Apr 20, 2025  
Undergraduate Catalog 2021-2022 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2021-2022

Concentration in English: Foundations for Adolescent Education (42 credits)


Return to Programs and Courses in English  

The Concentration in English: Foundations for Adolescent Education (42 cr.) is designed to give students the foundation in literary studies, writing, and linguistics that is required for teaching English in grades 7-12.  This concentration alone does not meet the teaching certification requirements for New York State and New York City public schools.  Students interested in meeting these certification requirements will take this course sequence as part of the BA  program in Adolescent English, Grades 7-12 jointly offered by the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Education. Students interested in the BA program in Adolescent English, Grades 7-12  should declare this concentration of the major in English before declaring the joint major with the School of Education. Students who do not wish to pursue certification do not need to contact the School of Education and should simply follow the course of study set out in this English concentration.  All Majors in this concentration take two Introductory Courses (6 credits): ENGL 22000 Introduction to Writing about Literature (3 cr), which is a pre-requisite for all other courses in the major, and ENGL 25200 Introduction to Literary studies (3 cr.), which must be taken within a semester of declaring the major. Students are required to take six literature courses (18 cr): four survey courses (ENGL 30300 Western Literary Backgrounds, ENGL 30400 Survey of British and Irish Literature, ENGL 306 Introduction to Literary Theory, ENGL 30700 Survey of American Literature), one course in Postcolonial literature, African American literature Native American literature, Asian American literature, Latina/o American, multi-ethnic American literature, or literatures from non-European traditions (ENGL 31700, ENGL 31800, ENGL 32000, ENGL 32100, ENGL 32300, ENGL 32400, ENGL 32500, ENGL 32600, ENGL 32700, or ENGL 32900), and one course in Shakespeare (ENGL 35200, 35300, 35400). Students are required to take one linguistics course (ENGL 28000: The Structure of Modern English) and two writing courses (including ENGL 30100: Composition Theory and Practice). The remaining three courses (9 cr.) are electives, one of which must be a 400-level advanced seminar, which will involve a substantial research or creative project. Students have the option of taking one course (3 credits) outside the English department from a menu of courses (see below), an independent study with a full-time faculty member, an internship, and/or an Honors seminar if they qualify.

Hunter Core Requirement


Several courses within this major may fulfill parts of the Hunter Core Requirement (CUNY Common Core Requirement [CCCR], Concurrent Requirements). When selecting courses, it may be to a student’s advantage to choose courses that count toward the Hunter Core Requirement and also advance the student on the path to the major. Details on the Hunter Core Requirement can be found here: General Education - Effective Fall 2019   

Courses CUNY Common Core
ENGL 22000   English Composition (EC)

Please note that no more than two courses from any one department will count for the CUNY Common Core Requirement.

Courses Required for the Major


A. Introductory Courses (6 credits)


C. Literature Requirements (6 credits)


D. Required courses in Linguistics (3 credits)


F. Electives (9 credits)


Students in this major are required to take nine credits of elective courses. One elective course must be a 400-level advanced seminar, which can only be taken after achieving 24 credits in the major (see below). The remaining courses must be at the 300-level or above (with the exception of ENGL 28500). All English majors also have the option to take one of their elective courses in another department. In order to do this, students must meet all of that department’s prerequisites for the course. Students with double majors may apply the course to one of those majors, but not both. For example, someone majoring in English and History who takes HIST 34251 Britain Since 1689, may count that course toward either the English or History major, not both. Students may choose from the courses and departments listed below.

Note: To take a course in one of the following departments and programs that is not on the list, or in another department, students must have prior written permission from an English advisor and must meet all the prerequisites for the course. Permission will only be granted for 300-level courses in other departments.

400-level Advanced Seminar


All English majors must take a 400-level Advanced Seminar as one of their electives. In order to be eligible for the course, students must first complete at least 24 credits in the major and meet the prerequisites for the specific Seminar (listed below). 

ENGL 49000 Advanced Seminar in Literature and Criticism (Prerequisites: ENGL 22000; ENGL 25200; ENGL 30400; ENGL 30600; ENGL 30700; one of ENGL 31700, 31800, 32000, 32100, 32300, 32400, 32500, 32600, 32700, or 32900)

ENGL 49200 Advanced Seminar in Linguistics and/or Rhetoric (Prerequisites: ENGL 22000; ENGL 25200; ENGL 28000; ENGL 30100: one of ENGL 34000, ENGL 34100, ENGL 34200, or ENGL 34300; and one of ENGL 33000, ENGL 33200, ENGL 33300, ENGL 34600, ENGL 34700, ENGL 34800)

ENGL 48400 Advanced Seminar in Creative Writing (Prerequisites: ENGL 22000; ENGL 25200; ENGL 28500; ENGL 30400; ENGL 30700; and both a level 1 and 2 workshop in the student’s chosen genre)

Students may take any Advanced Seminar for which they meet the prerequisites. If eligible, students may take the Honors Seminar (ENGL 49400) in place of or in addition to one of the Advanced Seminars. In rare cases, students may take ENGL 48500 Individual Tutorial Project instead of an Advanced Seminar, but only by permission of an advisor and the professor supervising the project.

Teacher Education Pathway


Students planning to teach this subject in grades 7-12 should look at the School of Education: Program List  for information about their programs that lead to the recommendation for New York State Initial Certification required to be a lead teacher in NYS public schools.