Concentration - English

The English concentration is designed to provide students a broad understanding of literature and cultivates skills in critical thinking and creative writing.  Students may choose one of two options within the English concentration: Literature or Creative Writing.  This concentration requires a minimum of 39 credits.

Option 1: Literature

The Literature option provides a broad background in British and American Literature, some exposure to non-Western and diverse literatures, and training in the critical skills of reading, interpretation and analysis.

Concentration Requirements:

 

Requirements	Credits
Introduction of Literature	3 credits
Survey of British Literature   1 or 2	3 credits
Survey of American Literature 1 or 2	3 credits
Non-Western Literature	3 credits
Literary Theory	3 credits
Literature of Diversity	3 credits
Shakespeare	3 credits
Literature Electives At least 3 credits must be in American Literature & at least 3 in British Literature	15 credits
Capstone – ENG 499   (Culminating course in concentration)	3 credits
TOTAL	39

An optional method of establishing an English concentration with a Literature focus: The GRE Subject Test in Literature, evaluated at 18 credits (15 lower, 3 upper), plus additional credits approved by the faculty, plus the capstone. Introductory British and American Literature courses or CLEP tests will be duplicative.

Option 2: Creative Writing

The Creative Writing option combines the above areas with technical mastery of writing genres.

Concentration Requirements:

 

Requirements	Credits
Introduction of Literature	3 credits
Introduction to Creative   Writing	3 credits
Survey of British Literature   1 or 2	3 credits
Survey of American Literature 1 or 2	3 credits
Non-Western Literature	3 credits
Literary Theory	3 credits
Shakespeare	3 credits
Literature of Diversity	3 credits
Creative Writing Electives	12 credits
Capstone – ENG 499   (Culminating course in concentration)	3 credits
TOTAL	39

 Notes: Only grades of C of higher may be included in the concentration.

Students intending to go on to graduate school should include some work in genre studies (poetry, drama, and the novel), history of the English language, and the history or theory of literary criticism.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate with a concentration in English will be able to:

 

1. discuss literary traditions and themes in American and English literature and the literature of non-Western society;
2. explain the foundational elements of literary analysis, such as plot, setting, character, point of view, theme, and cultural expectations;
3. describe the traditional literary genres such as poetry, drama, and prose fiction; and
4. apply the techniques of literary criticism.
5. Identify and apply the knowledge of various techniques of creative writing; and
6. Produce creative stories, poems, plays or essays in the form, style, grammar, length and writing level appropriate to the literary context.