The discipline of English treats literature and language and several related subjects such as creative writing, film, folklore, and myth. Literature, as one writer has said, is “an eloquent artistic document, infinitely varied, of mankind’s [sic] journey; the autobiography of the race’s [sic] soul.” The questions we ask in studying literature are as “infinitely varied” as those asked by poets, playwrights and novelists: What does it mean to be human? How is the individual related to society? By what values should one lead his or her life?
The study of literature and language requires rigorous discipline and sensitivity, a strict adherence to the highest standard of logic, evidence, and argumentation, as well as creative response to language and form. One learns to think, research, and write critically, while simultaneously developing sensitivity to language and to the complexities of people and situations.
Students completing an undergraduate program in English will have demonstrated knowledge of:
- General outlines of English and American literature
- Major theoretical and critical perspectives
- The general outlines of cultural and literary periods
- Cultural and societal contexts of literary history and texts
- And the ability to:
- Write a clear, coherent and correct essay;
- Formulate and express (orally and in writing) conceptual relationships among the primary knowledge areas of English;
- Analyze elements within a text (rhythm, meter, denotation and connotation, metaphors, voice, etc.);
- Analyze two or more texts within an historical period or across different periods and/or national boundaries;
- Analyze the fundamental qualities of language.
In addition, English Education majors will have demonstrated the ability to:
- Describe historical changes in the English language.
- Develop and apply effective methods of teaching.
For more information about the English major and English and Writing minors, please see our Advising Information page.
Additional Information for English Education Majors
Requirements for the English Major
