A Literature Minor lays the foundation for advanced study by enhancing the student's appreciation of major narrative, poetic and dramatic texts in relation to the cultures that produced them. In addition, it allows the student to develop a familiarity with interdisciplinary approaches, and encourages engagement with film and newer media.

The Literature Minor is designed to allow a student to make a smooth transition from a prior Concentration in Literature, as well as to progress smoothly towards a Major in Literature (should the student so desire).

Naturally, students are permitted to complete their Institute HASS Concentration in the process of completing a Minor in Literature. However, a student may not complete both a Minor and a Major in the same field.

Requirements for a Literature Minor

The Minor Program requires six subjects arranged as indicated below into three levels or tiers of study (Introductory, Intermediate, and Seminars):

Tier 1 (Introductory): At least one and no more than two courses from the list of Introductory literature subjects (21L.000 through 21L.017).

Tier II (Samplings and Intermediate): Two or three courses from the middle tiers of the Literature curriculum (21L.310 - 21L.320; and 21L.420 - 21L.512). Two six-unit Samplings subjects (up to a maximum of four) may be combined by petition to count as one twelve-unit Intermediate subject.

Tier III (Seminars): At least two subjects from the list of Seminars (21L.701 through 21L715).

In addition, a Literature Minor is subject to the following constraints:

• Historical Breadth Requirement: At least two subjects included in the Minor must centre on materials dating before 1900.
• The junior and senior Pass/Fail option may not be used in a HASS Minor programme.
• Of the six required subjects for a Minor, at most five can count towards fulfilling the eight-subject Institute HASS requirement. Of these five, at most one can count towards fulfilling the HASS Distribution requirement.
• Majors in Literature may not also minor in the same field. Joint Majors (21S or 21E) may not complete a minor in the same field as the Humanities component of their joint degree.

Please also note that Advanced special topics subjects (21L.998 and 21L.999) may count towards either the Tier II or the Tier III requirement upon the discretion of the Minor Advisor.

Forms and Process

Students desiring to Minor must meet the designated Literature Minor Advisor to plan out the course of study, and to submit the Proposal for Minor form to both the Literature and HASS offices.

The designated Minor Advisors for Literature change from year to year. To see a list of current advisors, click here.

Don't worry if you change your mind regarding the specific subjects you want to take to complete the Minor. The Minor Advisor will work with you to re-configure the initial plan. All subsequent changes to the initial plan must be approved by the Minor Advisor and entered on the Completion of Minor form, generally submitted to the Literature and HASS offices at the beginning of the student's final semester at MIT.

Upon successful completion of the Minor (or in the semester in which you are taking the final subjects needed to complete the Minor), you will meet again with your advisor to submit the Completion of Minor form. At that time you will need to have on hand your original Minor proposal and a copy of your grade report. If you have mislaid your original Minor proposal, please request a copy from the Literature Headquarters (14N-407).

Note that you must file the Completion form by the end of the first three weeks of the term in which you plan to receive your S.B. degree. If you fail to do so, you will be subject to a late fee and the preparation of your final degree may be delayed.

Please also note that credit for a Minor can only be awarded at the same time that the student normally receives his or her SB degree: students may not subsequently or retroactively petition to receive a Minor.

The Proposal for Minor and the Completion of Minor forms are available at the HASS Office (14N-408).

Using Transfer Credits for a Literature Minor

The Literature Faculty has carefully defined and stringent requirements governing the transferring of credits earned at universities or colleges outside MIT. There is no automatic guarantee that students who receive transfer credit can count the transferred courses as part of their Minor program. Transfer credit may be used in a Minor only at the discretion of the Minor Advisor, in conjunction with whom students develop and tailor their Minor programs.