Major and Minor Requirements
The Carthage English Department offers a program with several kinds of students in mind: those who are satisfying general education requirements; those who wish for 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 for 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.
Please note: Current students should work with their advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met. Education majors and minors should work closely with the Education Department to make sure all licensure requirements are met.
English Major
English Minor
English Major with Creative Writing Emphasis
Creative Writing Minor
English Major with Secondary Education Minor
Elementary Education Major with English Minor
Honors in the Major
The English Major
Students pursuing a major in English must complete 40 credits in English. All English majors must take:
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
Category I (take one):
301 Literature in Its Time I (before 1800)
311 Shakespeare
315 Special Studies in a Major Author Prior to 1800
(English 202 is a prerequisite to 301 and 315).
Category II (take one):
302 Literature in Its Time II (after 1800)
307 Film and Literature
309 Literatures of Diversity
310 Literature and Gender
316 Special Studies in a Major Author After 1800
The balance of the 40 credits may be completed by choosing among the department
course offerings.
The English Minor
Students pursuing a minor in English must complete 24 credits in English. All English minors must take:
201 American Literary Traditions
Choose one:
106 Interpreting Literature
116 Introduction to Literary Studies
Choose one:
202 English Literary Traditions I
203 English Literary Traditions II
Choose one:
311 Shakespeare
315 Special Studies in a Major Author Prior to 1800
316 Special Studies in a Major Author After 1800
The balance of the 24 credits may be completed by choosing among the department
course offerings.
English Major with Creative Writing Emphasis
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 English Major.
Students graduating with an emphasis in creative writing must also 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).
Creative Writing Minor
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 graduating with an emphasis in creative writing must also
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).
Teaching Licensure
English Major with Secondary Education Minor
Students majoring in English and seeking teaching licensure at the secondary level must include the following among the 40 credits taken within the department:
204 The Classical Tradition in Literature
375 History and Structure of the English Language
Choose one:
303 Creative Writing
304 Advanced Writing
305 Expository Composition
In addition, students are required to take Education 413 and Education/English 420. Students interested in teaching licensure should contact the Department of Education. The Carthage English Department offers tips, information and resources for about the Praxis I and II exams.
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:
201 American Literary Traditions
Choose one:
106 Interpreting Literature
116 Introduction to Literary Studies
Choose one:
303 Creative Writing
304 Advanced Writing
305 Expository Composition
Choose one:
202 English Literary Traditions I
311 Shakespeare
Choose one:
203 English Literary Traditions II: After 1700
204 The Classical Tradition in Literature
375 History and Structure of the English Language
Students must also take one elective, and Education 413. Students interested in teaching licensure should contact the Department of
Education. The Carthage English Department offers tips, information and resources for about the Praxis I and II exams.
Honors in the Major
Students interested in pursuing honors in English should consult the department chair for details.
Academic Resources
Prospective Students
Student Voices
Brigette Estola, '11
"I always feel like my professors actually care how I'm doing — and more importantly, what I'm thinking about." Read more ...
Jolanta Lutow, '09
"When I started at Carthage, I had all the same fears that any incoming freshman has: Will I be good enough? What if this is too hard? But as it turns out, if you love what you're doing, the results show." Read more ...
Carin Roeske, '10
"I loved the feeling of the small class sizes; I feel there is much more room to grow when I can express myself to professors and my peers in class." Read more ...
Student Work
Creative Writing. Creative writing students create a chapbook of their work. Read excerpts from student chapbooks.
Student Theses. The senior thesis, written during Senior Seminar, is an English major's most ambitious project. Read summaries of past students' work.
Carthage In-Depth
Carthage Symposium
Art Meets Biology. Students photograph biodiversity in Tucson, Ariz.
J-Term
Unearthing the Past. Students travel to Israel to excavate Roman temples of Omrit.
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