Marymount University
Undergraduate Catalog 2014-15
English
English (B.A.)
The English major and minor provide preparation for entry into graduate study, professional schools, and a wide variety of career fields. English majors have the option of choosing a track in literature, media and performance studies, or writing, or a secondary teaching licensure program.
Through the literature and writing courses required for the major, students develop valuable writing, critical reading, and research skills. The study of literature provides tools of critical analysis, awareness of major authors and literary traditions, and insight into how literary developments mirror and influence major societal developments. The writing courses teach the principles of clear and effective writing for a variety of purposes and audiences.
All English majors complete an internship, which provides valuable practical experience and the opportunity to apply skills in a professional context. In addition to the required internship, seniors must successfully complete a senior research seminar.
By choosing minors in such areas as gender and society, politics, and psychology, students can prepare themselves to apply their skills in the professional world. The English major, meanwhile, is a lifelong resource in providing a broad liberal arts education.
Upon successful completion of the English program, students will be able to
- respond to a literary text in a way that reflects an awareness of aesthetic values, historical context, ideological orientation, and critical approach;
- write coherent, well-organized essays that establish a clear focus, provide appropriate evidence, and are grammatically correct;
- conduct appropriate research and synthesize their own original ideas with those advanced by literary critics and other scholars;
- demonstrate a thoughtful understanding of their own writing process;
- analyze literary works — in all genres — with respect to structure, style, and theme;
- demonstrate information and technological literacy in research and competence in Modern Language Association (MLA) documentation; and
- deliver oral presentations that are focused, well-organized, and effective, and establish a connection with the audience.
Residency Requirements: Students transferring from other institutions must complete at least 21 credits in English at Marymount University. Those credits should include EN 200 Elements of Literary Study, EN 290 Literary Theory and Practice, or EN 240 Introduction to Visual and Cultural Studies, 3 credits in English at the 400 level, and 9 additional credits at the 300 level or above.
Degree Requirements — English
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. English majors will satisfy part of the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement through: EN 200 Elements of Literary Study and EN 424 Senior Seminar. In addition, majors on the literature track must take EN 490 Major Author(s); majors on the writing track must take EN 301 The Writing Process and EN 308 Style and Revision; majors on the media and performance studies track must take EN 321 Modern Drama or EN 240 Introduction to Visual and Cultural Studies.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.
EN 200 Elements of Literary Study
EN 290 Literary Theory and Practice or EN 240 Introduction to Visual and Cultural Studies
EN 400 Internship or COM 400 Internship
EN 424 Senior Seminar or COM 404/GD 404/IS 404 Performance Media Lab
All majors also complete coursework in a chosen track as follows:
Literature track
EN 201 World Literature: The Ancient World or
EN 202 World Literature: The Middle Ages
EN 203 World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment or EN 204 World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism
EN 205 American Literature I, EN 206 American Literature II, or EN 230 American Multicultural Literature
EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice or EN 308 Style and Revision
EN 490 Major Author(s)
Three (3) credits in electives numbered EN 205 or above
Nine (9) credits in electives numbered EN 301 or above
Media and Performance Studies track
Three (3) credits from the following: EN 201 World Literature: The Ancient World, EN 202 World Literature: The Middle Ages, EN 203 World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment, EN 204 World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism, EN 205 American Literature I, EN 206 American Literature II, or EN 230 American Multicultural Literature
Nine (9) credits from the following: EN 212 Topics in Acting, EN 270 Approaches to Creative Writing, EN 305 Topics in Creative Writing, COM 101 Public Speaking, GD 202 Illustration I, GD/COM 203 Photography: Digital Imaging, GD/COM 205 Video Production I, GD/COM 304 Video Production II, GD/COM 308 Web Design
EN 207 Theater History or EN 220 The Movie or the Book?
EN 321 Modern Drama or EN 355 Shakespeare
EN 429 Topics in Performance
Twelve (12) credits in literature electives
Writing track
Three (3) credits from EN 201 World Literature: The Ancient World, EN 205 American Literature I, EN 206 American Literature II or EN 230 American Multicultural Literature
EN 211 Principles of Language
EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice
EN 308 Style and Revision
Three (3) credits in Advanced Literature (LT-2)
Nine (9) credits in English and/or communication writing course electives
Three (3) credits in support skills electives in digital publishing
Sample Degree Plan — English
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections. This sample plan is based on the literature track and will differ for students pursuing other tracks.
Year One — Fall
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
HI 203 Western Civilization I or HI 204 Western Civilization II (HI-1 core course)*
Mathematics (MT) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
EN 200 Elements of Literary Study § *
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
FA 201 Introduction to Art History I or FA 202 Introduction to Art History II (FNA core course)*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
Year Two — Fall
EN 201 World Literature: The Ancient World (LT-1 core course) or EN 202 World Literature: The Middle Ages § *
EN 203 World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment or EN 204 World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism § *
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*
One (1) elective
Year Two — Spring
EN 205 American Literature I §
EN 206 American Literature II § or EN 230 American Multicultural Literature §
EN 290 Literary Theory and Practice §
Three (3) electives
Year Three — Fall
One (1) major elective (Advanced Literature LT-2 core course) § *
Two (2) major electives §
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
Year Three — Spring
EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice or EN 308 Style and Revision § *
One (1) major elective §
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course*
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) core course or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E)*
One (1) elective
Year Four — Fall
EN 424 Senior Seminar § *
EN 490 Major Author(s) § *
One (1) major elective §
Two (2) electives
Year Four — Spring
EN 400 Internship § *
Three (3) electives
§ Requirement for the major. Consult an advisor about scheduling of course requirements for tracks: literature, media and performance studies, and writing.
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.
English with Secondary-Level Teaching Licensure (B.A. in English)
This program of study allows students to complete a baccalaureate degree in English and also be licensed to teach secondary English at the end of four years. Students pursuing licensure in this manner complete all requirements necessary for Virginia licensure, including field experience and student teaching.
Admission Requirements: Students in this program must seek admission to the teacher licensure program and apply for student teaching. See the education section for admission requirements and procedures.
Degree Planning: Students in this program must take courses as specified to ensure fulfillment of state licensure requirements. In addition to working with an advisor in the English program, students should see an education advisor in the School of Education and Human Services for further assistance in degree planning.
Also, course rotations vary and not every course is available each semester. Individual advising is important to ensure meeting all major and teaching licensure requirements.
Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum grade of C is needed in all professional studies courses required for licensure.
Degree Requirements — English with Secondary-Level Teaching Licensure
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Writing-Intensive course requirements for this program are satisfied in this way: EN 200 Elements of Literary Study, EN 424 Senior Seminar, and EN 490 Major Author(s).
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements. Some coursework fulfills teaching licensure requirements as specified by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
EN 212 Topics in Acting or COM 101 Public Speaking
ED 250 Introduction to Teaching and Learning
ED 327S Curriculum Design: Secondary Education
ED 337 Reading in the Content Areas
ED 452 Managing the Classroom #
ED 460S Student Teaching: Secondary Level #
EN 200 Elements of Literary Study
EN 201 World Literature: The Ancient World or EN 202 World Literature: The Middle Ages
EN 203 World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment or EN 204 World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism
EN 205 American Literature I, EN 206 American Literature II, or EN 230 American Multicultural Literature
EN 211 Principles of Language
EN 290 Literary Theory and Practice
EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice
EN 351 Literature of Childhood and Adolescence
EN 385 Approaches to Teaching Secondary English
EN 424 Senior Seminar
EN 490 Major Author(s)
EN 554 Applied Grammar: Syntactic Structures (See university’s Graduate Catalog for course description)
9 credits in English electives numbered EN 321 or above
PSY 110 Human Growth and Development
PSY 341 Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities
# ED 452 and ED 460S must be taken at the same time.
Sample Degree Plan — English with Secondary-Level Teaching Licensure
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
HI 203 Western Civilization I or HI 204 Western Civilization II (HI-1 core course)*
Mathematics (MT) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course (economics, politics, sociology)*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
EN 212 Topics in Acting or COM 101 Public Speaking §
EN 200 Elements of Literary Study § *
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course*
Year Two — Fall
EN 201 World Literature: The Ancient World or EN 202 World Literature: The Middle Ages § *
EN 203 World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment (LT-1 core course) or EN 204 World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism § *
EN 211 Principles of Language §
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
PSY 110 Human Growth and Development (SS-1 core course) § *
Year Two — Spring
ED 250 Introduction to Teaching and Learning §
EN 205 American Literature I §, EN 206 American Literature II § or EN 230 American Multicultural Literature §
EN 290 Literary Theory and Practice §
Two (2) major elective §
Year Three — Fall
EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice § *
EN 351 Literature of Childhood and Adolescence § *
ED 327S Curriculum Design: Secondary Education §
One (1) major elective §
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
Year Three — Spring
ED 337 Reading in the Content Areas §
EN 385 Approaches to Secondary Teaching §
Fine Arts (FNA) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course*
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*
Year Four — Fall
EN 424 Senior Seminar § *
EN 554 Applied Grammar §
PSY 341 Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities (SS-2 core course) § *
Two (2) major electives §
Year Four — Spring
ED 452 Managing the Classroom §
ED 460S Student Teaching § *
EN 490 Major Author(s) § *
One (1) elective
§ Requirement for the major and/or teaching licensure
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.
English (Minor)
Minor Requirements
EN 200 Elements of Literary Study
EN 290 Literary Theory and Practice
Six (6) credits from EN 201-204 World Literature
Nine (9) credits in additional English courses (excluding EN 101 and EN 102, but including 6 credits from EN courses numbered 321 or above)
French (Minor)
See French minor under Foreign Languages in the School of Arts and Sciences.
Spanish (Minor)
See Spanish minor under Foreign Languages in the School of Arts and Sciences.
Writing (Minor)
Writing is a fundamental skill in today's world, and the writing minor will help prepare students for professional careers and/or graduate education in a variety of fields. The minor develops students' persuasive, stylistic, creative, and analytical skills through an examination of the characteristics of successful writing, along with the implementation of successful writing strategies in multiple modes and genres.
Minor Requirements
EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice
EN 308 Style and Revision
Fifteen (15) additional credits from the following courses: COM 209 Introduction to Journalism, COM 305 Journalism II, COM 315 Writing for the New Media, COM 317 Editing and the Editorial Process, EN 270 Approaches to Creative Writing, EN 303 Literary Nonfiction, EN 305 Topics in Creative Writing (may be taken more than once for credit)
Students may substitute one Writing-Intensive (WI) course from their field of study to satisfy this minor's requirements.
Catalog Contents
Academic Information and Policies
Academic Integrity Policy Summary
Credit Acquisition Opportunities
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Student Academic Policies
Students Pursuing a Double Major or Dual Degrees
Students Enrolled in Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs
University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core
Undergraduate Pre-professional Studies
Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area
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