A major program consists of at least 10 courses that are a minimum of 35 credits in total.. Six of the 10 must be taken at Barnard or Columbia.

• ENGL BC3193 Critical Writing.
  Best taken in the sophomore year.
   
• ENGL BC3159 and ENGL BC3160 The English Colloquium.
  Taken in the junior year. All sections of BC3159 (fall semester) are on the Renaissance; all sections of BC3160 (spring semester) are on the Enlightenment.
  
  Students may substitute three courses for the two semesters of Colloquium. At least one of these three must cover literature before 1660 (i.e., Medieval or Renaissance); one other must cover literature of the 17th or 18th century (i.e., The Age of Enlightenment); the last can cover either literature before 1660 or literature of the 17th or 18th century.
  
  Students may also take one Colloquium and two substitutions, as long as one of the substitutions covers literature of the same period as the Colloquium it replaces. The other substitution may cover either literature of that same time period or literature of the time period of the other Colloquium.
  
  In either case, one of the courses used as a substitution for either Colloquium will also count towards satisfying the "before 1900" requirement.  Please note that only one Colloquium substitution may be a Shakespeare course.
  
  Please see the substitutions tab of the English section of the Online Course Catalogue for more details.
   
• Two courses in literature before 1900. 
  If you have substituted courses for the Colloquium requirement, one of the substitutions will count towards fulfillment of this requirement. Please see the substitutions page for more details.
   
• Three electives chosen from the entire English Department offering, excluding The English Conference. One of these courses must be a literature class.
  With the approval of the Chair of the English Department, one course based in the literature of a foreign language (in English translation or in the original language) can count as an elective.
   
• Two senior seminars given by the Barnard English Department. STUDENTS MAY ONLY TAKE ONE SEMINAR OR PROJECT A SEMESTER, AND MUST STRUCTURE THEIR GRADUATION PLANNING ACCORDINGLY.
   
• For American Literature Concentrators, one of the seminars will focus on American literature.
• For Creative Writing Concentrators, one of the seminars will be Senior Project in Creative Writing (ENGL BC3992).
• For Film Studies Concentrators, one of the seminars will be Senior Seminar in Film and Literature (ENGL BC3993). 
• For Theatre Concentrators, one of the seminars will focus on dramatic literature.  
   
• Seniors who wish to substitute an independent study for a senior seminar should consult the Chair of the English Department. Permission is given rarely and only to proposals meeting the criteria specified under the guidelines for ENGL BC3999 Independent Study. 
   
• A course in American literature.
  It can simultaneously fulfill other requirements (elective, before 1900, etc.) where appropriate.

An English major with a concentration in American literature consists of 10 courses that are a minimum of 35 credits in total.. Six of the 10 must be taken at Barnard or Columbia. Students interested in an American literature concentration should consult with Prof. Jennie Kassanoff.

• ENGL BC3193 Critical Writing.
  Best taken in the sophomore year.
   
• ENGL BC3159 and ENGL BC3160 The English Colloquium.
  Taken in the junior year. All sections of BC3159 (fall semester) are on the Renaissance; all sections of BC3160 (spring semester) are on the Enlightenment.
  
  Students may substitute three courses for the two semesters of Colloquium. At least one of these three must cover literature before 1660 (i.e., Medieval or Renaissance); one other must cover literature of the 17th or 18th century (i.e., The Age of Enlightenment); the last can cover either literature before 1660 or literature of the 17th or 18th century.
  
  Students may also take one Colloquium and two substitutions, as long as one of the substitutions covers literature of the same period as the Colloquium it replaces. The other substitution may cover either literature of that same time period or literature of the time period of the other Colloquium.
  
  In either case, one of the courses used as a substitution for either Colloquium will also count towards satisfying the "before 1900" requirement.  Please note that only one Colloquium substitution may be a Shakespeare course.
  
  Please see the substitutions tab of the English section of the Online Course Catalogue for more details.
   
• Two courses in literature before 1900. One of these courses must be either ENGL BC3179 or ENGL BC3180.
   
• One survey course on American literature between 1871 and the present, either ENGL BC3181 or 3183.
   
• An additional American literature course.
   
• An elective chosen from the entire English Department offering, excluding The English Conference.
  With the approval of the Chair of the English Department, one course based in the literature of a foreign language (in English translation or in the original language) can count as an elective.
   
• Two senior seminars given by the Barnard English Department, one of which must focus on American literature. STUDENTS MAY ONLY TAKE ONE SEMINAR OR PROJECT A SEMESTER, AND MUST STRUCTURE THEIR GRADUATION PLANNING ACCORDINGLY.
  Seniors who wish to substitute an independent study for a senior seminar should consult the Chair of the English Department. Permission is given rarely and only to proposals meeting the criteria specified under the guidelines for ENGL BC3999 Independent Study.

An English major with a concentration in creative writing consists of 11 courses that are a minimum of 38 credits in total.. Six of the 11 must be taken at Barnard or Columbia. The creative writing concentration differs from the others in that students must submit an application to be considered for it.

Interested majors must be either in the second semester of their sophomore year or a junior to apply.  Applications are due by the last day of the advanced registration period in that semester (occurring in mid-November for the fall semester or in mid-April for the spring semester). The application deadline for English majors who are second semester sophomores or juniors in fall 2024 will occur on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. The application deadline for English majors who are second semester sophomores or juniors in spring 2025 will occur on Friday, April 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET.

Applications must consist of 15-20 pages of prose (including fiction, personal narrative, creative non-fiction or playwriting) and/or poetry writing, and must be submitted online via the Barnard Creative Writing Concentration Application Form.

Students interested in a creative writing concentration should consult with Prof. Ken Chen or Sarah Hilligoss.

• ENGL BC3193 Critical Writing.
  Best taken in the sophomore year.
   
• ENGL BC3159 and ENGL BC3160 The English Colloquium.
  Taken in the junior year. All sections of BC3159 (fall semester) are on the Renaissance; all sections of BC3160 (spring semester) are on the Enlightenment.
  
  Students may substitute three courses for the two semesters of Colloquium. At least one of these three must cover literature before 1660 (i.e., Medieval or Renaissance); one other must cover literature of the 17th or 18th century (i.e., The Age of Enlightenment); the last can cover either literature before 1660 or literature of the 17th or 18th century.
  
  Students may also take one Colloquium and two substitutions, as long as one of the substitutions covers literature of the same period as the Colloquium it replaces. The other substitution may cover either literature of that same time period or literature of the time period of the other Colloquium.
  
  In either case, one of the courses used as a substitution for either Colloquium will also count towards satisfying the "before 1900" requirement.  Please note that only one Colloquium substitution may be a Shakespeare course.
  
  Please see the substitutions tab of the English section of the Online Course Catalogue for more details.
   
• Two courses in literature before 1900. 
  If you have substituted courses for the Colloquium requirement, one of the substitutions will count towards fulfillment of this requirement. Please see the substitutions page for more details.
   
• Two creative writing courses, preferably one introductory and one advanced.
  Introductory courses include ENGL BC3105 through BC3113, BC3120, BC3122, and BC3134.
  
  Advanced courses include ENGL BC3114 through BC3118, BC3125, BC3126, BC3132, BC3150, and BC3152.
  
  Please note that Columbia's introductory classes (specifically classes for which no application is required) do not count for the creative writing concentration.
   
• Two electives chosen from the entire English Department offering, excluding The English Conference. One of these electives must be a literature class. The other elective may be in literature or creative writing.
  With the approval of the Chair of the English Department, one course based in the literature of a foreign language (in English translation or in the original language) can count as an elective.
   
• One senior seminar given by the Barnard English Department. STUDENTS MAY ONLY TAKE ONE SEMINAR OR PROJECT A SEMESTER, AND MUST STRUCTURE THEIR GRADUATION PLANNING ACCORDINGLY.
  Seniors who wish to substitute an Independent Study for a senior seminar should consult the Chair of the English Department. Permission is given rarely and only to proposals meeting the criteria specified under the guidelines for ENGL BC3999 Independent Study.
   
• A Senior Project.

  Seniors must fulfill a senior creative writing project, preferably by taking ENGL BC3992 Senior Project in Creative Writing in their senior year. Another possibility is to take a regular creative writing workshop and with permission and the guidance of the instructor, adding an extra unit and writing additional work. In rare cases, the senior project may be written in ENGL BC3999 Creative Writing Independent Study
   

• A course in American literature.
  It can simultaneously fulfill other requirements (elective, before 1900, etc.) where appropriate.

An English major with a concentration in film studies consists of 11 courses that are a minimum of 38 credits in total. Six of the 11 must be taken at Barnard or Columbia. Students interested in a film studies concentration should consult with Prof. Ross Hamilton.

• ENGL BC3193 Critical Writing.
  Best taken in the sophomore year.
   
• ENGL BC3159 and ENGL BC3160 The English Colloquium.
  Taken in the junior year. All sections of BC3159 (fall semester) are on the Renaissance; all sections of BC3160 (spring semester) are on the Enlightenment.
  
  Students may substitute three courses for the two semesters of Colloquium. At least one of these three must cover literature before 1660 (i.e., Medieval or Renaissance); one other must cover literature of the 17th or 18th century (i.e., The Age of Enlightenment); the last can cover either literature before 1660 or literature of the 17th or 18th century.
  
  Students may also take one Colloquium and two substitutions, as long as one of the substitutions covers literature of the same period as the Colloquium it replaces. The other substitution may cover either literature of that same time period or literature of the time period of the other Colloquium.
  
  In either case, one of the courses used as a substitution for either Colloquium will also count towards satisfying the "before 1900" requirement.  Please note that only one Colloquium substitution may be a Shakespeare course.
  
  Please see the substitutions tab of the English section of the Online Course Catalogue for more details.
   
• Two courses in literature before 1900. 
  If you have substituted courses for the Colloquium requirement, one of the substitutions will count towards fulfillment of this requirement. Please see the substitutions page for more details.
   
• A literature elective.
  The literature elective may be chosen from the entire English Department offering, excluding The English Conference.
   
• An introductory course on film and film theory, either FILM BC3201 or FILM UN1000.
   
• A course on screenwriting, either FILM BC3119 or BC3120.
   
• A film course selected from among specific offerings at Barnard or Columbia.
  This course must be approved by the Director of Film Studies Program.
   
• Two senior seminars given by the Barnard English Department, one of which must focus on film. STUDENTS MAY ONLY TAKE ONE SEMINAR OR PROJECT A SEMESTER, AND MUST STRUCTURE THEIR GRADUATION PLANNING ACCORDINGLY.
  Seniors who wish to substitute an independent study for the non-film senior seminar should consult the Chair of the English Department. Permission is given rarely and only to proposals meeting the criteria specified under the guidelines for ENGL BC3999 Independent Study.
• A course in American literature.
  It can simultaneously fulfill other requirements (elective, before 1900, etc.) where appropriate.

An English major with a concentration in theatre consists of 11 courses that are a minimum of 39 credits in total. Six of the 11 must be taken at Barnard or Columbia. Students interested in a theatre concentration should consult with Prof. Patricia Denison.

• ENGL BC3193 Critical Writing.
  Best taken in the sophomore year.
   
• ENGL BC3159 and ENGL BC3160 The English Colloquium.
  Taken in the junior year. All sections of BC3159 (fall semester) are on the Renaissance; all sections of BC3160 (spring semester) are on the Enlightenment.
  
  Students may substitute three courses for the two semesters of Colloquium. At least one of these three must cover literature before 1660 (i.e., Medieval or Renaissance); one other must cover literature of the 17th or 18th century (i.e., The Age of Enlightenment); the last can cover either literature before 1660 or literature of the 17th or 18th century.
  
  Students may also take one Colloquium and two substitutions, as long as one of the substitutions covers literature of the same period as the Colloquium it replaces. The other substitution may cover either literature of that same time period or literature of the time period of the other Colloquium.
  
  In either case, one of the courses used as a substitution for either Colloquium will also count towards satisfying the "before 1900" requirement.  Please note that only one Colloquium substitution may be a Shakespeare course.
  
  Please see the substitutions tab of the English section of the Online Course Catalogue for more details.
   
• Two courses in literature before 1900. 
  If you have substituted courses for the Colloquium requirement, one of the substitutions will count towards fulfillment of this requirement. Please see the substitutions page for more details.
   
• A literature elective.
  The literature elective may be chosen from the entire English Department offering, excluding The English Conference.
  .
• Select one of the following options.
  • Option A: THTR UN3150, THTR UN3151, and a dramatic literature seminar.
  • Option B: One course in theatre history and two dramatic literature seminars.
     
• One senior seminar given by the Barnard English Department. STUDENTS MAY ONLY TAKE ONE SEMINAR OR PROJECT A SEMESTER, AND MUST STRUCTURE THEIR GRADUATION PLANNING ACCORDINGLY.
  Seniors who wish to substitute an Independent Study for a senior seminar should consult the Chair of the English Department. Permission is given rarely and only to proposals meeting the criteria specified under the guidelines for ENGL BC3999 Independent Study. Please see the forms page for more details.
• A Senior Project.
  This may be written in a Barnard senior seminar with a focus on dramatic literature; written in a dramatic literature course that is combined with ENGL BC3996 Special Project in English; or, in rare cases, written in ENGL BC3999 Independent Study.
   
• A course in American literature.
  It can simultaneously fulfill other requirements (elective, before 1900, etc.) where appropriate.

A minor consists of at least five English courses that are a minimum of 15 credits in total. Three of the five must be qualifying Barnard or Columbia courses. Please note that Comparative Literature courses cannot count towards the minor.

• One course on Chaucer, Shakespeare, or Milton. Qualifying courses can include the following.
  • Chaucer: ENGL BC3154 or BC3155
  • Shakespeare: ENTH BC3136, ENGL BC3163 or BC3164
  • Milton: ENGL BC3167
     
• Two additional courses in literature before 1900.
   
• Two electives from the entire English Department offering, excluding the English Conference.