English Major

Description

The English Department strives to equip our students to read and think critically and creatively and to express themselves in lucid speech, writing, and design. To accomplish this, our students:

Read a broad variety of literatures in English in their historical, social, cultural, political, economic, and psychological contexts;
Write within scholarly and creative genres;
Analyze and evaluate oral, written and visual modes of expression through the use of literary and rhetorical theory;
Produce print and digital texts designed for multiple audiences.

Our goal is to foster reflective, dedicated, lifelong learners.

The study of English has enabled graduates to succeed in advanced study in a variety of fields, and to pursue a broad range of career paths, including publishing, teaching at all levels, journalism, professional writing, business, library science, social work, government service, public relations, social media, and law.

Required:

1. Three courses in critical and analytical approaches to English:

2. One 4-credit writing course in English above the 1000-level

3. One course on the nature and structure of language, from:

4. Two British literature courses above the 1000-level, one of which must be about British literature before 1660.

5. One course above the 1000-level about American literature

6. One course above the 1000-level that examines a historically underrepresented literature, from:

ENG 2155 - Topics in Multicultural Literature
ENG 2217 - Growing up in America
ENG 2250 - Post-Colonial Literature
ENG 2255 - Others: Short Story Cycle
ENG 2258 - African American Literature I
ENG 2261 - Literature by Women
ENG 2268 - African American Literature II
And selected sections of:
ENG 3363 - Major Figures and Groups I (British)
ENG 3364 - Major Figures and Groups II (American)
2000- and 3000- level special topics courses

7. Five 4-credit electives in literature, English language, or writing, at least three of which must be above the 1000-level.

Eligible 1000-level courses include any FYS and ENG courses approved by the department chair.

Total Program Hours: 48

NOTE: Of the 48 credits, 16 credits must be 3000-level courses and at least 8 of those 16 credits must be 3000-level literature courses.

Departmental Writing Requirement

The Department of English extends writing throughout the major. Students who major in English are required to take ENG-3325 as notated with the # symbol.

Requirements for Departmental Honors

To receive Honors in English, a student must:

Have a grade point average of 3.50 or above in all courses taken in the major;
Earn an “A” in ENG 4492 Senior Seminar;
Have the recommendation of the English Department.

Secondary Teacher Certification

Please see English teacher certification requirements under Programs: Education minor (secondary) for English major.