English Major, BA

Program Description

Students who major in English learn to communicate well, whether they are writing or speaking. They also learn to read and think critically, becoming skilled at analyzing the way messages in various media are composed. A solid foundation in the “soft skills” of communication, critical reading, and critical thinking prepares English majors for success in areas as varied as law, business, entertainment, marketing, and the arts.

The undergraduate major program in English is designed to accomplish five objectives:  

1. To provide students with experiences for developing competencies in the process of composing.

2. To help students acquire knowledge of the English language, its literature and related cultures.

3. To help students develop skills in analyzing, evaluating and responding to a wide range of literature.

4. To help students prepare for careers requiring a high degree of proficiency in writing, speaking, and critical reading and thinking.

5. To prepare students to do advanced work in English and other professional fields.

In the English major students complete surveys of American, British, and world literature, take several more advanced literature courses, study linguistics and composition, and submit a substantial research project in the senior capstone course. Students may also arrange internships in related professional areas. 

Student Learning Outcomes 

1. Composition (oral and written) - Students will demonstrate competence in the process of composing oral and written compositions, using appropriate language, conventions, structure, and supporting documentation, as well as employing content appropriate to the audience.
2. Analyzing and responding to literature - Students will use critical thinking skills by analyzing and responding to a wide variety of literature, including literature by women and minorities (world literature and literature of the African Diaspora in addition to English and American literature).
3. Knowledge of culture and literature - Students will demonstrate knowledge of the interrelationship of language, culture, and literature.

Major Requirements

Students who want to major in English will normally have earned a grade of B or higher in most or all of their written and oral communication general education courses. Entrance into the major in English has no pre-requisites other than completion of the general education curriculum, but students preparing to major in English should consider choosing courses in a modern foreign language. 

The major in English requires a core of 45 hours. The required courses include fifteen hours of literature survey courses, three hours of linguistics, six hours of upper-level composition courses, and twelve hours of advanced courses in literature, writing or linguistics chosen from categories designed to assure variety and balance. During the senior year, students complete the major with a senior-level course in Shakespeare and a seminar which serves as a capstone course.

Students majoring in English must also complete a minor in a field of their choice and demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in a modern foreign language by successfully completing the intermediate-level courses in the language (numbered 2311 and 2312 at WSSU) or by passing a proficiency test acceptable to the department.

Students majoring in English must receive a grade of C or above in courses taken for the major.

Transfer credit may be accepted if the courses taken fit satisfactorily into the plan for the major outlined at Winston-Salem State University and if the student meets all the other requirements for transfer students, including the residency requirement.

Courses 

Major Courses

English Core (All are required.)

ENG 2301 - World Literature I

ENG 2302 - World Literature II

ENG 2313 - Survey of American Literature I

ENG 2314 - Survey of American Literature II

ENG 3306 - British Literature I

ENG 3307 - British Literature II

ENG 4316 - History of the English Language (or ENG 3321 - Grammars of English)

ENG 3302 - Advanced Composition

ENG 4303 - Writing for Publication (or ENG 4302 - Composition Theory and Pedagogy)

ENG 4304 - Senior Seminar

ENG 4364 - Shakespeare

Period or Author Courses (Choose 1):

ENG 3334 - Literature of the African Diaspora

ENG 3347 – Topics in Language and Literature (depending on topic chosen)

ENG 3355 - The Elizabethan Era

ENG 3356 - Seventeenth Century English Literature

ENG 3363 - Restoration and Eighteenth Century Literature

ENG 3368 - English Romantic Writers

ENG 3373 - Victorian Literature

ENG 3374 - Nineteenth-Century American Literature

ENG 3381 - Black Writers in American Literature

ENG 4326 - American Studies

ENG 4361 - Chaucer

ENG 4368 - Milton

Genre Courses (Choose 2):

ENG 3347 – Topics in Language and Literature (depending on topic chosen)

ENG 3377 – Modern Poetry

ENG 3378 - Modern Fiction

ENG 3350 – The History of the British Novel

DRA 3341 – Studies in Drama or DRA 4331 – Modern Drama

ENG 3346 - Children’s Literature or ENG 3348 - Adolescent Literature

Theory Courses (Choose 1):

ENG 3301 - Introduction to Linguistics

ENG 3331 - Literary Aspects of the Bible

ENG 3341 - Creative Writing

ENG 3347 – Topics in Language and Literature (depending on topic chosen)

ENG 4312 - Film Theory and Criticism

ENG 4355 - Literary Criticism 

Note: Like ENG 3347, some other courses have variable content that may sometimes allow them to fit into a category different from the one listed here. Students should work with advisors to choose period or author, genre, and theory courses.

Course Notes

The American literature surveys (ENG 2313- Survey of American Literature I and ENG 2314 - Survey of American Literature II) are designed to introduce the major and should be taken as early as possible. Because the only prerequisite for these courses is six hours of general education courses focused on written communication, they may be taken before students formally enter the English major or minor.

ENG 4304 - Senior Seminar is a capstone course and should be taken in the fall semester of the senior year.

Major Course Sequence

ENG 2301 – World Literature I and ENG 2302 – World Literature II should be taken no later than the second semester of the junior year because they are prerequisite to many of the upper-level literature courses.

ENG 3302 - Advanced Composition should be taken no later than the second semester of the junior year is prerequisite to four other required courses:

· ENG 4303 - Writing for Publication (or ENG 4302 - Composition Theory and Pedagogy)

· ENG 4304 - Senior Seminar

· ENG 4364 – Shakespeare

· ENG 4316 - History of the English Language

 The following required courses are normally taught only in the fall semester:

· ENG 2313 - Survey of American Lit I

· ENG 3306 - British Literature I

· ENG 3302 - Advanced Composition

· ENG 3321 - Grammars of English

· ENG 4302 - Composition Theory/Pedagogy

· ENG 4304 - Senior Seminar

· ENG 4364 - Shakespeare

 The following required courses are normally taught only in the spring semester:

· ENG 2314 – Survey of American Lit II

· ENG 3302 - Advanced Composition

· ENG 3307 - British Literature II

· ENG 4303 - Writing For Publication