English: Concentration in Literature
Bachelor of Arts, Accelerated Master's, Minor
About this program
The Bachelor of Arts in English: Concentration in Literature explores British, American, and world literatures written in English. You’ll study literary history, major authors, and different genres while building strong skills in reading, writing, and analysis. The program includes courses in theory, Shakespeare, and global texts, with electives that match your interests. You’ll gain tools to think critically and write clearly — skills useful in many careers.
Program Curriculum and Requirements
Program Scope
While Literature majors share a core curriculum of 8 required classes with English majors in Linguistics, English Education, and Professional Writing and Rhetoric, they also take a survey course in Literatures in English to 1800 (ENG 460), a course in theory or criticism, four literature electives, and a capstone course (ENG 690).The concentration in Literature offers students a historically grounded study of British, American, and “post-colonial” Anglophone literatures. The Literature program offers a wide range of courses centered on specific authors (Austen, Chaucer, Woolf), historical periods (“Age of Victorians,” “American Literature 1914-1960”), genres (“Detective Fiction,” “Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction,” “Lyric Forms”), and other special topics (“18th-Century Women Writers,” “Devils and Angels”), allowing students to pursue their individual interests and pleasures in fulfilling their elective units.
No matter what the subject, all courses within the major foster students’ close reading, writing, and analytical skills. Literature majors can expect to hone their aptitude for writing, research, oral communication, and analytical thinking. This practical skill set prepares our majors for many career opportunities, including teaching, writing and publishing, law, information science, business and marketing, and more.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to differentiate how language use varies across the contexts and genres of professional writing and rhetoric, literature, and linguistics. (Disciplinary Knowledge)
- Students will be able to formulate and pursue methodologically sound lines of inquiry, effectively placing their ideas side by side the ideas of others, drawing persuasively on credible primary and secondary sources. (Research)
- Students will be able to produce rhetorically effective texts across a range of digital, print, and multimedia formats. (Written Communication/Digital Literacy)
- Students will be able to carefully read and critically examine the ways in which culture and global context affect language, literature, and writing. (Global Perspectives)
- Students will be able to analyze language and texts in relation to the historical and social contexts in which they are situated. (Historical Thinking)
- Students will be able to apply critical thinking, close reading, and rhetorical persuasion to engage productively and ethically in scholarly, civic, and professional communities. (Application & Engagement)
- Students in the literature concentration will be able to perform close readings of complex literary texts with attention to content, connotation, allusion, and thematic purpose.
- Students in the literature concentration will be able to analyze literary genres, styles, forms, conventions, debates, and/or rhetorical devices in and among texts produced across different historical periods.
- Students in the literature concentration will demonstrate the ability to conduct research by identifying and defining scholarly questions, accessing and assessing primary and secondary sources, developing strategies to organize and interpret research materials, and communicating their findings or arguments through a range of discipline-specific forms and genres.
SFSU Accelerated Bachelor's + Master's
The English SF State Scholars program provides undergraduate students with an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree. Students in this program pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously This program allows students to earn graduate credit while in their junior and/or senior year, reducing the number of semesters required for completion of a master’s degree. Our MA English graduates are prepared for many career paths, including teaching in junior colleges, community colleges, and private high schools; pursuing a PhD, entering the field of publishing; writing for journals, magazines, and online publications; entering law school; and working for government agencies, foundations, and non-profits.
Minor in Literature in English
The Minor in Literature in English lets you study British, American, and world literature in English. You’ll take core courses from the English major and choose two electives that match your interests. This program helps you sharpen your reading, writing, research, and communication skills. You’ll also learn how to think critically about literature and its place in culture and history — skills useful in any field.