Bachelors (BA) in English
Overview
The English major offers a 51-53-semester-hour course of study that equips students to utilize literature as a mode of human inquiry, with particular attention to how language can redeem the past and shape the future. The major trains students to bear God’s image as readers and writers, as they develop compassion and justice in their use of language. Students prepare for careers in the literary arts (writing, publishing), teaching (secondary, tertiary, TESOL), and writing careers in the public sphere (content creation, new journalisms, and creative story-telling for business and nonprofits). Students are required to obtain a minimum grade of C- in all courses taken for the major.
Degree Outcomes
Graduates with a BA in English will:
-
Demonstrate the ability to write clearly and effectively in a variety of rhetorical situations.
-
Demonstrate the ability to interpret literature with an attention to a text's historical, aesthetic, cultural, and global dimensions.
-
Formulate how their spiritual development interacts with and informs their reading, writing, and thinking.
Major Requirements
Complete the following:
Introduces important concepts in the study of literature. Students will learn techniques in close reading, and will read, discuss, and produce written analyses of a variety of literary texts in order to better understand historical, political, cultural, and formalistic aspects of literary works.
Introduces and examines as literary texts significant works of world mythologies. Readings stress those cross-cultural themes and literary forms exemplifying the ideals, values, and concerns that have shaped our shared human condition. The course surveys myths from African, Middle Eastern, Asian, Native American, Meso-American, Oceanic, and European literatures. Universal motifs and unique differences in these traditional sacred and secular stories are examined with an eye to understanding how myths underpin cultural, community, and individual values, ethical teachings, and spiritual experiences that continue to inform the world's cultures.
Introduces important concepts in the study of writing. Students will read and respond to writing and rhetorical theory, and will read, discuss, and produce written analyses of theories in the study of writing. Prerequisite: WRIT 111 Caring for Words, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
This course examines career options for English majors. Goal setting, professional development, and marketing skills are emphasized. Required of all English majors. Prerequisite: English major with sophomore standing.
Students will choose to research and write a senior thesis, working with a faculty member in their area of interest; or will complete a service project in a community organization, in a school classroom, or in another identified literacy program; or will complete a professional internship; or will create a portfolio of written work.
Prerequisite: Senior Standing
Choose one of the following:
Considers works written in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas during the medieval and early modern periods. Students examine culturally defining texts that reflect both the uniqueness of culture and the universality of literary themes. Students read a sample of texts written between the medieval period and 1900. The focus is on texts that continue to be important to the culture they represent, such as The Tale of Genji, Journey to the West, The Thousand and One Nights, The Divine Comedy, and Shakuntala.
Considers contemporary writings from women around the world. Students analyze these literary texts, examine the cultures they represent, and keep apprised of current events related to women. Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200 level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
Choose two of the following:
This course helps those who want to understand and to be able to explain to others what can be done to make writing correct, clear, and precise. Focuses on constructing, editing, and correcting sentences and paragraphs. This is not a remedial course.
A study of the nature of verbal symbols as they function in communication. The course will include phonetic transcription, semantics, modern grammatical theories, history of the English language, and modern English dialects.
Complete 1 semester of a world language 200-level of higher
Choose two of the following:
A selective look at early American literature, from its beginnings to the nineteenth century. Examines themes, movements, and writers from colonial America, the early republic, and the antebellum United States. Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200-level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor's permission.
A selective look at the literature of the United States, from the nineteenth century to the present. Particular attention is given to the masterworks of Naturalism, Realism, and Modernism, especially to those that have proven influential on contemporary literature. Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200-level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor's permission.
A consideration of the life and works of the poet/playwright and the sociopolitical history of the Renaissance. The course examines the sonnets and a selection of the plays from each genre: comedy, tragedy, history, and tragicomedy. Prerequisites: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200 level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
A selective look at the literature of the British Isles, from the earliest texts through 1660. Particular attention is given to the Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, and Renaissance periods. Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200 level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
A selective look at the literature of the British Isles during the Victorian, Modern, and Contemporary periods. Particular attention is given to the literature of doubt and faith, the development of the novel, and post-Colonial issues.
Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200 level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
Choose one of the following:
Introduces students to various schools of literary criticism. Students will practice using different critical approaches to writing about literature. Recommended for juniors and seniors. Prerequisites: WRIT 200 Understanding Literature and 6 hours of literature courses or instructor's permission.
This course provides an introduction to writing theory. Students will explore different approaches to writing theory, and will apply what they have learned about composition and rhetoric to their own written work. Prerequisite: WRIT 200.
Complete 21 credit hours from LANG, LITR, or WRIT courses, at least 15 of which must be at the 300-level or above. Students are strongly encouraged to follow a recommended track.
Literary Arts Track (21 credit hours)
Complete the following:
This course explores trends in media convergence, focusing as well on the ways reporters, editors, and designers create stories for the web. Particular emphasis will be on web-based story design, the coordination of text and art, and the creation of stories for a variety of new media outlets. Prerequisite: WRIT 111 Caring for Words, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
Choose one of the following:
A selective look at early American literature, from its beginnings to the nineteenth century. Examines themes, movements, and writers from colonial America, the early republic, and the antebellum United States. Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200-level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor's permission.
A selective look at the literature of the United States, from the nineteenth century to the present. Particular attention is given to the masterworks of Naturalism, Realism, and Modernism, especially to those that have proven influential on contemporary literature. Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200-level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor's permission.
A consideration of the life and works of the poet/playwright and the sociopolitical history of the Renaissance. The course examines the sonnets and a selection of the plays from each genre: comedy, tragedy, history, and tragicomedy. Prerequisites: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200 level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
A selective look at the literature of the British Isles, from the earliest texts through 1660. Particular attention is given to the Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, and Renaissance periods. Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200 level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
A selective look at the literature of the British Isles during the Victorian, Modern, and Contemporary periods. Particular attention is given to the literature of doubt and faith, the development of the novel, and post-Colonial issues.
Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200 level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
Teaching and Travel Track (21 credit hours)
Complete the following:
An introduction to the theory and practice of teaching English (or any language) to non-native speakers. Topics include principles of language teaching, communicative and interactive approaches, teaching methods and techniques for improving different language skills, lesson planning, materials selection and adaptation, testing, cultural issues, teaching English as Christian witness, and working with English-as-a-second-language students in a mainstream class. Students relate theory to practice in a school- or community-based practicum.
Introduces students to various schools of literary criticism. Students will practice using different critical approaches to writing about literature. Recommended for juniors and seniors. Prerequisites: WRIT 200 Understanding Literature and 6 hours of literature courses or instructor's permission.
Complete 3 credit hours of literature (LITR) coursework 300-level or above.
A course designed to provide fundamental knowledge and experience in reporting, writing, and editing news for the print media. Prerequisite: WRIT 111 Caring for Words, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
Choose one of the following:
A selective look at early American literature, from its beginnings to the nineteenth century. Examines themes, movements, and writers from colonial America, the early republic, and the antebellum United States. Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200-level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor's permission.
A selective look at the literature of the United States, from the nineteenth century to the present. Particular attention is given to the masterworks of Naturalism, Realism, and Modernism, especially to those that have proven influential on contemporary literature. Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200-level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor's permission.
A consideration of the life and works of the poet/playwright and the sociopolitical history of the Renaissance. The course examines the sonnets and a selection of the plays from each genre: comedy, tragedy, history, and tragicomedy. Prerequisites: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200 level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
A selective look at the literature of the British Isles, from the earliest texts through 1660. Particular attention is given to the Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, and Renaissance periods. Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200 level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
A selective look at the literature of the British Isles during the Victorian, Modern, and Contemporary periods. Particular attention is given to the literature of doubt and faith, the development of the novel, and post-Colonial issues.
Prerequisite: LITR 111 Faith and Story, any 100 or 200 level LITR course or equivalent, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
Public Storytelling Track (21 credit hours)
Complete the following:
An introduction to the theory and practice of teaching English (or any language) to non-native speakers. Topics include principles of language teaching, communicative and interactive approaches, teaching methods and techniques for improving different language skills, lesson planning, materials selection and adaptation, testing, cultural issues, teaching English as Christian witness, and working with English-as-a-second-language students in a mainstream class. Students relate theory to practice in a school- or community-based practicum.
Complete 3 credit hours of literature (LITR) coursework 300-level or above.
A course designed to provide fundamental knowledge and experience in reporting, writing, and editing news for the print media. Prerequisite: WRIT 111 Caring for Words, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
This course explores trends in media convergence, focusing as well on the ways reporters, editors, and designers create stories for the web. Particular emphasis will be on web-based story design, the coordination of text and art, and the creation of stories for a variety of new media outlets. Prerequisite: WRIT 111 Caring for Words, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
A workshop approach to writing feature articles and other shorter nonfiction forms for periodicals. Student-produced material is submitted to various publications as part of course expectations. Prerequisite: WRIT 111 Caring for Words, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
Writing (WRIT) coursework (200-level or above).
3 credit hours of either WRIT 475 or LITR 475 Field Experience.