The Concentrations

In the spring of the sophomore year, students choose a concentration to focus their coursework in the major.  Each concentration offers a four-course pathway through the major, from introductory to intermediate and advanced courses, and provides students with both breadth and depth of knowledge in a field. Students are free to change their concentration at any time.

American Literature

This concentration focuses on the history of the literature written in colonial America and the United States and is particularly concerned with the relation between literary expression and nationality. Like other subfields of English, the study of American literature at Wesleyan makes use of textual analysis and the study of literary forms, but it places special emphasis on the connections among literature and cultural and political history. Among other subjects, our courses focus on the role of literature in the formation and critique of American nationality and on its participation in transnational contexts that may challenge national identity. In addition, the concentration stresses the value of seeing distinct works, authors, or movements in the larger context of the history of literary expression in the U.S. The concentration requires four courses, including either English 203 or English 204 and at least one 300-level course. Normally, students will take 203 or 204 in the frosh, sophomore or junior year. At least one of the four courses must focus on literature written before the Civil War, and at least one must focus on the significance of race and ethnicity.

British Literature

The British Literature concentration examines British literature and culture from its beginnings to the present day.  Many of the courses in the concentration deal with specific historical periods and themes; others focus on individual writers or genres, topics in cultural studies, methods, and literary and cultural theories germane to the study of British literature. Students are required to take at least two 200-level courses and at least one 300-level course. The fourth course can be either a 200 or 300 level course.

Race & Ethnicity

This concentration is organized around courses devoted to studying the representation of racial and ethnic difference in literature and popular culture.  The Race and Ethnicity Concentration is topical and also encompasses courses that cover national literatures (American, British), literary traditions within nations (African American, Asian American, Latina/o, U.S. Ethnic), and transnational and postcolonial literatures.  In addition, some courses within the concentration are devoted to particular genres, focused on specific historical periods, and concerned with literary and cultural theories.  The concentration requires students to take at least two 200-level courses. The fourth course can be either a 200 or 300 level course.

Theory and Literary Forms

Students choosing the TLF concentration must further define the concentration for themselves. Most majors choosing this concentration organize their course of study by focusing on literary theory or on a particular literary form such as poetry or the novel, examined through theoretical, critical, and creative writing courses. Not all courses listed as fulfilling TLF will be appropriate for every concentrator. Those courses include those that take literary theory as their subject matter, treating theory as a central topic within literary studies, as well as those that examine a particular literary form, usually poetry, drama, nonfiction, or fiction. Additionally, most creative writing courses fall under this heading. Students are expected to take at least two 200-level courses and at least one 300-level course. The fourth course can be either a 200 or 300-level course.

Creative Writing

The Creative Writing Concentration is a competitive program within the English major that is geared toward students who wish to pursue an intensive specialization in creative writing in the context of advanced literary study. The Creative Writing Concentration supports a rigorous study of contemporary writing practices and their roots, influences, and precursors. Students learn that writing is a practice that involves an ongoing negotiation of the tensions between creativity and discipline, experimentation and structure, critical analysis and textual production. In addition to meeting the core requirements for the English major, students must complete four courses within the concentration:

  1. Techniques course or an Intermediate Workshop
  2. Intermediate or Advanced Workshop, with a grade of B+ or higher
  3. Intermediate or Advanced Workshop, with a grade of B+ or higher
  4. Special Topics course or other genre-focused course

 For other information about creative writing courses as a part of the English Major, click here.

For current course listings by Concentration click here.