English, BA

Overview

The English major contributes to students’ intellectual and spiritual formation through developing and sharpening students’ abilities to read, write, research, and think critically. A rich program of study provides broad exposure to Great Books, American and British authors, classic and contemporary Christian writers, and literary genres that reflect a diverse range of non-Western cultures.

In addition to studying literature, the program invites students to explore professional, practical, and creative genres of writing to prepare them for writing careers in ministry and/or the marketplace. Finally, the major prepares students academically for immediate employment as middle or high school educators in private institutions, positions them to earn teacher certification in graduate programs, and equips students to pursue further graduate study in the areas of English studies, law, and library science.

Objectives

The English major equips students to:

• Develop habits of critical thinking and judgment through reading and discussing a wide range of literary texts.
• Read and analyze literary characteristics of classic and contemporary written works from a variety of historical eras.
• Write with clarity on a number of topics, apply rhetorical principles and models to a myriad of writing situations, and utilize elements of fiction and poetry to write creatively.
• Develop solid research and data gathering skills, utilizing the full range of academic library resources.
• Explore a number of career opportunities in English via internships and practicums.

See Undergraduate Core  for graduation requirements.