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ENGLISH

English (B.A.)
English with Secondary-Level Teaching Licensure (B.A. in English)
English as a Second Language with K-12 Teaching Licensure (B.A. in English)
ESL Certificate
Teaching Licensure Additional Endorsement
English (Minor)

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: Dramatic Arts, Literature, Writing, or one of several teaching licensure programs.

Through the literature and writing courses required for the major, students develop valuable writing, critical reading, and research skills. The study of literature provides the tools of criticism, an awareness of major authors and issues in literature, 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.

The internship gives students valuable practical experience and affords them the opportunity to apply their skills in a professional context. In addition to the required internship, seniors must successfully complete a senior seminar research paper.

By choosing minors in such areas as Biology, Communications, Business, Politics, and Psychology, students can prepare themselves to apply their skills in the professional world while at the same time obtaining a broad liberal arts education from which to draw for a lifetime.

Students may also choose a double major in Communications and English. This major calls for the completion of 30 credits in Communications and 30 credits in English. Students interested in the requirements for a double major in Communications and English should confer with advisors in each area.

Suggested Degree Plan

Year One

Fall

  • EN 101 Composition I*
  • HI 203 European History I* or HI 204 European History II*
  • ECO/POL/PSY/SOC 100 Introduction to the Social Sciences*
  • Health elective*
  • Mathematics elective*
  • SEM 101 Freshman Seminar

Spring

  • EN 102 Composition II*
  • EN 200 Approaches to Literary Study§
  • FA 201 History of Art I* or FA 202 History of Art II*
  • Science elective*
  • Elective

Year Two

Fall

  • EN 201 World Masterpieces: The Ancient World§
  • EN 203 World Masterpieces: Renaissance through Enlightenment§
  • Humanities (Philosophy) elective*
  • Social Sciences elective*
  • Major elective§ **

Spring

  • EN 202 World Masterpieces: The Middle Ages§
  • EN 205 American Literature I§ or EN 206 American Literature II§
  • Humanities (Theology/Religious Studies) elective*
  • Social Sciences elective*
  • Elective

Year Three

Fall

  • EN 301 The Writing Process*
  • Two (2) Major 300+-level electives§ **
  • Humanities 300/400-level elective*
  • Elective*

Spring

  • Two (2) Major 300+-level electives§ **
  • Humanities 300/400-level elective*
  • Social Sciences 300/400-level elective*
  • Elective*

Year Four

Fall

  • EN 400 Internship§
  • EN 424 Senior Seminar§
  • Two (2) electives

Spring

  • EN 490 Major Author(s)§
  • Major 300+-level elective§ **
  • Three (3) electives

§ Requirement for the major
*See Liberal Arts Core requirements for details.
**Students in the Dramatic Arts or Writing tracks should fulfill their concentration requirements through the elective courses in the major. Consult an advisor for specific requirements.

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 Education section admission requirements and procedures.

Degree Planning: Students in this program must take courses specified in the degree plan to ensure fulfillment of state licensure requirements. See an Education advisor in the School of Education and Human Services for further information.

Suggested degree plan

Year One

Fall

  • EN 101 Composition I*
  • HI 203 European History I* or HI 204 European History II*
  • ECO/POL/SOC 100 Introduction to the Social Sciences*
  • Health elective*
  • Mathematics elective*
  • SEM 101 Freshman Seminar

Spring

  • EN 102 Composition II*
  • EN 200 Approaches to Literary Study§
  • COM 204 Oral Interpretation
  • Humanities (Philosophy) elective*
  • Science elective*

Year Two

Fall

  • EN 201 World Masterpieces: The Ancient World§ *
  • EN 203 World Masterpieces: Renaissance through Enlightenment§
  • Humanities (Theology/Religious Studies) elective*
  • Literature elective§
  • Social Sciences elective*

Spring

  • EN 202 World Masterpieces: The Middle Ages§ *
  • EN 205 American Literature I§ or EN 206 American Literature II§
  • EN 211 Principles of Language
  • ED 245S Educational Foundations for Secondary Teachers
  • PSY 312 Adolescent Psychology*

Year Three

Fall

  • EN 301 The Writing Process*
  • Two (2) Literature 300+-level electives§
  • ED 327S Curriculum Design: Secondary Education
  • PSY 341 Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities*

Spring

  • Literature 300+-level elective§
  • Humanities 300/400-level elective*
  • ED 337 Reading in the Content Areas
  • EN 385 Approaches to Secondary Teaching
  • Elective

Year Four

Fall

  • EN 424 Senior Seminar§
  • EN 554 Applied Grammar: Syntactic Structures§
  • Literature 300+-level elective§
  • Two (2) electives

Spring

  • EN 490 Major Authors§
  • ED 360S Student Teaching§
  • Two (2) electives*

§ Requirement for the major
*See Liberal Arts Core requirements for details.

English as a Second Language With K-12 Teaching Licensure (B.A. in English)

This program allows students to complete a baccalaureate degree in English and also be licensed to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) 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 Education section admission requirements and procedures.

Degree Planning: Students in this program must take courses specified in the degree plan to ensure fulfillment of state licensure requirements. See an Education advisor in the School of Education and Human Services for further information.

Suggested degree plan

Year One

Fall

  • EN 101 Composition I*
  • POL/ECO 100 Introduction to the Social Sciences*
  • HI 203 European History I* or HI 204 European History II*
  • Mathematics elective*
  • Foreign Language§
  • SEM 101 Freshman Seminar

Spring

  • EN 102 Composition II*
  • EN 200 Approaches to Literary Study§
  • Humanities (Philosophy) elective*
  • Foreign Language§
  • Science elective*

Year Two

Fall

  • EN 201 World Masterpieces: The Ancient World§ *
  • EN 203 World Masterpieces: Renaissance through Enlightenment§
  • SOC 201 Cultural Anthropology§ *
  • COM 101 Public Speaking§ or COM 204 Oral Interpretation§
  • Health elective*

Spring

  • EN 202 World Masterpieces: The Middle Ages§ *
  • EN 205 American Literature I§ or EN 206 American Literature II§
  • EN 211 Principles of Language
  • ED 245S Educational Foundations for Secondary Teachers#
  • PSY 210 Human Growth and Development*

Year Three

Fall

  • EN 301 The Writing Process*
  • COM 301 Intercultural Communication§
  • ED 463 Curriculum and Assessment in ESL
  • PSY 341 Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities*
  • Humanities (Theology/Religious Studies) elective*

Spring

  • EN 280 Perspectives on Language Acquisition§
  • EN 361 American Multicultural Literature§
  • ED 310 Reading and the Language Arts or ED 337 Reading in the Content Areas
  • EN 552 Applied Phonology§
  • ED 453 Methods and Strategies for TESL

Year Four

Fall

  • Literature 300+-level elective§
  • EN 424 Senior Seminar§
  • EN 554 Applied Grammar: Syntactic Structures
  • Humanities elective*
  • Elective

Spring

  • EN 490 Major Author(s)§
  • ED 360 Student Teaching§
  • Two (2) electives*

§ Requirement for the major
*See Liberal Arts Core requirements for details.
#Students interested in teaching at the elementary level (grades K-6) should see an Education advisor during their freshman year.

English as a Second Language Certificate

Admission Requirements: Open to English majors. Non-English majors may earn this certificate if they:

Students seeking ESL certification may also enroll in a 3-6 credit EN 400 Internship to develop their skills as ESL teachers.

Certificate Requirements

18 credits

Teaching Licensure Additional Endorsement

English as a Second Language

English majors who have or will have completed a licensure program and seek additional licensure in ESL must take:

English (Minor)

Minor Requirements