| English
Major Frequently Asked Questions
1. When do I declare my major?
All matriculated students must declare a major no later than the
semester in which the combination of credits earned and credits
for which they are currently registered totals 61 or greater. Transfer
students entering with 60 credits or more must declare their major
before the end of their first semester at Hunter. You may find that
some courses and career opportunities are available only after you
have declared your major (early registration for English Department
courses, for example). In addition, under New York State guidelines,
students who have not yet declared a major by the 61-credit point
are ineligible for TAP financial aid.
2. What are the general requirements for the major?
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the courses designated
for the major. English 220 is a prerequisite for all other English
Department courses in literature numbered after 220 and may also
be used to satisfy the GER/Broad Exposure Group A requirement.
3. What are the areas of concentrations in the English major?
We offer three concentrations in English: Literature, Language,
and Criticism; Creative Writing; and Adolescence Education-Preparation
for Teaching. We also offer one interdisciplinary major: English
Language Arts (ELA) for those intending to be primary school teachers.
You choose one of these when you declare your major. If you are
unsure about which concentration is best for you, the advisor will
discuss the requirements and benefits of each concentration with
you.
4. What are the requirements for each concentration?
Each concentration has a 30-credit (10 courses) requirement. The
specific course requirements for Literature, Language, and Criticism;
Creative Writing; and Adolescence Education are described in detail
on pages 86-87 in the Hunter College Undergraduate Catalog 2002-2004.
The specific course requirements for English Language Arts are described
on pages 89-90.
5. How do I declare my major?
You meet with an English Department advisor to complete the declaration
of the major form and to discuss the requirements of your particular
major area.
6. May I use the courses that fulfill my major and minor
requirements to satisfy any General Education Requirements (GER)
or Pluralism and Diversity Requirements (P&D)?
According to the regulations for the GER, you may use up to two
major courses toward Stages 1 and 2 of the Core Requirement. Yet,
because the only English courses applicable to Stages 1 and 2 are
ENGL 120 and 220 and because these courses do not count toward the
English major, in practice you may not use courses toward both the
major and the GER.
Minor courses, however, may be used to fulfill any GER requirement
with the exception of the Foreign Language requirement (see pages
32-33 of the HC catalogue for information about this).
Courses used to fulfill the P&D Requirements may also be used
for any other requirement: GER, major, or minor. You could, for
example, apply a particular course to the minor requirement, and
Stage 3 of the GER, and a P&D requirement. (See page 30 of the
Hunter College Undergraduate Catalog 2002-2004 for more information
about the courses that may be used to fulfill GER and P&D requirements.)
7. I have received a number of 300-level English equivalents
for my transfer courses, but they don't all seem to fit the requirements
of the major. Is there any way to substitute some of these courses
for the required courses?
You should see an English Department undergraduate advisor. It is
possible that some substitutions or exemptions could be approved.
I have been taking English courses that satisfied the requirements
of the 24-credit English major, but I never declared my major. I
am afraid that some of these courses will no longer apply to the
new 30-credit major. Can I still graduate with the 24-credit major
or find some way to use the courses I have taken toward the new
30-credit major?
Normally, you will need to complete a "Declaration of Major"
form for the 30-credit major and fulfill the new requirements. It
may be possible to make some adjustments in these requirements in
consideration of the English courses you have already completed,
but you must see an advisor to discuss this possibility.
8. I am an ELA major and am having trouble registering for
the courses listed necessary for the major. What should I do?
You should see an English Department advisor who may allow substitutes
for the courses if they are in keeping with the required topics,
for example, speech, theatre, or anthropology courses.
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