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Major and Minor Requirements

The purpose of the English major at Carthage is to foster the imaginative understanding of literature and appreciation of language. Through reading and analyzing texts, students will have an opportunity to develop critical thinking and writing skills as well as to acquire a knowledge of literary history, of literary forms and techniques, and of the questions and issues particularly relevant to the discipline.

The Department of English offers a program with several kinds of students in mind: those who are satisfying general education requirements, those who wish additional courses in composition, literature and creative writing as electives, those who wish to complete a teaching major or minor in English, and those who wish a major in English as preparation for graduate or professional school or for a career in fields such as publishing, advertising, law, civil service, journalism, public relations or the ministry.

In addition, the department encourages interested students to explore the art and craft of creative writing. The creative writing track of the English major, or the creative writing minor, encourages serious writers from all majors to develop a passion for creative writing and allows them to hone their skills in the writing of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

By majoring in English at Carthage, students will develop skills that will enable them to pursue any career that requires the ability to think critically and creatively and to consider problems from a broad range of perspectives; they will develop skills that will contribute to their professional and personal lives as informed and effective communicators.

English majors are expected to take advantage of the many opportunities to attend literary programs and performances of plays, including those of the theatre department. As a minimum, majors are encouraged to participate in at least one of the annual fall trips to the Stratford Theatre Festival in Ontario.

English Major
40 credits in English, including the following:

• 116 Introduction to Literary Studies (usually taken within a year of the declaration of the major)
• 201 American Literary Traditions
• 202 English Literary Traditions I (prior to 1700)
• 203 English Literary Traditions II (after 1700)
• 410 Senior Seminar

Of the following courses, one must be taken from each category:

Category I

• 301 Literature in Its Time I (prior to 1700)
• 311 Shakespeare
• 315 Special Studies in a Major Author Prior to 1700
  (202 is a prerequisite to any of these courses).

Category II

• 302 Literature in Its Time II
• 316 Special Studies in a Major Author After 1700
  (Depending on course content, 201 or 203 is a prerequisite to any of these courses).

The balance of the forty credits may be completed by choosing among the department course offerings.

English Minor
24 credits in English, including the following:

• 201 American Literary Traditions

Choice of one:

• 106 Interpreting Literature
• 116 Introduction to Literary Studies

Choice of one:

• 202 English Literary Traditions I
• 203 English Literary Traditions II

Choice of one:

• 311 Shakespeare
• 315 Special Studies in a Major Author Prior to 1700
• 316 Special Studies in a Major Author After 1700

The balance of the 24 credits may be completed by choosing among the department course offerings.

Elementary Education Major with English Minor
Students majoring in elementary education and minoring in English/language arts must include the following among the 24 credits taken within the department: English 106 or 116; English 201; English 303; English 304 or 305; English 202 or 311; and English 203 or 204 or 375. In addition, students are required to take Education 413.

Students interested in teaching licensure should contact the Department of Education.

The Emphasis in Creative Writing for English Majors
Students majoring in English may also select an emphasis in creative writing. The emphasis is designed for students who wish to combine their literary study with study in the practice of creative writing. Students majoring in English who elect the emphasis in creative writing take 40 credits in the department, including the following required courses:

• 116 Introduction to Literary Studies
• 201 American Literary Traditions
• 202 English Literary Traditions I
• 203 English Literary Traditions II
• 303 Creative Writing
• 304 Advanced Writing (in the area appropriate to the student's writing interest)
• 314 Literary Genre (in the area appropriate to the student's writing interest)
• 410 Senior Seminar

And a choice from Category I and Category II as listed under "The Major."

Students graduating with an emphasis in creative writing will also be required to produce a chapbook and give a public reading of their work. A chapbook is a short book of original poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction that is unified by content, theme or style. Poetry chapbooks should be 10-20 pages; fiction and non-fiction chapbooks will generally be 15-30 pages. The chapbook will be written and revised during senior year under the guidance of two creative writing faculty members, and may satisfy part of the course requirements for English 304: Advanced Writing (within the student's chosen genre). Guidelines for the chapbook and public reading can be found on the English Department homepage and at www.carthage.edu/academics/writing/Creative Writing.htm

Creative Writing Minor for Non-English Majors
Students seeking to minor in creative writing must first pass Heritage 101 and 102 or the equivalent. The minor in creative writing for non-English majors consists of the following 24-credit course of study:

• 201 American Literary Traditions
• 303 Creative Writing
• 304 Advanced Writing (in the area appropriate to the student's writing interest)
• 314 Literary Genre (in the area appropriate to the student's writing interest)

In addition, non-English majors seeking a minor in creative writing must take English 202 or 203, and one free elective from the department course offerings.

Like those majoring in English with an emphasis in creative writing, students who wish to graduate with a minor in creative writing will also be required to produce a chapbook and give a public reading of their work. A chapbook is a short book of original poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction that is unified by content, theme or style. Poetry chapbooks should be 10-20 pages; fiction and non-fiction chapbooks will generally be 15-30 pages. The chapbook will be written and revised during senior year under the guidance of two creative writing faculty members, and may satisfy part of the course requirements for English 304: Advanced Writing (within the student's chosen genre). Guidelines for the chapbook and public reading can be found on the English Department homepage at www.carthage.edu/dept/english/index.htm and at www.carthage.edu/academics/writing/Creative Writing.htm.

Honors in the Major
Students interested in pursuing honors in English should consult the department chair for details. Forms for departmental honors are available on the English Department homepage at www.carthage.edu/dept/english/index.htm. Basic requirements are listed under All College Programs in the catalog.