undergraduate programs in english
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.
NOTE: The English Department is now transitioning from an older set of English major requirements to a revised and improved program of study for new majors. In almost all cases, students who entered the university before Fall 2011 are subject to the older requirements, while students entering the university in Fall 2011 and thereafter are subject to the new major requirements. To determine for sure which set of requirements apply to you, use Banner to perform a Degree Evaluation. The catalog term and major requirements listed there are the ones that apply to you.
THE NEW ENGLISH MAJOR (Beginning Fall 2011)
At a Glance...
All English majors (BA & BS) take these courses:
307 Literary Analysis for English Majors
308 English Studies: Critical Theories
309 Rhetorical Strategies in Writing and Communication
321 Brit Lit through History I
322 Brit Lit through History II
323 Am Lit through History
Ancient or Medieval Literature
Shakespeare
All English majors specialize in one of the following three areas: LITERATURE, CREATIVE WRITING, or PROFESSIONAL WRITING.
LITERATURE students take courses in these areas:
1 course in literature before 1800
1 course in literature after 1800
2 elective courses (your choice) in literature (ENG and/or LIT)
CREATIVE WRITING students take:
4 courses in the writing of fiction or poetry
PROFESSIONAL WRITING students take:
4 courses in professional writing and/or journalism (JRN)
BA students also take:
1 course in multicultural or world literature
BS students also take:
312 English Grammar Systems
317 Cross-Cultural Literatures & Contexts
415 History of the Language
492 Teaching Lit to Adolescents
493 English (Secondary School)
494 Student Teaching-English
496 Student Teaching Seminar
See the Handbook for the BS in English with Teaching Certification, available on the English Department website, for further information about BS requirements.
Complete information about the new English major requirements can be found on the University's Catalog Updates page, linked here. Also see your Degree Evaluation in Banner.
THE OLD ENGLISH MAJOR (Prior to Fall 2011)
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.
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
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Secondary Education
Admission Criteria
Candidates wishing to earn a B.S. in English with Certification to teach grades 7-12 must apply separately to the program. The application steps are as follows:
1. Candidates should declare their major (BS English (7-12) with the Department of English by filling out the Selection of Degree Program form.
2. Candidates must submit an application portfolio to the Coordinator of Secondary English Education, Dr. Melissa Talhelm. The contents of this portfolio are as follows:
a. Complete transcripts from all institutions attended (official or unofficial)
b. Proof of passing the PRAXIS I exams in reading, writing, and mathematics. 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), preferably from an English course
d. An essay (2 pages maximum) answering this question -- "Why would you like to become an English teacher?"
e. Two letters of recommendation. along with the recommendation form from SCSU's school of education See the following site to download the forms:
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 will 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. Talhelm'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 Secondary 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 Talhelm via talhelmm1@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-Cross-Cultural Literatures and Contexts (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
ENG 493-English (Secondary School)
EDU 455-Student Teaching in English
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 ENG 455 and EDU 453 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: ENG 493-English (Secondary School).
Gate 4: EDU 455-Student Teaching in English; EDU 453-Student Teaching Seminar; Passing Praxis II Content (10041) and Essay (20042) exams, a requirement for graduation.
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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
