Undergraduate

The English Department offers a 12-credit minor that provides students with an opportunity to pursue interests in literature, language, rhetoric, composition, and creative writing at the intermediate and advanced levels. Students may declare the minor only after completing ENGL 220, Introduction to Literature, the prerequisite for all English courses above the 220 level. Students minoring in English may choose four courses (12 cr.) from among 200- and 300-level literature, language, or writing offerings, with a minimum of two 300-level courses necessary to satisfy the Minor requirements. Students who wish to take Creative Writing workshops in any of the three genres offered (Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Non-Fiction) must first pass ENGL 285, Introduction to Creative Writing, with a minimum grade of B.

NOTE: English 220 does not count towards fulfillment of the minor. English 218, Advanced Expository Writing, may be used towards fulfillment of the minor requirements, but ENGL 201, Intermediate Expository Writing, may not. English minors may not take 400-level courses.

Learning Objectives: Students minoring in English who focus on literature, language, and rhetoric courses will develop their critical reading, thinking, and analytical writing skills beyond the introductory level, including the ability to conduct critical research and to write increasingly sophisticated criticism, as demonstrated by substantial formal papers of lengths varying from 3-15 pages; exam essays; other formal writing assignments specific to course content; and class discussion, including oral presentations. Students will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the aesthetic, cultural, and historical aspects of literature through study in a particular genre; period; author; national or transnational literature; multi-ethnic literature; or specific literary topic. Students pursuing language and rhetoric courses will gain a deeper understanding of the historical and social aspects of language, rhetoric, and rhetorical principles. Students pursuing creative writing courses will have the opportunity to develop their interests and abilities through writing poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction and close study of the uses of language in the craft of writing.

1. Use close reading skills and critical thinking to analyze and construct arguments about primary texts
2. Acquire broad and specialized knowledge about historical contexts of literature, the relationship between literature and history, and literary genres
3. Write scholarly research papers that use appropriate primary and secondary sources
4. Apply literary and/or rhetorical and/or linguistic theory to primary text
5. For students in creative writing, incorporate peer and instructor feedback through the workshop process