English (B.A.)
The study of literature and writing deepens students’ understanding of the moral questions at the center of the human experience and of our shared humanity across cultures and across time. Marymount’s English major and minor develop students’ range of experience and cultural understanding by examining texts that represent a variety of points of view and historical perspectives. It also provides students with valuable skills in writing, analysis, and critical thinking.
The English major and minor provide preparation for entry into graduate study, professional schools, and a wide variety of meaningful career fields, including research, creative, editorial, teaching, advocacy, and governmental 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, media and performance, writing, 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 that 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 Film and Visual 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 Film and Visual 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 200 | Elements of Literary Study * | 3 |
| | |
| EN 290 | Literary Theory and Practice | 3 |
| OR | |
| EN 240 | Introduction to Film and Visual Studies * | 3 |
| | |
| EN 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| OR | |
| GMD 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| | |
| EN 424 | Senior Seminar * | 3 |
| OR | |
| GMD 404 | Performance Media Lab * | 3 |
Track Courses
All majors also complete coursework in a chosen track as follows:
Literature Track
| EN 201 | World Literature: The Ancient World * | 3 |
| OR | |
| EN 202 | World Literature: The Middle Ages * | 3 |
| | |
| EN 203 | World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment * | 3 |
| OR | |
| EN 204 | World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism * | 3 |
| | |
| EN 205 | American Literature I * | 3 |
| OR | |
| EN 206 | American Literature II * | 3 |
| OR | |
| EN 230 | American Multicultural Literature * | 3 |
| | |
| EN 301 | The Writing Process: Theory and Practice * | 3 |
| OR | |
| EN 308 | Style and Revision * | 3 |
| | |
| EN 490 | Major 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 201 | World Literature: The Ancient World * | 3 |
| EN 202 | World Literature: The Middle Ages * | 3 |
| EN 203 | World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment * | 3 |
| EN 204 | World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism * | 3 |
| EN 205 | American Literature I * | 3 |
| EN 206 | American Literature II * | 3 |
| EN 230 | American Multicultural Literature * | 3 |
Nine (9) credits from the following:
| EN 212 | Topics in Acting | 3 |
| EN 270 | Approaches to Creative Writing * | 3 |
| EN 305 | Topics in Creative Writing | 3 |
| COMM 101 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 204 | Video Production: Multimedia Communication | 3 |
| GMD 202 | Illustration I * | 3 |
| GMD 203 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| GMD 205 | Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication | 3 |
| GMD 308 | Web and Social Media Design | 3 |
One (1) of the following:
| EN 207 | Theater History * | 3 |
| EN 220 | The Movie or the Book? Narrative Adaptation in the Cinema * | 3 |
One (1) of the following:
The following course:
| EN 429 | Studies in Performance * | 3 |
An additional twelve (12) credits in literature.
Writing Track
Three (3) credits from the following:
| EN 201 | World Literature: The Ancient World * | 3 |
| EN 202 | World Literature: The Middle Ages * | 3 |
| EN 203 | World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment * | 3 |
| EN 204 | World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism * | 3 |
Three (3) credits from the following:
| EN 205 | American Literature I * | 3 |
| EN 206 | American Literature II * | 3 |
| EN 230 | American Multicultural Literature * | 3 |
The following three courses:
| EN 211 | Principles of Language | 3 |
| EN 301 | The Writing Process: Theory and Practice * | 3 |
| EN 308 | Style 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 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
| DSC 101 | DISCOVER First-Year Seminar * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
Year One — Spring
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| | |
EN 201-206
| | 3 |
| OR | |
| EN 230 | American Multicultural Literature * | 3 |
| | |
| HI 103 | Western Civilization I * | 3 |
| OR | |
| HI 104 | Western Civilization II * | 3 |
| | |
| Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Two — Fall
| EN 200 | Elements of Literary Study * | 3 |
| | |
EN 201-206
| | 3 |
| OR | |
| EN 230 | American Multicultural Literature * | 3 |
| | |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Two — Spring
EN 201-206
| | 3 |
| OR | |
| EN 230 | American Multicultural Literature * | 3 |
| | |
| EN 290 | Literary Theory and Practice | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
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 * | 3 |
| Fine Arts (FNA) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| Two (2) electives | 6 |
Year Three — Spring
| EN 301 | The Writing Process: Theory and Practice * | 3 |
| OR | |
| EN 308 | Style 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 424 | Senior Seminar * | 3 |
| One (1) major elective | |
PH
| Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| Two (2) electives | 6 |
Year Four — Spring
| EN 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| EN 490 | Major Author(s) * | 3 |
| Three (3) electives | 9 |
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.