Undergraduate

English Literature

Develop advanced skills in critical reading, interpretation, and analysis while studying literature through artistic, historical and theoretical lenses.

2026

Degree

Bachelor of Arts

Location

Durham, NH

Courses

14*

Credit

128 hrs.*

Full-time

4 yrs.

Part-time

Varies

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English

The English Literature major at UNH offers an immersive exploration of literary works, films, and cultural phenomena in the English language. Here you'll be able to develop advanced skills in critical reading, interpretation, and analysis while studying literature through artistic, historical and theoretical lenses.

With intimate class sizes and close faculty mentorship, students can enhance their academic experience through unique opportunities like studying abroad at Cambridge University. The program's Writers and Speakers Series connects you with renowned authors and scholars, preparing you for diverse careers from law and publishing to academia and business leadership.

*Number of courses and course credit hours may vary, please reach out to your academic advisor for exact requirements.

English Department

Key Links

Tuition Costs

Contact Cards

James Krasner

Professor

James.Krasner@unh.edu

Hamilton Smith Hall, Room 321, Durham, NH 03824

(603) 862-1877

What is English literature?

English literature is the study of literature written in the English language. In this degree program, you’ll become a skilled reader and interpreter of literary works, films, media creations and cultural phenomena. Understanding literature is multidimensional, and includes the consideration of the artistic, historical, cultural and theoretical contexts that inform imaginative creations. The literature major is especially well suited for students interested in graduate studies in English or law school, but it is also an excellent program for those who want to develop an in-depth knowledge of literature in English in all its formal, historical, cultural and theoretical dimensions.

Why study English literature at UNH?

Our small class sizes allow you to work closely with faculty while exploring English literature in depth. We also offer a variety of special programs, including opportunities abroad studying literature at Cambridge University and travel writing in London. In our Writers and Speakers Series, you’ll hear published writers and prominent literary scholars from around the country talk about their work.

Potential careers

Business executive
Critic
Editor
Government consultant
Lawyer
Professor
Publisher
Writer

Curriculum & Requirements

Program Description

The English literature major serves those students who want to focus particularly on the study of literature — its many forms and styles, its rich history and the range of approaches to its analysis. The English literature track is an especially attractive major for those who plan to go on to graduate school.

As an English literature major, a student will learn about various literary traditions, both British and American literature as well as traditions organized around other principles, such as post-colonial literature, women's literature, African-American literature and genres like poetry and drama. Courses are designed to expose students to many different sorts of works and to help them develop questions and strategies of critical thinking that will make all kinds of literary expression meaningful. And the works students will study will provide many ways of looking at the world and enrich their quality of life. What's more, students have many opportunities to hone critical writing and research skills and to practice the art of presenting research findings to a group, all skills in high demand in today's workplace. The English literature major is an excellent way to combine development of interpretive and writing skills with an exciting, in-depth encounter with some of the very best writing ever produced in the English language.

Students interested in majoring in English literature should contact the Department of English, 230F Hamilton Smith Hall, (603) 862-1313 or the director of the English literature program.

Degree Plan

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credits
ENGL 401	First-Year Writing ¹	4
Language Course		4
Discovery Course		4
Discovery Course or Major Course		4
COLA 401A:First Year Seminar		1
	Credits	17
Spring
ENGL 419	How to Read Anything	4
Language Course		4
Discovery Course		4
Major/Minor/Discovery Course		4
	Credits	16
Second Year
Fall
Major 500-Level Literature Survey		4
Major Course 500/600-Level		4
Discovery Course		4
Major/Minor/Discovery Course		4
	Credits	16
Spring
Major 500-Level Literature Survey		4
Major Course 500/600-Level		4
Discovery Course		4
Major/Minor/Discovery Course		4
	Credits	16
Third Year
Fall
ENGL 714	Critical Skills	4
Major Course		4
Discovery Course		4
Major/Minor/Discovery Course		4
	Credits	16
Spring
Major Course		4
Major Course		4
Discovery Course		4
Major/Minor/Discovery Course		4
	Credits	16
Fourth Year
Fall
ENGL 787	English Major Seminar (Capstone or Major Elective)	4
Major Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
	Credits	16
Spring
ENGL 787	English Major Seminar (Capstone or Major Elective)	4
Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
	Credits	16
	Total Credits	129

¹: Students who successfully apply AP or Transfer Credits towards the ENGL 401 ‘First Year Writing’ requirement may enroll in ENGL 419 during their first semester.

Requirements for the Program

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits

Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH

Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*

Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements

Foreign Language Requirement: Yes

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.
English Literature majors may use one major-required course to satisfy one Discovery category requirement.
Majors may only count one online course toward their English major requirements.
English literature majors complete a minimum of 40 credits of major coursework with a grade of C- or better.
ENGL 401, ENGL 415, or ENGL 444 may not be used to satisfy major requirements.
A minimum of six courses must be completed at the 600-level or higher.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
Coursework must meet the following distribution requirements (a single course may satisfy multiple requirements):
ENGL 419	How to Read Anything ¹
Select two 500-level literature courses (see list below)
Select two Pre-1800 Literature courses (see list below)
Select two Post-1800 Literature courses (see list below)
ENGL 714	Critical Skills
Select one American literature course at the 600/700 level
Select one British literature course at the 600/700 level
Select one course that studies Community and Cultures in a U.S. context (see list below)
Select one course that investigates Anglophone literature in a global or transnational context (see list below)
Select one course in a specific genre including, poetry, memoir, nonfiction, drama, fiction, and film (see list below) ²
Capstone:
ENGL 787	English Major Seminar

¹: Must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
ENGL 419 is the only 400-level course that may count towards major requirements.
²: With the exception of ENGL 533 Introduction to Film Studies.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
500-level Courses
Select from the following:
ENGL/LING 405	Introduction to Linguistics
ENGL 501	Introduction to Creative Nonfiction
ENGL 502	Professional and Technical Writing
ENGL 503	Persuasive Writing
ENGL 510	Introduction to the Digital Humanities
ENGL 512	British Literature I Age of Heroes: Beowulf to Dr. Faustus
ENGL 513W	British Literature II Age of Revolutions: Shakespeare to Austen
ENGL 514W	British Literature III: Revolts, Renewals, Migrations
ENGL 516W	American Literature II Money, Migration, and Modernity: Huck Finn to Beloved
ENGL 518W	Bible as Literature
ENGL 520	Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction
ENGL 526	Introduction to Fiction Writing
ENGL 527	Introduction to Poetry Writing
ENGL 533	Introduction to Film Studies
ENGL 534	21st Century Journalism: How the News Works
ENGL 550	Introduction to the Literature and Culture of Race
ENGL 555	Science Fiction
ENGL 575	Sex and Sensibility: The Rise of Chick Lit
ENGL 581	Reading the Postcolonial Experience
ENGL 585	Introduction to Women in Literature
ENGL 595	Literary Topics

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Pre-1800 Literature Courses
Select from the following:
ENGL 512	British Literature I Age of Heroes: Beowulf to Dr. Faustus
or ENGL 513W	British Literature II Age of Revolutions: Shakespeare to Austen
ENGL 595	Literary Topics (if topic is appropriate)
ENGL 657	Shakespeare
ENGL 693R	Special Topics in Literature (if topic is appropriate)
ENGL 751	Medieval Romance
ENGL 756	Chaucer
ENGL 758	Advanced Shakespeare
ENGL 759	Milton
ENGL 787	English Major Seminar (if topic is appropriate)

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Post-1800 Literature Courses
Select from the following:
ENGL 514W	British Literature III: Revolts, Renewals, Migrations
or ENGL 516W	American Literature II Money, Migration, and Modernity: Huck Finn to Beloved
ENGL 595	Literary Topics (if topic is appropriate)
ENGL 690	African American Literature
ENGL 693R	Special Topics in Literature (if topic is appropriate)
ENGL 738	Asian American Studies
ENGL 775	Modern Irish Literature: A Changing Landscape
ENGL 777	The English Novel in the World
ENGL 782	Modern and Contemporary Drama
ENGL 784	English Novel of the 19th Century
ENGL 787	English Major Seminar (if topic is appropriate)
ENGL 797R	Special Studies in Literature (Race & Racial Theories) (if topic is appropriate)

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Community and Cultures in the U.S.
Select from the following:
ENGL 440A	Honors/On Race in Culture and Society
ENGL 550	Introduction to the Literature and Culture of Race
ENGL 650R	I Hear America Singing: Studying American Literature and Culture
ENGL 690	African American Literature
ENGL 693	Special Topics in Literature (subtopic R)
ENGL 693R	Special Topics in Literature
ENGL 738	Asian American Studies
ENGL 778	Race and Gender in Film and Popular Culture
ENGL 797R	Special Studies in Literature (Race & Racial Theories)

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Courses that Investigate Anglophone Literature in Global or Transnational Contexts
Select from the following:
ENGL 581	Reading the Postcolonial Experience
ENGL 773	Literary Modernisms: Return, Revolt, Recycle
ENGL 775	Modern Irish Literature: A Changing Landscape
ENGL 777	The English Novel in the World

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Courses in a specific genre including poetry, memoir, nonfiction, drama, fiction, and film ²
Select from the following:
ENGL 520	Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction
ENGL 555	Science Fiction
ENGL 575	Sex and Sensibility: The Rise of Chick Lit
ENGL 616A	Studies in Film/Genre
ENGL 616B	Studies in Film/Authorship
ENGL 616C	Studies in Film/Culture and Ideology
ENGL 616D	Studies in Film/Narrative and Style
ENGL 618	Film Theory
ENGL 693R	Special Topics in Literature (if topic is appropriate)
ENGL 778	Race and Gender in Film and Popular Culture
ENGL 797R	Special Studies in Literature (Race & Racial Theories)

Please see your advisor if you have questions about other courses that might fulfill these requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

All undergraduate English majors acquire the same core skills. These include:

Proficiency in analytical writing, critical thinking, and public-speaking.
Knowledge of important literary genres and subgenres
Fluency in literary terminology,
A broad understanding of British-and-American literature, from the medieval period in England and the moment of first contact in America to the present day.
Demonstrated proficiency in writing an analytical essay that offers a sophisticated close-reading or explication of a literary text. This essay will have a clear thesis and proceed in a logical fashion, with interpretive claims supported by evidence from the text.
Demonstrated proficiency in literary research and in writing an extended thesis-driven research paper in which sources are correctly and responsibly cited.
Demonstrated understanding of how to read across the color line in the US and /or how to analyze literary works written in English from outside the UK and the US--from India, Africa, and the Caribbean, for example.

Explore Program Details

Why Study English Literature

Reading literature encourages the mind to enter new, and sometimes improbable, spheres of experience. Some literary texts inspire us to feel admiration and compassion for unlikely heroes or heroines: a son overwhelmed by the sudden death of his father and his mother's quick remarriage to his despicable uncle, a woman who loses her social standing and whose subsequent humiliation and poverty drive her to suicide, a wife trapped in a loveless marriage, or a daughter who accidentally encounters her birth parents. Others confront us with perplexing concepts: the "ineluctable modality of the visible," "fearful symmetry," and that it can "be very, very dangerous to live even one day." Still others ask us to consider the wondrous properties of the very, very small (a grain of sand, leaves of grass) or the very, very large (a white whale, the Congo); or to observe the world from a multitude of perspectives, from above or below, earlier or later, male or female, east or west, black or white, all at the same time. Literature, too, grants access to scenes or sights that can be neither diagrammed nor charted nor otherwise pictured. How are two lovers like a pair of compasses? How is life like a loaded gun, or love without hope like a hat full of larks? Magnificent new microscopes and telescopes have brought human beings, standing somewhere between the stars and sub-atomic particles, a little closer to both. Literature transports the cosmos into our most private and personal reflections; yet it also shows us how everyday things, the objects and scenery we hardly notice as we trudge through our routines, can be made radiant with a strange beauty. "Poetry," a poet wrote, "purges from our inward sight the film of familiarity which obscures from us the wonder of our being." Literature is not a physical instrument; it is a purely intellectual one. But, like an unfamiliar piece of computer technology, we need to learn how to use it—or we will be left behind; our lives will be seriously diminished. How literature works is what the English major can teach you.

Rachel Trubowitz and Michael Ferber
Professors of English, University of New Hampshire