Degree Requirements
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Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts
79 Fifth Avenue, 5th floor
New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212.229.5150 or
800.292.3040
Fax: 212.229.5355
lang@newschool.edu
Lang Program Contacts
For general questions about Literary Studies, please email litstudies@newschool.edu.
Find Literary Studies faculty and advisors.
Literary Studies Co-chairs
Carolyn Vellenga Berman
Chair, Literature and Critical Analysis
bermanc@newschool.edu
Writing Chair
Jennifer Firestone
Chair, Writing at Lang
firestoj@newschool.edu
Departmental Faculty Advisors
Carolyn Vellenga Berman
Chair, Literature and Critical Analysis
bermanc@newschool.edu
Wendy Xu
Departmental Faculty Advisor, Writing at Lang
xuw@newschool.edu
Capstone Coordinators
Inessa Medzhibovskaya
Capstone Coordinator, Literature and Critical Analysis
inessam@newschool.edu
Alison Kinney
Capstone Coordinator, Writing at Lang
kinneya@newschool.edu
Student Success Advisor for Literary Studies
Thiahera Nurse-Rosario
Lang Academic Advisor
nurset@newschool.edu
Adult Bachelor's Program
Students in the Adult Bachelor's Program should see their core faculty advisor.
This page outlines requirements for the major in Literary Studies (BA Literary Studies) with a concentration in Writing or Literature and Critical Analysis. Students in the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students (Adult Bachelor’s Program) who are interested in writing should consult their core faculty advisor. Undergraduates across the university can minor in Writing and in Literature and Critical Analysis.
Requirements for the BA in Literary Studies
Faculty members in Literary Studies regard critical and theoretical writing as a process that is as creative as writing poetry, fiction, and drama. Only specific courses satisfy the major requirements, including electives. In choosing courses to meet requirements, students are encouraged to meet with Carolyn Vellenga Berman, Chair, Literature and Critical Analysis for questions about the Literature and Critical Analysis program and with Jennifer Firestone for questions about the Writing program.
Below are the general requirements for the degree in Literary Studies (BA Literary Studies). For specific concentration requirements within the BA, see the Literature and Critical Analysis Concentration or the Writing at Lang Concentration and download the appropriate worksheet below. See the university course catalog for fall 2026 Literary Studies courses that fulfill these requirements.
Introductory courses:
- 2 introductory courses (6–8 credits)
Other required courses:
- 1 LLST single-author course (3–4 credits)
- 1 LLST-RFW Reading for Writers course (3–4 credits)
- Approved courses that fulfill 21–28 credits in the chosen concentration, either Literature and Critical Analysis
or Writing at Lang
Senior Capstone:
- Choose 1 of the following, by advisement (3–4 credits):
- Individual Independent Senior Project
- Senior seminar for chosen concentration. NOTE: Starting in 2022–2023, Literature and Critical Analysis Senior Seminars and Writing Senior Seminars will be offered only in spring semesters. Students pursuing Lang's Writing concentration should take Advanced courses no earlier than their fifth semester.
