English
Within the English major, there are two tracks: Literature (ENGL) or Creative Writing (CRWT). Each of these tracks will prepare you for a B.A. in English.
Major Requirements
Please note requirements for this major have been changed in 2023:
If you have been admitted in the program as of 2023 or are a prospective student, please see “Major Requirements post-Fall 2023”.
If you have been admitted in the program before 2023, please see “Major Requirements pre-Fall 2023”.
Note that students under the ‘pre-Fall 2023’ requirements may opt to change their requirements to the that of the 2023 catalogue year. See advisor for more information.
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Literature Track
- One sophomore seminar: ENGL 240
- Two courses in early literatures (one lower-division and one upper division)
- Two courses in later literatures (one lower-division and one upper-division)
- Two courses in interpretive lenses
- Race, gender, and/or sexuality
- Genre and media studies
- Two upper-division electives
- One senior seminar: ENGL 491
Creative Writing Track
- One sophomore seminar: ENGL 240
- One course in early literatures
- One course in later literatures
- One course in interpretive lenses
- Four craft courses
- One introductory poetry workshop
- One introductory prose workshop
- One 400-level workshop
- One contemporary/modern literature course
- One upper-division elective
- One senior seminar: ENGL 491
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All majors take three introductory courses:
- ENGL-261g “English Literature to 1800”
- ENGL-262g “English Literature since 1800”
- ENGL-263g “American Literature”
All three courses should be done or in progress of being done before enrolling in upper-division courses or workshops.
Literature Track
- Two courses in Literature written before 1800
- One course in 19th-century literature
- One course in American literature
- Two upper-division electives
- One senior seminar
Creative Writing Track
- One introductory prose workshop
- One introductory poetry workshop
- One 400-level workshop
- One course in literature written before 1900
- One course in literature written after 1900
- One upper-division elective
- One senior seminar
Finalized course lists for major requirements pre-Fall 2023
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Finalized course lists for major requirements post-Fall 2023
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Course Plans
Dive into our sample course plans to get an idea of what your schedule would look like.
Double Majoring
An English degree can help prepare you for a career in entertainment, journalism, business, technology, law, medicine, public policy, or many other fields. Because of this, many of our students combine English with other majors for a double major. While students cannot double major in Literature and Creative Writing, since they each belong to the single English major, it is possible to combine a major in English with a major in our interdisciplinary Narrative Studies program.
Getting Involved
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Students in the English major participate in overseas studies through USC Dornsife to study Anglophone literature on many continents in many countries. In recent semesters, students have taken classes like “Satire, Scandal, and Society, 1700-1740” at Queen Mary University of London, “Twentieth-Century Children’s Fiction” at the National University of Ireland in Galway, and “Romance to Realism” at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
As part of your application to study abroad, you will select courses to be pre-approved by your academic adviser to meet your major requirements.
Visit dornsife.usc.edu/english-overseas/ to explore your opportunities abroad.
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The English Honors Program is open to students in English Literature and in Creative Writing. The program provides a unique opportunity to pursue in depth a critical project of your own design. If you are thinking about applying to graduate school or professional school (such as law school) you will find the program especially rewarding. The Honors Thesis is a critical research project and typically runs upwards of 40 pages. Upon successful completion of a critical Senior Honors Thesis your USC transcript will record departmental honors.
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Our students complete internships and volunteerships tutoring students at neighborhood elementary schools with the Joint Education Project, assisting with faculty research and research at USC Libraries, volunteering on political campaigns, and working in publishing, marketing, and media. These opportunities complement the intensive study and professionalization on campus in classes and co-curricular activities, and they guide students toward the diverse set of careers open to those with liberal arts educations.
Students can find these opportunities through the USC Career Center at careers.usc.edu, and students majoring in English are eligible to apply for the USC Dornsife Gateway Internship Program.
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Students majoring in English are eligible to apply to our progressive degree program in Literary Editing and Publishing and earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USC Dornsife in just five years.
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Graduates of our programs in English Literature and Creative Writing have pursued graduate school; published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; worked in publishing and social media; pursued law school; and worked at film and television production companies in Los Angeles. Alumni who pursue graduate school have enrolled in education programs, the top MFA programs across the country, and research-based programs overseas.
Please share your stories, updates, and projects with us by contacting our undergraduate student coordinators.
Additional Resources
For advisement and to declare a major in the Department of English, please contact one of our undergraduate student coordinators.
Contact Details
USC Department of English
3501 Trousdale Parkway
Taper Hall of Humanities 404
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0354