Program Requirements

Prerequisites

There is no prerequisite course for declaring the English major. We recommend that students begin with a 200-level Foundations & Methods course. Students should schedule an appointment with an English advisor to declare the major.

Requirements

Minimum Credits: 27

Students in the General Program must successfully complete 27 credits in ENGLISH courses. Students must take a total of two courses (6 credits) from each of the following three categories (Foundations & Methods, Regions, Time) with no option to “double-count” any courses: 

1. FOUNDATIONS & METHODS (two courses, 6 credits total) 

• one 200-level course from the approved list (3 credits)
• one 300- or 400-level course (3 credits)

2. REGIONS (two 300- or 400-level courses, 6 credits total)
    Students must take one course (3 credits) from both of the following subcategories:

• the Americas, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland;
• Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands. 

3. TIME (two 300- or 400-level courses, 6 credits total)
    Students must take one course (3 credits) from two of the following three subcategories:

• Medieval and Early Modern
• 18th and 19th Centuries
• Modern and Contemporary

4. ELECTIVES

The remaining 9 credits must be completed with electives. The department will offer in any one term a considerable range of courses designed to meet these requirements and electives. 

Note:

• A total of 6 credits of 200-level coursework can count toward the major. Because students must take one 200-level Foundations & Methods course to fulfill the Foundations & Methods requirement, they can count one additional 200-level course towards the major. That second 200-level course can either satisfy the Time or Regions requirement or count as an elective.
• A total of three 300/400-level creative/expository writing courses (no more than 9 credits) can count toward the major. Students may use up to two approved 300/400-level creative/expository writing courses (no more than 6 credits) to fulfill the Foundations & Methods, Time, or Regions requirements. Students may use up to two 300/400-level creative/expository writing courses (no more than 6 credits) as electives. 300-level courses that satisfy the Foundations & Methods, Time, or Regions requirements will be listed on the English Requirements page: https://lsa.umich.edu/english/undergraduate/CourseRequirem.html
• A maximum of six upper level Independent Study credits may be used to count toward English elective credits. Independent study credits cannot be used toward the following requirements: Foundations and Methods, Regions, and Time.

Click here for a complete listing of courses fulfilling the major requirements

Graduation Procedures

English majors and minors preparing to graduate need to have a release completed by an English department advisor. Departmental advisors will confirm that students have met all of the major/minor requirements for graduation.  Students who are double-majors or who have departmental minors will also need to obtain a release from each department in which they are also majoring and/or minoring.

Students must also take the step of officially applying to graduate. This is done using the Student Center in Wolverine Access and officially indicates to the college that a student is planning to graduate.

Students are also encouraged to meet with their LSA (or other college advisor) to confirm that they have met the degree requirements for their specific school or college.