The English Major

The program in English seeks to accomplish the following goals: first to provide the training essential for students to develop their abilities in reading and writing; second to provide experiences in the study of literature that will enhance a student’s personal, intellectual, aesthetic, and cultural development; and finally to provide major and minor programs in English that prepare students for graduate and professionals school as well as for careers in education and various professions requiring a strong background in communication skills. 

Consisting of a minimum of thirty-six credit hours above the sophomore literature requirement (English 230,), the English major includes courses in English and American literature, language, criticism and writing.   The following courses are required: English 234, English 333-334 or 335-336, English 339, English 491 or 493, and English 439 and 490.  To these twenty-one hours of required course work, the English major must add an additional fifteen hours of electives in the major.   To ensure that there is an acceptable distribution over the entire field of English language and literature, students must select at least one course from each of the following categories:

Group I: English Literature Before 1798

• ENG 3310: Chaucer 3 credit hours

• ENG 430: Milton 3 credit hours

• ENG 431: English Literature of the Restoration and the 18tyh Century 3 credit hours

Group II English Literature After 1798

• ENG 435: Studies in Romantic Literature 3 credit ours

• ENG 436: Studies in Victorian Literature 3 credit hours

• ENG 440: The British Novel 3 credit hours

Group III: American Literature

• ENG 437: Contemporary Literature 3 credit hours

• ENG 441: The American Novel 3 credit hours

• ENG 494-495: African-American Literature e credit hours each

Group IV: Drama and Film

• DRA 232: Introduction to Theatre 3 credit hours

• DRA 332: Film Criticism 3 credit hours

• DRA 333: Drama Workshop 3 credit hours

• DRA/ENG 433: Modern Drama 3 credit hours

• ENG 392: Screenplay Writing 3 credit hours

Group V: Studies in Advanced Reading and Writing*

• ENG 390: Studies in Textuality: Advanced Reading 3 credit hours

• ENG 432: The Bible as Literature 3 credit hours

• ENG 391: Advanced Composition 3 credit hours

• ENG 337: Creative Writing 3 credit hours

• ENG 233: Business Writing 3 credit hours

When Special Topics courses are offered they are assigned to a category appropriate to the subject.

* Students may also receive Group V credit for any one of the following cross-listed courses: MED 233, TEL 330 and PUR 337.

The English Minor

A minor in English consists of eighteen credit hours in English above the sophomore literature requirement.   Minors in English will not be given credits toward their concentration for courses in English in which the earn grades below C.