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 follow the printed version of the College Catalog, and work with their advisors and the department chair to ensure all 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:
1160 Introduction to Literary Studies
(usually taken within a year of the declaration of the major)
2010 American Literary Traditions
2020 English Literary Traditions I (prior to 1800)
2030 English Literary Traditions II (after 1800)
4100 Senior Seminar
Category I (take one):
3010 Literature in Its Time I (before 1800)
3110 Shakespeare
3150 Special Studies in a Major Author Prior to 1800
(English 2020 is a prerequisite to 3010 and 3150).
Category II (take one):
3020 Literature in Its Time II (after 1800)
3070 Film and Literature
3090 Literatures of Diversity
3100 Literature and Gender
3160 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:
2010 American Literary Traditions
Choose one:
1060 Interpreting Literature
1160 Introduction to Literary Studies
Choose one:
2020 English Literary Traditions I
2030 English Literary Traditions II
Choose one:
3110 Shakespeare
3150 Special Studies in a Major Author Prior to 1800
3160 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 41 credits in the department, including the following required courses:
1160 Introduction to Literary Studies
2010 American Literary Traditions
2020 English Literary Traditions I
2030 English Literary Traditions II
2050 Creative Writing
3040 Advanced Writing (in the area appropriate to the student's writing interest)
3140 Literary Genre (in the area appropriate to the student's writing interest)
4100 Senior Seminar
4300 Seminar in Creative Writing
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 3040: Advanced Writing
(within the student's chosen genre).
Creative Writing Minor
Students seeking to minor in creative writing must first pass COR 1100 and 1110 or the equivalent. The minor in creative writing for non-English majors consists of the following 25-credit course of study:
2010 American Literary Traditions
2050 Creative Writing
3040 Advanced Writing (in the area appropriate to the student's writing interest)
3140 Literary Genres (in the area appropriate to the student's writing interest)
4300 Seminar in Creative Writing
In addition, non-English majors seeking a minor in creative writing must take English 2020 or 2030, 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 3040: Advanced
Writing
(within the student's chosen genre). Guidelines for the chapbook and public reading can be obtained from the English Department chairperson of the Director of Creative Writing.
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:
2040 The Classical Tradition in Literature
3750 History and Structure of the English Language
Choose one:
2050 Creative Writing
2060 Expository Composition
In addition, students are required to take Education 4130 and Education/English 4200. 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:
2010 American Literary Traditions
Choose one:
1060 Interpreting Literature
1160 Introduction to Literary Studies
Choose one:
2050 Creative Writing
2060 Expository Composition
Choose one:
2020 English Literary Traditions I
3110 Shakespeare
Choose one:
2030 English Literary Traditions II: After 1800
2040 The Classical Tradition in Literature
3750 History and Structure of the English Language
Students must also take one elective, and Education 4130. 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.
Academics at Carthage
Prospective Students
Student Voices
Maeve McFadden, '12
"Professors will push you to delve deeper and deeper into a text until your mind is blown at the level of sophisticated analysis you've just reached."
Read more ...
Read student voices featuring graduated students.
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.
Faculty Spotlight
Mary Preston, director of the Writing Center at Carthage, has dedicated her life to inspiring students to write. Read more.
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