Bachelor of Arts in Literature
BA in Literature Program Overview
By pursuing a major in literature at The University of Texas at Dallas, you will develop the ability to think and write critically across various disciplines. You will explore a diverse range of literatures from different periods and cultures, including works in translation. Our literature students gain a comprehensive understanding that prepares them for careers in teaching, publishing, and business. Many of our graduates further their education with advanced degrees in law, business, journalism, and the fine arts.
Career Paths with a Degree in Literature
With a solid foundation in critical writing, speaking and thinking, along with opportunities for research, study abroad and internships, you’ll be well-prepared for diverse career paths.
Literature Careers
Account executive, advertising professional, attorney, author, communications consultant, content manager, copywriter, critic, editor, educator, grant writer, human resources professional, journalist, lawyer, librarian, marketing professional, paralegal, proofreader, public relations manager, publisher, social media manager, teacher, translator, tutor, writer
Learn more about what you can do with a degree in literature (pdf)
Undergraduate Literature Program Options
BA in Literature
BA in Literature with Creative Writing Concentration
BA in Literature with Pre-Law Concentration
BA in Literature with Professional and Technical Writing Concentration
BA in Literature with Spanish Concentration
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 a Bass School advisor in Literature or History to receive a degree plan. Further details are listed 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 also will be used to satisfy up to 12 graduate semester credit hours towards the master’s degree.
Fact Sheet
Minors
Related 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:
- African American and African Diaspora Studies
- Art History
- Arts Management and Leadership
- Asian Studies
- Audio Production
- Communication Studies
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Ethnic Studies
- Film Studies
- History
- Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
- Latin American Studies
- Literature
- Medicine, Arts, Science, and Humanities (MASH)
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
- Spanish
- Theatre
- Visual Arts
Undergraduate Literature Courses
Beyond sharpening reading and writing skills, literature courses can help you 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.
Next Steps
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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 →