English

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Develop skills in literary analysis, critical writing and oral expression.

In Webster's BA in English program, students engage not only with the aesthetics dimensions of literature, but also with the values, views and dynamics of a given and historical context. In this major, you'll choose from courses on a range of literatures written in English as well as literature in translation from all eras. Many of these courses will span cultures, time periods, and aesthetic approaches to explore particular themes or genres such as "The History of the Novel," "Oppression and Resistance," "Human-Animal Transformations," and "Myth and Classical Literature." You'll also have the chance to study literary criticism and theory, linguistics, and film adaptations of literary texts, and to take seminars on authors like Jane Austen and Toni Morrison.

Group of students on blanket outside reading book together and discussing.

BA in English

When you pursue an English major, you'll join a close-knit group of readers and writers who appreciate the power and beauty of literature. Your classes and writing workshops will be small and dynamic to foster discussion and interaction. You’ll be part of a lively literary community, and along the way, you'll develop the critical reading, thinking and communication skills required for success in any professional role.

Program Highlights

In this major, students engage not only with the aesthetics dimensions of literature, but also with the values, views and dynamics of a given and historical context. In small classes and seminars, students are given multiple opportunities to develop their skills in literary analysis, critical writing and oral expression. Outstanding student essays are selected by faculty to be published each spring in our literary journal, The Mercury.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

Apply knowledge of historical, cultural and generic contexts in order to analyze the canonical works and major periods of American and British literature as well as some lesser-known works within and outside that canon (including global literature).
Compose thesis-driven, textually-supported literary analyses that apply the conventions of literary study, including close reading and MLA style.
Identify and evaluate appropriate research sources, incorporate those sources into well-documented writing and formulate their own arguments based at least in part on those sources.

The 36 credit hours required for the English major include the following:

Core Courses (12 hours)

ENGL 1900 Introductory Seminar in Literary Analysis (3 hours)
ENGL 2020 British Literature I (3 hours)
ENGL 2030 British Literature II (3 hours)
ENGL 2050 U.S. Literature (3 hours)
ENGL 4600 Portfolio Review (in the final semester of study) (0 hours)

Required Courses by Category* (24 hours)

Each category requires 3 hours, plus 6 hours of ENGL electives (any courses with the ENGL prefix).

ENGL 2035 History of the Novel (3 hours)
ENGL 2300 Worlds of Romance (3 hours)
ENGL 2400 The Short Story (3 hours)
ENGL 2500 Global Dramatic Literature (3 hours)
ENGL 3030 Topics in Poetry (3 hours)
ENGL 3040 Topics in Fiction (3 hours)
ENGL 3050 Topics in Drama (3 hours)
ENGL 3100 Modern Drama (3 hours)
ENGL 3130 Contemporary Drama (3 hours)
ENGL 3190 Comedy and Satire (3 hours)
ENGL 3210 Tragic Themes (3 hours)
ENGL 3300 20th Century American Poetry (3 hours)
ENGL 3900 Myth and Classical Literature (3 hours)

ENGL 4130 Seminar in a Single Author (3 hours)
ENGL 4150 Shakespeare (3 hours)

ENGL 2086 U.S. Literature of Diversity (3 hours)
ENGL 2120 Literature of Oppression and Resistance (3 hours)
ENGL 3140 Women and Literature (3 hours)

ENGL 2300 Worlds of Romance (3 hours)
ENGL 2500 Global Dramatic Literature (3 hours)
ENGL 2600 Introduction to Linguistics (3 hours)
ENGL 3190 Comedy and Satire (3 hours)
ENGL 3900 Myth and Classical Literature (3 hours)
ENGL 4000 Myth and Modern Literature (3 hours)
ENGL 4030 Literature of Latin America (3 hours)

ENGL 4190 The Story of English (3 hours)
ENGL 4500 Literary Criticism (3 hours)

Any course with the WRIT prefix at the 2000-level or above.

*ENGL 2110, ENGL 2210 and ENGL 3500 may be used for any category with an appropriate topic.

A minimum of three hours in a non-native language is required in addition to the requirements for the major. Courses used toward the international language requirement may also be used to fulfill general education requirements or a major/minor in a foreign language.
Transfer students who have completed their 3 credits at an institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled the requirement, as are students who have scored a "3" or higher on an Advanced Placement exam in a non-native language.
For students whose native language is not English, a passing grade on the TOEFL will count as their foreign language requirement. Students who are from bilingual families but have no evidence of academic study of the second language on a transcript will need to take one course.

Earn a Minor in English with the required 18 hours in ENGL classes at Webster University.

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Founded in 1915, Webster University is committed to ensuring high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence. In 2014, Webster Athens joined our network to bring the best of American education with the only fully owned and controlled (academically and financially) accredited campus of a U.S. university in Greece.