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The English Major

In order to officially file for a major in English, students are required to:

•meet with an English and Creative Writing Department faculty advisor to discuss the major plan and to fill out a major worksheet,

•enter a major plan into DartWorks,

•submit a DartWorks major plan for online approval through DartWorks dashboard, and

•turn in a major worksheet signed by a faculty advisor to the English and Creative Writing department administrator in Sanborn 202 or via email

Requirements

The Major in English requires the successful completion of eleven major courses. Major courses are, unless otherwise stated, all courses with either the ENGL (English) or CRWT (Creative Writing) course code.

  1. The courses must satisfy the following distribution requirements according to the Course Groups, listed below: at least 2 courses from Group I; at least 2 courses from Group II; at least 1 course from Group III; at least 1 course from Group IV.
  2. Two courses must be selected from the Literary Histories (ENGL 1, 2, 3). Each of these courses may be used to satisfy one of the Course Group requirements.
  3. One course must be a Junior Colloquium (ENGL 61-65). This course may also satisfy one of the Course Group requirements.
  4. One course must be a Senior Seminar (ENGL 71-75, CRWT 60-62). This course can also be used to satisfy one of the Course Group requirements.
  5. One course must be designated as satisfying the Culminating Experience Requirement. This may be a Senior Seminar (ENGL 71-75, CRWT 60-62) or, in the case of students seeking a degree with Honors, ENGL 98 or CRWT 98. The Culminating Experience course must be taken and completed after the sophomore-junior summer term.

Concentration in Creative Writing

The Concentration in Creative Writing does not change graduating requirements for students majoring in English, but is a prerequisite for honors with a focus in creative writing.

For students prior to and including the Class of 2022, the Concentration consists of four courses taken as part of an English major plan of study as follows:

  1. Students must pass one prerequisite course, CRWT 10 (formerly ENGL 80), CRWT 11 (formerly ENGL 81, or CRWT 12 (formerly ENGL 82).
  2. Students then enroll in one intermediate course, CRWT 20 (formerly ENGL 83), CRWT 21 (formerly ENGL 84), or CRWT 22 (formerly ENGL 85).
  3. The third course can be chosen from any Creative Writing course numbered between CRWT 10 and 89 (formerly ENGL 80-ENGL 89); (substitute courses from other departments will be considered).
  4. The fourth course can be in any genre of contemporary literature or another course numbered between
    CRWT 10 and 89 (formerly ENGL 80-ENGL 89); (again, substitute courses from other departments will be considered).

Students who elect to do Honors in Creative Writing can use CRWT 98 (or ENGL 98 for class years up to 2018) for either the third or fourth course in the concentration.

For students in the Class of 2023 and beyond, the Concentration consists of four courses taken as part of an English major plan of study as follows:

  1. One introductory course, CRWT 10, CRWT 11, or CRWT 12.
  2. One intermediate course, CRWT 20, CRWT 21, or CRWT 22.
  3. One course from the range of creative writing special topics seminars, CRWT 40 and CRWT 41. (Substitute courses with a focus on creative writing from other departments may be considered. Please consult with the Director of Creative Writing.)
  4. One advanced workshop, CRWT 60, CRWT 61, or CRWT 62. The advanced workshop is a requirement for the completion of the Concentration in Creative Writing.

Things to remember

Students electing the major in English should bear in mind the following:

  1. Transfer credits normally cannot be used in the major. Students wishing to be granted an exception must petition the CDC (Committee on Departmental Curriculum). If approval is granted, transfer courses are subject to the rules that apply to substitute courses.
  2. Two substitute courses (appropriate major courses from other departments at Dartmouth) are permitted within the major. Normally, substitute courses cannot satisfy the Course Group requirements.
  3. No substitute courses may satisfy the Culminating Experience requirement.