2025-2026 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| Foundational Theories and Content | ||
| ENGL 1004 | Books, Libraries, Archives | 3 |
| ENGL 1514 | Language and Society | 3 |
| ENGL 2604 | Introduction to Critical Reading | 3 |
| ENGL 3324 | Acts of Interpretation | 3 |
| ENGL 3754 | Advanced Writing and Research | 3 |
| English and Cross-cultural Representation | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Language and Ethnicity in the United States | ||
| The Postcolonial Novel | ||
| Ethnic American Literature | ||
| Intercultural Issues in Professional Writing | ||
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Literary History | ||
| ENGL 2534 | American Literary History | 3 |
| ENGL 2544 | British Literary History | 3 |
| Capstone Experience | ||
| ENGL 4784 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| ENGL 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Option Required Courses | ||
| Literature Written Before 1800 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Medieval Literature | ||
| Renaissance Literature | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Studies in Shakespeare | ||
| Milton | ||
| Special Topics in Literature (appropriate section) 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar (appropriate section) 1 | ||
| English Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| American Literary History | ||
| British Literary History | ||
| Introduction to African-American Literature | ||
| Being Human: Literature and Human Experience | ||
| Contemporary Native American Literatures | ||
| Literature, Medicine, and Culture | ||
| Medieval Literature | ||
| Renaissance Literature | ||
| Romantic Literature | ||
| Modernist British Literature | ||
| Topics in Literature by Women | ||
| Ethnic Literature for Children | ||
| Literature for Children | ||
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| Literature and Cinema | ||
| Appalachian Literature | ||
| The Postcolonial Novel | ||
| Ethnic American Literature | ||
| Literature and the Law | ||
| Literature and the Law | ||
| Topics in World Novels | ||
| History of the English Language | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Introduction to Old English | ||
| Studies in Shakespeare | ||
| Milton | ||
| Narrative Medicine | ||
| The American Novel | ||
| The British Novel | ||
| Modern Poetry | ||
| Contemporary Poetry | ||
| Studies in a British Author after 1800 | ||
| Studies in an American Author before 1900 | ||
| Contemporary Fiction | ||
| Special Topics in Literature | ||
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Advanced Studies | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Literature, Medicine, and Culture | ||
| Medieval Literature | ||
| Renaissance Literature | ||
| Romantic Literature | ||
| Modernist British Literature | ||
| Topics in Literature by Women | ||
| Ethnic Literature for Children | ||
| Literature for Children | ||
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| Literature and Cinema | ||
| Appalachian Literature | ||
| The Postcolonial Novel | ||
| Ethnic American Literature | ||
| Literature and the Law | ||
| Topics in World Novels | ||
| History of the English Language | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Introduction to Old English | ||
| Studies in Shakespeare | ||
| Milton | ||
| Narrative Medicine | ||
| The American Novel | ||
| The British Novel | ||
| Modern Poetry | ||
| Contemporary Poetry | ||
| Studies in a British Author after 1800 | ||
| Studies in an American Author before 1900 | ||
| Contemporary Fiction | ||
| Special Topics in Literature | ||
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Capstone Experience | ||
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Select 30 credits of Free Electives | 30 | |
| Subtotal | 30 | |
| Pathways to General Education | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| Select three hours in Pathway 1a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select six hours in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
| Select six hours in Pathway 3 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| Select six hours in Pathway 4 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| Select six hours in Pathway 5f | 6 | |
| Select three hours in Pathway 5f | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select three hours in Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| Select three hours in Pathway 6d | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| Select three hours in Pathway 7 | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 45 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
An "appropriate section" of a rotating topics course is one in which the course syllabus substantially comprises literature written before 1800. Example topics might include "Literatures of Colonial America," "Witchcraft in Renaissance England," or "The Eighteenth-Century Novel." To determine whether a rotating topics course meets the requirement for "Literature Written Before 1800," consult the English Department advisor or the faculty member teaching the course.
Satisfactory progress toward the B.A. in English, Major in English: Literature Option, requires that upon having attempted 72 credits (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing, credit by examination, and course withdrawal), students must have passed 12 of the required credits in the English Core (Section I) and have attained a GPA of 2.0 or better both within the major and overall.
In order to graduate, students must complete the degree with a GPA of 2.0 or better both within the English Major: Literature Option and overall.
The B.A. in English with a Major in English, in the Literature Option, requires 45 hours in English, distributed as follows, and 120 hours overall. In accordance with university guidelines, courses satisfying degree core requirements may not be double counted to satisfy other areas of a degree (e.g. Pathways).
Note: All English courses above the 1000-level have as a pre-requisite completion of the First-Year Writing Requirement—i.e., completion of 1106 or COMM 1016 Communication Skills. Some courses required for this major have other prerequisites/co-requisites and/or enrollment requirements. Please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog or consult your advisor for information about the specific pre-req/co-req or enrollment requirements for a specific course.
In order to graduate, students must complete the degree with a GPA of 2.0 or better both within the English Major: Literature Option and overall. Courses counting toward the English Major: Literature Option include ENGL 1004, 1514, 2434, 2444, 2534, 2544, 2604, 2644, 2664, 2804, 3024, 3154, 3204, 3214, 3234, 3264, 3324, 3364, 3424, 3434, 3514, 3524, 3534, 3544, 3624, 3644, 3654, 3684, 3684H, 3694, 3754, 4114, 4164, 4214, 4434, 4444, 4504, 4514, 4624, 4634, 4644, 4664, 4684, 4744, 4784, 4854, 4954
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