English Major Guide

The English major provides a foundation in reading, writing, research, and critical analysis preparing students for a range of intellectual and professional pursuits. Majors develop familiarity with innovative and traditional fields in literary studies, alongside a variety of theoretical approaches, emerging as deeper thinkers and stronger writers as a result.

Some majors proceed to graduate study in English or other advanced literary or humanist studies; others leverage the skills they have developed in the major for careers in other sectors (visit A&S Career Development).  Many students supplement their academic studies by writing for campus literary magazines or by attending public lectures and poetry readings sponsored by the department. Visiting writers are occasionally included in coursework, so students have the opportunity to interact with an author whose work they have been exploring (visit Publications & Activities).

There are no prerequisites for admission to the English major.

Prospective majors or double majors are encouraged to declare as early as possible.

Visit the Planning a Program of Study section below for course advice for prospective majors. 

We welcome students to consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) as they consider the major! Meetings with the DUS can be scheduled by contacting the Undergraduate Program Coordinator (Aurora Ricardo, ar2368@cornell.edu).

How to Apply: Declare the English Major

1. Submit a Declaration of English Major form. Contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator (Aurora Ricardo, ar2368@cornell.edu) with questions.
2. The Undergraduate Coordinator will contact students to schedule a meeting with the DUS to approve the form. At this meeting, the DUS will discuss students’ academic interests and experiences, offer advice about the requirements and benefits of the major, and suggest prospective major advisors.
3. The major advisor will approve the form and be available for consultation and advice. Students should meet with their major advisors each semester to discuss course selections and progress towards fulfilling the major requirements.
4. The new major will appear in Student Center.

Ten full-semester courses, at least two of these 4000-level Cornell ENGL seminars, including the following categories (a course may be used to fulfill a maximum of two categories):

• Two courses on literatures in English before 1800; two courses on literatures in English after 1800.
• One course on literatures in English of the Global South, i.e., African, African Diaspora, Asian Diaspora, South Asian, or Caribbean literature.
• Two courses on literatures in English of the Americas, including at least one course on American Indian or Indigenous, African American, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Latina/o literature.
• Three courses must be related in topic, theme, time period, genre, or approach to form a “concentration.” Students may develop a concentration in consultation with their advisor during the final year based on the courses that form a cluster in their studies.

Notes on course credits

• Cross-listed courses qualify for the major, even if not enrolled with the ENGL subject code.
• A minimum grade of C is required for a course to qualify for the major (no S/U grades).
• Courses must be 3 credits or higher to qualify for the major unless otherwise noted.
• The distribution requirements which a course can satisfy are designated in the university's Class Roster. Designation is typically granted to courses in which at least half of the material consists of literatures originally written in English and otherwise related to the distribution requirement.
  Visit the Courses by Major Requirement for current semester courses listed by requirement category
• First-Year Writing Seminars,  ENGL 2800 Creative Writing, and  ENGL 2880 Expository Writing may not be applied toward the major.
• A maximum of two 1000-level courses may be applied to the major.
• ENGL 4930 Honors Essay Tutorial I and  ENGL 4940 Honors Essay Tutorial II may be applied toward the required ten full-semester courses but may not be used to satisfy other categories of requirements.
• A maximum of three non-ENGL courses at the 2000-level or higher from other. departments on subjects related to literary study, even if focused on literatures not originally in English, may be applied toward the required ten full-semester courses and the concentration with the approval of the major advisor. To qualify toward the other requirement categories, a course must be approved by the DUS.
• Transfer and study abroad courses may be applied toward the required ten full-semester courses and the other requirement categories with the approval of the DUS. A maximum of two non-Cornell courses per semester may be applied to the major.
• ​All coursework for this major is in person, in Ithaca, unless otherwise noted.

Visit Arts & Sciences Academic Advising for assistance with College degree requirements and managing multiple programs of study.

Few students know from the moment they decide to major in English exactly what they wish to study. Moreover, it is natural for interests to change over time. The requirements of the English major are designed to provide a flexible framework for learning.

Within that framework, the concentration and the Honors Program provide two further ways to shape the pursuit of the major. English is a flexible option for double majors, often completed alongside Biology, Computer Science, Government, and more.

English majors are expected to develop their own program of study in consultation with their major advisor, and to meet each semester to discuss enrollment and progress. The effort of creating or discovering a coherent pattern in the courses selected is itself a valuable part of a literary education, and the department expects students to choose courses with an eye to depth and variety as well as focus and coherence. Some focus on a particular historical period or literary genre, while others develop thematic interests or combine sustained work in creative writing with the study of literature.

First-Year Writing Seminars

First-year students interested in majoring in English are encouraged to enroll in a section of ENGL 1270 FWS: Writing About Literature, or a section of another ENGL FWS course instructed by an English faculty member, to begin to build connections in the department.

As part of the university-wide First-Year Writing Seminars program administered by the John S. Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines, the department offers a wide range of courses in literature, film, and media; nature, the environment, and climate change; culture, politics, and identity; and in community engagement—connecting students with local community partners. Students may apply any of these courses to their first-year writing seminar requirement. Detailed course descriptions may be found in the first-year writing seminar program listings, available through the Knight Institute in July for the fall semester and in November for the spring semester.

Survey Courses

The department recommends that prospective English majors begin with at least one survey course.  ENGL 2010 Literatures in English I: From Old English to the New World provides a survey of pre-1800 British and American writers.  ENGL 2020 Literature in English II: 1750 to the Present broadens to include literatures from the late 18th-century until the present. Several other 2000-level courses are offered each semester which provide introductions to important aspects of literature, culture, and theory also covered in more advanced courses. These introductory courses concentrate on the skills basic to the English major and to other academic work—close reading and analytical writing.

Writing Workshop Courses

Students interested in developing their skills as writers can participate in workshop courses in expository, nonfiction, and creative writing. Due to the writing-intensive nature of these courses, the department discourages enrollment in more than one workshop course per semester. ENGL 2800 Creative Writing, and ENGL 2880 Expository Writing are also suitable preparations for the major.

English majors fill out the Junior Fall form by the end of the first semester of their junior year. Students meet with their major advisor to complete the form, making sure they are on track to meet all requirements of the major by their expected graduation date.

Second-semester sophomores who have done superior work in English are encouraged to seek admission to the departmental program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors in English (effective beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year). Completing the English major with honors allows students to independently study a topic they choose and to write a researched, critical paper of at least 50 pages.

Visit Arts & Sciences Study Abroad for information about study abroad as an Arts & Sciences student.

As an English major, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities for study abroad. As long as students continue to meet all College and department requirements or can complete them upon returning to Cornell, the English major can easily accommodate study abroad.

A number of English majors study at a foreign institution, usually during their junior year. Some spend a single semester away from campus, others an entire year. Some English majors study abroad in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, while some choose other locations. The Office of Global Learning has information on a variety of programs at universities around the world. 

Pre-Application Considerations

Students are welcome to confer with the DUS prior to study abroad to discuss prospective courses and progress towards major requirements. To schedule a meeting with the DUS, contact the Undergraduate Coordinator (Aurora Ricardo, ar2368@cornell.edu).

Prospective English honors candidates should still plan to complete an honors seminar prior to their senior year, either before or after study abroad.

Credit Considerations

Credit for literature courses taken abroad can in most cases be applied to the 10-course minimum, the concentration, and specific major distribution requirements (i.e., pre-1800). Requests to apply credit for study abroad to the English major cannot be granted by the student's major advisor (see How to Obtain Transfer Credit for more information). Credits earned abroad are also subject to the restrictions detailed under "Notes on course credits" in the major requirements section.

Visit the Department of Literatures in English Undergraduate Study webpage.
Contact the Undergraduate Coordinator (Aurora Ricardo, ar2368@cornell.edu).