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English (B.A.)

The English major and minor provide preparation for entry into graduate study, professional schools, and a wide variety of career fields. English majors have the option of choosing a track in literature, media and performance studies, or writing, or a secondary teaching licensure program.

Through the literature and writing courses required for the major, students develop valuable writing, critical reading, and research skills. The study of literature provides tools of critical analysis, awareness of major authors and literary traditions, and insight into how literary developments mirror and influence major societal developments. The writing courses teach the principles of clear and effective writing for a variety of purposes and audiences.

All English majors complete an internship, which provides valuable practical experience and the opportunity to apply skills in a professional context. In addition to the required internship, seniors must successfully complete a senior research seminar.

By choosing minors in such areas as gender and society, politics, and psychology, students can prepare themselves to apply their skills in the professional world. The English major, meanwhile, is a lifelong resource in providing a broad liberal arts education.

Upon successful completion of the English program, students will be able to

  • respond to a literary text in a way that reflects an awareness of aesthetic values, historical context, ideological orientation, and critical approach;
  • write coherent, well-organized essays that establish a clear focus, provide appropriate evidence, and are grammatically correct;
  • conduct appropriate research and synthesize their own original ideas with those advanced by literary critics and other scholars;
  • demonstrate a thoughtful understanding of their own writing process;
  • analyze literary works — in all genres — with respect to structure, style, and theme;
  • demonstrate information and technological literacy in research and competence in Modern Language Association (MLA) documentation; and
  • deliver oral presentations that are focused, well-organized, and effective, and establish a connection with the audience.

Residency Requirements: Students must complete at least 21 credits in English at Marymount. Those credits must include EN 200 Elements of Literary Study; EN 290 Literary Theory and Practice or EN 240 Introduction to Visual and Cultural Studies; three credits in English at the 400 level; and nine additional credits at the 300 level or above.

Degree Requirements — English

This degree requires a total of 120 credits.

Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements

See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. English majors will satisfy part of the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement through: EN 200 Elements of Literary Study and EN 424 Senior Seminar. In addition, majors on the literature track must take EN 490 Major Author(s); majors on the writing track must take EN 301 The Writing Process and EN 308 Style and Revision; majors on the media and performance studies track must take EN 321 Modern Drama or EN 240 Introduction to Visual and Cultural Studies.

Major Requirements

To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.

EN 200Elements of Literary Study *

3
 
EN 290Literary Theory and Practice

3
OR
EN 240Introduction to Visual and Cultural Studies *

3
 
EN 400Internship *

3
OR
CMD 400Internship *

3
 
EN 424Senior Seminar *

3
OR
CMD 404Performance Media Lab *

3

Track Courses

All majors also complete coursework in a chosen track as follows:

Literature Track

EN 201World Literature: The Ancient World *

3
OR
EN 202World Literature: The Middle Ages *

3
 
EN 203World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment *

3
OR
EN 204World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism *

3
 
EN 205American Literature I *

3
OR
EN 206American Literature II *

3
OR
EN 230American Multicultural Literature *

3
 
EN 301The Writing Process: Theory and Practice *

3
OR
EN 308Style and Revision *

3
 
EN 490Major Author(s) *

3
Three (3) credits in electives numbered EN 201 or above
Nine (9) credits in electives numbered EN 321 or above

Media and Performance Studies Track

Three (3) credits from the following:
EN 201World Literature: The Ancient World *

3
EN 202World Literature: The Middle Ages *

3
EN 203World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment *

3
EN 204World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism *

3
EN 205American Literature I *

3
EN 206American Literature II *

3
EN 230American Multicultural Literature *

3
Nine (9) credits from the following:
EN 212Topics in Acting

3
EN 270Approaches to Creative Writing *

3
EN 305Topics in Creative Writing

3
CMD 101Public Speaking

3
CMD 202Illustration I *

3
CMD 203Digital Photography

3
CMD 204Video Production: Multimedia Communication

3
CMD 205Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication

3
CMD 308Web and Social Media Design

3
One (1) of the following:
EN 207Theater History *

3
EN 220The Movie Or the Book? Narrative Adaptation in the Cinema *

3
One (1) of the following:
EN 321Modern Drama *

3
EN 355Shakespeare *

3
The following course:
EN 429Topics in Performance *

3
An additional twelve (12) credits in literature

Writing Track

Three (3) credits from the following:
EN 201World Literature: The Ancient World *

3
EN 202World Literature: The Middle Ages *

3
EN 203World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment *

3
EN 204World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism *

3
Three (3) credits from the following:
EN 205American Literature I *

3
EN 206American Literature II *

3
EN 230American Multicultural Literature *

3
The following three courses:
EN 211Principles of Language

3
EN 301The Writing Process: Theory and Practice *

3
EN 308Style and Revision *

3
Three (3) credits in Advanced Literature (LT-2)

Nine (9) credits in English and/or communication writing course electives

Three (3) credits in support skills electives in digital publishing

Sample Degree Plan — English

Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections. This sample plan is based on the literature track and will differ for students pursuing other tracks.

Year One — Fall

EN 101Composition I *

3
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course *

3
DSC 101DISCOVER First-Year Seminar *

3
TRS 100Theological Inquiry *

3
One (1) elective

3

EN 101: WR core course

TRS 100: TRS-1 core course

Year One — Spring

EN 102Composition II *

3
 
EN 201-206

OR
EN 230American Multicultural Literature *

3
 
HI 103Western Civilization I *

3
OR
HI 104Western Civilization II *

3
 
Natural Science (NS) core course with lab *
One (1) elective

3

EN 102: WR core course

HI 103, HI 104: HI-1 core course

Year Two — Fall

EN 200Elements of Literary Study *

3
 
EN 201-206

OR
EN 230American Multicultural Literature *

3
 
PH 100Introduction to Philosophy *

3
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course *

3
One (1) elective

3

PH 100: PH-1 core course

Year Two — Spring

EN 201-206

OR
EN 230American Multicultural Literature *

3
 
EN 290Literary Theory and Practice

3
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course *
MA
Mathematics (MT) core course *

3-4
One (1) elective

3

Year Three — Fall

One (1) major elective (Advanced Literature LT-2 core course) *
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course *
Fine Arts (FNA) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course *

3
Two (2) electives

Year Three — Spring

EN 301The Writing Process: Theory and Practice *

3
OR
EN 308Style and Revision *

3
 
Two (2) major electives
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course *

3
One (1) elective

3

Year Four — Fall

EN 424Senior Seminar *

3
One (1) major elective
PH
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course *

3
Two (2) electives

Year Four — Spring

EN 400Internship *

3
EN 490Major Author(s) *

3
Three (3) electives

* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.