Mentorship: Navigating the Major, Preparing for the Future

 

The English Major at UVA:

 

Majoring in English is pretty much the best decision you can make. Not a joke. Professors are amazing, the requirements give you great guidelines, and the special concentrations can allow you flexibility in the courses that count toward your major and push you to make interdisciplinary connections. 

 

General English Major Requirements:

 

• One 2000 level lit course (or two 3000 level lit courses) required to declare. 

• 10 courses within the department- including the two literature survey courses (ENGL 3810 and 3820), and period requirements that encourage you to take courses across a broad historical spectrum.

• See http://www.engl.virginia.edu/undergraduate/major for details.

 

Or...Choose a Track!

 

If you have a specific period of literature that you're really interested in, a track might be the place for you! These concentrations allow you to take extra classes in a particular time period and have those classes still count for your major. The tracks also require courses outside the English department, allowing you to really sink into a particular period from an interdisciplinary perspective. The tracks include:

 

• Medieval and Renaissance Studies, directed by Professor Bruce Holsinger (bh9n)

• Global English Literature and Culture, directed by Professor Steve Arata (sda2e)

• Modern Literature and Culture, directed by Professor Christopher Krentz (ck9m)

 

Creative Writing:

 

The department has flourishing programs in Creative Non-fiction and in Poetry, ideal for students interesting in pursuing creative writing on a seriously professional level. Note- you don't have to be in these programs to take poetry classes!

 

The Area Program in Poetry Writing:

• Directed by Professor Lisa Spaar (lrs9e)

• A two-year, competitive program, which often culminates in a poetry capstone project in students' fourth year.

• Apply in the spring of second year

• See http://www.engl.virginia.edu/undergraduate/programs/poetry for more information on requirements!

 

The Area Program in Literary Prose Writing:

• Directed by Professor Jane Alison (jas2ad)

• A two-year, competitive program, culminates in a 40 page senior thesis of literary prose.

• Apply in the spring of second year

• See http://www.engl.virginia.edu/undergraduate/programs/prose for more information on requirements!

 

Other Opportunities: 

 

English and the Curry School

• A popular choice for those interested in pursuing careers in education! Graduate in five years with a BA in English and an MA in Education!

• http://curry.virginia.edu/

 

English BA/MA program

• A great option for those who are interested a Masters degree in English- graduate in five years with a BA and a Masters in English!

• Directed by Professor Clare Kinney (crk4h)

• Apply at the end of third year

• See http://www.engl.virginia.edu/graduate/BA-MA for more details!