English

The English major offers a rich variety of courses for students interested in literature, creative writing, and language and society. Among the interdisciplinary offerings are courses in film, linguistics, and global studies.

Students may prepare for the study of literature on the graduate level. Concentrated work in English will be of great value to students preparing for such business and professional careers as editing, publishing, science and technical writing, advertising, public relations, and communications. The literature courses are designed to help students sharpen their reading and writing skills, gain new insights into human nature and cultural diversity, and achieve increased flexibility in their own approach to life.

Students preparing for graduate study in literature should have some knowledge of the range of English, American, and non-Western literature and should be acquainted with such major figures as Chaucer and Shakespeare. Because most graduate schools have foreign language requirements and candidates must sometimes demonstrate competence in several languages, prospective graduate students are urged to undertake their study of foreign languages as early as possible.

Students in English are encouraged to broaden their base of knowledge in as many fields as possible, many of which will resonate with interdisciplinary approaches in their English courses. Courses in comparative literature, foreign languages, communication studies, history, art, music, religion, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and education are especially recommended.

Program Learning Goals

Upon completion of a major in English, students will be able to:

• Read closely and critically canonical and noncanonical texts from multiple genres, with careful attention to literary, rhetorical, and multimedia conventions of form, genre, style, tropes, audience, and purpose.

• Analyze texts within historical context, covering a range of cultures and historical periods, informed by literary, cultural, and political theories. 

• Exercise effective research skills, identifying and appropriately engaging with and citing credible sources from multiple perspectives, as evidence, and for other argumentative purposes.

• Write cogent argumentative essays and creative works, demonstrating knowledge of formal, thematic and stylistic features of literary, and multimedia works.

• Present and defend work before an audience, including sharing research findings with peers, with emphasis on developing effective communications strategies for showcasing work.