Majors and Minors
English Major
A major in English will nourish your passion for language and literature while preparing you to read and write in many genres and setting you up for success in the job market.
As a major, you will take six courses in our core curriculum and four elective courses. We call this plan “Core + 4.” You can choose to group your elective courses into one of eight optional tracks:
- Creative Writing
- Cultural Studies/Media Studies
- English Teaching
- Irish Literature
- Literature, Anti-racism, and Social Justice
- Literary Histories and Legacies
- Literature of Place and Environment
- Writing and Composition
Alternatively, you can work with your academic advisor to create your own customized track. In total, you must take at least 30 credits of English courses at the 2000 level or above.
English majors meet individually with their advisors each semester to plan their careers.
Many English majors pursue independent projects and hands-on experiences under the guidance of faculty mentors. If you have specific career objectives, pairing your English major with a second major or minor in another discipline can also strengthen your résumé. With so many options, the possibilities are endless!
Listen to what some of our English Majors had to say:
English Minor
An English minor is the perfect way to supplement your major with critical thinking, writing, and comprehension skills that will be vital in your professional career. English minors must take 15 credits of English courses at the 2000 level or above. Students may declare a minor at any time during their academic career.
Writing Minor
The writing minor allows students to build the interdisciplinary awareness of composing practices, histories, and theories in a diverse array of text and technologies. The minor requires 15 credits at the 2000-level or above. All students must take ENGL 2013W or 2049W and 12 credits from a list of pre-approved courses. Courses must be taken in at least two subject areas. No more than six credits may overlap with another major or minor.
For an overview of UConn's general education requirements, visit the CLAS Academic Services Center website.
Program Options
Students admitted to the UConn Honors Program as freshmen are selected on the basis of their SAT scores, their high school grades, and their class rank. Those admitted after their first semester are invited on the basis of their college grade point average and faculty recommendation. UConn honors students enjoy the advantages of unusually small seminars, of fellowship with other talented students, and of participation in scholarly events organized through the University Honors Program. They also receive special recognition at graduation, and a diploma acknowledging their participation in the University Honors Program.
The Neag School of Education and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offer a dual-degree program for students planning to become teachers. Through Neag’s Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Teacher Education program, prospective English teachers can earn three degrees: a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education, a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English, and a Master’s degree in Education. Neag School of Education majors who wish to receive a Bachelors of Arts in English may need additional courses to fulfill CLAS requirements.