The English literature major requires 42 semester hours. This curriculum sheet includes general education requirements and the minor. You'll take electives to complete the minimum 120 sh for graduation. 

COURSE TITLE S.H.
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS SEMINAR
YSU 1500Success Seminar1-2
or SS 1500 Strong Start Success Seminar
or HONR 1500 Intro to Honors
General Education Requirements
ENGL 1550Writing 13-4
or ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support
ENGL 1551Writing 23
CMST 1545Communication Foundations3
Mathematics requirement (met with MATH 2623)3
Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.)6
Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.)6-7
Social Science (6 s.h.)6
Social and Personal Awareness (6 s.h.)6
Foreign Language Requirement
FNLG 1550Elementary Foreign Language4
FNLG 2600Intermediate Foreign Language4
Multicultural Studies3
Choose one: ENGL 2617 (Women in Literature), 2618 (American Literature and Diversity), 2620 (African Literature), 3732 (Images of Women), 3790 (Sel. Topics in Multicultural Studies), 4850 (Sociolinguistics), or 4871 (Black Experience in American Literature)
Major Requirements
ENGL 3700Literary Study3
ENGL 3706Introduction to Literary Theory3
ENGL 3710British Literature 13
ENGL 3711British Literature 23
ENGL 3712American Literature 13
ENGL 3713American Literature 23
ENGL 4890Senior Seminar (Capstone)3
Language Studies
ENGL 3755Principles of Linguistic Study3
or ENGL 3757 Development of the English Language
British Literature Studies
Select one of the following:
Major Figures in British Literature
British Genres, Circles, and Movements
The Medieval World
Shakespeare and His World
The English Renaissance
Restoration and Eighteenth Century British Literature
The Romantic Period
Nineteenth Century British Literature Studies
Early Twentieth Century British Studies
British Literature from World War II to the Present
American Literature Studies
Select one of the following:3
American Literature in Historical Perspective
American Genres
Themes in American Literature
American Literary Conversations
The Black Experience in American Literature
Select one additional British or American Literatures Studies Course from the above list (The course must cover a period before 1900.)3
Advanced Writing
Select one of the following:3
Magazine Publishing
Editorial and Opinion Writing
Journalism Workshop
Advanced Writing
Advanced Writing for Teachers
Introduction to Public, Professional and Technical Writing
Writing with Data
Fiction Writing Workshop
Poetry Writing Workshop
Screenwriting
Popular Culture Studies3
Select one of the following:
Language and Culture
Film Genres
Popular Culture Studies
Selected Topics in Film
Minor18
Electives -to meet 120 hours18
Total Semester Hours120-123

This plan is a road-map to graduation, but you have many options in how you manage your schedule. Speak to a department advisor for help creating a plan that will help you to achieve your professional goals (call 330-941-3414 or email the literature coordinator listed on the department website). 

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
SpringS.H.
SS XXXX 3
SPA XXXX 3
ENGL 1551 Writing 2 3
CMST 1545 Communication Foundations 3
FNLG 2600 Intermediate Foreign Language 4
 Semester Hours16
Fall
YSU 1500 Success Seminar 1
NS XXXX 3
AH XXXX 3
ENGL 1550
Writing 1
or Writing 1 with Support
3-4
MATH 2623 Quantitative Reasoning 3
FNLG 1550 Elementary Foreign Language 4
 Semester Hours17-18
Year 2
Spring
ENGL 3710 British Literature 1 3
ENGL 3712 American Literature 1 3
Minor course 3
SS 3
SPA 3
 Semester Hours15
Fall
ENGL 3700 Literary Study 3
ENGL 3755
Principles of Linguistic Study
or Development of the English Language
3
ENGL 26XX, 37XX, or 48XX: Multicultural Studies 5 3
Minor XXXX 3
NS/Lab 4
 Semester Hours16
Year 3
Spring
ENGL 48XX: British Literature 1 3
ENGL 37XX or 48XX American Literature 2 3
ENGL or JOUR 37XX Advanced Writing 3 3
ENGL 37XX or 48XX Popular Culture Studies 4 3
MINOR: Upper-division 3
ELECT 3
 Semester Hours18
Fall
ENGL 3711 British Literature 2 3
ENGL 3713 American Literature 2 3
Minor course: Upper-division 3
Social Science 3
Arts and Humanities 3
 Semester Hours15
Year 4
Spring
ENGL 4890 Senior Seminar 3
Minor: Upper-division 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 
 Semester Hours12
Fall
ENGL 36XX or 48XX Upper-Div Amer or Brit Lit 1 OR 2 3
Minor: Upper-division 3
Elective 3
Elective 2
 Semester Hours11
 Total Semester Hours120-121

Learning Outcomes

The Department of English and World Languages has established the following learning outcomes for students completing the English major:

  • English majors will deploy varied strategies for engaging with literature on the levels of words, appropriate parts of texts, whole texts, contexts, and criticism.
  • English majors will be able to situate texts in the appropriate literary, historical, and cultural contexts.
  • English majors will be able to analyze how the production and reception of language and literature are influenced by differences of form, culture, and identity.
  • English majors will effectively present and discuss ideas about literature and language in a manner that is appropriate for the situation.