English Major

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Description

The English major is designed for students who wish to pursue a passion for reading and writing, and for those who seek a versatile education as they prepare for careers in education, law, business administration, public relations, advertising, government, or any field where analytical excellence and effective use of the English language are essential. English majors choose between a literature or creative writing concentration (outlined below), where their course work is designed to develop analytical, research, and creative skills.

Preparing for Business, Law and Public Service: Literature courses which emphasize psychological, social and verbal analysis provide a solid basis for the type of critical thinking needed in professional positions, while courses in writing, business communication, journalism/ publication, etc. provide a solid basis in communication skills central to these areas.

Student Life: The Writers Forum connects students with significant contemporary writers and critics. The English Club offers a variety of activities, including the publication of a student-run literary journal. Sigma Tau Delta, an international honor society, recognizes significant academic accomplishment. Awards are available for student scholarship and outstanding literary-critical, fiction, poetry and non-fiction writing.

Study Abroad: A variety of study abroad programs are available and encouraged. In particular, English majors are urged to consider participating in the Brockport Oxford Scholars program, in which they spend one term studying at Oxford University and receive the designation "Brockport Oxford Scholar" on their permanent record. Minimal requirements for the Oxford program include a 3.25 GPA in the major; details are available in the Office of International Education.

Admission to the Program

Any undergraduate student can declare a major in English.

General Education Requirements (29 - 47 credits)*

Major Program Requirements (36 credits)

Program Requirements

Students in the English major pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree and must complete the corresponding degree's requirements.

The major in English consist of 36 credits, though students often take additional electives. At least 18 credits must be taken at Brockport, and at least 30 credits must be in courses numbered ENG 300 to ENG 499.

Students are encouraged to construct a personal course of study in such areas as American, British or world literature; film studies; women writers; modern literature, etc. or to explore the diversity of literary and language studies. Students preparing for teaching in elementary through high school are strongly advised to consult the Department of Education and Human Development in selecting appropriate electives. Two English courses at the 200 level may satisfy both General Education requirements and requirements in the major.

A grade of "C" or higher is required for ENG 303.

Students in the English major declare a concentration in either English literature or creative writing.

English Literature Concentration

  • ENG 303 Introduction to Literary Analysis
  • One course in Shakespeare
  • ENG 472 Capstone

ENG 303 is a co-requisite for all other 300-level courses, and ENG 303 and 9 credits of 300-level courses are pre-requisites for 400-level courses. Literature track students must take:

  • One course in close reading (ENG 304-349, other than Shakespeare)
    These courses are designed to continue the student’s introduction to the practice of close reading. A course may center on the conventions of a literary genre, a historical period, and/or a region, or theme, as determined by the instructor. These courses also focus on discussion and critical writing skills.
  • Two courses examining texts and contexts (ENG 350-399)
    These courses explore a more focused group of texts, situating them in relation to critical contexts, which could be aesthetic, historical, political, theoretical, etc. In these courses, students can expect to explore further approaches for literary analysis, begin to develop research skills, and hone critical writing skills.
  • One 400-level seminar (ENG 400-471)
    400-level seminars, organized according to genre, theme, author, etc., are designed to broaden students’ experience of literature in English while also deepening the study of the discipline through focused reading of texts, criticism, literary history and theory. These courses reinforce close reading skills and refine research techniques.

Creative Writing Concentration

  • ENG 303 Introduction to Literary Analysis
  • ENG 210 Introduction to Creative Writing*
  • One course in British Literature
  • One course in American Literature
  • One course in World Literature
  • ENG 305 Poetry Workshop
  • Three electives
  • ENG 495 The Writer's Craft (may be repeated once)

Course sequencing note: ENG 210 is a prerequisite for 300-level workshops. The 300-level workshops are prerequisites for the advanced workshops.

* Denotes courses that meet both major and general education requirements

Electives (37 – 55 credits)

Total Credits (120 credits)

Additional Degree Requirements

*Completion of all college-wide degree requirements

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program,

Creative Writing Track students will be able to:

  1. Analyze the relationship between literary form and meaning, taking into consideration literary techniques and devices.
  2. Construct arguments about literary works using historical contexts.
  3. Apply basic elements of creative writing craft, including such elements as control of form and figurative language.
  4. Identify reputable and relevant sources, and incorporate the words and ideas of others without misrepresentation and with appropriate documentation practices.
  5. Write in conformity with standard usage and grammar.

Literature Track students will be able to:

  1. Analyze the relationship between literary form and meaning, taking into consideration literary techniques and devices.
  2. Construct arguments about literary works using historical contexts.
  3. Argue with a command of the rhetorical strategies, terms, and major interpretive methods characteristic of academic writing in the Humanities.
  4. Identify reputable and relevant sources, and incorporate the words and ideas of others without misrepresentation and with appropriate documentation practices.
  5. Write in conformity with standard usage and grammar.