English Major: Literature and Criticism Option

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BA degree

To receive a degree with a major in English, students must demonstrate their ability to read intelligently and perceptively in such genres as fiction, poetry and drama; in works of literary criticism and literary history; and in works dealing with the nature of language itself. Candidates must also demonstrate the ability to write effectively, to use a library efficiently and honestly, to deal critically with generalizations about historical periods and genres and to handle a variety of critical questions with some maturity.

Requirements

Students must earn a C- or better for courses to count toward the English major degree. English majors are encouraged to take some of their electives in additional English courses.

Foundation Courses

ENL 258 - Literary Studies 3 credits
ENL 258 prerequisite for 300-level literature courses
ENL 259 - Critical Methods, Theory, and Practice 3 credits
ENL 259 prerequisite for 400-level literature courses
ENL 260 - Intermediate Composition 3 credits
ENL 260 prerequisite for 300-level writing courses

Literature Core

Select nine additional courses with at least seven at the 300 or 400 level, including a 400-level literature seminar which will serve as the capstone course, by the following criteria:

Genre Studies

At least two genre studies courses from the following list:

ENL 316 - The 19th-Century American Novel 3 credits
ENL 321 - The Golden Ages of Drama 3 credits
ENL 333 - Modern British Poetry 3 credits
ENL 335 - 20th-Century American Fiction 1900-1945 3 credits
ENL 336 - 20th-Century American Fiction 1945-present 3 credits
ENL 337 - 20th-Century American Poetry 3 credits
ENL 338 - Modern Drama 3 credits
ENL 340 - Literature and Psychology 3 credits
ENL 347 - Special Topics in Women’s Literature 3 credits
ENL 348 - American Women Playwrights 3 credits
ENL 377 - Special Topics in Film and Video 3 credits
ENL 390 - Advanced Studies in Literature 3 credits

Major Author

One major author course from the following list:

Historical Courses

At least four courses in history of literature from the following list. Two must be pre-1800 and two post-1800.

Pre-1800

Six (6) credits required.

ENL 300 - Survey of British Literature I 3 credits
ENL 303 - Survey of American Literature I 3 credits
ENL 305 - Medieval Literature 3 credits
ENL 307 - The English Renaissance 3 credits
ENL 308 - The Enlightenment 3 credits
ENL 314 - Colonial American Literature 3 credits
ENL 328 - Survey of African-American Literature I three credits

Post-1800

Six (6) credits required.

ENL 302 - Survey of British Literature II 3 credits
ENL 304 - Survey of American Literature II 3 credits
ENL 309 - The Romantic Age 3 credits
ENL 326 - Studies in Modern Irish Literature and Culture 3 credits
ENL 329 - Survey of Aftrican-American Literature II three credits
ENL 331 - Postcolonial Literature 3 credits

Theory and Methods

Three (3) credits required.

ENL 227 - Semiotics of Culture 3 credits
ENL 257 - Introduction to Rhetorical Studies 3 credits
ENL 340 - Literature and Psychology 3 credits
ENL 355 - Rhetoric II: Advanced Rhetoric 3 credits
ENL 356 - Language and Culture 3 credits
ENL 360 - Special Topics in Writing and Communications 3 credits
ENL 361 - Techniques of Critical Writing and Communications 3 credits
ENL 549 - Teaching English: Classroom Methods 3 credits

Literature Seminar

Three (3) credits at the 400 level.

ENL 400 - Seminar in American Literature 3 credits
ENL 401 - Seminar in 19th-Century American Literature 3 credits
ENL 402 - Seminar in 20th-Century American Literature 3 credits
ENL 403 - Seminar in an American Author 3 credits
ENL 410 - Seminar in British Literature Before the 17th-Century 3 credits
ENL 411 - Seminar in 17th-Century British Literature 3 credits
ENL 413 - Seminar on 19th-Century British Literature credits
ENL 414 - Seminar in 20th-Century British Literature 3 credits
ENL 415 - Seminar in a British Author 3 credits
ENL 421 - Seminar in An American Literature Theme 3 credits
ENL 422 - Seminar in a British Literary Theme 3 credits
ENL 424 - Seminar in Genre Studies 3 credits
ENL 425 - Seminar in Comparative Literature 3 credits
ENL 491 - Honors Study: Literature 3 credits
ENL 492 - Honors Thesis: Literature 3 credits

Total Credits: 36

English Honors Program

Candidates must have completed a minimum of 6 English courses beyond the freshman level and have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.2 in all English courses taken to be considered for admission to English Honors. Qualified candidates will be admitted upon recommendation of an English department faculty member willing to serve as sponsor.

Criteria and Methods of Evaluation

A three-person faculty committee (preferably including one specialist in the field under investigation) will judge all written work and administer an oral examination on the subject of the Honors Thesis. (Students are entitled to select one of their examiners.) This committee will then award “Honors” or not, on the basis of the following criteria:

overall seriousness of purpose;
mastery of scholarly or creative methodology;
sophistication of insights achieved;
ability to relate findings verbally.

Interested students should consult their advisors and/or Professor Janet Gardner no later than the beginning of the senior year.

Requirements

The program involves a closely supervised, two semester (6-credit) investigation into a literary, creative or rhetorical topic devised by the student in consultation with the faculty sponsor; and requiring a substantial amount of independent reading, writing and research.

University Studies Requirements

In addition to the requirements in the major, students will be required to complete the University Studies requirements. For more information: http://www.umassd.edu/generaleducation/universitystudies/universitystudiescurriculum/.