Q: Does AP credit count toward the major?
A: No, AP credit does not count toward the major.
Q: Do FWIS courses count toward the major?
A: FWIS classes will NOT count as electives toward the English major.
Q: What is Degree Works?
A: Degree Works is a web-based, degree-auditing, and tracking tool that enables students and advisors to evaluate academic progress towards graduation in accordance to university and major requirements outlined in the General Announcements. This tool will allow students to quickly and easily identify which requirements have been satisfied, and which requirements are outstanding. In addition, Degree Works can be used to perform a "what if" analysis to determine how current coursework on a student transcript would be used if a different major was selected. The English Department utilizes Degree Works to track students' progression through fulfilling major requirements.
Q: What are departmental field/distribution courses?
A: “Departmental field/distribution courses” refer to the groupings of field courses required for the major (pre-1800; pre-1900; and noncanonical). These courses should be taken at the 300 or 400 level with the exception of noncanonical courses, which can be taken at the 200 or 300 level; a few non-capstone 400 level courses may qualify. Creative writing courses and FWIS courses do NOT count toward field distribution. Consult website for approved field requirements by semester.
Q: What counts toward the pre-1800 requirement?
A: Courses at the 300 level with majority emphasis in the period before 1800 that are taken in the English department.
Q: What counts toward the noncanonical requirement?
A: Courses at the 200 or 300 level featuring Angloplone or U.S literatures with significant focus on ethnic and minority literatures; non-western and postcolonial literatures; or gender and sexuality studies.
Q: What are departmental major core courses?
A: "Departmental major core courses" refer to the required sequence of ENGL 200; ENGL 300; and a ENGL 400-level capstone course.
Q: Can an approved English capstone course also qualify for another department requirement (ie: pre-1800 or non-canonical)?
A: No. Our capstone courses will no longer simultaneously serve to fulfill another English requirement, such as pre-1800, or non-canonical.
Q: Do foreign language literature courses count for the English major?
A: Students may petition the DUS for up to 2 foreign language literature courses to count toward total hours for the major. They do not meet nor satisfy department major core requirements (ENGL 200; ENGL 300; 400-level capstone).
Q: What is Distinction in Research and Creative Work?
A: Students writing theses (both critical and creative) effective AY 2012-13 are eligible to apply for University Distinction in Research and Creative Work, which if awarded, will be noted on commencement program and on the student's transcript, upon graduation. Consult website for requirements and deadlines
Additional Information
Courses repeatable for credit
Some special topics as well as some advanced writing courses may be repeatable for credit, but not always. Consult the General Announcements as to which these are.
Non-literature classes (music, art) will not be applied towards total hours needed for the major.
Non-English Department courses for credit hours towards the major
Students may petition the DUS for permission to apply credit hours for relevant coursework outside the English Department. No more than two courses may be approved.
It is recommended that all English majors take some formal instruction in English or American history. If the student anticipates doing graduate work, he/she should consider courses in historical periods of literature in criticism and literary theory, as well as advanced courses in Latin, French, German, Spanish, etc.
Pass/Fail Guidelines for Undergraduates
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May not take more than one course as pass/fail per semester for each full year of residence (students studying in off-campus programs through Rice are considered to be in residence for the purpose of this rule).
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May not take more than four courses total as pass/fail (even if they are in a five-year degree program).
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May not take more than a total of 14 semester hours as pass/fail.
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May register for only one course as pass/fail in a semester.
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May not take as pass/fail a repeatable course previously taken and designated as pass/fail.
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May not take as pass/fail those courses used to meet the requirements for their major. If students take such courses pass/fail, the Office of the Registrar will replace the P with the letter grade earned during the final degree audit. This same rule and process applies to minors.
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Must designate courses to the Pass/Fail grade mode online, via ESTHER, no later than the posted deadline, usually the end of Week 10 of the semester.
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May not take First-Year Writing-Intensive Seminar (FWIS) courses as Pass/Fail.
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The student has the primary responsibility to understand and satisfy all the requirements for the major, as well as the university degree requirements.
Transfer credits
Transfer credits are governed by the principle of equivalency as stipulated in the General Announcements. Students should always consult with an advisor about study abroad or summer course plans and seek pre-approval for courses taken elsewhere. Some basic guidelines are the following:
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Foreign language literature courses in translation do not automatically transfer as the English department has minimal offerings in this area.
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The department does not grant transfer credit from community colleges; online universities; for-profit universities; or 2 year colleges.
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Transfer course credit earned elsewhere cannot be substituted or accepted for ENGL 200; ENGL 300; or any ENGL capstone course. Courses taken outside of Rice and transferred in can be used to satisfy distribution requirements, assuming the Rice equivalent course is on the Registrar's list of approved D1 courses. Students should obtain approval in writing from the department before taking equivalent courses outside of Rice.
Transfer credit requests should be directed to the Director of Undergraduate Study, English Department
Please expect delays in correspondence if you seek pre-approval for transfer credits during summer recess as the DUS only tentatively pre-approves courses when the university is not in session.
For more detailed information, consult the Rice General Announcements
