Overview

Declaring a Literature Major

Students considering majoring in the Literature program of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) should first see our Undergraduate Academic Administrator to declare interest and to arrange a Major Advisor. Students work closely thereafter with the Major Advisor to tailor the degree in accord with their own intellectual interests. The Undergraduate Academic Administrator will assist throughout the process from matriculation to graduation, helping the student keep track of degree requirements, submission of relevant forms. 

Depending on the kind of Major a student desires to complete, he or she must meet with the selected Major Advisor to fill in and submit the appropriate Major Chart (see links below), on which the student enters both the subjects already completed and those proposed. Students are welcome to diverge from this initial plan, depending upon their changing interests, but should always discuss proposed changes with the Major Advisor. Upon completion of the requisite number of subjects, any changes or amendations to the original plan will be entered onto this form and approved by the Major Advisor, before being resubmitted to the Undergraduate Academic Administrator, which is responsible for ensuring that student receives the degree. This is normally done in the Spring of the student’s senior year at MIT. Students may major in Literature at MIT in one of three different ways, each of which has a different set of requirements (described in detail below):

• Full Major (21L): The program in Literature leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Literature is equivalent to the curricula in English (or literary studies) at other major liberal arts colleges and universities. In addition to providing a firm grounding in the fields and modes of knowledge fundamental to literary studies, the program encourages exploration of materials drawn from film and media, popular culture, and from minority and ethnic cultures.

• Joint Major (21E/L or 21S/L): This option is designed to provide a rigorous course of study in Literature in combination with substantial work in an Engineering or Science field. Students receive a single diploma corresponding to the Joint degree.

• Double Major: Students combine a Full (21L) Major in Literature with a full Major in another field.