Frequently Asked Questions
About the Major in English
About the Minor in English
About Advanced Placement Credit
About Creative Writing
About Study Away
About Independent Studies
About Advanced Independent Studies or Honors Projects
About the Major in English:
What do graduates do with an English major?
Options are limitless for Bowdoin English majors, as you can tell from "English Majors Beyond Bowdoin" which has been compiled by the Career Planning Center at Bowdoin.
How do I go about choosing a major advisor?
If you already know that there is a particular professor in the department that you would like to have as your advisor, feel free to ask that person if he or she would be willing to take on that role. the Chair can also serve as an advisor for students who haven't yet chosen a specific advisor, or whose advisors are on leave.
Is there any form that I have to fill out to make my choice of advisor official?
No.
Can I change my advisor?
Yes, you are free to change your advisor at any time. Just ask another professor if he or she would be willing to act as your advisor.
How many courses are required for the major?
A minimum of ten.
Are there specific courses that I must take?
You are not required to take any particular course, but all majors must:
- Take either a first-year seminar or a 100-level course in the department. This is a pre-requisite for taking more advanced courses (200-level and above).
- Take at least three courses in British and Irish Literature before 1800. These are courses in Old English and medieval literature; Renaissance literature; and the literature of the Restoration and the eighteenth century. The individual courses that satisfy this requirement are identified by a note in the course description. Only one of these three courses may be a Shakespeare drama course, and only one may be a Chaucer course. Only one transfer course may count toward this requirement.
- Take at least one course in literature of the Americas. The individual courses that satisfy this requirement are identified by a note in the course description.
- Take at least one 300-level seminar.
Can I take more than one introductory-level course (first-year seminars or 100-level courses)?
Yes, you can count up to three of these courses toward the major.
Do first-year seminars in other departments count as a pre-requisite for upper-level courses in the English Department?
No. Only courses within the English Department fulfill the pre-requisite.
Do courses in Early American Literature, or courses in early literatures taught in other departments (such as courses on classical authors, on Dante, or on seventeenth-century French theater, or on Don Quixote) count for the pre-1800 requirement?
No. This requirement is specifically focused on British and Irish literature.
What does "literature of the Americas" include?
All courses in American Literature, including all courses in African American and Asian American literature, as well as Caribbean literature written in English.
Does a 300-level seminar in British and Irish Literature before 1800 fulfill both the pre-1800 requirement, and the requirement for a 300-level seminar?
Yes.
Are there particular paths through the English major?
Each English major, in consultation with his or her advisor, develops his or her own path through the major. Although we have the general requirements listed above, these still allow for a great deal of flexibility in choosing individual courses, and leave all majors with a great deal of space for elective courses. Some students end up focusing on earlier literatures; some focus on more contemporary literatures; some on American literature; some on British and Irish literature. And some students simply take the greatest variety of courses they can. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to approach the major.
Should I try to get all of the requirements out of the way as soon as possible?
Again, there is no "right" or "wrong" way to approach the major. There is nothing wrong with spreading some of the requirements out over time. But be aware that not all classes are offered every year, and that the number of pre-1800 courses, for example, might vary from year to year. Especially if you are planning to study away, you should think ahead about how you will guarantee that you meet all the requirements before graduation.
Can I count courses in other departments at Bowdoin for the major?
Yes. You may count one upper-level film studies course for the major. You may also count upper-level literature courses, as long as the literature is read in the original language, not in translation.
How many courses, total, may I count from outside of the department for the major?
Two. This includes courses in other departments at the College, courses from Study Away, and courses taken at other four-year colleges or universities (for example, courses taken while on leave from the College or summer school courses). The English Department Chair must approve any such courses.
Are there any kinds of courses that the English Department automatically disqualifies from counting toward the major?
The English Department does not accept composition or journalism courses (whether taken here or away) for the English major.
Does the English Department grant credit for internships?
No.
About the Minor in English:
How many courses are required for the minor?
A minimum of five.
What are the specific requirements?
After you have fulfilled the pre-requisite requirement, there are no other specific requirements.
Can I count courses from study awway?
No. You cannot apply any transfer credits for the minor.
About Advanced Placement Credit:
Will any of my AP courses count toward the major?
No. But a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Literature exam in English Literature can "translate" into a general credit for graduation.
How do I go about getting this credit?
First, you must take a literature course in the English Department (not English 60: Composition). If you receive a grade of B or higher, you can receive an extra general credit towards graduation.
Do I have to do this in my first semester or year at Bowdoin?
No. This credit won't expire. You can do this at any point in your Bowdoin career.
Does this apply to the AP English language exam as well?
No. It only applies to the literature exam.
Does my AP score allow me to "place out" of English pre-requisites?
No. All students must fulfill the pre-requisite of a first-year seminar or 100-level course in the English Department in order to take more advanced courses in the department.
About Creative Writing:
How many creative writing courses can I count toward the English major?
You may count one creative writing course toward the major.
How do I get into a creative writing course?
Entrance into all of our creative writing courses is by "Permission of Instructor." Students who wish to enroll are asked to submit a portfolio of their writing before pre-registration, and students are informed of whether they are admitted to the course during pre-registration.If you are interested in a creative writing course, be sure to watch for announcements of deadlines for submissions, or contact the English Department Coordinator.
Can I transfer credit for a creative writing course that I took elsewhere?
Yes, provided the program is an established creative writing program at a four-year college or university.
About Study Away:
Who approves my study away plans?
The Chair of the English Department approves all Study Away plans. All Study Away questions should be directed to him or her.
How many courses from Study Away can I count toward the English major?
A maximum of two.
Is this in addition to courses in other departments at Bowdoin that I might want to count toward the English major?
No. You can only apply two transfer credits, from any other department or program, to the English major.
Can I use Study Away courses to fulfill the pre-1800 requirement?
Yes, you can count one such course toward the pre-1800 requirement.
Can I fulfill the 300-level seminar requirement through Study Away?
No. Only a course in our department will fulfill this requirement.
Do I have to study away in an English-speaking country in order to have my literature courses count for the English major?
No. Many English majors study away in countries in which English is not the first language.As long as the course is an upper-level literature course, and you are reading the literature in the original language, not in translation, then the English Department will accept transfer of credit for the major.
I know that I get provisional approval from the Chair for the courses I intend to take while away. Does that automatically guarantee that I get English Department credit when I return?
No. On your return, you must meet with the Chair to have him or her sign the form for Study Away Credit for the Major. This form is available in the English Department Office. In your follow-up meeting, be prepared to show the Chair course syllabi, and the papers that you wrote for the course or courses.
Am I locked into those courses? What happens if something changes?
That's not uncommon. You can use e-mail to ask the advice of the Chair regarding any changes. Again, save all syllabi and course work for your meeting with the Chair on your return.
Do I need to have a copy of my study away transcript sent to the English Department?
No. When the Office of Student Records receives the transcript, it will send a copy to the English Department.
About Independent Studies:
What is an Independent Study?
There are two kinds of Independent Study courses. One is intermediate (the equivalent of a 200-level course), and the other is advanced (and is covered under Honors Projects below).An intermediate Independent Study is a one-semester course of study on a topic agreed on between an individual student and professor. Normally, students choose to do an Independent Study so that they can study a topic or an author that is not regularly covered in the department's curriculum; or because, after having studied the topic or author in a course, they want to study it in more depth.
Can I take an Independent Study in my first year?
No. We ask that you have a bit more experience in the department before you undertake an Independent Study. But a number of students do Independent Studies in their sophomore year.
What do I need to do to get one started?
You have to find a professor who is willing and able to work with you on a particular topic. Then, you will register for the course at pre-registration time or during the add/drop period. The Department Coordinator will tell you what course number to put on your registration card; and you must get the signature of the professor with whom you will be working.
What does the Independent Study course itself consist of?
You and the professor with whom you are working will decide on the specific structure for your Independent Study, and on the amount of reading and writing required.
Is an intermediate Independent Study graded the same way as any other 200-level course in the English Department?
Yes.
Does it count for the major?
Yes.
If I do an intermediate Independent Study in British or Irish literature before 1800, or in literature of the Americas, will it count toward that requirement for the major?
Yes.
Can more than one student participate in the same Independent Study?
Yes. the maximum number of students in an Independent Study is up to the discretion of the professor.
About Advanced Independent Studies or Honors Projects:
Is an Advanced Independent Study the same thing as an Honors Project?
All Honors Projects begin as advanced Independent Studies, but not all advanced Independent Studies turn into Honors Projects. An advanced Independent Study is a two-semester, intensive course of study that allows students to devote considerable time and energy to the in-depth exploration of a topic. An Honors Project involves additional specific requirements (see below).
What do I need to do to get an advanced Independent Study started?
The process is the same as that described above for the intermediate Independent Study. The advanced Independent Study has a different set of numbers for registration, however. You will receive a 400-level number from the Department Coordinator.
If I am thinking of working towards an Honors Project, are there any pre-requisites or further requirements?
You must be a senior, and the guidelines state that you must have an A/B average in the major. In rare cases, the department might be willing to waive that second requirement, but that is at the discretion of the advisor and the department.
Do I receive a separate grade for each semester, and does each semester count as a full credit toward the major?
Yes.
Can I stop after the first semester, if my plans change?
Yes, you are not committed to both semesters. But if you stop after one semester, the project will not become an Honors Project.
What are the additional requirements of an Honors Project?
The major requirement for honors is the honors thesis, which is due at the end of the spring semester. (For information on creative writing honors projects, see below). The thesis is a long paper (thirty-five pages or more) that explores a specific topic in detail, and involves extensive research into and use of the body of critical work concerning this topic.There are a number of requirements that students must meet along the way:
While an advanced Independent Study requires only one professor to direct it, an Honors Project must have the participation of three professors: the primary advisor or director, and two other readers who provide feedback along the way. One of these professors may be from another department or program.
Students hoping to convert a two-semester advanced Independent Study into an Honors Project must submit a prospectus to the department in the fall semester. In this prospectus, the student describes the focus of his or her project, including the specific issue, question or problem that the project will explore, and provides a preliminary bibliography of the primary and secondary materials that he or she will consult. The English Department and all prospective honors candidates then get together for an informal meeting, in which the faculty provides feedback and advice to each student.
In the spring semester, those students who wish their work to be considered for honors must meet a number of deadlines for submitting drafts. These deadlines are announced early in the fall semester.
The entire department reads each of the submissions for honors. There is a final honors meeting, in which each candidate for honors meets individually with the department, for a discussion of his or her project. This is not an "exam": it is a conversation.
Can I do a creative writing honors project?
The department does allow honors projects in creative writing, at the discretion of our Writer-in-Residence.
How many levels of honors does the English Department award?
The English Department awards one level of honors.
What happens if I don't end up submitting my work for honors in the spring semester? Do I lose credit?
No. Your project remains an advanced Independent Study, and you receive a grade and credit for that.
Are there any courses I should consider taking before working towards an Honors Project?
The Department encourages students to take English 282, An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory, before the senior year begins. This course helps students become familiar with a variety of approaches to the literature they may encounter as they conduct research in their chosen subject.