English Major

Faculty | Major | English Course Descriptions | Philosophy Course Descriptions
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Courses in English composition and literature are required for all freshmen and sophomores, regardless of their major fields of study.

Advanced standing with credits may be given to students who complete the College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement Test in English with a grade of three or better or who make a satisfactory score on an English Department placement test.

The English major is designed for students seeking a broad education suitable for a career in such areas as law, business, the armed forces, teaching, medicine, or theology. In addition to a strong foundation in literature, the department offers a generous selection of elective courses that allows either a truly broad liberal arts education or an opportunity to take a number of courses within a secondary field.

The program within the English Department provides both depth and flexibility. Course offerings range from Anglo-Saxon literature to twentieth-century British, American and world literature. Interested students may take courses in creative writing, journalism, public speaking, and philosophy. A system of tutorials and seminars allows both small classes and independent study.

Since they are allowed to take as many as nine electives outside the department during their sophomore, junior, and senior years, students have ample latitude to follow other interests. During their freshman and sophomore years, they take a number of courses ensuring a background in a modern language, the sciences, mathematics, and the social sciences.

In their freshman year English majors must elect one of the natural sciences: biology, chemistry, or physics. Also, they must elect a modern language and complete two years of study. Entering freshmen with two or more units in a modern language may complete the language requirement in one year by starting at the 200 level.

The student majoring in English is required to take the following courses:

English 203 and 204 (Survey of British Literature I and II)

English 211 (Mythology) or 212 (The Bible as Literature)

English 303 or 304 (Shakespeare I or II)

English 301 (Chaucer) or 305 (Milton)

One English course numbered 310-324 (Early British Literature)

One English course numbered 325-336 (Later British Literature)

Two English courses numbered 341-347 (American Literature)

Two English courses numbered 348-499 (World Literature, Criticism, Language, and Writing)

Four English courses numbered 301-499 (English electives)

Philosophy 201 (Introduction to Philosophy)

Unless otherwise indicated in the course descriptions, all advanced English courses are open to all students who have completed their sophomore English requirements (ENGL 201 and ENGL 202, or ENGL 203 and ENGL 204) or who have the approval of the department head.

For a tabulation of the requirements for the English major, see the Courses of Study section of this catalog.

The courses in philosophy are included in the English curriculum under subject code PHIL.