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English

Students may seek either an academic major or minor in English.

Major in English

The major in English produces graduates with demonstrated skills in literary analysis, critical thinking, and writing. These skills prepare students majoring in English for careers in education, law, writing and publishing, journalism, public relations, business, and management.

Objectives

The student who graduates with a major in English will be able to

• Analyze significant literary works, primarily those written in English.
• Critically examine intellectual, moral, and ethical issues as they are presented or implied in works of literature.
• Apply techniques of literary research, including research that uses technology and fosters information literacy.
• Analyze literary works, literary genres, literary criticism, the historical development of literature and language, and the contributions of major authors in the context of the cultures within which these authors lived and wrote.
• Formulate ideas, especially for literary analysis, and convey them clearly in both written and spoken English.
• Write effectively and demonstrate superior understanding of the writing process and writing techniques.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in English requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework including 33 credits for the major (indicated by ); 41 credits in general education requirements (GERs); and 46 credits in the minor, electives, and other degree requirements. At least 17 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

 

Requirements for the English Major

Coursework for a major in English includes the following:

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all of the requirements for the BA in English. Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an academic advisor whenever taking advantage of other options.
Information on alternate courses (where allowable) to fulfill general education requirements (in communications, arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, biological and physical sciences, mathematics, and interdisciplinary issues) and cross-curricular requirements (in civic responsibility, historical, and international perspectives) may be found on the GER page.

English Major Courses

First Courses
(to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and English composition courses.

LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)

ENGL 101/101X Introduction to Writing (3)

MATH 105 Mathematics: Contemporary Topics and Applications (3)
or MATH 106 Finite Mathematics
or a higher-level math course

Introductory Courses
(to be taken within the first 30 credits)

PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3)
or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, literature, or foreign language course to fulfill the first general education requirement in arts and humanities

BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3)
and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1)
or other course(s) to fulfill the general education requirement in biological and physical sciences with related laboratory

ENGL 291 Expository and Research Writing (3)
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in communications/ writing

GVPT 170 American Government (3)
or other ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, SOCY, or eligible AASP, CCJS, GERO, or WMST course to fulfill the first general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences

IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3)

Foundation Courses
(to be taken within the first 60 credits)

PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3)
or SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
or other course to fulfill the second general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences (discipline must differ from first)

NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3)
or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in biological and physical sciences

HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3)
or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865
or other course(s) to fulfill the second general education requirement in arts and humanities (discipline must differ from first) and the cross-curricular requirement for historical perspective

IFSM 304 Ethics in the Information Age
or other course(s) to fulfill the second general education requirement in interdisciplinary issues/computing and the cross-curricular requirement in civic responsibility

SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3)
or COMM 380 Language in Social Contexts
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in communications/ writing or speech

ENGL 240 Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (3)
or other major drama genre course for the major (see Requirements for the Major)

ENGL 303 Critical Approaches to Literature (3)

Additional Required Courses
(to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

ENGL 391/391X Advanced Expository and Research Writing (3)
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in communications/ upper-level intensive writing

ENGL 345 Modern Poetry (3)
or other poetry genre course (ENGL 240 may be applied to only one genre requirement) (see Requirements for the Major)

ENGL 441 The Novel in America Since 1914 (3)
or other major fiction genre course (see Requirements for the Major)

ENGL 311F 17th- and 18th-Century British Literature (3)
or other pre-1800 period course (see Requirements for the Major)

ENGL 433 American Literature: 1914 to the Present (3)
or other historical period course (see Requirements for the Major)

ENGL 364 African American Authors since 1900 (3)
or other American author course (see Requirements for the Major)

ENGL 406F Shakespeare: Power and Justice (3)
or other British author course (see Requirements for the Major)

ENGL 454 Modern World Drama (3)
or other course(s) to fulfill the requirement for supplemental major coursework and the cross-curricular requirement in international perspective (see Requirements for the Major)

Any ENGL course
Supplemental major course (3) (see Requirements for the Major)

Any ENGL course
Supplemental major course (3) (see Requirements for the Major)

Minor and/or Elective Courses
(to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses) (46)

Total credits for BA in English (120)

Minor in English

The English minor complements the skills the student gains in his or her major discipline by providing exposure to literary analysis, critical thinking and reading, and the study of the relationship of literature to contemporary intellectual issues.

Objectives

The student who graduates with a minor in English will be able to

• Analyze significant literary works written in, or translated into, English.
• Analyze literary works, literary genres, literary criticism, the historical development of literature and language, and the contributions of major authors in the context of the cultures within which these authors lived and wrote.
• Formulate ideas, especially for literary analysis, and convey them clearly in both written and spoken English.
• Write effectively and demonstrate superior understanding of the writing process and writing techniques.

Requirements for the Minor

A minor in English requires the completion of 15 credits of English coursework; at least 9 credits must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above). Specific course requirements are listed at right. If a specific course required for the minor is taken instead to satisfy requirements for the major, another course in the same discipline should be substituted to fulfill the required minimum number of credits for the minor. Any course used to replace an upper-level course should also be classified as upper level.

Minor Courses
(to be taken in the last 60 credits with required and supplemental major courses)

Required Course

ENGL 303 Critical Approaches to Literature (3)

Supplemental Courses
(Genre, period, and major author courses are listed under the Requirements for the English Major)

One upper-level ENGL genre course (3)

One upper-level ENGL period course (3)

One upper-level ENGL major author course (3)

Any ENGL course (3)

Total credits for minor in English (15)

For a listing of all the requirements for the bachelor's degree, students should refer to the overall bachelor's degree requirements.

Last updated: 19 October 2006