Department of English

The Department offers a General Education curriculum that can be taken to satisfy two of the University’s Literature and Writing requirements. The first requirement can be satisfied by either Reading and Writing Seminar (-009) or Critical Reading and Writing (-011); the second requirement can be satisfied by one of the department’s Gateway courses (ENGL 040-043). Students ordinarily enroll in HUMW 011 (OR HUMW 009) in their first year, and a Gateway in their second year. No credit toward graduation is allowed for taking any of these courses a second time, even though the content of each course may vary from instructor to instructor.

Advanced Placement Credit

Students who score a 4 or 5 on either of the Advanced Placement exams in English are awarded the equivalent of 1 course (3 credits) and 2 courses (6 credits) respectively. How these credits are then applied to General Education, Minor and Major requirements depends on what school the student is in.

The following is adapted from the Undergraduate Bulletin:

English (either test): If a student takes both tests, then the higher score is used because credit is awarded only once for both tests. No credit for a score of 3.

SFS and NHS students with a score of 4 receive 3 credits, which satisfies half the general education requirement in literature. Students must then take an appropriate second literature course as defined by their Dean’s Offices. SFS and NHS students with a score of 5 receive 6 credits, which completes their general education requirement in literature. Students interested in further English study should note the discussion of “Gateway” courses below.

COL students with a score of 4 receive 3 credits for HUMW-011, which satisfies half the general education requirement in literature. COL students with a score of 5 receive an additional 3 free elective credits toward the degree. COL students with AP credit must take a second semester of literature to fulfill the general education requirement. Suitable literature courses, offered in a variety of departments, are identified each semester in the Schedule of Classes. Students interested in further English study (including English majors and minors) should note the discussion of “Gateway” courses below.

MSB students with a score of 4 receive 3 liberal arts elective credits, while students with a score of 5 receive 6 liberal arts elective credits. These credits do not count toward the English requirement; however, students with AP credit may begin their English studies with a Gateway course (ENGL-040-043) if they so choose, or other suitable courses identified by MSB. Students interested in further English study should note the discussion of “Gateway” courses below.

Please note, AP credit can count towards HUMW 011, but not toward the Gateway. Furthermore, a Gateway course (ENGL-040-043) is a prerequisite for any upper-division English elective (ENGL 100-499); therefore, students with AP credit who wish to take further English courses should proceed directly to a Gateway course for their first English course. Also note, any student who begins with a second-year course (such as a Gateway) may not go back and subsequently take HUMW-011 (a first-year course).