BA in English Literature

Undergraduate coordinator: Dr. Yael Shapira

shapira.yael@biu.ac.il

• About the B.A. Program in English Literature
• Tracks for B.A. Studies in English Literature
• Key to Course Numbers
• Requirements for Passing
• Academic Honesty
• Questions and Advising                                       

About the BA Program in English Literature

The B.A. program in English Literature provides students with a solid foundation in the history and development of English and American literature, while also aiming to develop high-level skills of analysis, critical thinking, argumentation and self-expression.

First-year courses give students the essential tools for academic writing, research, and critical analysis of poetry and fiction, while also introducing them to the literary and intellectual backgrounds of English literature. Second-year surveys offer a systematic introduction to different historical periods of English and American literature, as well as to the work of William Shakespeare.

• Electives are numbered in the 600-level range and can be taken starting in the secod year of studies.
• The 400-level seminars (course number beginning with 4) are intended for third-year students.
• The 700-level seminars (course number beginning with 7) are for both undergraduate and graduate students, and they are open to B.A. students starting from their third year of studies.

Students with a high grade average can ask to register for graduate seminars (numbers in the 8xx range) with the permission of the instructor.

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Tracks for B.A. Studies in English Literature

Students have a wide choice in B.A. tracks in English literature:

• Expanded major in English Literature – Except for Jewish studies, the student’s courses are all literature courses taken in the Department of English Literature and Linguistics. For more information, see the Expanded Major in English Literature page.
• Major in English Literature – The student takes a substantial number of literature courses in the English Department, and can have also have a minor in another area of studies. For more information, see the Major in English Literature page.
• "Major at your own pace" - New option for students whose jobs or other commitments leave them with less free time for taking classes. The requirements are the same as in the regular major, but they are taken over a five-year period, with fewer courses required each year. For more information, see the Five-Year Major in English Literature page.
• Double major in English literature and linguistics The student’s degree involves equal specialization in English literature and linguistics (all classes are conducted in English). We call this a "planned" double major. For more information, see our double major page.
• Double major in English literature and another field – The student’s degree involves equal specialization in English literature and in another area of studies. For more information, see our double major page.

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Key to Course Numbers

Four kinds of undergraduate courses are offered in the department; these can be distinguished by their course number:

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Passing Requirements

First-year students: A grade of 65 is required to pass courses 190, 193 and 194. A grade of 67 is required to pass 106 and 107.

Students who do not receive a passing grade in Academic Writing I (106) will not be allowed to continue to their second semester of studies in the program. Students who do not receive a passing grade in Academic Writing II (107) will not be allowed to continue to the second year. Under university regulations, students cannot repeat a course more than twice.

Second- and third-year students: A grade of 60 is required to pass survey courses, electives and seminars.

Academic Honesty

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is intellectual theft. Many people think of plagiarism as simply copying another’s work or borrowing their ideas, but plagiarism is an act of academic fraud with serious consequences. It involves both stealing someone else’s work and lying about it afterward by claiming the work as one’s own.

Plagiarism can take many forms. Here are some of the most common:

1. Cutting and pasting from the internet—or any other source—without putting the words in quotation marks and citing the source.
2. Using the exact words of a source without putting the words in quotation marks, even if the source is cited.
3. Imitating the sentence structure or word choice of a source, even if you cite the source.
4. Using ideas from the internet—or any other source—without citing the source and clarifying exactly which ideas came from the source. 
5. Receiving assistance from anyone on an assignment without permission from the instructor.
6. Failing to acknowledge assistance that you have received from anyone other than your instructor.
7. Buying a paper or hiring someone to write a paper for you.
8. Submitting work for one course that you have already submitted, or are currently submitting, for another course.
9. Including in your work images or media that are not in the public domain.

All violations and suspected violations will immediately be referred to the department’s Academic Honesty Board, which will determine the appropriate response or punishment to the student. Severe cases will be referred to the university Disciplinary Committee and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the university.

Questions and Advising

If you have any questions related to the B.A. in English literature, you may contact the English department office or the undergraduate coordinator in literature, Dr. Yael Shapira (shapira.yael@biu.ac.il).

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