Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

English, BA

The Literature program, offered by the Department of English and Comparative Literature , provides students a solid grounding in literary genres, periods, and critical approaches to British, American, and World Literatures. Students are exposed to a wide range of canonical and non-canonical texts, and they learn to read closely and critically, and to write clearly and effectively. During their time at San Jose State, students will have an opportunity to develop and carry out research projects, and they will learn to locate, evaluate, and organize information effectively. Graduates of our program excel in close reading, critical thinking, and clear writing-all of which are crucial, marketable skills in today’s job markets.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements	38
Major Preparation	6-16
Major Core Requirements	24-25
English Concentration	20
Major Elective	3-4
University Electives	17-29
Total	120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

University Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Note Abbreviations ).

Core Lower Division General Education (27 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 12 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Note: Students who have completed the ADT Transfer degree (under SB 1440) for this major will have completed all lower division GE requirements and should follow the 60 unit guarantee roadmap. Meet with an advisor prior to registering for your first semester for the 60 unit roadmap or specific questions.

Upper Division General Education (3 units)

Of the 9 units required by the university, 6 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)

Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies sequence (AMS 10 /AMS 11 ; 6 units) satisfies the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

AMS 10 - Stories that Make America 3 unit(s) (C2+US1)
HIST 15 - Essentials of U.S. History 3 unit(s) (D+US1)
HIST 170S - Topics in American History: American Identities and Institutions 3 unit(s) (S+US1)

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

AMS 11 - Visions of Democracy 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 15 - Essentials of U.S. & California Government 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 16 - Power and Ideas in American Politics 3 unit(s) (C2+US23)
POLS 170V - American Politics in Global Perspective 3 unit(s) (V+US23)

Physical Education (2 units)

All SJSU undergraduate students, regardless of major, have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in physical activities. To accommodate students’ needs and interests, the university offers a diverse selection of activity courses .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) to meet graduation requirements. For this major, the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) is satisfied by a course in the major.

Major Preparation (6-16 units)

One year of foreign language study at the college level or equivalency through examination 0-10 unit(s)

ENGL 2 - Critical Thinking and Writing 3 unit(s) (A3)

Area A2 Course (3 units)

Complete one course:

ENGL 1A - First Year Writing 3 unit(s) (A2)
ENGL 1AS - First-Year Writing: Stretch English II 3 unit(s) (A2)

Additional Preparation (3-13 units)

ENGL 2 - Critical Thinking and Writing 3 unit(s) (A3)
One year of foreign language study at the college level or equivalency through examination 0-10 unit(s)

Major Requirements (47-49 units)

Core Courses (24-25 units)

ENGL 50 - Beginnings to the American Experiment 3 unit(s)
ENGL 60 - Literatures of the Atlantic World, 1680‐1860 4 unit(s)
ENGL 70 - Emerging Modernisms and Beyond 3 unit(s)
ENGL 100W - Writing Workshop 4 unit(s) (WID)

Literature for Global Understanding (3 units)

Complete one course:

ENGL 123A - Literatures of the Americas 3 unit(s) (V)
ENGL 123B - Literatures of Africa 3 unit(s) (V)
ENGL 123C - Literatures of the Pacific 3 unit(s) (V)
ENGL 123D - Literatures of Asia 3 unit(s) (V)

Shakespeare (4 units)

Complete one course:

ENGL 144 - Shakespeare I 4 unit(s)
ENGL 145 - Shakespeare and Performance 4 unit(s)

American Literature & Ethnicity (3-4 units)

Complete one course:

ENGL 165 - Black American Literatures 4 unit(s)
ENGL 169 - Ethnicity in American Literature 3 unit(s) (S)

English Concentration (20 units)

ENGL 101 - Introduction to Literary Criticism 4 unit(s)
ENGL 125 - Ancient Literatures 4 unit(s)

Complete 12 units of English Concentration Electives:

ENGL 113 - Gothic and Horror Fiction 4 unit(s)
ENGL 115 - The Bible as Literature 4 unit(s)
ENGL 116 - Myth in Literature 4 unit(s)
ENGL 117A - American Literature, Film, & Culture 3 unit(s) or
ENGL 117B - Global Film, Literature, and Cultures 3 unit(s)
ENGL 122 - Topics in Comparative World Literature 4 unit(s)
ENGL 126 - Holocaust Literature 3 unit(s)
ENGL 140A - Old English 4 unit(s)
ENGL 140B - Beowulf 4 unit(s)
ENGL 141 - Medieval Literature 4 unit(s)
ENGL 142 - Chaucer 4 unit(s)
ENGL 146 - Studies-Early Modern British Literature 4 unit(s)
ENGL 151 - 20th and 21st Century Poetry 4 unit(s)
ENGL 153 - Studies in the British Novel Before 1900 4 unit(s)
ENGL 160 - Topics in American Literature 4 unit(s)
ENGL 162 - Indigenous American Literatures 4 unit(s)
ENGL 163 - Asian American Literatures 4 unit(s)
ENGL 165 - Black American Literatures 4 unit(s)
(only if not used to satisfy Core Courses)
ENGL 166 - Latinx Literatures 4 unit(s)
ENGL 167 - Steinbeck 4 unit(s)
ENGL 168 - The American Novel 4 unit(s)
ENGL 169 - Ethnicity in American Literature 3 unit(s)
(only if not used to satisfy Core Courses)
ENGL 171 - Pop Cultures 4 unit(s)
ENGL 176 - The Short Story 4 unit(s)
ENGL 177 - Topics in Fiction Since 1900 4 unit(s)
ENGL 182 - Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Literature 4 unit(s)
ENGL 183 - Major Authors 4 unit(s)
ENGL 184 - Queer Literary Studies 4 unit(s)

Major Elective (3-4 units)

Any one upper division English Course 3-4 unit(s)

University Electives or Minor (17-29 units)

Total Units Required (120 units)

Explanations and Limitations

English majors who complete the Humanities Honors Program (HUM 10 , HUM 11 , HUM 20 , HUM 21 ) will be credited for ENGL 125 .

Details and advising information on the above requirements are available in the Department of English and Comparative Literature .

English, BA

University Requirements

Core Lower Division General Education (27 units)

Upper Division General Education (3 units)

American Institutions (6 units)

African American Studies (6 units)

Asian American Studies (6 units)

Chicana and Chicano Studies (6 units)

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

Physical Education (2 units)

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Major Preparation (6-16 units)

Area A2 Course (3 units)

Additional Preparation (3-13 units)

Major Requirements (47-49 units)

Core Courses (24-25 units)

Literature for Global Understanding (3 units)

Shakespeare (4 units)

American Literature & Ethnicity (3-4 units)

English Concentration (20 units)

Complete 12 units of English Concentration Electives:

Major Elective (3-4 units)

University Electives or Minor (17-29 units)

Total Units Required (120 units)