fiction and Feminist theory to African American autobiography, literature of the African diaspora, African American poetry, narrative and the poetics of hip-hop. This is a literary tradition founded to counter claims of Black intellectual inferiority. It is a tradition grounded in the belief that literacy — the ability to read and write — is fundamental to freedom. It is a tradition that has contributed enormously to the literature of the world and one that only recently began to receive the kind of recognition and criticism that it demands and requires. From the earliest narratives to the works of Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, this concentration is a dynamic and intellectually exciting one.
The minimum total course units for graduation in this major is 33. Double majors may entail more course units.
For more information: http://www.english.upenn.edu/Undergrad/
For information about the General Education requirements, please visit the College of Arts & Sciences Curriculum page.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| College General Education Requirements and Free Electives | ||
| Foundational Approaches + Sectors + Free Electives | 20 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Core Requirement 1 | ||
| Select one course in each sector from ENGL 0010-ENGL 5999: | 6 | |
| The One Series (TOS) 2 | ||
| ENGL 4500-4998 | 1 | |
| Early-Period Seminars 3 | ||
| ENGL 0300-0399; 0500-0599; 0700-0799; 2000-2999; 4500-4998; 5000-5999 | 2 | |
Seminar 2: Literature Before 1900 (Attribute: AEB7, AEB9) | ||
| Literature Seminar Electives 4 | ||
| ENGL 0051; 0300-0399; 0500-0599; 0700-0799; 2000-2999; 3000-3999; 4000-4998; 5000-5999 | 2 | |
Seminar 3: Any Literature Seminar | ||
Seminar 4: Any Literature Seminar | ||
| Electives 5 | ||
| ENGL 0010-ENGL 5999 | 2-4 | |
| Concentration Requirements 6 | ||
| Four courses ENGL 0010-5999 with attribute AEAC | ||
| Total Course Units | 33 | |
- 1
You will need to take one course to fulfill each sector of the Major Core, six in total. Two of these courses may double-count with your Literature Seminar Electives. Creative Writing Seminars cannot count in the Major Core.
- 2
The One Series seminar (TOS) cannot double-count in the Major Core. However, if you take a second TOS course, your additional TOS may count as a Literature Seminar or an Elective.
- 3
These Early-Period Seminars may NOT double-count in the Core.
- 4
These Seminar Electives may be double-counted in the Core.
- 5
The rest of your 13 c.u. for the English Major will be met with Electives. If none of your seminars are being double-counted in the Core, you will only need two Electives. For each double-counting course, you will need to add an Elective, for a maximum of four, to reach 13 c.u. With the approval of your Major Advisor, you may count up to two courses outside of English toward the Major. Courses in Linguistics (LING) and in Literatures not in English may count; in the case of Non-English Literatures, the courses should ideally be crosslisted (“Also offered As”) with ENGL, or you may obtain the permission from your Major advisor.
- 6
Concentration may be comprised from the 13 c.u. of the Major, or other courses.
Honors
Applicants must have a 3.6 GPA in the major. Thesis required.
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.