Honors Program

The Honors Option is a special program which enables students, by working independently and in seminars, to develop a strong academic background in preparation for postgraduate study in English or for entry into a variety of postgraduate fields. Admission to the program normally begins in the first semester of the junior year. Honors students are eligible to join Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honors Society. For further information and admission to Honors Program, see the Honors Program Web Site or contact:

Colleen Tripp 
Associate Chair
Email: colleen.tripp@csun.edu

Careers

English studies provides a good academic foundation for radio and television broadcasting, editing, writing, politics, film and library work, journalism, criticism, advertising, public information, public relations, teaching and technical writing. Studies show that English as a pre-professional major is valuable preparation for future careers in law, medicine, business, and federal service.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree

In pursuing their major, students are encouraged to follow our Degree Road Maps:

• 4-Year Degree Road Map
• Transfer Degree Road Map

Lower Division Required Courses (9 units)

• ENGL 258 Major English Writers I (3)
• ENGL 259 Major English Writers II (3)
• ENGL 275 Major American Writers (3)

Upper Division Required Courses (27 units)

A. Literary Theory (3 units)

• ENGL 436 Major Critical Theories (3)

B. Literatures of Cultural Diversity (3 units) 

Select one of the following:

• AIS 314 North American Indian Literature (3)
• ENGL 311 History of African-American Writing (3)
• ENGL 314 North American Indian Literature (3)
• ENGL 368 Gay Male Writers (3)
• ENGL 369 Lesbian Writers (3)
• ENGL 371 Issues in Jewish-American Writing (3)
• ENGL 431 Images of Women in Literature (3)
• ENGL 433 Women Authors (3)
• ENGL 434 19th Century Women Novelists (3)
• ENGL 487 Latina/o Literatures of the Americas (3)

*Consult an advisor for current courses in other areas, such as Asian American literature, Central American literature, Chicana and Chicano literature, and Pan African or African American literature, which also may satisfy this requirement.

C. British and American Literatures (6 units)

I. British Literature (3 units)

Select one course from the following: 

• ENGL 419 English Drama 1660-1880 (3)
• ENGL 443 English Literature of the Middle Ages (3)
• ENGL 449 The English Renaissance (3)
• ENGL 452 17th Century Literature (3)
• ENGL 456 Age of Revolutions (3)
• ENGL 458 The Romantic Age (3)
• ENGL 460 The Victorian Age (3)
• ENGL 461 Modern British Literature (3)
• ENGL 462 Contemporary British Literature (3)
• ENGL 466 Major British Novelists I: 1700- 1815 (3)
• ENGL 467 Major British Novelists II: 1815-1900 (3)
• ENGL 468 Major British Novelists III: 1900 to the Present (3)

II. American Literature (3 units)

Select one course from the following: 

• ENGL 473 American Literature: 1607-1860 (3)
• ENGL 474 American Literature: 1860-1912 (3)
• ENGL 475 American Literature: 1912-1945 (3)
• ENGL 476 Contemporary American Literature (3)
• ENGL 477 Major American Novelists I: the 19th Century (3)
• ENGL 478 Major American Novelists II: the 20th Century (3)

D. Junior Honors Tutorials (6 units)

• ENGL 392 Junior Honors Seminar I (3)
• ENGL 393 Junior Honors Seminar II (3)

Note: ENGL 392 and 393 may be taken in any sequence.

E. Senior Honors Tutorials (6 units)

• ENGL 492 Senior Honors Seminar I (3)
• ENGL 493 Senior Honors Seminar II (3)

Note: ENGL 492 and 493 may be taken in any sequence.

F. Honors Capstone Class (3 units)

• ENGL 497 Honors Revision Seminar (3)

Note: ENGL 497 may not be offered every term.

Upper Division Electives (9 units)

Select any upper division courses except ENGL 305.

General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.

3 units are satisfied by the following courses in the major: ENGL 258 or ENGL 259 or ENGL 275 satisfies C2 Humanities.

If taken, ENGL 306, ENGL 313 or ENGL 315 satisfies E Lifelong Learning; ENGL 311 or ENGL 371 satisfies 3 units of upper division F Comparative Cultural Studies and fulfills the Information Competence requirement.

Students majoring in English are encouraged to take a foreign language as part of their college program.

Total Units in the Major Option: 45

General Education: 45 units

Additional Units: 30

Total Units Required for the Degree: 120 

Graduation with Honors

To graduate from the Honors Program, a student needs a GPA of 3.5 or better in his or her upper division English courses. A special “Honors” notation will appear on your diploma and you will be invited to participate in the University’s Honor Convocation.