Undergraduate majors in English are required to take 40 units (usually 10 courses) for a BA in English with an emphasis in either literature or creative writing.
All majors must take three introductory courses:
- ENGL 261g English Literature to 1800 Units: 4
- ENGL 262g English Literature since 1800 Units: 4
- ENGL 263g American Literature Units: 4
Additional Requirements
Students should take at least two introductory courses before enrolling in upper-division literature courses or creative writing workshops.
Majors emphasizing English literature must take seven upper-division courses, including two courses in literature written before 1800, one course in 19th-century literature, one course in American literature, and two electives.
Majors emphasizing creative writing must take seven upper-division courses, including two introductory creative writing workshops in poetry and prose, and a third workshop at the 400-level. The remaining upperdivision courses must include one course in literature written before 1900, one course in literature written after 1900 and one elective.
All major students must complete ENGL 491 Senior Seminar in Literary Studies .
What are you looking for?
English major.
Within the English major, there are two tracks: Literature (ENGL) or Creative Writing (CRWT) . Each of these tracks will prepare you for a B.A. in English.
Major Requirements
Please note requirements for this major have been changed in 2023:
If you have been admitted in the program as of 2023 or are a prospective student, please see “Major Requirements Fall 2023 and on”.
If you have been admitted in the program before 2023, please see “Major Requirements pre-Fall 2023”.
Note that students under the ‘pre-Fall 2023’ requirements may opt to change their requirements to the that of the 2023 catalogue year. See advisor for more information.
Literature Track
- One sophomore seminar: ENGL 240
- Two courses in early literatures (one lower-division and one upper division)
- Two courses in later literatures (one lower-division and one upper-division)
- Race, gender, and/or sexuality
- Genre and media studies
- Two upper-division electives
- One senior seminar: ENGL 491
Creative Writing Track
- One course in early literatures
- One course in later literatures
- One course in interpretive lenses
- One introductory poetry workshop
- One introductory prose workshop
- One 400-level workshop
- One contemporary/modern literature course
- One upper-division elective
All majors take three introductory courses:
- ENGL-261g “English Literature to 1800”
- ENGL-262g “English Literature since 1800”
- ENGL-263g “American Literature”
All three courses should be done or in progress of being done before enrolling in upper-division courses or workshops.
- Two courses in Literature written before 1800
- One course in 19th-century literature
- One course in American literature
- One senior seminar
- One course in literature written before 1900
- One course in literature written after 1900
Finalized course lists for major requirements pre-Fall 2023
Finalized course lists for major requirements Fall 2023 and on
Course Plans
Dive into our sample course plans to get an idea of what your schedule would look like.
Double Majoring
An English degree can help prepare you for a career in entertainment, journalism, business, technology, law, medicine, public policy, or many other fields. Because of this, many of our students combine English with other majors for a double major. While students cannot double major in Literature and Creative Writing, since they each belong to the single English major, it is possible to combine a major in English with a major in our interdisciplinary Narrative Studies program.
Getting Involved
Students in the English major participate in overseas studies through USC Dornsife to study Anglophone literature on many continents in many countries. In recent semesters, students have taken classes like “Satire, Scandal, and Society, 1700-1740” at Queen Mary University of London, “Twentieth-Century Children’s Fiction” at the National University of Ireland in Galway, and “Romance to Realism” at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
As part of your application to study abroad, you will select courses to be pre-approved by your academic adviser to meet your major requirements.
Visit dornsife.usc.edu/english-overseas/ to explore your opportunities abroad.
The English Honors Program is open to students in English Literature and in Creative Writing. The program provides a unique opportunity to pursue in depth a critical project of your own design. If you are thinking about applying to graduate school or professional school (such as law school) you will find the program especially rewarding. The Honors Thesis is a critical research project and typically runs upwards of 40 pages. Upon successful completion of a critical Senior Honors Thesis your USC transcript will record departmental honors.
Learn more about the Honors Thesis Program
Our students complete internships and volunteerships tutoring students at neighborhood elementary schools with the Joint Education Project, assisting with faculty research and research at USC Libraries, volunteering on political campaigns, and working in publishing, marketing, and media. These opportunities complement the intensive study and professionalization on campus in classes and co-curricular activities, and they guide students toward the diverse set of careers open to those with liberal arts educations.
Students can find these opportunities through the USC Career Center at careers.usc.edu , and students majoring in English are eligible to apply for the USC Dornsife Gateway Internship Program .
Students majoring in English are eligible to apply to our progressive degree program in Literary Editing and Publishing and earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USC Dornsife in just five years.
Learn more about the progressive degree program
Graduates of our programs in English Literature and Creative Writing have pursued graduate school; published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; worked in publishing and social media; pursued law school; and worked at film and television production companies in Los Angeles. Alumni who pursue graduate school have enrolled in education programs, the top MFA programs across the country, and research-based programs overseas.
Please share your stories, updates, and projects with us by contacting our undergraduate student coordinators .
Additional Resources
For advisement and to declare a major in the Department of English, please contact one of our undergraduate student coordinators.
Contact Details
Usc department of english.
3501 Trousdale Parkway Taper Hall of Humanities 404 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0354
Office Hours
Monday – Friday
8:30am- 5pm
Times may adjust in accordance with university holidays.
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CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP
This workshop is designed for those with little or no experience in creative writing but eager to give it a try! During our four weeks together, we’ll fully immerse ourselves in the art and craft of creative writing, working collaboratively and doing activities designed to ignite our imaginations. Each week will offer the opportunity to experiment with four genres: the personal essay (also known as the “college application essay”), creative nonfiction, flash fiction, and the short story, respectively. In the process, we’ll learn about the literary techniques of accomplished writers, learn to “read like a writer” and “write like a reader,” and even take a field trip or two to find our inspiration in the city of Los Angeles. You’ll also receive constructive feedback from peers and your instructors to help you to discover your own writing voice. Let’s write!
PROGRAM DATES June 15 – July 12, 2025
PREREQUISITES None
COURSE DRESS CODE None
RECOMMENDED International students who are non-native English speakers need meet the program’s English Requirement
DAILY SCHEDULE & ACTIVITIES MONDAY – FRIDAY 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Classes in session 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Classes in session
COURSE OVERVIEW
- Produce a portfolio of your own work, including a polished personal essay suitable for college applications
- Meet other writers and share your work in a collaborative workshop environment
- Learn the benefits of revision and see the evolution of your writing
- Take creativity-inspiring field trips to artistic venues in L.A.
- Gain skills and craft approaches you can carry into your future writing life
Topic of Study
- Personal essay
- Creative nonfiction
- Flash fiction
- Short story
- Literary techniques of accomplished authors
HEAR FROM OUR FORMER STUDENTS
COMMENTS
We offer a broad range of courses in English, American and Anglophone literature of all periods and genres, but also in related areas such as creative and expository writing, literature and visual arts, ethnic literature and cultural studies, the history of the English language and of literary criticism, and literary and cultural theory.
The literature and creative writing student takes 64 units in all, 32 in literature, 24 in creative writing workshops and seminars and 8 units of dissertation studies credits.
The Writing Program has principal responsibility for preparing USC students to write successfully in their academic and professional careers. Our pedagogical approach emphasizes process and rests on three pillars: dialogue and interaction as the core of a writing class; writing workshops as the primary mode of instruction; and individual or ...
Majors emphasizing English literature must take seven upper-division courses, including two courses in literature written before 1800, one course in 19th-century literature, one course in American literature, and two electives.
Within the English major, there are two tracks: Literature (ENGL) or Creative Writing (CRWT). Each of these tracks will prepare you for a B.A. in English.
Learn the benefits of revision and see the evolution of your writing; Take creativity-inspiring field trips to artistic venues in L.A. Gain skills and craft approaches you can carry into your future writing life; Topic of Study. Personal essay; Creative nonfiction; Flash fiction; Short story; Literary techniques of accomplished authors