Major Requirements

Students interested in majoring in English should consult with a member of the English Department early on in their time at Virginia Wesleyan. They have several options to choose from, including concentrations in literary study, secondary education, or creative/professional writing, as outlined below.             

English majors are expected to take ENG 288, Poetry and Drama, and ENG 289, Fiction and Criticism, no later than the sophomore year, and before upper-level courses in the major. Majors are then expected to take ENG 311, Literary Theory, in the fall of the junior year. ENG 489, the senior capstone experience, includes an extensive independent research or creative writing project and a formal oral presentation before the department and invited Virginia Wesleyan community. It must be taken in the fall of the senior year, with required preliminary work in the spring of the junior year.

Major Requirements: English with Concentration in Literature

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE

SEMESTER HOURS

ENG 288: Poetry and Drama

4

ENG 289: Fiction and Criticism

4

ENG 311: Literary Theory

4

ENG 489: Senior Thesis Workshop

4

One English course in Under-Represented Voices:
ENG 305: Postcolonial Literature
ENG 375: Africana Literature
ENG 385: American Protest Literature

 

4

One English course in British literature at the 300 level or higher:
ENG 302: Topics in British Literature
ENG 327: The British Novel
ENG 360: Contemporary British Literature
ENG 365: British Modernism
ENG 388: British Literary History

 

 

4

One of the following courses in American literature at the 300 level or higher: 
ENG 303: Topics in American Literature
ENG 306: Ecopoetry
ENG 310: Distinctive Voices in Contemporary American Poetry
ENG 318: Adolescent Literature
ENG 370: Early American Literature
ENG 371: Making America: American Literature 1820-1865
ENG 372: American Realism and Naturalism
ENG 373: American Modernism
ENG 374: The Postmodern
ENG 378: The American Novel
ENG 389: American Literary History
ENG 410: Environmental Writings

 

 

 

4

One additional English course other than ENG 105

4

Three additional English courses at the 300 level or higher

   12

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED:

44

Major Requirements: English with Concentration in Creative & Professional Writing

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE

SEMESTER HOURS

ENG 288: Poetry and Drama

4

ENG 289: Fiction and Criticism

4

ENG 311: Literary Theory

4

ENG 489: Senior Thesis Workshop

4

One English course in Under-Represented Voices:
ENG 305: Postcolonial Literature
ENG 375: Africana Literature
ENG 385: American Protest Literature

 

4

One of the following courses in British literature at the 300 level or higher:
ENG 302: Topics in British Literature
ENG 327: The British Novel
ENG 360:  Contemporary British Literature
ENG 365:  British Modernism
ENG 388:  British Literary History

4

One of the following courses in American literature at the 300 level or higher: 
ENG 303: Topics in American Literature
ENG 306: Ecopoetry
ENG 310: Distinctive Voices in Contemporary American Poetry
ENG 318: Adolescent Literature
ENG 370: Early American Literature
ENG 371: Making America: American Literature 1820-1865
ENG 372: American Realism and Naturalism
ENG 373: American Modernism
ENG 374: The Postmodern
ENG 378: The American Novel
ENG 389: American Literary History
ENG 410: Environmental Writings

 

 

 

4

JOUR 201: Writing for the Mass Media

4

ENG 299: Introductory Fiction Writing

4

Select one of the following:
JOUR 210: Journalism Workshop (2 credits)
    ENG 242: Writing for Business and Organizations
ENG 289: Introductory Poetry
COMM 250: Introductory Filmmaking
COMM 325: Organizational Communication
COMM 328: Public Relations
JOUR 385: Editors in the Workshop (2 credits)
ENG 483: English Internship

4

    ENG 399: Advanced Fiction Writing

4

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED:

44

Major Requirements:  English with Secondary Certification

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE

SEMESTER HOURS

ENG 288: Poetry and Drama

4

ENG 289: Fiction and Criticism

4

ENG 311: Literary Theory

4

One of the following:
ENG 317: Children’s Literature
ENG: 318 Adolescent Literature

4

ENG 489: Senior Thesis Workshop

4

One English course in Under-Represented Voices:
ENG 305: Postcolonial Literature
ENG 375: Africana Literature
ENG 385: American Protest Literature

 

4

ENG 222 Teaching Grammar and Writing

4

ENG 388: British Literary History

4

ENG 389: American Literary History

4

One of the following:
COMM 101: Introduction to Media Studies
JOUR 201: Writing for Mass Media
TH 100: Theatre: A Hands-On Introduction
TH 210: Acting I
TH 220: Technical Theatre

 

4

One additional English course at the 300 level or higher

8

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED:

44

Minor Requirements:  English

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE

SEMESTER HOURS

One of the following:
ENG 288: Poetry and Drama
ENG 289: Fiction and Criticism

 

4

One additional English course other than ENG 105

4

Three additional courses in English at the 300 level or higher

12

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED:

   20