The female author component focuses attention on "works by female authors" (see NCTE Program Standards 3.5.1.3). To attain a "female author" designation, courses have a minimum of 1/3 of course content (as measured by time—that is, 5 weeks of a fall or spring semester) dedicated to the study of female authors.

Currently, the courses approved for this designation include:

• English 235 Early American Literature (as taught by Carla Rineer)
• English 337 Women Writers of the Middle Ages
• English 414 18th Century Novel (at taught by Dr. Beverly Schneller)
• English 425/625 Modern American Fiction (as taught by Dr. Alan Kelly)
• English 427/627 Modern American Poetry (as taught by Dr. Alan Kelly)
• English 429/629 Black Women Writers
• English 430 Contemporary American Ethnic Literature Since 1945 (as taught by Dr. Duckhee Shin)