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Major Programs
The bas-relief above the primary entrance to Mark Hopkins Hall, the home of the English/Communications department. Mark Hopkins, on the right, was celebrating for engaging students directly in the dialogue of sound education, a principle that is a cornerstone of teaching in the English/Communications department. One of Hopkins's contemporaries said that a college offers a sound education whenever Mark Hopkins was seated on one end of a log and with student seated on the other. That sentiment is the basis for this depiction of Hopkins, dressed in an academic gown, offering instruction on the meaning of a text. Advice on the Major
English/Comunications Department The English/Communications faculty believe that the study of modern communications embodies a wide variety of knowledge: from traditional literary study to the latest applications in digital elctronics. Our faculty seek to develop your skills in several areas: literature, writing, speech, the literature of the theatre, film, television and radio. The department's program is built on a foundation of courses intended to give you excellent training in literature, language, and mass media. As English/Communications graduates, you will be generalists with wide humanistic knowledge, capable of adapting your skills and talents to the demands of a number of different career paths. Beyond the foundation courses shared by everyone, students focus their studies in one of the following concentrations: Finally, students complete their major with additional courses that best meet such career objectives as law, teaching, journalism, media design, public relations, advertising, insurance, real estate, radio or television production, technical writing, consumer relations, editing, politics, and many more. Foundation courses (24 cr)All majors take the following eight courses. - ENGL 211 Introduction to Mass Media
- ENGL 250 Essentials of Literature
- ENGL 351-65 Major Author (Select one)
- ENGL 366-80 Literature in Context (Select one)
- ENGL 381-94 Diverse Voices in American Literature (Select one)
- Any advanced writing course at the 200 level or above
- ENGL 451 British Masterpieces
- or ENGL 461 American Masterpieces
- or ENGL 471 World Masterpieces
- ENGL 490 Senior Seminar
Concentration requirements (12 cr) Each student selects a concentration within the major, a subject where a student completes at least four courses. You might want to discuss with your advisor which concentration best meets your interests and talents. Departmental Electives (6 cr) The six credits of English electives that complete the major's requirements provide flexibility in your preparation. Working closely with your advisor, you choose the electives that will strengthen your area of concentration by taking additional courses directly in the chosen concentration, enrich your possibilities of specialization, and broaden your qualifications. For example, if you have a concentration in journalism, you might choose: - two courses in public relations which both strengthen your concentration and broaden your career options
- two courses in literature which will broaden your understanding of story-telling strategies
- or any combination that best suits your individual needs and preferences.
A student's choice of electives should follow a coherent plan, reflect the student's career goals, and broaden a student's exposure to the field. You can choose to use six hours of intermediate foreign language as elective credit toward the English degree or you can use study in foreign language to substitute for the core requirement in Critical Reading (ENGL 349). We cannot recommend strongly enough that all English majors attain at least intermediate proficiency in a foreign language. Flow of Required Courses Core courses, concentration courses, and departmental electives should, if possible, follow the pattern outlined below. Of course, all students should work out the precise sequence of courses in close consultation with their advisor. Freshman/Sophomore Year
ENGL 211 Introduction to Mass Media
ENGL 250 Essentials of Literature
First course in your concentration Sophomore/Junior Year
Two core E/C foundation courses (Major Author or Literature in Context, for example)
Required course in advanced writing Junior Year
Two E/C foundation courses
Second concentration course
Third concentration course
First departmental elective
(Some students may be ready for Critical Reading in the 2nd semester...see your advisor.) Senior Year
Critical Reading (1st semester)
Second departmental elective
Fourth concentration course
ENGL 490 Senior Seminar (2nd semester)
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