English Major
Major Requirements
The English major without the Creative Writing concentration consists of 11 courses. Two courses may be taken at the 100-level and the remaining courses must be at the 200-level or above.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Critical Methods | |
| ENG 296 | Methods and Modes of Literary Study 1 |
| Literature Before 1800 | |
| English: Pre-1800 - Complete at least two courses designated with the (English: Pre-1800) attribute. One course must be medieval. | |
| Literature After 1800 | |
| English: Post-1800 - Complete at least two courses designated with the (English: Post-1800) attribute. | |
| Race, Ethnicity, and Diasporic Literature | |
| English: R, E, DL - Complete at least two courses designated with the (English: R, E, DL) attribute. | |
| Junior-Senior Seminar | |
| Complete at least two courses from the following: | |
Any ENG 395 seminar course | |
| Queer Africana: History, Theories, and Representations | |
| Black Feminist Literary Theory and Practice | |
| The Africana Novel As Theory | |
| Chaucer and His Context | |
| Queer Africana: History, Theories, and Representations | |
| Black Feminist Literary Theory and Practice | |
| The Africana Novel As Theory | |
| Chaucer and His Context | |
| Inventing the Sea | |
| Queer Africana: History, Theories, and Representations | |
| Black Feminist Literary Theory and Practice | |
| Senior Thesis | |
| Complete one option from the following: | |
One-Semester Thesis | |
| Senior Thesis | |
Two-Semester Thesis | |
| Senior Thesis | |
| Senior Thesis | |
| Additional Courses (If Applicable) | |
| Courses may be used to fulfill more than one Major requirement above. In addition to the above courses, the following courses may be taken to fulfill the 11 required courses: | |
Any English or cross-listed with English course | |
A first-year seminar, upon approval | |
| Introduction to Playwriting | |
| Advanced Playwriting | |
- 1
The critical methods course (ENG 296 Methods and Modes of Literary Study) is a prerequisite for the senior thesis. Students are strongly advised to take the methods course in their second year.
Major & Creative Writing Concentration Requirements
The English major with the Creative Writing concentration consists of 13 courses. Two courses may be taken at the 100-level, and the remaining courses must be at the 200-level or above.
Requirements are the same as those for the English major, with the following additions and specifications.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Introductory Workshop | |
| Complete at least one course from the following: | |
| Fiction Writing | |
| Poetry Writing | |
| Introduction to Playwriting | |
| Second Introductory Workshop | |
| Complete at least one course from the following: | |
| Fiction Writing | |
| Poetry Writing | |
| Creative Nonfiction Writing | |
| Autofiction | |
| Introduction to Playwriting | |
| A second introductory workshop that is not the course chosen for the first workshop. | |
| All creative writing workshops must be completed at Bates. | |
| Advanced Workshop | |
| Complete at least one course from the following: | |
| Advanced Fiction Writing | |
| Advanced Poetry Writing | |
| Advanced Playwriting | |
| This workshop should follow the student’s chosen genre. | |
| Allied Courses | |
| Three allied courses in the student’s chosen genre, often from among those taken to satisfy the major, in the English department or in the literature of another language, which will be useful to the student’s development as a writer, chosen in consultation with their advisor. | |
| Manuscript Thesis | |
| A thesis, undertaken during either one or, by approval, two semesters, consisting of a single cohesive manuscript in the chosen genre, or a closely-related hybrid genre. | |
Majors who elect the creative writing program count one of the writing courses toward fulfillment of the English major requirements, as well as the allied literature courses, and thesis. Thus, the usual number of courses required for the English major and the creative writing program is 13. Students who elect to complete their second introductory workshop through (ENG 395G Autofiction) may take 12.
Senior Project Description
The thesis should comprise the best work brought, through intensive revision, to final form during the semester(s) spent working on the project. Theses may include revised developments of work first drafted in previous seminars or workshops, but should consist mainly of new work drafted and revised during the project. A copy of the original previous work should be provided to the thesis advisor if a student plans to draw on it in this way.
Critical Theses
Students undertaking a critical thesis:
- Should consider the work they have done at the 200- or 300-level as generative ground for their thesis, identifying a set of texts and/or topics that grow out of the coursework they have completed in the Department. Students, on consultation with their advisor, may elect to take a third seminar in lieu of thesis.
- Must submit a proposal to the department, outlining their rationale (including relevant bibliography) for the project. Once the proposal is approved and assigned to an advisor, the student and advisor begin devising a working schedule for the project. Please take note: your thesis advisor must be a faculty member in the department whose research expertise aligns with the topic and methodology of your thesis.
- Should note that critical theses should be a minimum of 20 pages to be considered for passing credit; many theses will be longer, depending on the complexity of the topic and at the discretion of the advisor.
Honors
With departmental approval, students may write a two-semester honors thesis in the senior year. Majors who wish to present themselves as potential honors candidates are encouraged to register for at least one junior-senior seminar in their junior year. Majors who elect to participate in a junior-year-abroad program and who also want to present themselves as honors candidates must submit evidence of broadly comparable course work or independent study pursued elsewhere; such persons are encouraged to consult with the department before their departure or early in their year abroad. Toward the end of their junior year, all prospective honors candidates must submit a two-page proposal and a one-page bibliography; those wishing to write a two-semester creative thesis must submit a one-page description of a project and a substantial writing sample.
Creative Theses
One Semester Thesis
The broad outlines of expectation for one-semester creative theses are as follows:
One Semester Poetry
At least 15, but not much more than 20 poems. A ca. 5-page preface discussing craft, influences, and intentions.
One Semester Fiction
At least 40, but not much more than 60 pages of fiction. A ca. 5-page preface discussing craft, influences, and intentions.
One Semester Playwriting
As playwriting English majors minor in Theater, their theses are advised by a member of the Theater Department.
For a one-semester thesis in fiction or poetry, students will complete the advanced workshop in their chosen genre by December of Senior year. Students may also elect to use the advanced workshop in their chosen genre to develop this project through the workshop. In this case, students will register for both the advanced workshop (ENG 391 or ENG 392) and thesis (ENG 457) as two separate courses for the Fall semester.
Minimum criteria for eligibility to propose a one-semester creative thesis:
- Completion of the introductory workshop in your chosen genre by April of Junior year (ENG 291, ENG 292 or THEA 240)
Two-Semester Honors Thesis
The English department offers an Honors thesis in creative writing. The Honors designation is awarded to two-semester creative thesis projects of exceptional literary merit.
Minimum criteria for eligibility to propose an Honors thesis in creative writing:
- Completion of both the introductory and advanced workshops in the writer’s chosen genre by December of Junior year.
- A 3.3 GPA overall, and a 3.7 GPA in the English major.
- A manuscript demonstrating outstanding literary promise, consisting of 15-20pp. for prose or 6-8 poems for poetry.
Accomplishing the minimum criteria to propose an Honors thesis does not guarantee that Honors proposals will be accepted, and the final decision regarding a student’s readiness for Honors rests with the creative writing committee. Proposals not accepted for Honors will be accepted for the one-semester thesis experience, and students will register for either ENG 457 in the fall or ENG 458 in the winter. (All students share a preference at the time of application.)
Students whose Honors proposals are accepted will register for ENG 457 in the fall semester and undergo an evaluation of progress for continuance into the winter semester, typically by early November. Projects granted continuance will register for ENG 458. Projects not granted continuance into the second semester will receive credit for ENG 457, a one-semester thesis.
Projects not awarded an Honors designation after completion of two semesters will receive credit for ENG 457 & ENG 458 as a two-semester creative thesis.
The broad outlines of expectation for Honors theses are as follows:
HONORS POETRY
A manuscript of at least 25, but not much more than 40 poems of exceptional literary merit. A 10-page essay closely exploring craft, influences, and intentions. This essay will serve as a foundational document for an oral examination.
HONORS FICTION
At least 70, but not much more than 120 pages of fiction, demonstrating exceptional literary merit. A 10-page essay closely exploring craft, influences, and intentions. This essay will serve as a foundational document for an oral examination.
HONORS PLAYWRITING
As all playwriting theses are advised by a member of the Theater Department, students should contact Theater for information about writing an Honors thesis.
Students who accomplish the Honors designation for their thesis in prose or poetry give a full public reading at a spring reception.
Courses Taken Outside of Bates
Students may receive no more than two credits for semester-abroad courses, and, normally, no more than two credits for yearlong study-abroad courses. Under special circumstances, and upon written petition to the English department, students studying off campus for the year may receive credit for three courses. One course credit is granted for Advanced Placement scores of four or five. However, such credits count only toward overall graduation requirements, not toward the 11-course major requirement in English. Note that the REDL, Methods, and junior senior seminar requirements must be fulfilled at Bates.
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail grading may not be elected for courses that count toward the major.
Restricted Declarations
Students who have declared the English major may not declare the following:
- English (C086) GEC
Other Considerations
English Short Term courses may be counted toward the major at the discretion of the course instructor. A first-year seminar taught by a member of the English faculty may count toward the English major as a 100-level course, at the instructor's discretion. Students not pursuing the creative writing concentration may count one course in creative writing toward the major.
Students planning to do graduate work — whether an M.A. or Ph.D. or an M.F.A. in creative writing —should seek advice early concerning their undergraduate program, the range of graduate school experience, and vocational options. Most graduate programs require reading proficiency in two other languages, so it is strongly recommended that prospective graduate students achieve at least a two-year proficiency in a classical (Latin, Greek) or modern language.