English Major

Heather Hayton, Assistant 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 and Director of Writing

Diya Abdo, Assistant Professor

Traci Connor, Assistant Professor
Carol Hoppe, Visiting Assistant Professor
Martin Arnold, Visiting Instructor
Rod B. Spellman, Visiting Instructor
Kaylene B. Swenson, Visiting Instructor

Jennie Thompson, Visiting Instructor

The English major at Guilford focuses on the literatures of the English-speaking world, with an emphasis on British and American writers. An excellent major for any student seeking a broad liberal arts education, the English major involves study of that form of art through which humankind has constantly struggled to express most fully the central concerns of the human condition as understood in each age. With its emphasis on developing students’ abilities to express their perceptions and analyses in dialogue and writing, the English major offers excellent preparation for work in a variety of professions.

Analytical and writing skills developed in the study of literature are precisely those required of lawyers and business executives. Students considering careers in business or law might choose to major in English and pursue a minor in accounting, management, computing, history or political science.

Students desiring careers in journalism, technical writing, television or advertising would do well to major in English and pursue the communications minor. Students planning careers in secondary education are required to double major in education studies and English. In order to acquire teaching licensure, students complete additional coursework in Rhetoric and Composition (ENGL 380) and arrange for tutoring internships. For those not desiring a double major, an A.B. in English followed by an M.A. in teaching for licensure is a good alternative. Advisors from both education studies and English provide a developmental support program for prospective teachers of English, helping students in all aspects of their program and assuring that requirements are satisfied.

Outstanding students are encouraged to work for departmental honors. The Leora Sherrill O’Callaghan Scholarship is given annually to a rising senior who has excelled in English.

 

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-courseCore, common to all the tracks, plus at leastfour 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 advisers.

NOTE: all English majors, whatever their track, must take at least one course in literature before 1830 (British) or 1865 (American).

General Track:

  1.  ENGL 200: Introduction to Literary Studies

4 credits

  2.  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 270, ENGL 288

  3.  One 300-level literature course from:

4 credits

       ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 338, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 377, ENGL 378

  4.  ENGL 400: Senior Seminar

4 credits

  5.  One emphasis course at the 300 level from:

4 credits

        ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 342

6-8.  Three emphasis courses from:

12 credits

        ENGL 221, ENGL 223, ENGL 225, ENGL 230, ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 342
 

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

32 credits
 

Writing Track:

  1.  ENGL 200: Introduction to Literary Studies

4 credits

  2.  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 270, ENGL 288

  3.  One 300-level literature course from:

4 credits

ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 338, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 377, ENGL 378

  4.  ENGL 400: Senior Seminar

4 credits

5-6. Two courses from the following

8 credits

      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

 

  7.  One theory course from the following:

4 credits

      ENGL 372 Modern Poetry

      ENGL 376 Contemporary Fiction

      ENGL 380 Rhetoric and Composition

  8. An internship or elective writing course from ENGL 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:
 

  1.  ENGL 200: Introduction to Literary Studies

4 credits

  2.  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 270, ENGL 288

  3.  One 300-level literature course from:

4 credits

        ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 338, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 377, ENGL 378

  4.  ENGL 400: Senior Seminar

4 credits

5-7.  Three courses from the following, or other upper-level ENGL literature, writing, film or internship courses:

12 credits

       ENGL 206 Introduction to Poetry

       ENGL 207 Introduction to Fiction

       ENGL 230 African American Literature

       ENGL 270 World Literature

       ENGL 380 Rhetoric and Composition

  8.  One emphasis course at the 300 level from:

4 credits

       ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 342
 

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

32 credits
 

Secondary Education Studies Track:
 

  1.  ENGL 200: Introduction to Literary Studies

4 credits

  2.  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 270, ENGL 288

  3.  One 300-level literature course from:

4 credits

         ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 338, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376, ENGL 377, ENGL 378

   4.  ENGL 400: Senior Seminar

4 credits

5-7.  Three courses from the following, or other upper-level ENGL literature, writing, film, or internship courses:

12 credits

        ENGL 221British Literature I

        ENGL 222 British Literature II

        ENGL 223 Shakespeare

        ENGL 225 American Literature I

        ENGL 226 American Literature II

        ENGL 230 African American Literature

        ENGL 270 World Literature

   8.  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:
 

   1.   ENGL 200: Introduction to Literary Studies

4 credits

   2.   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 270, ENGL 288

   3.   One 300-level literature course from:

4 credits

         ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 328, ENGL 331, ENGL 332, ENGL 338, ENGL 342, ENGL 372, ENGL 376,ENGL 377, ENGL 378

   4.   ENGL 400: Senior Seminar

4 credits

5-9.  Five courses from the ENGL upper-level literature, writing, film courses or an approved internship

20 credits

         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

 

 10.   One emphasis course at the 300 level from:

4 credits

          ENGL 306, ENGL 309, ENGL 327, ENGL 342
 

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., 221, 222, 225, 226)

•     Taking some depth courses for learning academic discourse and practicinganalytical skills

•     Doing an internship (teaching or research)

•     Doing an honors thesis.

      The department also recommends:

•     Taking ENGL 400early in the senior year (it will provide a writing sample for graduate school applications)

•     Taking the GRE in earlyfall 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 journalismand playwriting.