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Degree Requirements

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Office of Admission
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:

Other required courses:

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. 

Total credits: 36–48 

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