ABC Download our Alphabet BookThere’s nothing in the ABC Book that’s not on this website.

The Correlate Sequences in English

The curriculum in English presents a broad array of courses representing a variety of subjects—literatures from different periods of history and geographical locations, genres, and approaches or methods of study.  Given the scope of the discipline, the correlate sequences we offer allow students to tailor their programs to individual interests within the discipline while maintaining a broader understanding of the contexts surrounding that area of focus.

The correlate sequences are defined, in part, to suggest intellectual compatibilities between literature and other disciplines.  Students majoring in Africana Studies or Women’s Studies, for example, will find that the correlate in “Race and Ethnicity” supplements and extends their work in the major.  At the same time, because these correlates articulate issues of central interest within the discipline, English majors will discover in them useful guides for developing a sequenced and coherent plan of courses to fulfill the requirements in the major.

Here are the correlate areas:

  1. Race and Ethnicity
  2. Literary Theory and Cultural Studies
  3. Poetry and Poetics
  4. Literary Forms
  5. British Literary History
  6. American Literary History
  7. Creative Writing

These correlates are designed to articulate coherent plan of study which builds from a solid foundation in introductory and intermediate courses to greater depth and complexity in advanced courses. Students should thus plan to elect courses in sequence, beginning with either English 101 or 170 (many students will want to take both), moving on to courses at the 200-level, and concluding with 300-level courses. Each sequence defined below offers a number of courses from which the student will choose six to complete the correlate; although any six courses will result in a coherent plan of study within the defined area, the choices involved also allow students to develop a "specialty" within the larger subject the correlate defines. Students will notice that some courses appear in the list of possibilities for more than one correlate; such overlap may encourage students to elect related courses outside the correlate, although only six courses are required to complete the sequence. The correlate sequences are defined, in part, to suggest intellectual compatibilities between the disciplined study of literature and the study of other disciplines. Students majoring in Africana Studies or Women's Studies, for example, will find that the correlate in "Race and Ethnicity" supplements and extends their work in the major.

Philosophy or Sociology majors may be particularly attracted to the correlate in "Literary Theory and Cultural Studies." Students majoring in Art, History, Film or Drama, American Culture, or a foreign language might find one of the other correlates especially suitable. At the same time, because these correlates articulate issues of central interest within the discipline, students majoring in English will discover in them useful models for developing a sequenced and coherent plan of courses to fulfill requirements in the major.

The correlate sequence in English consists of six courses, including English 101 or 170, and a range of 200 and 300-level courses. Where appropriate, and with the permission of the advisor, the student is encouraged to substitute a course from the 380-series for one of the 300-level courses listed below.


1. Race and Ethnicity
  • English 101 or 170 (Texts and Contexts)
  • English 227 and 228
  • One of the following: English 257, 261, or 262
  • One of the following: English 319, 326, or 327
2. Literary Theory and Cultural Studies
  • English 101 or 170
  • English 217
  • Two of the following: English 218, 219, 248, 262
  • Two of the following: English 317, 319, 326, 38x
 3. Poetry and Poetics
  • English 101 or 170
  • One of the following: English 205, 214, or 219
  • Two of the following 210-211, 250, 345
  • Two of the following: 315, 352, 353, 355, 356
4. Literary Forms
  • English 101 or 170
  • English 214 and 216
  • One of the following: 215, 239 or 240
  • Two of the following: English 315, 317, 320, 325
5. British Literary History
  • English 101 or 170
  • English 220-221: English Literature to the Close of the 18th Century
  • One of the following: English 248, 249 or 250
  • One of the following: English 256, 260 or 262
  • One of the following: English 340, 341, 345, 350, 351, 352, 353
6. American Literary History
  • English 101 or 170
  • English 225 and English 226
  • One of the following: English 227 or English 228
  • One of the following: English 328 or 329
  • One of the following: English 330, 331 or 3
 7. Creative Writing
  • At least one of the following: English 101, 170
  • At least two literary courses in the genre or genres of focus
  • At least three of the following: 205, 206, 207, 209, 209-10, 211-12, 307
  • At least one course in the correlate must be at the 300 level