Lang’s General Degree Requirements
In addition to the requirements outlined here, Lang has specific requirements, including a minimum number of credits in liberal arts courses as well as college residency requirements. All students should read Lang’s General Degree Requirements and consult with both their Student Success advisor and their Departmental Faculty Advisor each semester to ensure that they are on track to graduate.
Degree Works
To be sure their Degree Works account reflects the information in this worksheet, students should forward any approved exemptions from the following requirements to their Student Success advisor.
Bachelor’s-Master’s Program
Undergraduates in the BA-MA program can earn up to 18 credits (depending on the master's program) in New School master's courses and apply those graduate credits to both their BA and their MA. Submission of the Bachelor’s-Master’s
application is required (members of the direct-entry cohort do not have to submit an application but do have to declare the Bachelor's-Master's combination they wish to pursue). Students should consult their Departmental Faculty Advisor and their
Student Success advisor if they are pursuing a BA/MA, including those offered in Literary Studies:
- BA Literary Studies - MA Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism (MA)
- BA Literary Studies - MA Liberal Studies (MA)
Requirements for the BA in Literary Studies with a concentration in Literature
As of fall 2020, students declaring the major in Literary Studies with a concentration in Literature must take 12 courses, outlined as follows. Students who declared the major in Literary Studies before fall 2020 but wish to follow the fall 2020 curriculum
can consult their Student Success advisor about submitting a Change of Catalog Year request. Only specific courses satisfy the major requirements, including electives. Students interested in Journalism are encouraged to consider majoring in Journalism + Design.
Students majoring in Literary Studies must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses. (Note that sequenced Writing workshops required for the Writing Concentration have a higher requirement. Consult the Departmental Faculty Advisor if you are taking Writing
workshops.) Declare your major by following the process outlined in Declaring a Major.
Courses should be chosen carefully, in consultation with the Departmental Faculty Advisor and your Student Success advisor. Read the Overview of the Literature Concentration (PDF) and track your progress using the program worksheet (below). See the university course catalog for fall 2020 Literature courses that fulfill these requirements. In choosing courses to meet requirements, students are encouraged to meet with Carolyn Vellenga Berman for
questions about the Literature concentration.
Overview
Literature students develop a distinctive critical-analytical voice and firm grounding in literary theory and history and their vocabularies. Many of the faculty teaching literature are also creative writers and understand approaches to the study of literature
from the perspectives of practitioner, scholar, and critic. Although many students in literature classes are themselves creative writers, writing for the Literature concentration almost always takes the form of critical essays or research papers.
Learn more about the Literature program.
Faculty members in Literary Studies regard critical and theoretical writing as a process that is as creative as writing poetry, fiction, and drama. Students are encouraged to begin with 2000-level courses in Literature (LLSL) and Writing (LLSW) as they
consider one of these two concentrations. Two required Literary Introductions courses (The Invention of Literature, offered every fall, and Literary Reinvention, offered every spring), focusing on texts from the classic to the contemporary, enable
students to build a solid foundation in literary studies and provide them with a common language and literary experience as they proceed to more advanced study. Literary Studies students can also apply to continue their writing and literature coursework
abroad beginning in their sophomore year, in Paris, London, Rome, or Verona.
In their junior or senior year, all students are required to take an intensive single-text course in which both critics and practitioners of writing explore the nuances of a major work, as well as a Reading for Writers course, combining the reading of
great works with creative writing.
Literature Concentration Requirements
The major in Literary Studies with a concentration in Literature requires 12 courses to be completed as set forth below. At least four of these courses must be 3000 level or higher, and no more than two (with the approval of the Departmental Faculty Advisor) may
be taken at the Schools of Public Engagement.
Introductory courses:
- 2 Literary Introductions Courses (each with a lecture and discussion section), preferably but not necessarily taken in sequence (total 8 credits):
- The Invention of Literature (LLST 2003 Lecture + 2004 Discussion)
- Literary Reinvention (LLST 2005 Lecture + 2006 Discussion)
NOTE: Literary Introductions courses are co/prerequisites for all 3000-level Literary Studies courses, unless the requirement is waived by the chair.
Other required courses:
- 1 single text/author course (3-4 credits)
- 1 LLST-RFW Reading for Writers course, open to juniors and seniors (3-4 credits)
- 7 courses outlined as follows, 4 of which are 3000 level or higher:
- 4 Literature electives (12-16 credits). One of these may be a literature-based course in another discipline, such as philosophy and psychology, if approved by the Departmental Faculty Advisor. Advanced-level foreign language courses in which literature is studied may also count toward this requirement.
- 1 Poetry course (3-4 credits). With the approval of the Departmental Faculty Advisor, LLSWxxxx Poetry workshop may fulfill this requirement.
- Two Advanced LLSL courses, 3000 level or higher (6-8 credits). For an updated list of courses that fulfill this requirement visit the university course catalog:
- Tick Eugene Lang College.
- Tick the appropriate term.
- Click Show Additional Filters.
- Under Subject Code, tick LLSL.
- In the search results, see the Course ID column at far left for courses at the 3000 level or higher.
Senior Capstone:
- Choose one of the following, by advisement (3-4 credits) and read Literature's Senior Capstone Guidelines (PDF).
- Independent Senior Project (offered in spring and fall semesters)
- Senior seminar (only offered in spring semester)
Total credits: 36-48