ENGLISH DEPARTMENT UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

student walking past engleman

Robert McEachern
DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSON

MAJOR IN ENGLISH

Through an intensive study of literature, the major in English gives students
a knowledge of the broad outlines of literature and encourages them to engage
in critical thinking. The English faculty promotes the development of critical
reading ability and mature writing skills.

The major in English can lead either to a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of
Science degree. The curriculum is designed to build a strong foundation for
careers in teaching (secondary school and college), business, and communications, and to prepare students for graduate study in many professional areas.

The major consists of 33 credits in English and literature courses at the level
specified under the heading English Electives (in addition to the 6 credits of University Requirements in composition and literature). Students apply to the English Department for acceptance as majors after completing any three courses in English.

World Literature

Students may also choose to fulfill the requirements for a major in English by completing the requirement for specialization in world literature, as described in the World Literature section on this site.

All English majors are required to complete the following:

Literary Analysis and Critical Theory (3 credits)

Majors are required to take the following course (ideally at the point when they are considering applying for the major):

ENG 301--Introduction to Literary Analysis and Critical Theory

Literature of the Ancient World (3 credits)

Majors are required to choose at least one of the following courses:

        LIT 300--Literature of the Hebrew Bible
        LIT 302--Literature of the New Testament
        LIT 310--Mythology
        LIT 311--Norse and Celtic Mythology
        LIT 406--Classical Drama: Greek and Roman
        LIT 488--Seminar in World Literature (ancient world topic)

British Literature before 1700 other than Shakespeare (3 credits)

Majors are required to choose at least one of the following courses:

ENG 325--English Medieval Literature

ENG 344--Shakespeare's Contemporaries

ENG 380--Chaucer

ENG 452--Renaissance in England

ENG 453--British Women Writers, 1600-1750

ENG 454--17th Century British Literature

ENG 484--Milton

ENG 487--Seminar in British Literature (on pre-18th century topic)

Shakespeare (3 credits)

Majors are required to choose one of these courses:

ENG 342--Shakespeare I
or ENG 343--Shakespeare II

English Literature of the 18th or 19th Century (3 credits)

Majors are required to choose at least one of the following courses:

ENG 331--British Novel to 1900

ENG 428--Victorian Age Literature

ENG 444--18th-Century British Literature

ENG 455--19th-Century British Literature

ENG 458--Romantic Poets

ENG 487--Sem. in British Literature (18th- or 19th-century topic)

American Literature before 1900 (3 credits)

Majors are required to choose at least one of the following:

        ENG 360--Early American Writers
        ENG 361--American Renaissance
        ENG 362--American Realism
        ENG 486--Seminar in American Literature (pre-20th century topic)

Multicultural and World Literature (3 credits)

Majors are required to choose at least one of the following courses:

ENG 423--Contemporary African-American Novelists

ENG 424--The Harlem Renaissance

LIT 382--Contemporary Latin American Literature

ENG 486--Seminar in American Literature (topic: authors of

color and/or from cultures other than dominant cultures of

the United States)

ENG 487--Seminar in British Literature (topic: authors of

color and/or from cultures other than dominant cultures of

Great Britain)

LIT 488--Seminar in World Literature (topic: authors of

color and/or from cultures other than dominant cultures of

the United States and Great Britain)

English Electives (15 credits)

Majors are required to select, with their adviser's consent, an additional
12 credits in electives (above the 100 level) from the English and literature
courses to complete the total of 33 credits in program (above the 200 level in
literature: above the 100 level in writing).

Several courses in the literature curriculum (see listing under literature) complement English major requirements. English majors are encouraged to consider taking such courses when available.

University Literature Option

English majors may not use ENG 217 to fulfill a specific area requirement within the major or to count as a free elective in the 33 credits required for the major, except by permission of the instructor.

English Specializations

The electives in the English major may be used toward specializations in creative writing or in professional writing.

Creative Writing Specialization (12 credits)

Majors select one elective course in contemporary literature and at least four courses from the following:

      ENG 201--Introduction to Creative Writing
      ENG 202--Introduction to Poetry Writing
      ENG 203--Introduction to Fiction Writing
      ENG 302--Intermediate Poetry Writing
      ENG 306--Intermediate Fiction Writing
      ENG 367--Poetic Theory: Contmp. Amer. Free Verse
      ENG 402--Advanced Poetry Writing
      ENG 406--Advanced Fiction Writing
      ENG 407--Writing the Novel I
      ENG 408--Writing the Novel II
      THR 310--Playwriting

Professional Writing Specialization (12 credits)

Majors select at least four courses from the following:

        ENG 200--Intermediate Composition
        ENG 240--Professional Writing
        ENG 304--Technical Writing
        ENG 313--The Study of Words
        ENG 316--Writing for Business and Industry
        ENG 405--Techniques of Teaching Composition
        ENG 410--Writing for Audio-Visual Media
        ENG 498--Professional Writing Internship
        JRN 200--Basics of Journalism
        JRN 230--Public Relations Workshop
        JRN 320--Writing Magazine Articles I
        JRN 321--Magazine Editing and Production

Secondary Education

Admission Criteria

Candidates wishing to earn a B.S. in English with Certification to teach grades 7-12 must not only enter the English Department, they must also enter the Education Department as well. To do this, students must pass through the first "gate" and into the School of Education at SCSU during their sophomore or junior years. The application steps are as follows:

1. Candidates must have applied to the Department of English at SCSU by filling out the Selection of Degree Program form.

2. Candidates must submit an application portfolio to the director of Secondary Education, Dr. Melissa McClain. The contents of this portfolio are as follows:

a. Complete transcripts (official or unofficial)

b. Proof of passing the PRAXIS I exams in reading, writing, and mathematics [A copy of scores must also be sent to Kathy Mauro in the School of Education. In some cases, the PRAXIS may be waived. See the School of Education's website for the PRAXIS waiver form: http://www.southernct.edu/education/professionalprogramrequirements/.]

c. A writing sample of academic prose (4 to 6 pages)

d. An essay (2 pages maximum) answering this question--"What life experiences
have led you to want to become an English teacher?"

e. Two letters of recommendation using the approved recommendation form from
SCSU's school of education [See the following site to download the form: http://www.southernct.edu/education/professionalprogramrequirements/

f. A completed application to the School of Education, available at
http://www.southernct.edu/education/professionalprogramrequirements/

3. After submitting the application portfolio, candidates must be interviewed by members of the English Department's Secondary English Education Committee. Interviews will be conducted during the sixth through eighth weeks of each fall and spring semester. Sign-up sheets will be on Dr. McClain's office door.

4. The School of Education requires students to maintain a 2.7 QPR average, while the English Department requires a 3.0 average in all English classes. Eligibility for acceptance into and continuing in the English Education Program depends upon these academic standards.

Prior to applying to the SCSU School of Education, students may not take more than two courses in professional education. If candidates have any questions, they should contact Dr. Melissa McClain via mcclainm2@southernct.edu or by phone at (203) 392-6895.

Secondary Education

In addition to the 21 credits of area requirements for the English major, secondary education majors in English are required to complete the following:

English Courses (12 credits):

ENG 312-English Grammar Systems (3 credits)

ENG 317-Multicultural Literatures (3 credits)

ENG 405-Techniques of Teaching Composition (3 credits)

ENG 415-History of the English Language (3 credits)

English Electives (6 credits):

Secondary education majors in English are required to select, with their adviser's consent, an additional 6 credits in electives (above the 200 level) from the English and literature courses to complete the total of 39 credits in the English major.

Professional Courses (40.5 credits):

Students take these courses to meet certification requirements set by the State of Connecticut. Only two professional courses can be taken before the student has been accepted into the School of Education.

EDU 201-Introduction to the Teaching Professions

SHE 203-School Health

EDU 413-Secondary Education

IDS 471-English Language Learners in the Classroom

MDS 340-Media Literacy Education for Students and Teachers

PHI 370-Philosophy of Education

PSY 370-Educational Psychology

RDG 565-Reading Development in Secondary Schools

SED 482-Teaching Exceptional Students in the Secondary Education Classroom

ENG 492-Teaching Literature to Adolescents

EDU 490-English (Secondary School)

EDU 452-Secondary School Student Teaching

EDU 453-Student Teaching Seminar

Because the State Department of Education regularly updates its requirements, new courses may be added to the program by the time a student is ready to graduate and be certified. See the Gate System below for suggested timing of key professional courses. No undergraduates should register for EDU 452, EDU 453, or EDU 490 until all other program requirements have been completed.

To meet state and departmental requirements, secondary education majors in English must maintain an overall QPR of 2.7 or better and an average of 3.0 or better in their English courses.

Gate System

All students enrolled in the English Education program must pass through the Four Gates in the proper sequence in order to proceed in the program:

Gate 1: Application to the School of Education*; Completion of Application Portfolio
and interview with the English Education Committee; Passing Praxis I exam. *As noted above, a student may take no more than 2 professional education courses (EDU 201 and SHE 203) prior to entrance into the School of Education.

Gate 2: Fieldwork experience in EDU 492-Teaching Literature to Adolescents.

Gate 3: CAPT Lesson Plan in EDU 490-English (Secondary School).

Gate 4: Student Teaching Portfolio in EDU 453-Student Teaching Seminar; Passing
Praxis II Content (10041) and Essay (20042) exams, a requirement for graduation.

MINOR IN ENGLISH

All students minoring in English must complete 18 credits in one of the following three areas within English studies.

Minor in English: Literature

ENG 301--Introduction to Literary Analysis and Critical Theory

One elective in multi-cultural literature at the 300 or 400 level.

Four or more literature courses at the 300 or 400 level (ENG or LIT with departmental permission).

Minor in English: Creative Writing

ENG 301--Introduction to Literary Analysis and Critical Theory

One elective in literature of the 20th century or beyond at the 300 or 400 level

Four courses in creative writing

Minor in English: Professional Writing

Four English courses in professional writing

One cognate in journalism

One cognate in media studies