CAS: English
Sample Pathway
Below is an example of a four-year plan of a College of General Studies student pursuing a degree in English. Students will work with their CGS academic advisors and the English department to plan their own pathway to an English degree.
| Semester I | Semester II | |
| Freshman Year | CGS Required Courses* Elective** |
CGS Required Courses* (London or Boston-New England semester) |
| Sophomore Year | CGS Required Courses CAS EN 220 Second Language (if needed) |
CGS Required Courses CAS EN upper-level course Second Language (if needed) |
| Junior Year | CAS EN upper-level course Elective** Elective** Second Language (if needed) |
CAS EN upper-level course Elective** Elective** Second Language (if needed) |
| Senior Year | CAS EN upper-level course CAS EN upper-level course Elective** Elective** |
CAS EN upper-level course CAS EN upper-level course Elective** Elective** |
*English majors who complete CGS HU 103 will receive credit as equivalent to CAS EN 101 and majors who complete CGS HU 104 will receive credit as equivalent to a 100-level CAS EN course, CAS EN 1xx. A grade of ‘C’ or higher is required in all courses toward the major.
Advanced Placement credit in English Literature will not count towards the English major.
**Choose your electives carefully to fulfill any remaining BU Hub requirements. You will find a list of all the courses that carry Hub units on the University’s BU Hub website. External courses are not eligible for Hub general education credit.
College of General Studies Program Requirements
- Two rhetoric courses: CGS RH 103 and CGS RH 104
- CGS RH 104 is taken during the London semester
- Two natural science courses: CGS NS 201 and CGS NS 202
- Three social science courses:
- CGS SS 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
- Students select at least two additional SS courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
- Three humanities courses:
- CGS HU 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
- Students select at least two additional HU courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
Major Requirements
The English major requires a total of 10 courses (4 credits each), all completed with a minimum grade of C.
All English majors must complete EN 220, Seminar in Literature.
Students who complete the following College of General Studies courses with a grade of C or higher will receive credit towards the major:
- CGS HU 103 = EN 101
- CGS HU 104 = EN 1xx
CGS students cannot count any other courses below the 300-level toward their degree. Of the seven additional courses, at least one course numbered 300 or higher must fall in each of the following four groups: Literature pre-1700, Literature 1700-1900, Power, Identity & Difference, and Concepts and Methods.
For additional information, please see the CAS Bulletin. Please contact Liz McGrath (lmcgrath@bu.edu) with any questions.
Continuation Requirements
- Completion of the CGS required courses and appropriate electives
- Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00
Graduation Requirements
Boston University students completing a degree in CAS must also complete the following requirements.
- BU Hub requirements
- CAS requirements:
- English major requirements
- CAS requires a minimum of 128 credits, excluding PDP, ROTC, and CAS FY and SY courses.
This is a sample pathway to be used in consultation with your CGS Academic Advisor.
It is subject to change according to course availability and individual circumstances.
Last revised: 03/23/2023