2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Nov 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

English, BA


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study

The English program of the Department of English and Modern Languages offers courses leading to the BA degree.

Every attempt has been made to state the major and minor requirements as clearly as possible. However, we recommend that every student majoring or minoring in the program maintain close communication with the academic advisor assigned by the department in order to plan a program suited to the student’s needs.

NOTE: The department does not guarantee that all courses listed will be offered every year.

Assessment

The Department requires student portfolio creation for assessment.

The major in English requires 33-42 hours of coursework in the discipline divided between 24 hours of required courses and 9-18 hours in a concentration (Children’s Literature, Creative Writing, Literature, Professional Writing, and Secondary Licensure). Graduates from the program enter a variety of careers requiring skills in communication; research; and the analysis or production of texts, including teaching, journalism, law, publishing, creative writing, technical writing, and business management. The relatively low number of required hours for the major gives students flexibility either to develop further their background in writing and literature or to add expertise in a related field.

Students in Longwood’s English education program complete 33 credits for the English major, as well as 49 additional credit hours in courses that allow students to meet Virginia’s State Licensure Requirements for English teachers in grades 6-12. In addition, students must be formally admitted to the Teacher Preparation Program and should therefore complete EDUC 245  and EDUC 260  and pass the Praxis I examination preferably during their freshman year. Before being admitted to student teaching, teacher candidates must complete all required education and major courses except ENGL 482 , maintain a minimum cumulative GPA both overall and in the major, pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) and Praxis II tests. Finally, students must complete student teaching in their last semester.

In addition to the BA degree in English, the department offers four minors (Children’s Literature , Creative Writing , Literature , and Professional Writing ).

Civitae Core Requirements (39-40 credits)


English majors may count Civitae Core  courses satisfying major requirements as also satisfying their respective Civitae Core requirements, up to two Pillar courses and one Perspectives course.  (Students pursuing Virginia teaching licensure are not restricted as to the number of courses.)  If doing so would otherwise decrease the total credits required for the degree below 120, General Elective credit must be substituted to restore the total. To fulfill their concentration requirements, Children’s Literature concentrators must take ENGL 280 , which may also be used to fulfill their Aesthetic Expressions pillar requirement.

Additional Degree Requirements (3 credits)


See Additional Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Arts.

Major Requirements (39-70 credits)


Students will complete 24 credits of major courses and then select a concentration containing 9-18 additional ENGL credits. English majors who are pursuing secondary teaching licensure will also complete additional courses to satisfy state requirements (37 credits + 3 credits counted in Civitae). Please note: Courses used to fulfill concentration requirements cannot also be used to satisfy general requirements for the major.

Professional Course (3 credits)


Take one course from the following:

Literature of Diversity Course (3 credits)


Students will take a 300-level or 400-level course focused on a literature that has been historically marginalized or underrepresented, such as African American literature, ethnic literature, queer studies, postcolonial literature, or women’s literature. Students may satisfy this with: 

400-Level Seminar Courses (6 credits)


Students will take two 400-level seminars in British, American, or World literature (excluding Children’s and Young Adult Literature). The 400-level seminars are 411-444 or 495. Students should consult their advisors about specific offerings each semester.

General Electives


General Electives for BA in English Children’s Literature Concentration: 38-39 credits

General Electives for BA in English Creative Writing Concentration: 38-39 credits

General Electives for BA in English with Literature Concentration: 35-39 credits

General Electives for BA in English Professional Writing Concentration: 35-39 credits

General Electives for BA in English with Secondary Teaching Licensure Concentration: 7-8 credits

Total Credits Required


Total Credits Required for BA in English (any concentration): 120

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study