English: Literary Theory & Cultural Studies, BA
One of the most dramatic changes that has occurred in English departments over the past twenty years has been the increased emphasis on “theory.” Professors and students of literature have taken up questions which might formerly have been associated with such disciplines as Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, or Economics. The works of such authors as Hegel, Marx, Saussure, Freud, Sartre, de Beauvoir, Fanon, Foucault, and Derrida have come to be part of the English curriculum. This expansion and transformation of what it means to study English have created controversy from the start, and the merits and limitations of theoretical work continue to be hotly debated at Penn as elsewhere. If you are intrigued and excited by these concerns, or if you are thinking about going on to do graduate work in English, you should consider the concentration in Literary Theory and Cultural Studies.
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, except 3000-3999: | 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 AETC | ||
| 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.