English Major, BA

Program Description

Students enrolled in the English program investigate how language and literature shape their ever-changing world. Since literature spans geographic, cultural, and international borders to identify shared questions and experiences, this English curriculum combines coursework in British and U.S. American literature with African, Caribbean, and other literatures. By studying diverse texts, students sharpen their ability to think critically and to analyze language.

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 study American, African-American, British, and world literature, as well as literary theory, linguistics, and composition. In addition, they submit a substantial research project in the senior capstone course. The Department of English offers opportunities for students to engage in internships and independent study.

Student Learning Outcomes 

By the end of the program,

1. Students will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, contextualize, closely analyze, and evaluate texts from a variety of historical periods, cultures, and genres.
2. Students will use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a wide variety of purposes.
3. Students will use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

​Major Requirements

 

Students who major in English must earn a grade of C or higher in all pre-major general education courses and in all major courses.

The English major requires 45 hours of foundation, breadth, and depth courses with 33 hours at the major level. English majors take four foundation courses (12 credit hours), seven breadth courses (21 credit hours), and four depth courses (12 hours). Students complete the English major with a senior-level capstone course. 

Note: If an English major chooses a minor within the department, courses chosen for the major cannot be used to fulfill requirements for the minor and courses chosen for the minor cannot be used to fulfill major requirements.
Transfer credits 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 (See Undergraduate Degree Requirements).

Requirements for the Major

Required Foundation Courses (12 credit hours)

ENG 1305 - Thinking and Writing Critically About Literature  or ENG 1315 - Black Speculative Literature of the 20th and 21st Centuries

ENG 2301 - World Literature I

ENG 2302 - World Literature II  or  ENG 2306 - Women’s Literature in a Global Context

ENG 2320 - Methods in Cultural Research

Required Breadth Courses (21 credit hours)

ENG 3302 - Advanced Composition

ENG 3306 - British Literature I

ENG 3311 - Studies in African-American Literature

ENG 3313 - Studies in American Literature

ENG 3355 - The Elizabethan Era

One course from each category*: A.  Historical Perspectives (choose one):       ENG 3307 - British Literature II         ENG 3368 - English Romantic Writers         ENG 3373 - Victorian Literature    B.  Genre Studies (choose one):       ENG 3377 - Modern Poetry         ENG 3378 - Modern Fiction         DRA 3341 - Studies in Drama          DRA 4331 - Modern Drama

Required Depth Courses (12 credit hours)

Global Literacy Studies	Writing Studies
ENG 3309 - The Post-Colonial Novel	ENG 4302 - Composition Theory and Pedagogy
ENG 3334 - Literature of the African Diaspora	ENG 4303 - Writing for Publication
*Depth Elective (choose one)	*Depth Elective (choose one)
ENG 4304 - Senior Seminar	ENG 4093 - English Internship
Depth Electives: ENG 3347 - Topics in Language and Literature    ENG 3350 - The History of the British Novel     ENG 4364 - Shakespeare    ENG 4346 - Independent Study	Depth Electives: ENG 3341 - Creative Writing     ENG 3347 - Topics in Language and Literature     ENG 4312 - Film Theory and Criticism     DRA 3326 - Playwriting     MCM 3325 - Electronic Media Writing     ENG 4346 - Independent Study