Certificate in Literature & Religion

The Baylor English Department has long held significant strengths in the study of literature and religion, particularly in (but not limited to) Christianity. This new certificate reflects that strength and complements our Ph.D. in English. It is not a separate degree, and it does not appear on your transcript. However, you may list the certificate on your CV.

Specific Course Requirements

There are a total of 11 courses required: 10 English seminars, and one Religion seminar taught in the Religion Department. 

The English Seminar requirements are as follows:

• Introduction to Graduate Studies (Research Methods and Bibliography)
• One course in Old English
• One course in either Literary Theory, Linguistics, or Rhetoric & Composition
• One "Religion and Literature" seminar
• Seven seminars in literature. At least one of the seven seminars must include a demonstrable component of religion (e.g. "English Religious Authors"), and at least one course must be taken from each of the following categories:
  • American II → 1900 to Contemporary American
  • American I → Pre-1900
  • English II → Romantic to Contemporary British
  • English I → Old English to Restoration and 18th Century

Doctoral Preliminary Examinations

The doctoral preliminary examinations entail: 

• A three-hour exam in one "major area." Common major areas include Old English, Middle English, Renaissance, Seventeenth Century, Restoration and Eighteenth Century, Romantic, Victorian, Modern British, Contemporary British, Early American, Nineteenth Century American, Modern American, and Contemporary American;
• Two 90-minute exams in historical areas, one that must be contiguous with the major area, and the other a historical area of your choice; and
• A three-hour exam in Literature & Religion (this replaces the "Open Area" exam).

For all other specifications, please refer to the Ph.D. program requirements.