English Minor
Heather Hayton, Department of English
The English minor consists of two separate tracks, literature and writing.
The literature track involves principally the study of literature, a form of art through which humankind has constantly struggled to express verbally the central concerns of the human condition as understood in each age. English minors at Guilford study the literatures of the English-speaking world, primarily focusing on traditional and non-traditional American and British writers. Courses in literatures in translation are also offered.
The writing track offers students the opportunity to focus on the skill of writing while also reflecting on the theory that underlies successful practice. Minors will expand their ability to write creatively and critically, thereby both enriching their Guilford experience and building skills that will benefit them in future careers. Students may pursue interests in poetry, fiction, playwriting, journalism, technical writing and/or literary non-fiction.
Students may choose to fulfill the requirements for one or the other track, but cannot mix the two.
The minor in English is not available to English majors.
Minor Requirements
Minor Requirements for Literature Track.
The minor requires a minimum of 16 credit hours (four courses).
- ENGL 200 Introduction to Literary Studies – 4 credits
- One course (literature survey) from: 4 credits
- ENGL 221 British Literature I
- ENGL 222 British Literature II
- ENGL 225 American Literature Survey I
- ENGL 226 American Literature Survey II
- ENGL 230 African American Literature
- ENGL 270 World Literature
- Two courses (300-400-level literature) from : 8 credits
- ENGL 306 Medieval Literature
- ENGL 309 Early Modern Literature
- ENGL 327 British Romantic Literature
- ENGL 328 Victorian Literature
- ENGL 331 Black Women Writers
- ENGL 332 Black Men Writers
- ENGL 334 African Women Writers
- ENGL 342 American Romanticism
- ENGL 372 Modern Poetry
- ENGL 376 Contemporary Fiction
- ENGL 378 Caribbean Literature
- ENGL 400 Senior Seminar
- IDS 409 Gay, Lesbian, Queer Studies
- IDS 422 Harlem Renaissance
Total credit hours required for English Literature Track Minor – 16 credits
Minor Requirements for Writing Track
The minor requires a minimum of 16 credit hours (four courses).
- ENGL 200 Introduction to Literary Studies – 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
- ENGL 382 Technical and Professional Communication
* requires ENGL 206 or permission of instructor as prerequisite
**requires ENGL 207 or permission of instructor as prerequisite - One course from the following (students may not repeat any course above): 4 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
- ENGL 372 Modern Poetry
- ENGL 376 Contemporary Fiction
- ENGL 380 Rhetoric and Composition
- ENGL 382 Technical and Professional Communication
- ENGL 390 Internship
* requires ENGL 206 or permission of instructor as prerequisite
**requires ENGL 207 or permission of instructor as prerequisite
Total credit hours required for English Writing Track Minor – 16 credits
Note: The department will periodically add courses to the above lists. Please check with the minor coordinator.
Students will develop a plan of study in ENGL 200. They will then process the coherence of the English minor via a portfolio of work done in the four courses in the minor (or three courses plus internship). Students will submit this portfolio to the English minor subcommittee of the Department of English.
The portfolio should include sample copies of work done in the four courses in the minor (or three courses plus internship) and a five-page reflective paper.
In this paper, which should neither summarize the four courses/internship nor the papers included in the portfolio, minors should reflect on their experience with the minor in light of the coherence plan they developed in ENGL 200. They might, for example: define their personal goals in undertaking the minor; demonstrate how and why those goals have or have not been achieved in the four chosen courses/internship; provide clear examples of how their experience in the courses/internship has informed and challenged their ways of thinking; and discuss what that change in thinking has meant to them and how they expect to utilize the knowledge and analytical skills gained in their careers and/or lives in the future.
Minors must meet with a member of the English minor subcommittee before beginning the paper.
Portfolios are due by the Monday of the 14th week of the semester
