Sample First-Year Schedules: English and English: Creative Writing
If you are considering majoring in English or English: Creative Writing, you might try to take ENGL 295 and/or LING 101B in your first year. The former is the required methods course for both majors and carries the Writing Intensive designation. The latter is also required for both majors and partially satisfies the General Education requirement for either Humanities or Social Sciences.
Know, though, that both English major programs are flexible enough that you do not have to take these two courses during your first semester or even your first year. Many English majors focus on General Education requirements and electives their first semester.
Also be aware that several of the English courses that fulfill General Education requirements, such as ENGL 205, ENGL 206A, and ENGL 251, will not count in the English majors. It is great to take these courses, but know that the English majors require higher level courses.
If you have a particularly strong background in literature, you might take a single 300-level literature course your first year. These classes have no prerequisites, and there are often available seats, but these courses can be challenging for new college students. Know that most of these courses will be offered again, usually on a two-year rotation. If given the chance, always choose ENGL 295 or LING 101B over one of these literature courses.
Finally, know that, even if you plan on majoring in English: Creative Writing, you cannot take ENGL 302A, the introduction to creative writing, until you have completed its prerequisite of ENGL 295. Permission of instructor is virtually never granted.
Below please find some examples of first-semester schedules for English majors. There are many variations of a first-semester schedule; the examples are just meant to help you see that there are many ways to reach the same goals.
Example 1:
| Course (credits) | Requirement(s) Met |
|---|---|
ENGL 295—Methods of Advanced Literary Studies (3) LING 101B—Introduction to Linguistics (3) PHYS 101—General Physics with Lab (4) SPAN 101**—Beginning Spanish (3) FSEM 100C7—Sexuality in Southern Literature (3) | Major, WI Major, HUM or SS NSL LANG FSEM |
Example 2:
| Course (credits) | Requirement(s) Met |
|---|---|
FSEM 100A4—Autism in Contemporary Literature and Film (3) EESC 111—Dynamic Earth (4) ENGL 295—Methods of Advanced Literary Studies (3) FREN 101**—Beginning French (3) ENGL 205—The Art of Literature (3) | FSEM NSL Major, WI LANG AL, WI* |
Example 3:
Athletes for varsity sports must register for the 400-level course of the sport. Practice times for varsity sports can vary, but generally speaking, athletes should allow for enough time to get to and from practice on weekdays from 3 – 6 p.m. Please check with the individual coach for your sport to verify specific practice times each semester.
| Course (credits) | Requirement(s) Met |
|---|---|
LING 101B—Introduction to Linguistics (3) GEOG 110—Introduction to Weather and Climate (4) FSEM 100M8—Down the Rabbit Hole (3) ANTH 101—Introduction to Cultural & Social Anthropology (3) PHYD 406—Intercollegiate Cross Country: Men (1) | Major, HUM or SS NSL FSEM SS Elective |
*Please note that not all sections of a course may have the Speaking Intensive (SI) or Writing Intensive (WI) attributes. These designations for some courses are dependent on instructor and semester, and are listed in the Banner description for the semester in which you are registering.
**This particular course is in a discipline that allows students with demonstrated competence upon admission to UMW (such as AP/IB credit, dual enrollment, etc.) to begin courses at a higher level. Talk to your Student Success Coordinator if you believe you should start at a higher level.