Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology
Literature (BA) with Pre-Law 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 works 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 English-language literary works from anywhere in the world with a set of intelligent questions and the capacity to produce equally intelligent solutions 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 pursue teaching certification.
The study of literature in general--with its emphasis on writing, close reading, and textual interpretation--already helps students to develop many of the core skills that they will need to succeed in law school. Students in the Pre-Law Concentration receive the same rigorous training in literary studies as all Literature majors but they complete, in addition, a selection of law-related courses that help them not only to better understand the law but also to sharpen the research, writing, and analytical skills that they will need in legal careers.
At least one-half of the semester credit hours for the major must be taken at UT Dallas.
Bachelor of Arts in Literature with Pre-Law Concentration
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Sean J. Cotter, Pamela Gossin, Ming Dong Gu, Dennis M. Kratz, Manuel (Manny) Martinez, David A. Patterson, Rene Prieto, Rainer Schulte, Theresa M. Towner
Associate Professors: Ashley Barnes, John C. Gooch, Charles Hatfield, Jessica C. Murphy
Assistant Professors: Erin Greer, Maurine Ogbaa, Davis Smith-Brecheisen, Nomi Stone, Mai Wang
Chair Emerita: Zsuzsanna Ozsváth
Professors Emeriti: Milton A. Cohen, Timothy (Tim) Redman, Michael S. Simpson, Frederick Turner
Associate Professor Emerita: Patricia H. Michaelson
Professors of Instruction: Lorena Camacho-Guardardo, Christopher (Chris) Ryan
Associate Professors of Instruction: Zafar Anjum, Kenneth Brewer, Bei Chen, Peter (Jay) Ingrao
Associate Professor of Instruction Emeritus: Thomas M. Lambert
Assistant Professors of Instruction: Chieko Hoki, Christina Montgomery, Angela Mooney, Kristin Riley
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours1
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
RHET 1302 Rhetoric
RHET 2302 Intermediate Composition and Rhetoric
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
LIT 2331 Introduction to World Literature2
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses
II. Major Requirements: 45-48 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
Major Preparatory Courses: 6-9 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
LIT 2350 Close Reading
Choose 6 semester credit hours from the following four:
LIT 2320 Survey A: Literature in English
LIT 2321 Survey B: Literature in Translation
LIT 2322 Survey of African-American and African Diaspora Literatures
LIT 2331 Introduction to World Literature2
Major Core Courses: 12 semester credit hours
LIT 3300 Western Literary Tradition
LIT 3339 Writing Literary Studies
LIT 4329 Single Author
LIT 4390 Capstone
3 semester credit hours from the following "Research and Writing" courses:
LIT 3338 Literary Theory and Aesthetic Philosophy
Any upper-division creative writing workshop (prefix CRWT)
6 semester credit hours from the following "Contexts" course:
3 semester credit hours from the following "Comparisons" courses:
CRWT 3330 Translation Workshop
LIT 3337 Comparisons
Pre-Law Concentration Requirements: 15 semester credit hours
PSCI 3303 Civil Liberties
PSCI 3322 Constitutional Law
RHET 4320 Legal Research and Writing
ISIS 4304 Trials in American Culture
Select 3 semester credit hours from the following:
HIST 4342 Islamic Law and Society
ISIS 4303 Business Law and Culture
PSCI 3351 Comparative Courts and Law
PSCI 4301 Law, Science, and Policy
or PPOL 4301 Law, Science, and Policy
PSCI 4310 Law and Terrorism
PSCI 4363 International Law
PSCI 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
PSCI 4V66 Mock Trial
PSCI 4V67 Moot Court
III. Elective Requirements: 30-33 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 27-30 semester credit hours
Both upper-division and lower-division courses may be used as electives.
The plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 45 upper-division semester credit hours.
Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of AHTC 1100.
1. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
2. A required Major Preparatory Course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours may be counted in Core Curriculum.
3. LIT 3319 may be repeated for credit as topics vary.