English Major

School of Arts and Sciences

The School of Arts and Sciences (A&S) serves the mission of the College via its central role in providing the instruction and the experiences that define a liberal arts education. The School of A&S consists of the Departments of English, Journalism, and Media Communications; Natural Sciences; Psychology; Religion and Theology; and Social Sciences.  Selected majors are offered in most of the areas.  In addition, these units provide the interdisciplinary and introductory courses that make up the general education curriculum. Students majoring in an area of the School of A&S may pursue programs of study, which prepare them for graduate school or for careers in areas specifically related to their areas of study.

ENGLISH MAJOR

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the English major, students will be able to perform the following:

1. Describe characteristics of major historical literary movements (Content).
2. Apply knowledge of and proficiency in writing acceptable literary/critical analyses (Critical Thinking).
3. Demonstrate proficiency in using standard spoken and written American English (Communication).

Program Outcomes

The program will produce graduates who will do the following:

1. Pursue advanced study at a graduate school or professional school.
2. Enter careers in teaching, journalism and media, publishing, public relations, advertising, technical writing, and the fine arts where distinctive verbal capabilities of precision, persuasiveness, and clarity in thinking or writing are valued.
3. Contribute to any work environment where advanced vocabulary, critical thinking, creativity, interpretation, and complex, original composition skills are needed.
4. Use technology to communicate effectively.

The major in English consists of a minimum of thirty-six (36) credit hours, including six (6) hours of General Education Core Courses. Students who major in English also can seek secondary education certification in Language Arts by taking the identified courses in Education and completing the GPA and testing requirements for certification. Students interested in this option should speak with their academic advisors as well as with the Dean of the School of Education and/or a faculty member in the Department of Education.

Semester Plan

Included below is a sample semester-by-semester program for a major in English.