Jul 04, 2025

2025-2026 College Catalog

Liberal Arts - Literary Studies Concentration, A.A.

HEGIS: 5649.00
PROGRAM CODE: 01044
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Dr. Jacob Segal
CONCENTRATION COORDINATOR: Dr. Robert Cowan

The Liberal Arts AA degree provides a foundation in general studies through exploration of an array of subject areas under liberal arts and sciences. Concentrations provide students opportunity to focus in a specific area. Courses promote development and application of effective communication skills, quantitative and scientific reasoning, critical thinking and analysis, and applying knowledge of human cultures, language and the natural world to issues experienced across diverse communities. The degree provides opportunity for transfer to baccalaureate programs.

The Literary Studies Concentration provides students with the opportunity for close examination, interpretation, and analysis of a variety of written works and genres. Students will explore the relationship between literary texts and the cultural, historical, and social contexts, in which they were produced, fostering a deeper understanding of human expression.

The curriculum presented here applies to students who started the major in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. If you enrolled as a matriculant prior to that, please see the College Catalog for the year you started the major as a matriculant for the curriculum requirements that apply to you.

Consultation with the Program Advisor is required.

Degree Map:

Degree Map for Liberal Arts, A.A. - Literary Studies Concentration

Your Degree Map contains the suggested term-by-term course sequence for your academic path towards graduation.

To ensure successful and timely completion of your degree, it is recommended that you meet with your academic advisor to discuss your unique map.

Please note some courses may only be offered once an academic year.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Liberal Arts degree program requirements, graduates will:

demonstrate and apply ethical judgment to real-world problems and issues while recognizing multiple perspectives.
apply knowledge of human cultures, language, or the natural world to problems and issues experienced across diverse communities.
produce or analyze creative works according to a field or discipline’s vocabulary and theory, using relevant techniques and processes, and in response to best practices.

Literary Studies Concentration Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Literary Studies Concentration requirements, graduates will:

know and apply the terminology of literary studies, recognize literary genres, devices, periods, and cultural contexts, and identify meaningful details in literary texts.
communicate individual interpretations precisely and persuasively in written work and/or in scholarly discussions of literary texts.

College Requirements:

English and Math proficient as determined by the CUNY Proficiency Index, unless otherwise exempt, or successful completion of any required developmental course(s).

Civic Engagement Experiences:

One (1) Civic Engagement experience satisfied by Civic Engagement Certified or Civic Engagement Component course or approved outside activity.

Writing Intensive Requirement:

One (1) Writing Intensive Course in any discipline is required.

Required Core (4 Courses, 12 Credits):

When Required Core Courses are specified for a category they are strongly suggested and/or required for the major

*Note: You may elect to take a math or science course that is 4 credits or more. TAP counts 3 credits towards the requirements and the 4^th credit as an elective

ENG 1200 - Composition I 3 Credit(s)
ENG 2400 - Composition II 3 Credit(s)
Mathematical & Quantitative Reasoning Course 3 Credit(s) *
Life & Physical Sciences Course 3 Credit(s) *

Flexible Core (6 Courses, 18 Credits):

One course from each Group A to E. and one (1) additional course from any Group.

No more than two courses can be selected from the same discipline

A. World Cultures and Global Issues Designated Course

B. U.S. Experience in its Diversity Designated Course

C. Creative Expression Designated Course

D. Individual and Society Designated Course

E. Scientific World Designated Course

Note: You may elect to take a math or science course that is 4 credits or more. TAP counts 3 credits towards the requirements and the 4^th credit as an elective.

Major Requirements (6 Courses, 18 Credits):

Courses used to satisfy the Major requirements cannot be used to also satisfy the Concentration requirements. Students enrolled in a Concentration cannot use the following required courses to also satisfy the CUNY Required or Flexible core.

Arts 3 Credit(s) or
Media and Film Studies 3 Credit(s) or
Music 3 Credit(s) or
Theatre 3 Credit(s)

AND

Speech 3 Credit(s)

AND

Literature or Philosophy 3 Credit(s)

AND

U.S. Politics or U.S. History 3 Credit(s)

AND

Psychology or Sociology 3 Credit(s)

AND

World History 3 Credit(s) or
Anthropology 3 Credit(s) or
World Language 3 Credit(s)

Literary Studies Concentration (3 Courses, 9 Credits):

Courses used to satisfy the Concentration requirements cannot be used to also satisfy the Major requirements. Students enrolled in a Concentration cannot use the following required courses to also satisfy the CUNY Required or Flexible Core.

ENG 3000 - Introduction to Literature

Select two (2) of the following courses:

ENG 3100 - Classical and Biblical Literature 3 Credit(s)
ENG 3200 - World Literature 3 Credit(s)
ENG 3300 - Introduction to Literary Studies 3 Credit(s)
ENG 3500 - Modern European Literature 3 Credit(s)
ENG 4000 - Short Fiction 3 Credit(s)
ENG 4200 - Poetry 3 Credit(s)
ENG 4300 - Drama 3 Credit(s)
ENG 4800 - American Environmental Literature 3 Credit(s)
ENG 6300 - Shakespeare 3 Credit(s)
ENG 6600 - Literature and Psychology 3 Credit(s)
ENG 6700 - Women Writers 3 Credit(s)
ENG 6800 - Gothic and Horror Fiction 3 Credit(s)
ENG 7000 - Queer Literature 3 Credit(s)
ENG 7300 - Themes in American Literature I: Beginnings to 1865 3 Credit(s)
ENG 7400 - Themes in American Literature II: 1865 to Present 3 Credit(s)
ENG 7700 - African-American Literature: Beginnings to the Harlem Renaissance 3 Credit(s)
ENG 7800 - Contemporary African-American Literature 3 Credit(s)

Electives:

3 credits sufficient to meet required total of 60 credits.

Total Credits: 60

Notes:

World Languages proficiency through the 200-level is recommended for students who do not have native fluency, or have not successfully completed three years of one foreign language in high school and passed the Regents Level 3 language exam. These students may take a 100-level World Language as a Flexible Core: World Cultures and Global Issues (Group A) Pathways requirement and a 200-level World Language as a major requirement. Other concentrations may be able to do as listed above.
For concentrations other than General, it is recommended that you speak with your academic advisor.