Literature Major

Students who major in literature may choose either the general literature major or the intensive literature major. The intensive literature major is recommended particularly for students who plan to continue their studies in graduate school.

Major Details

Standard Literature Major

Literature language proficiency requirement:

• One year (three quarters or the equivalent) of college level study of a non-English language or demonstrated reading ability at this level

Two lower-division courses:

• Literature 1, Literary Interpretation: close reading and analysis of literary texts
• One Literature 60/61-series course: categories, methodologies, and problems of literary study or one Literature 80/81-series course: topical, thematic, and comparative study of literary texts

Ten upper-division courses:

• Literature 101, Theory and Interpretation: contemporary approaches to literary and cultural theories
• Literature 102, Translation Theory: an examination of translation and its role in redefining meanings across epochs and cultures or one upper-division course in a non-English literature studied in the original
• Six upper-division courses: one in each of six critical approaches to the study of literature
• Two upper-division literature electives

Upper-Division Distribution Requirements:

Among the ten upper-division courses, at least two must focus on literature written before the year 1750; one on non-Western literature or literature in a global perspective; and one on the study of poetry.

All literature majors must complete the senior comprehensive (exit) requirement. One of the upper-division courses may be a senior seminar, which may be used to satisfy the campus senior comprehensive (exit) requirement. In exceptional cases, and with faculty permission, students may write a senior thesis to satisfy the exit requirement.

Intensive Literature Major

Fourteen courses, including two upper-division courses in a second-language literature, are required:

Two lower-division and twelve upper-division courses, and completion of the literature language requirement are required for the Intensive Literature major. One of the upper-division courses may be a senior seminar, which may be used to satisfy the campus senior comprehensive (exit) requirement. Two upper-division courses must be in a second-language literature studied in the original language.

Letter Grade Requirement

Letter grades are required for 75 percent of the upper-division courses applied toward the literature major. The senior seminar or senior thesis must be taken for a letter grade.

Honors

Honors in the literature major are awarded to graduating seniors who have earned a 3.70 to 3.89 grade-point average in their upper-division literature courses. Highest honors in the literature major are awarded to graduating seniors who have earned a 3.90 or higher grade-point average in their upper-division literature courses. Honors are not awarded in the minor.

Literature Language Requirement

The Literature Department language requirement has two parts:

1. Reading proficiency in a second language 

Students must present evidence of one of the following:

or

2. Completion of LIT 102 Translation Theory; or one upper-division course in a non-English literature studied in the original language.

In order to be able to enroll in LIT 102, Translation Theory, during their junior year, we recommend that students complete the language proficiency requirement by the end of sophomore year.

Students proposing to take an upper-division course in a non-English language literature must have speaking, reading, and writing proficiency in the appropriate language, except in ancient languages (Greek, Latin) where only reading knowledge is required.

Literature Major Concentrations

The Literature Department offers three concentrations, each providing exposure to a variety of literary traditions and focusing on the mastery of six critical approaches. The concentrations are:

General Literature

Broad exposure to a variety of world literary traditions.

Language Literature

Study of literature within the framework of particular languages or national and regional traditions, studied in the original language. Enrollment in upper-division language literature courses normally requires language proficiency at the third-year college level.

French literature

The study of French and Francophone literatures, languages, and cultural practices of France, Africa, and the Caribbean.

German literature

The study of the literature, language, and cultural practices of the German-speaking areas of central Europe including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Greek and/or Latin literature

The study of the literature, languages, and cultural practices of ancient Greece and Rome. Students may choose to concentrate in Greek or Latin or both.

Italian literature

The study of Italian literature, language, and cultural practices from the Middle Ages to the present.

Spanish/Latin American/Latino literatures

The study of literatures, language, and cultural practices of Spain, Latin America, and Latino populations in the United States.

Creative Writing

Exposure to a variety of world literary traditions, along with upper-division creative writing workshops.

The concentration in Creative Writing offers a sequence of workshops, from introductory through advanced levels, in both poetry and fiction. The Creative Writing concentration requires an application; interested students must take at least one lower-division creative writing workshop at UC Santa Cruz before applying to the concentration.

Literature Distribution Requirements

The upper-division courses for the literature major must between them fulfill the distribution requirements specified below. Some courses may be used to fulfill more than one distribution requirement, as specified below.

• Two upper-division courses on literature written before 1750.
• One upper-division course on non-Western literature or literature in a global perspective.
• One upper-division course on poetry and poetics (may not be a creative writing course).
• A senior seminar (a course in the LIT 190 series) or a senior thesis (LIT 195), which satisfies the campus comprehensive requirement (see below).

The course descriptions in the General Catalog specify the distribution requirements satisfied by each course.

Some courses satisfy more than one distribution requirement.

A list of annual course offerings indicating distribution codes for each course is available in the department office and on the Literature Department website.

Please note that, as of fall 2022, students are no longer required to take classes in each of the critical approaches to literature.

Declare the Major

All students must complete LIT 1, Literary Interpretation, or its equivalent before declaring the Literature major or minor. Students are encouraged to declare the major or minor as soon as they have completed the LIT 1 requirement.

1. Log into MyUCSC and submit the Petition for Major/Minor via MyUCSC. 
2. Schedule a meeting with a Literature Department adviser in order to review and complete the declaration form. Advising appointments may be scheduled through the Navigate app or Navigate Slug Success.

Students should plan to declare the major as soon as they have met the major qualification requirements and/or reached the declaration deadline quarter (prior to completion of the second year or equivalent for students who enter as frosh, or the second quarter at UCSC for junior transfer students), whichever comes first.