English, B.A.

[English—1501]

English majors read broadly and learn to write pointedly and passionately. They spend time in all genres of literature across human history, gaining facts while grappling with universals. They learn to ask what the most incisive minds have asked and to discern, amidst a Christian community, how to stay true to God and themselves in a confusing world. By the time they graduate, Roberts’ English majors have learned to listen carefully and respond sensitively, to read critically and write well, and to use knowledge constructively and creatively. Despite changes in markets and technology, these skills will always be in demand.

An English major prepares students for a wide variety of careers, including those in education, publishing, journalism, marketing, and public relations. In addition, English serves as an excellent foundation for careers in counseling, ministry, library science, law, politics, business, and science.

SPECIFICS OF THE ENGLISH B.A. DEGREE

Minimum Total Hours: 120

Total Liberal Arts Hours Required: 90

General Education Requirements: Per Core Curriculum Requirements list Exceptions: LITR 1010 excluded (LITR 1010, COMP 1010/1020 cannot count toward the major); American Sign Language may not be used to meet the foreign language proficiency requirement.

Minimum Requirements:  GPA of 2.3 in the major and overall; no grade less than C- in the major; minimum grade of C+ in COMP 1010 and COMP 1020.

Transfer Requirements: See institutional transfer policies. 

Application to the Major: The standard institutional form for Application to Major may be found on the Registration webpage.  A minimum overall GPA of 2.3 is required for acceptance to the major.

Major Requirements: 33 hours as follows:

• One upper-level composition course:
  • COMP 3200 Creative Writing
  • COMP 3210 Journalism
  • COMP 3410 The Composing Process & Advanced Grammar
• Four survey courses:
  • LITR 2010 English Literature I
  • LITR 2020 English Literature II
  • LITR 2060 American Literature
  • LITR 2090 World LIterature
• Two major author courses:
  • LITR 3030 Major Author: Shakespeare
  • LITR 3120 Major Author: Rotation
• One theory course: LITR 3070 Literary Theory and Criticism
• Two special-topics or senior-level courses:
  • LITR 3000 Special Topics in Literature
  • LITR 4020 Early Twentieth Century Literature
  • LITR 4030 Contemporary Literature
• Nine semester hours of electives selected from any of the previously listed courses not already used to meet a requirement or from the following:
  • LITR 3040 Short Story
  • LITR 3090 Novel
  • LITR 3140 Children's Literature
  • LITR 3150 Adolescent Literature
• Recommended but not required:
  • COMM 4409 Classical & Modern Rhetoric
  • HIST 3000 Topics in History
  • SGEN 2050 Theology & Gender