Literature and Cultural Theory

The undergraduate program in Literature and Cultural Theory offers courses in literature from different countries, genres, time periods, and ethnic and cultural traditions. You’ll get the opportunity to study with nationally and internationally acclaimed faculty as you hone your skills as a reader, writer, and critic. Our flexible program helps you tailor your course of study to your specific interests, while also providing skills that are valued in many professions. Most importantly, this program allows you to explore your deep love of literature and the written word.

Graduates from our program pursue successful careers in law, education, health care, journalism, public relations, development, human resources, and business, to name only a few.

Track Requirements

Track A: Literary and Cultural Theory

ENGLISH 215Introduction to English Studies3
Select one of the following in English literature from before 1900 and one in pre-1800 literature:6
ENGLISH 301Survey of English Literature, Beginnings to 1500
ENGLISH 302Survey of English Literature, 1500-1660
ENGLISH 303Survey of English Literature, 1660-1798
ENGLISH 304Survey of English Literature, 1798-1900
ENGLISH 452Shakespeare
ENGLISH 454Milton
ENGLISH 456Writers in English Literature, 1500-1660:
ENGLISH 457Writers in English Literature, 1660-1798:
ENGLISH 458Writers in English Literature, 1798-1900:
ENGLISH 504Studies in Literature, 1660-1800:
ENGLISH 505Studies in Literature, 1800-1900:
Select one of the following:3
ENGLISH 307Survey of American Literature to 1865
ENGLISH 308Survey of American Literature, 1865-1965
ENGLISH 460Writers in American Literature, 1500-1900:
Select one of the following:3
ENGLISH 378Survey of Current Literary and Cultural Theory
ENGLISH 390Classical Film Criticism and Theory
ENGLISH 394Theories of Digital Culture:
ENGLISH 395Feminist Media Criticism and Theory:
ENGLISH 402Theories of Language and Literature:
ENGLISH 432The Rhetoric of Argument
ENGLISH 547Studies in Theory and Criticism:
ENGLISH 626Seminar in Critical Theory:
Select two of the following:6
ENGLISH 306Survey of Irish Literature
ENGLISH 332LGBTQ+ Literature:
ENGLISH 372Survey of American Indian Literature
ENGLISH 373Survey of Ethnic Minority Literature
ENGLISH 374Survey of U.S. Latino/a Literature
ENGLISH 375Survey of Asian American Literature
ENGLISH 376Survey of African-American Literature to 1930
ENGLISH 377Survey of African-American Literature, 1930 to the Present
ENGLISH 381World Literatures Written in English:
ENGLISH 463Writers in African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 465Women Writers:
ENGLISH 517Studies in African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 518Studies in Irish Literature:
ENGLISH 520Studies in American Indian Literature:
ENGLISH 522Studies in World Literature Written in English:
ENGLISH 523Studies in U.S. Latino/a Literature:
ENGLISH 524Studies in Asian-American Literature:
ENGLISH 622Seminar in Irish Literature:
ENGLISH 628Seminar in Literature by Women:
ENGLISH 629Seminar in Literature and Sexuality:
ENGLISH 631Seminar in African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 632Seminar in American Indian Literature:
Select one of the following:3
ENGLISH 415Fiction Workshop
ENGLISH 416Poetry Workshop
ENGLISH 430Advanced Writing Workshop
ENGLISH 431Topics in Advanced Communications:
ENGLISH 433Creative Nonfiction for Publication
ENGLISH 434Editing and Publishing
ENGLISH 435Rhetoric and Professional Writing
ENGLISH 436Technical Documentation
ENGLISH 437Project Management for Professional Writers
ENGLISH 438Advanced Research Writing
ENGLISH 615Advanced Workshop in Fiction
ENGLISH 616Advanced Workshop in Poetry:
Select one of the following capstone seminars (satisfies L&S research requirement): 3
ENGLISH 622Seminar in Irish Literature:
ENGLISH 623Seminar in American Literature:
ENGLISH 624Seminar in Modern Literature:
ENGLISH 625Seminar in Literary History:
ENGLISH 626Seminar in Critical Theory:
ENGLISH 627Seminar in Literature and Culture:
ENGLISH 628Seminar in Literature by Women:
ENGLISH 629Seminar in Literature and Sexuality:
ENGLISH 630Seminar in Literature and the Other Arts:
ENGLISH 631Seminar in African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 632Seminar in American Indian Literature:
ENGLISH 633Seminar in Rhetoric and Professional Writing:
ENGLISH 685Honors Seminar:
9 credits in English electives are required for the major. Students can take 9 credits at the 300 level and above, or 6 credits at the 300 level and above, and 3 credits in a 200-level literature course selected from the following:9
ENGLISH 222English Writers, 1800 to the Present
ENGLISH 243Introduction to Literature by Women:
ENGLISH 245The Life, Times, and Work of a Literary Artist:
ENGLISH 247Literature and Human Experience:
ENGLISH 248Literature and Contemporary Life:
ENGLISH 251Fantasy in Literature:
ENGLISH 253Science Fiction:
ENGLISH 260Introduction to Poetry:
ENGLISH 261Introduction to Short Stories:
ENGLISH 262Introduction to Drama:
ENGLISH 263Introduction to the Novel:
ENGLISH 268Introduction to Cultural Studies:
ENGLISH 269Literary Forms and Genres:
ENGLISH 276Introduction to American Indian Literature:
ENGLISH 277Introduction to Ethnic Minority Literature:
ENGLISH 278Introduction to World Literatures Written in English:
ENGLISH 279Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Literature:
ENGLISH 280Introduction to Asian-American Literature:
ENGLISH 281Introduction to African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 285Modern Irish Language and Literature in Translation
Total Credits36
Contact

Prospective Undergraduate Students (not yet enrolled at UWM)

Prospective students, contact our admissions counselor at let-sci@uwm.edu or 414-229-7711.

Current Undergraduate Students

General questions such as how to declare, how to change a major, general education requirements, etc. should be directed to the college advising office at ls-advising@uwm.edu or 414-229-4654.

Specific questions about English, such as research opportunities, internship opportunities, major requirements, etc., should be directed to the English department.

Interested in this track?

For more information about the Literature & Cultural Theory track, contact Professor Jason Puskar by email or in their office at Curtin Hall 585.

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