Literature (Course 21L)

Literature Section

Bachelor of Science in Literature

General Institute Requirements (GIRs)

The General Institute Requirements include a Communication Requirement that is integrated into both the HASS Requirement and the requirements of each major; see details below.

Summary of Subject Requirements Subjects
Science Requirement 6
Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement [between three and six subjects can be from the Departmental Program]; at least two of these subjects must be designated as communication-intensive (CI-H) to fulfill the Communication Requirement. 8
Restricted Electives in Science and Technology (REST) Requirement 2
Laboratory Requirement (12 units) 1
Total GIR Subjects Required for SB Degree 17
Physical Education Requirement
Swimming requirement, plus four physical education courses for eight points.

Departmental Program

Choose at least two subjects in the major that are designated as communication-intensive (CI-M) to fulfill the Communication Requirement.
Required SubjectsUnits
Select three of the following seminars36
Literary Methods (CI-M)
Studies in Fiction (CI-M)
Studies in Drama
Studies in Poetry (CI-M)
Major Authors (CI-M)
Studies in Film (CI-M)
Problems in Cultural Interpretation (CI-M)
Studies in Literary History (CI-M)
Media in Cultural Context (CI-M)
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
Restricted Electives
Select seven additional subjects to form a coherent program 1,278-84
Units in Major114-120
Unrestricted Electives 396-102
Units in Major That Also Satisfy the GIRs(36-72)
Total Units Beyond the GIRs Required for SB Degree180

The units for any subject that counts as one of the 17 GIR subjects cannot also be counted as units required beyond the GIRs.
1

The major will consist of at least 10 subjects including no more than 3 introductory subjects, at least 3 intermediate subjects, and at least 3 seminars. A minimum of 3 subjects in the overall degree program must focus on pre-1900 texts.

2

Subjects focusing on pre-1900 texts, introductory subjects, and intermediate subjects are listed below. A maximum of 3 subjects may be selected from among the introductory subjects.

3

This chart has been calculated based on an overlap of 36 units (three subjects) between the HASS General Institute Requirement and the departmental requirements. Students who develop a program of study with more overlap will be able to select more unrestricted electives to meet the number of total units beyond the GIRs required for an SB degree. 

Restricted Electives

Subjects focusing on pre-1900 texts

21L.001Foundations of Western Literature: Homer to Dante12
21L.002Foundations of Western Literature: From Shakespeare to the Present 112
21L.003Reading Fiction 112
21L.004Reading Poetry 112
21L.005[J]Introduction to Drama 112
21L.006American Literature 112
21L.009Shakespeare12
21L.010[J]Writing with Shakespeare12
21L.012Forms of Western Narrative 112
21L.014[J]Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Studies12
21L.018Introduction to English Literature 112
21L.019Introduction to European and Latin American Fiction 112
21L.021Comedy 112
21L.024[J]Literature and Existentialism12
21L.026[J]Film & Existentialism12
21L.027[J]Children and Culture 112
21L.030A Random Walk Through Literature and Film12
21L.032[J]Afrofuturism, Magical Realism, and Other Otherwise Worlds12
21L.040[J]Foundations of East Asian Literature and Culture: From Confucius to the Beats12
21L.050Reading Nonfiction 112
21L.320Big Books 16
21L.325Small Wonders 16
21L.338Reading in the Original 16
21L.350Science and Literature 16
21L.419Books to Grow By 112
21L.420Gateway to British Literature 112
21L.431Shakespeare on Film and Media12
21L.436[J]Latin America and the Global Sixties: Counterculture and Revolution 112
21L.437[J]The Short Form: Literature and New Media Cultures in the Hispanic World 112
21L.449The Wilds of Literature 112
21L.450Global Environmental Literature 112
21L.453[J]Political Utopias and Dystopias 112
21L.455Ancient Authors12
21L.456The Bible: Old Testament12
21L.457The Bible: New Testament12
21L.458The Bible12
21L.460Arthurian Literature12
21L.471Major Novels 112
21L.474[J]Representing Girlhood 112
21L.475Enlightenment and Modernity 112
21L.484[J]Rap Theory and Practice12
21L.490[J]Introduction to the Classics of Russian Literature 112
21L.494[J]Classics of Chinese Literature in Translation 112
21L.501The American Novel 112
21L.512American Authors 112
21L.580Translations 112
21L.591Literary London 19
21L.600[J]Reading Masterpieces of Classical East Asian Literature and Philosophy12
21L.601[J]Old English and Beowulf12
21L.609Greek Readings6
21L.610Advanced Greek Readings6
21L.613Latin Readings6
21L.614Advanced Latin Readings6
21L.620[J]Introduction to French Literature 112
21L.622[J]Understanding Contemporary French Politics12
21L.623[J]The Invention of French Theory: A History of Transatlantic Intellectual Life since 194512
21L.624[J]Childhood and Youth in French and Francophone Cultures 112
21L.625[J]French Literature and the Goncourt Prize12
21L.626[J]New Culture of Gender: Queer France12
21L.627[J]French Pop Music12
21L.628[J]French Feminist Literature: Yesterday and Today12
21L.629[J]Social and Literary Trends in Contemporary Short French Fiction12
21L.630[J]Understanding Contemporary French Politics12
21L.631[J]The Invention of French Theory: A History of Transatlantic Intellectual Life since 194512
21L.632[J]North America Through French Eyes12
21L.634[J]Debates and Controversies in French and Francophone Literature and Culture12
21L.637[J]Power and Culture: Utopias and Dystopias in Spain and Latin America 112
21L.650[J]Franz Kafka: An Author for the 21st Century12
21L.702Studies in Fiction 112
21L.703[J]Studies in Drama 112
21L.704Studies in Poetry 112
21L.705Major Authors 112
21L.707Problems in Cultural Interpretation 112
21L.709Studies in Literary History 112
21L.720Chaucer's Canterbury Tales12
1

Topics class that may or may not be focused on pre-1900 texts. Please consult with an advisor in Literature.

Introductory Subjects

21L.000[J]Writing About Literature12
21L.001Foundations of Western Literature: Homer to Dante12
21L.002Foundations of Western Literature: From Shakespeare to the Present12
21L.003Reading Fiction12
21L.004Reading Poetry12
21L.005[J]Introduction to Drama12
21L.006American Literature12
21L.007World Literatures12
21L.008[J]Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies12
21L.009Shakespeare12
21L.010[J]Writing with Shakespeare12
21L.011Introduction to Film Studies12
21L.012Forms of Western Narrative12
21L.013[J]The Supernatural in Music, Literature and Culture12
21L.014[J]Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Studies12
21L.015Children's Literature12
21L.017The Art of the Probable12
21L.018Introduction to English Literature12
21L.019Introduction to European and Latin American Fiction12
21L.020[J]Globalization: The Good, the Bad and the In-Between12
21L.021Comedy12
21L.024[J]Literature and Existentialism12
21L.025A History of the Book from Papyrus to Pixel12
21L.026[J]Film & Existentialism12
21L.030A Random Walk Through Literature and Film12
21L.032[J]Afrofuturism, Magical Realism, and Other Otherwise Worlds12
21L.040[J]Foundations of East Asian Literature and Culture: From Confucius to the Beats12
21L.050Reading Nonfiction12

Intermediate Subjects

21L.400Medical Narratives: Compelling Accounts from Antiquity to Grey's Anatomy12
21L.430Popular Culture and Narrative12
21L.431Shakespeare on Film and Media12
21L.432[J]Understanding Television12
21L.433Film Styles and Genres12
21L.434Science Fiction and Fantasy12
21L.435[J]Literature and Film12
21L.436[J]Latin America and the Global Sixties: Counterculture and Revolution12
21L.437[J]The Short Form: Literature and New Media Cultures in the Hispanic World12
21L.449The Wilds of Literature12
21L.450Global Environmental Literature12
21L.451Literary Theory12
21L.452[J]Literature and Philosophy12
21L.455Ancient Authors12
21L.438[J]Intersectional Feminist Memoir12
21L.456The Bible: Old Testament12
21L.457The Bible: New Testament12
21L.458The Bible12
21L.460Arthurian Literature12
21L.471Major Novels12
21L.475Enlightenment and Modernity12
21L.480[J]Identities and Intersections: Queer Literatures12
21L.481[J]HIV/AIDS in American Culture12
21L.485Modern Fiction12
21L.486[J]Modern Drama12
21L.487Modern Poetry12
21L.488Contemporary Literature12
21L.489[J]Interactive Narrative12
21L.490[J]Introduction to the Classics of Russian Literature12
21L.491[J]Gateway to Korean Literature and Culture12
21L.494[J]Classics of Chinese Literature in Translation12
21L.500[J]How We Got to Hamilton12
21L.501The American Novel12
21L.504[J]Race and Identity in American Literature12
21L.512American Authors12
21L.580Translations12
21L.590[J]The Spanish Incubator9
21L.591Literary London9
21L.592[J]Race, Place, and Modernity in the Americas9
21L.600[J]Reading Masterpieces of Classical East Asian Literature and Philosophy12
21L.601[J]Old English and Beowulf12
21L.607Greek I6
21L.608Greek II6
21L.609Greek Readings6
21L.610Advanced Greek Readings6
21L.611Latin I6
21L.612Latin II6
21L.613Latin Readings6
21L.614Advanced Latin Readings6
21L.620[J]Introduction to French Literature12
21L.622[J]Understanding Contemporary French Politics12
21L.625[J]French Literature and the Goncourt Prize12
21L.626[J]New Culture of Gender: Queer France12
21L.627[J]French Pop Music12
21L.628[J]French Feminist Literature: Yesterday and Today12
21L.629[J]Social and Literary Trends in Contemporary Short French Fiction12
21L.630[J]Understanding Contemporary French Politics12
21L.631[J]The Invention of French Theory: A History of Transatlantic Intellectual Life since 194512
21L.632[J]North America Through French Eyes12
21L.634[J]Debates and Controversies in French and Francophone Literature and Culture12
21L.636[J]Introduction to Contemporary Hispanic Literature and Film12
21L.637[J]Power and Culture: Utopias and Dystopias in Spain and Latin America12
21L.638[J]Literature and Social Conflict: Perspectives on Spain12
21L.639[J]Globalization and its Discontents: Spanish-speaking Nations12
21L.650[J]Franz Kafka: An Author for the 21st Century12