English and Comparative Literature Major, B.A.

English and Comparative Literature majors study literature, film, writing, and media of broad geographic and cultural provenance, so students have opportunities to practice comparative thinking. Moreover, majors write and research about texts, film, and media inflected with markedly different generic and linguistic features, and this variety hones students' research and writing skills. English and Comparative Literature majors can follow a general course of study or choose to concentrate in one of seven different areas:

See the Requirements page for details on the major concentrations.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the English and Comparative Literature program, students should be able to:

Particularly at this moment in American culture and history, we believe these skills are essential, both in the workplace and in the public sphere more broadly. The major's core curriculum ensures that students gain historical breadth in their discipline (in the form of surveys) as well as depth (in courses that focus on a single genre, topic, or author and thus allow for a sustained emphasis on close analysis). Individual concentrations also provide learning outcomes specific to their area of study.

Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must

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Core Curriculum

Of these six (6), at least two (2) courses (out of 10) must be at the 300-level (Writing Intensive) in ENGL or CMPL. 3

Of these six (6), at least one (1) course (out of 10) must be at the 400-level (Research Intensive) in ENGL or CMPL. 3

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute.

The concentration in Film and Media Studies includes different core requirements. See the requirements for this concentration below.

If no concentration is chosen, select seven (7) electives in ENGL and/or CMPL (excluding ENGL 100 , ENGL 105 , ENGL 105I , ENGL 110, and ENGL 191 ).

Required for all concentrations except for the Creative Writing concentration.

Concentration in British and American Literature

In addition to the core curriculum (three courses) and additional requirements described above, students must complete the following requirements.

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute.

Concentration in Science, Medicine, and Literature

In addition to the core curriculum (three courses) and additional requirements described above, students must complete the following requirements.

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

No more than two (2) courses outside the department.

Concentration in Social Justice and Literature

In addition to the core curriculum (three courses) and additional requirements described above, students must complete the following requirements.

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute.

No more than two (2) courses outside the department.

Concentration in Writing, Editing, and Digital Publishing

In addition to the core curriculum (three courses) and additional requirements described above, students must complete the following requirements.

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

Students may substitute a course from this list for the depth requirement from the core. Students would then need to select a second course from this list to fulfill the requirement for the concentration.

No more than two (2) courses may be taken outside the department.

Concentration in Creative Writing

In addition to the core curriculum (three courses) described above, students must complete the following requirements. No concentration courses may be taken online.

Any course from any track below and/or from the following list of courses:

No more than two (2) courses can be taken outside the Department of English and Comparative Literature.

Concentration in Comparative and World Literatures

In addition to the core curriculum (three courses) and additional requirements described above, students must complete the following requirements.

Course List
Code Title Hours
It is recommended to choose a CMPL course from the Survey I list in the core curriculum.
CMPL 250 Approaches to Comparative Literature H 3
or CMPL 251 Introduction to Literary Theory
CMPL 495 Advanced Seminar3
Select one (1) to three (3) international literature courses taught in any foreign language department (200-level or higher) 1,2 3-9
Select two (2) to four (4) CMPL or ENGL courses (excluding ENGL 100, ENGL 105, ENGL 105I, ENGL 110, and ENGL 191). No more than two (2) from ENGL. 6-12
Total Hours21

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

Foreign language departments include Asian Studies, Classics, Germanic and Slavic Languages, Romance Studies.

At least one course should be focused on literature written in the original language.

Concentration in Film Studies

The film studies concentration focuses on the history, theory, analysis, and politics of cinema in a global context. Students become conversant with the evolution of film genres, styles, and traditions, while exploring relationships between film and other artistic forms, including literature, painting, photography, television, and digital video. This concentration enables students to gain skills of audiovisual literacy that are necessary for navigating the many screens of our modern world.

Students pursuing the film studies concentration do not follow the core requirements described above. Instead, students must complete the following requirements (10 courses):

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

Special Opportunities in English and Comparative Literature

Honors in English and Comparative Literature

The department offers at least two honors seminars each semester. In addition, students seeking a degree with honors in English and Comparative Literature (a 3.3 cumulative grade point average and a 3.6 grade point average in major courses required) undertake a year-long independent project during their senior year ( ENGL 691H and ENGL 692H or CMPL 691H and CMPL 692H ) and usually produce a 40- to 70-page thesis under the direction of a faculty member. Students pursuing a degree with honors normally meet every week with the professors supervising their projects. This opportunity for individually directed research and writing often proves to be a high point of the student’s academic career.

Honors in Creative Writing

Study Abroad

Some of the best programs offered at the University for study overseas are especially appropriate and useful to majors in the Department of English and Comparative Literature. These include semester or year-long programs at Bristol, Manchester, Sussex, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and certain Australian universities. Students who have a minimum grade point average of 3.3 at the end of their sophomore year can participate in the King’s College Exchange Program at King’s College, London (representing either English or comparative literature). Special opportunities are also available at Oxford University and through the Joint Degree Program with the National University of Singapore. Comparative literature students most frequently travel to non-English-speaking destinations. For information on all overseas programs, see the Study Abroad Office.

Internship Program

Internships are a great way to explore career options before graduation. A major in English and comparative literature, with its focus on writing, oral communication, and research, opens the door to a wide variety of career paths. The Department of English and Comparative Literature provides the opportunity for students to receive credit for an internship that relates to the major.

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Department of English and Comparative Literature

Greenlaw Hall, CB# 3520

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ECL Undergraduate Advisor

Director of Undergraduate Studies

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