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Literature

Gain a broad understanding of literature of different periods and cultures, including literature in translation, as you engage with the rich complexity of the human experience.

Program Overview

As a literature major, you’ll learn to think and write critically across disciplines and gain a broad acquaintance with literatures of different periods and cultures, including literature in translation. Our graduates go on to careers in teaching, publishing and business, and many obtain graduate degrees in law, business, journalism and the fine arts.

Program Options

BA in Literature Requirements
Literature with Rhetoric and Communication Concentration
Literature with Creative Writing Concentration
Literature with Spanish Concentration

Students who complete the major in Literature receive a thorough grounding in literary ideas and methods, competence in particular national literatures, as well as the ability to work across literatures and languages. By engaging literary texts appropriate to one of the country’s most diverse campuses, this major teaches both specialized knowledge and the skills to deepen and broaden knowledge of literature that is new or unfamiliar. The ideal graduate would be able to approach an English-language text from anywhere in the world with a set of intelligent questions and the capacity to produce equally intelligent answers to interpretative problems. By selecting a variety of courses from a variety of headings, students are able to combine courses in criticism and interpretation, in writing and translation, and in English and foreign languages. Students may also be certified to teach.

Unless otherwise noted, courses in Literature are open to all students in the University.

View Degree Requirements (120 Semester Hours)

View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester

Teacher Certification

Students interested in teaching in secondary schools can achieve Texas Teacher Certification in English and/or history and/or composite social studies as part of their majors in either Literature or History. Immediately after being admitted to the University, interested students should meet with an advisor in the Teacher Development Center to receive a certification plan and with an Arts, Humanities, and Technology advisor in Literature or History to receive a degree plan. Further details may be found in the Teacher Certification section of the Undergraduate Catalog.

Fast Track

The Fast Track program is designed to permit exceptional undergraduate students in Arts, Humanities, and Technology majors to begin work on the master’s degree before graduation.

Qualified seniors may take up to 12 semester credit hours of approved graduate courses in the Bass School during their senior year and apply these semester credit hours to their undergraduate degree plans as either major and related courses or electives. The Fast Track courses will also be used to satisfy up to 12 graduate semester credit hours towards the master’s degree.

For further information on the Fast Track program, contact an undergraduate academic advisor.

Minors

To minor in the Arts, Humanities, and Technology, students must take a minimum of 18 semester credit hours for the minor, 9 of which must be upper-division semester credit hours. Students who take a minor will be expected to meet the normal prerequisites in courses making up the minor, and should maintain a minimum GPA of 2.000 on a 4.00 scale (C average). Core courses offered by the school may count as lower-division semester credit hours toward the minor. Students may choose to minor in any of the following fields of study:

Explore Graduate Programs →

Students read Reunion: The Dallas Review, a literary journal published by the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology

Program Highlights

Beyond sharpening reading and writing skills, you’ll be able to approach an English-language text from anywhere in the world with a set of intelligent questions and the capacity to produce equally intelligent answers to interpretative problems.

Student Organizations

Get real-world experience and leadership opportunities by joining campus clubs, societies and publications including Reunion: The Dallas Review.

Explore Arts, Humanities, and Technology student organizations →

Courses

The Literature of Science Fiction
The Literature of Fantasy

Explore Courses →

Faculty

Dr. Nomi Stone

Assistant professor of creative writing and literature

“I love the hybridity and cross-pollination at UT Dallas. I’m an anthropologist and a poet — a scholar who also writes creatively — so this is just the exact right fit for me. Braiding these things together is my passion. I haven’t seen a place that does collaboration as well as this place. I see a real investment in bringing seemingly disparate things together.”


Dallas Connections

From researching in premier libraries and museums to attending reading with world-class writers, you’ll be studying in the vibrant arts and literature scene of Dallas-Fort Worth. Explore our partnerships.

Alumni Connections

Arts, Humanities, and Technology alumni are active in careers all over the world, from Texas to Hollywood. Meet our alumni.

Professional Paths

With strong critical writing, speaking and thinking skills, plus professional opportunities including research, study abroad and internships, you’ll begin a career journey with creativity and critical understanding.

Possible Careers

  • Author
  • Communications consultant
  • Editor
  • Grant writer
  • Lawyer
  • Librarian
  • Public relations manager

Explore what you can do with a literature major (pdf) →

Next Steps

Explore

The Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology has much to offer. You might be surprised at all we do.

Apply

Applying to UT Dallas is easy. Follow these steps →