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English Major

Heather Hayton, Associate Professor, Chair
Jeff Jeske, Charles A. Dana Professor of English
Carolyn Beard Whitlow, Charles A. Dana Professor of English
James Hood, Professor
Cynthia M. Nearman, Assistant Professor
Diya Abdo, Assistant Professor
Mylène Dressler, Visiting Assistant Professor
Martin Arnold, Visiting Instructor
Rod B. Spellman, Visiting Instructor
Jennie Thompson, Visiting Instructor
Parag Budhecha, Director of Writing and Instructor

Medieval literature meets zombies. Shakespeare. Poetry workshop. Cult movies. Rhetoric. Romantics. Writing, reading, analyzing, more writing!

Envisioning a “typical” English course at Guilford College is like trying to envision a “typical” Guilford College student; thankfully, there is no “typical.” Our students’ interests drive them in different directions and at Guilford, we encourage these explorations. From introductory writing courses that push for cultural and critical analysis, to staff meetings for the campus newspaper and senior seminars where students present their scholarship to the Guilford community, the English department boasts a rich array of courses and a diverse set of professors and instructors who teach them.

While the material may be diverse, a common teaching goal runs throughout: by strengthening students’ creativity and critical thinking skills we are providing the tools they need to be more analytical and more aware of how differently we depict and define the complexities of the human condition. Living Guilford’s core values requires communication, and the English Department develops students’ abilities to read and write, and to talk about their reading and writing.

All Guilford students will spend time in English classes developing those skills. Students who major in English will benefit from one-on-one time with their professors. By expanding their cultural literacy, reading more and writing more, they will leave Guilford well prepared for careers in journalism, technical writing, advertising, creative writing, cultural studies, law and education.

Degrees Offered

The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in English.

Major Requirements

The major requires a minimum of 32 credit hours (eight courses).

Students choose one of four tracks: general (32 credit hours), writing (32 credit hours), education studies (32 credit hours) or graduate studies (40 credit hours). Each track consists of a four-course Core, common to all the tracks, plus at least four Emphasis courses. Students develop a “plan of study” for their individually designed major as part of ENGL 200 and then monitor progress toward the major in course-selection meetings with their advisors.

Note: all English majors, whatever their track, must take at least one course in literature before 1830 (British) or 1865 (American) (ENGL 221, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 230, ENGL 240, ENGL 288, ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327 or ENGL 342).

General Track:

    • ENGL 200 Introduction to Literary Studies – 4 credits
    • One 200-level literature course from: 4 credits
      • ENGL 206, ENGL 207, ENGL 215, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 226, ENGL 228, ENGL 230, ENGL 234, ENGL 240, ENGL 270, ENGL 288
    • One 300-level literature course from: 4 credits
      • ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, IDS 409, IDS 422
    • ENGL 400 Senior Seminar – 4 credits
    • Three ENGL upper-level literature, writing, film courses or approved internship from: 12 credits
      • ENGL 205, ENGL 206, ENGL 207, ENGL 210, ENGL 211*, ENGL 212**, ENGL 215, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 226, ENGL 228, ENGL 230, ENGL 234, ENGL 240, ENGL 270, ENGL 272, ENGL 282, ENGL 285, ENGL 286, ENGL 287, ENGL 288, ENGL 290, ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, ENGL 380, ENGL 382, IDS 409, IDS 422

*requires ENGL 206 or instructor permission as prerequisite
** requires ENGL 207 or instructor permission as prerequisite

  • One emphasis course at the 300 level from: 4 credits
    • ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, ENGL 380, ENGL 382, IDS 409, IDS 422

Total credit hours required for A.B. degree in English general track – 32 credits

Writing Track:

    • ENGL 200 Introduction to Literary Studies – 4 credits
    • One 200-level literature course from: 4 credits
      • ENGL 206, ENGL 207, ENGL 215, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 226, ENGL 228, ENGL 230, ENGL 234, ENGL 240, ENGL 270, ENGL 288
    • One 300-level literature course from: 4 credits
      • ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, IDS 409, IDS 422
    • ENGL 400 Senior Seminar – 4 credits
    • Two courses from: 8 credits
      • ENGL 205 Introduction to Creative Writing
      • ENGL 210 Playwriting Workshop
      • ENGL 211 Poetry Workshop*
      • ENGL 212 Fiction Workshop**
      • ENGL 282 Journalism
      • ENGL 285 Guilfordian Practicum

*requires ENGL 206 or instructor permission as prerequisite
** requires ENGL 207 or instructor permission as prerequisite

  • One theory course from: 4 credits
    • ENGL 372 Modern Poetry
    • ENGL 376 Contemporary Fiction
    • ENGL 380 Rhetoric and Composition
    • ENGL 382 Technical and Professional Communication
  • An internship or elective writing course from ENGL 205, 210, 211, 212, 282, 285, 372, 376, 380, 382. Internships can be done either off campus (e.g., Style magazine, News & Record ) or on campus (e.g., editorship with The Guilfordian or The Greenleaf Review). – 4 credits

Total credit hours required for A.B. degree in English writing track – 32 credits

Elementary Education Studies Track:

    • ENGL 200 Introduction to Literary Studies – 4 credits
    • One 200-level literature course from: 4 credits
      • ENGL 206, ENGL 207, ENGL 215, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 226, ENGL 228, ENGL 230, ENGL 234, ENGL 240, ENGL 270, ENGL 288
    • One 300-level literature course from: 4 credits
      • ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, IDS 409, IDS 422
    • ENGL 400 Senior Seminar – 4 credits
    • Three ENGL upper-level literature, writing, film courses or approved internship from the following: 12 credits
      • ENGL 205, ENGL 206, ENGL 207, ENGL 210, ENGL 211*, ENGL 212**, ENGL 215, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 226, ENGL 228, ENGL 230, ENGL 234, ENGL 240, ENGL 270, ENGL 272, ENGL 282, ENGL 285, ENGL 286, ENGL 287, ENGL 288, ENGL 290, ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, ENGL 380, ENGL 382, ENGL 390, IDS 409, IDS 422

*requires ENGL 206 or instructor permission as prerequisite
** requires ENGL 207 or instructor permission as prerequisite

  • One emphasis course at the 300 level from: 4 credits
    • ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, ENGL 380, ENGL 382, IDS 409, IDS 422

Total credits required for A.B. degree in English elementary education studies track – 32 credits

Secondary Education Studies Track:

    • ENGL 200 Introduction to Literary Studies – 4 credits
    • One 200-level literature course from: 4 credits
      • ENGL 206, ENGL 207, ENGL 215, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 226, ENGL 228, ENGL 230, ENGL 234, ENGL 240, ENGL 270, ENGL 288
    • One 300-level literature course from: 4 credits
      • ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, IDS 409, IDS 422
    • ENGL 400 Senior Seminar – 4 credits
    • Three ENGL upper-level literature, writing, film courses or approved internship from the following: 12 credits
      • ENGL 205, ENGL 206, ENGL 207, ENGL 210, ENGL 211*, ENGL 212**, ENGL 215, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 226, ENGL 228, ENGL 230, ENGL 234, ENGL 240, ENGL 270, ENGL 272, ENGL 282, ENGL 285, ENGL 286, ENGL 287, ENGL 288, ENGL 290, ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, ENGL 382, ENGL 390, IDS 409, IDS 422

*requires ENGL 206 or instructor permission as prerequisite
** requires ENGL 207 or instructor permission as prerequisite

  • ENGL 380 Rhetoric and Composition – 4 credits

Total credits required for A.B. degree in English secondary education studies track – 32 credits

Graduate Studies Track:

    • ENGL 200 Introduction to Literary Studies – 4 credits
    • One 200-level literature course from: 4 credits
      • ENGL 206, ENGL 207, ENGL 215, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 226, ENGL 228, ENGL 230, ENGL 234, ENGL 240, ENGL 270, ENGL 288
    • One 300-level literature course from: 4 credits
      • ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, IDS 409, IDS 422
    • ENGL 400 Senior Seminar – 4 credits
    • Five ENGL upper-level literature, writing, film courses or approved internship from the following: 20 credits
      • ENGL 205, ENGL 206, ENGL 207, ENGL 210, ENGL 211*, ENGL 212**, ENGL 215, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 226, ENGL 228, ENGL 230, ENGL 234, ENGL 240, ENGL 270, ENGL 272, ENGL 282, ENGL 285, ENGL 286, ENGL 287, ENGL 288, ENGL 290, ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, ENGL 380, ENGL 382, ENGL 390, IDS 409, IDS 422

*requires ENGL 206 or instructor permission as prerequisite
** requires ENGL 207 or instructor permission as prerequisite

  • One emphasis course at the 300 level from: 4 credits
    • ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 334, ENGL 336, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 378, ENGL 380, ENGL 382, IDS 409, IDS 422

Total credits hours required for A.B. degree in English graduate studies track – 40 credits

The department recommends the following for the graduate studies track.

  • Taking some survey courses for a strong foundation (e.g., ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 225, ENGL 226);
  • Taking some depth courses for learning academic discourse and practicing analytical skills;
  • Doing an internship (teaching or research);
  • Doing an honors thesis or presenting research at a local or other conference;

The department also recommends:

  • Taking ENGL 400 early in the senior year (it will provide a writing sample for graduate school applications);
  • Taking the GRE in early fall semester of the senior year;
  • Gaining proficiency in a second language.

For further details of all programs, see both individual course descriptions and the department’s advising guidelines, available from any department member. Students will take the introduction to the major (ENGL 200) when they declare the major (usually in the sophomore year) and the capstone course (ENGL 400) in their senior year.

Note: Both ENGL 102 and Historical Perspectives are prerequisites for all upper-level English courses except Journalism, Guilfordian Practicum and Playwriting. ENGL 250 and 350 Special Topics courses may fulfill literature or writing course requirements, depending upon topic.