English Major

Should I major in English?

If you have always been an avid reader (especially of challenging literary works), if you feel driven to express yourself in writing (be it poetry, fiction, or journalism), if you find yourself watching a movie and thinking, "The book was much better than the film version," then perhaps you should consider pursuing further studies in English.

How do English majors spend their time – in class and out?

  • We read.   We read closely and analytically, not just to understand plot details, but primarily to gain insight to the human condition and the world of ideas. We also read to develop an appreciation for the craft of writing and the artistry of literary construction.
  • We talk. Talk about what we have read in order to learn from our classmates and our professors.
  • We conduct research into what scholars and other sources have to say about literature, authors, and historical contexts. Whenever possible, we travel to sites of literary significance, within the U.S. and abroad.
  • We write to express our views and feelings, to convey information, to analyze complicated material, and to argue a given point of view. By grappling with our own thoughts and words, we learn how to focus on one main idea, to develop it with explanations and support, to organize it effectively, to word it clearly, and to present it in a clean format with no distractions from our message.

Before declaring English as a major, students must complete the CORE composition classes (ENGL 1101 & 1102) with no grade lower than a C. English majors are required to take 40 semester hours in English language and literature above the 1000 level.

Introductory Course (1 required)
  ENGL 2200 Introduction to Literary Studies.
(1) Every fall
Introduces students to the academic discipline of English. Focuses on critical issues (past and present) involved in literary studies. This course is a prerequisite for English majors for any 3000- or 4000-level course. Required of all English majors.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1101 & 1102 		 
     
Survey Courses (3 required)
  ENGL 2204 British Literature I.
(3) Fall 2010 (every other fall)
A survey of British Literature from the Anglo-Saxon period through the eighteenth century. Short critical essays required, at least one with documentation. 		 
  ENGL 2205 British Literature II.
(3) Spring 20011
(every other spring)
A survey of British literature from the Romantics through the Modern/Postmodern period. Short critical essays required, at least one with documentation. 		 
  ENGL 2206 American Literature I.
(3) Fall 2009 (every other fall)
A survey of American Literature from the Colonial period through American Romanticism. Short critical essays required, at least one with documentation 		 
  ENGL 2207 American Literature II.
(3) Spring 2010
(every other spring)
A survey of American literature from Realism and Naturalism through the Modern/ Postmodern period. Short critical essays required, at least one with documentation. 		 
     
Language/Theory Courses (1 required)
  ENGL 3300 History of the English Language.
(3) Fall 2009
Introduction to principles of linguistics; a survey of the origins and development of English, and a study of its structure. 		 
  ENGL 3302 Advanced Grammar.
(3) Spring 2011
A survey of the basic logic and grammatical structure of English, from morpheme to word, phrase and clause, to sentence. 		 
  ENGL 4400 Contemporary Literary Theory.
(3) In rotation
A survey of theoretical interpretive traditions of the 20th and 21st centuries. 		 
     
Writing Courses (1 required)
  ENGL 3303 Advanced Composition.
(3) Fall 2009
This course is open to all students, regardless of major, who are interested in strengthening their written expression beyond the level of "functional." The focus will be on producing nonfiction prose that is exemplary for its clarity and finesse. 		 
  ENGL 3306 Creative Writing Workshop (poetry).
(3) Spring 2011
An advanced course in imaginative writing. Professional models studied, but student writing emphasized. 		 
  ENGL 3308 Creative Writing Workshop (fiction).
(3) Spring 2010
An advanced course in imaginative writing. Professional models studied, but student writing emphasized. 		 
  ENGL 3310 Art of Argumentation.
(3) Spring 2010
This course presents the fundamentals of effective persuasion, including the three appeals (logical, emotional, ethical), logical fallacies, inductive and deductive reasoning, and evaluation of evidence. Students from all majors, as well as undeclared majors, are encouraged to enroll. 		 
     
Genre Courses (2 required)
  ENGL 3315 Readings in Literary Journalism.
(3) Fall 2011
This course consists of a survey of literary journalism, a form of creative nonfiction that blends elements of fictional narrative and factual reporting. 		 
  ENGL 3335 Development of Drama.
(3) In rotation
An examination of the development of drama, excluding Shakespeare, from its beginnings up through the 18th century. 		 
  ENGL 3345 The Rise of the Novel.
(3) Spring 2012
A study of the rise of the novel with an emphasis on selected works of the late seventeenth-century and eighteenth-century, including novels in
translation. 		 
  ENGL 3355 The Nineteenth-Century Novel.
(3) Fall 2009
A study of the selected 19th century novels, including novels in translation. 		 
  ENGL 4440 Modern / Contemporary Fiction.
(3) Spring 2010
A study of selected contemporary fiction writers and their novels or short stories, including works in translation. 		 
  ENGL 4450 Modern / Contemporary Poetry.
(3) In rotation
A study of selected contemporary poets and their poems, including works in translation. 		 
  ENGL 4460 Modern / Contemporary Drama.
(3) In rotation
A study of contemporary playwrights and their plays, including works in translation. 		 
     
British Literature Courses (2 required)
  ENGL 3320 Medieval Literature.
(3) Fall 2010
A survey, mostly in Middle English, of English literature to about 1500. 		 
  ENGL 3330 Renaissance Literature.
(3) In rotation
Renaissance English literature to about 1675, excluding Shakespeare. 		 
  ENGL 3340 Restoration & Neoclassical Literature.
(3) Fall 2011
Selected Restoration, Neoclassical, and Pre-Romantic English literature, excluding the novel. 		 
  ENGL 3350 English Romanticism.
(3) Spring 2012
A study of selected major nineteenth-century British prose and poetry, with emphasis on lyric verse. 		 
  ENGL 3360 Victorian Literature.
(3) Spring 2010
A study of selected major Victorian prose and poetry, with emphasis on Tennyson, Browning, and the Pre-Raphaelites. 		 
     
American Literature Courses (2 required)
  ENGL 3375 American Romanticism.
(3) Fall 2010
Major American Romantic writers of the United States through Whitman and Dickinson. 		 
  ENGL 3380 American Realism and Naturalism.
(3) Spring 2013
Major American writers of the Realistic and Naturalistic movements in the United States. 		 
  ENGL 3380 American Realism and Naturalism.
(3) Spring 2013
Major American writers of the Realistic and Naturalistic movements in the United States. 		 
     
Single-Author Courses (1 required)
  ENGL 4410 Chaucer.
(3) Fall 2011
A survey of Chaucer's work. Consideration will also be given to Chaucerian influence and criticism. 		 
  ENGL 4420 Shakespeare.
(3) Fall 2009
The development of Shakespeare's art, as reflected in selected individual plays or groups of plays. 		 
  ENGL 4430 Milton.
(3) Fall 2010
Selected poetry and prose of Milton. 		 
     
Capstone Course (1 required)
  ENGL 4495 Senior Thesis and Presentation.
(3) Every spring
English majors will write and present orally an original research project based on a significant topic in language or literature. Required of all English
majors.
Prerequisite: Senior standing 		 
Total: 40 semester hours