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, other literatures, and composition studies. 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 or complete a 120-hour internship in the senior capstone course. The Department of English offers opportunities for all English majors 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