Educational Objectives
Students who complete the requirements for a degree in English will be
able to demonstrate:
An ability to write essays, both formal and informal, that reflect
a proficient use of academic research skills and rhetorical conventions.
An ability to read and analyze, both orally and in writing, texts
from the four major literary genres - fiction, poetry, drama, and creative
non-fiction.
Knowledge of the cultural or historical context of major literary
texts.
An understanding of the characteristics of the linguistic system and
the historic development of language.
A mastery of advanced reading, writing, analytical and interpretive
techniques suitable for a variety of academic, creative and professional
settings.
English 275, 276,
287, 288 All four courses must be taken; one course will fulfill Core Curriculum
requirements.
9
English 300
Students should take English 300 twice, with each section taught by
a different faculty member
6
III. LANGUAGE STUDIES (9 Credits)
Take three of the following four courses:
English 451, 453,
459, 483
9
IV. MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (21 Credits)
Take seven upper-division (300-400) level courses from a rotation
of current offerings
21
V. CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE (3 Credits)
Take one of the following:
English 490, English 495,
English 496
3
VI. COGNATE OR MINOR REQUIREMENTS
Cognate courses are courses drawn from outside the major, but intended
to support
the major. Cognate courses must be upper level (junior-senior) courses,
must be related to the student’s major, and must be approved
by the student’s adviser. Courses for cognate credit may be
drawn from one or more departments. A minimum grade of C or above
is required in all cognate or minor courses. Students may substitute
an approved minor course of study for the cognate requirement.
12
VII. ELECTIVES
8-16
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED
120
OTHER POLICIES
Students majoring in English must earn a grade of C or above in all
English courses.
One course labeled Writing Intensive (WI) must be taken by every student
during each of the sophomore, junior and senior years. English 101 and
102 are designated as writing intensive courses in the freshman year.
In addition, one course labeled Computer Usage must be successfully
completed by every student before graduation.
All English majors will participate in the English Department Assessment,
a departmentally-selected, nationally-normed examination designed to
measure student mastery of commonly-accepted English major content.
Completion of the examination before graduation--not the achievement
of a particular score--will constitute acceptable participation.
