Degree: B.A., English
Department of English and Linguistics
English faculty strive to inspire in students a love for literature and for writing, to help students develop analytical and critical skills, and to guide students in improving their writing.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in English offers courses appropriate to students at all levels. Except for ENGL 295 Methods of Advanced Literary Studies, courses on the 200-level are designed for students from all disciplines. Courses on the 300-level may also appeal to a diverse audience but require a more sophisticated study of texts and more advanced writing. Courses on the 400-level offer a seminar experience in which students study a topic or theme in depth, frequently take charge of class discussions, and produce a major paper or project. To facilitate discussion and individual attention, the department limits enrollment in many classes to 15 to 25 students.
Students who pursue a major in English become familiar with the language, with literary theory, and with a variety of literatures in the language, including works outside the recognized canons. They practice literary and linguistic analysis, and they develop as writers of different modes and genres.
Many juniors and seniors enroll in internships to test classroom knowledge in the outside world and to explore career interests. Juniors and seniors with appropriate academic standing may also elect to pursue individual studies. An increasing number of students choose to study abroad.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Students will demonstrate the ability to work closely with the language of the text.
2. Students will show awareness of literary aspects of the text.
3. Students will employ assignment-appropriate critical methodologies.
4. Students will demonstrate an awareness of how literary expression is related to its historical and cultural context.
5. Students will show awareness of one’s rhetorical situation.
6. Students will use genre-appropriate writing strategies and methodologies.
7. Students will craft coherent, meaningful texts that engage complex ideas or issues.
8. Students will edit writing following conventions of grammar, punctuation, sentence construction, usage, and proper documentation of sources.
9. Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct linguistic analysis of written and spoke language or language processes using appropriate methods.
10. Students will demonstrate awareness of relevant linguistic paradigms, theory, models, or frameworks.
11. Students will produce a complete work that incorporates formal structures appropriate to its genre.
12. Students will use craft techniques appropriate to the work.
13. Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of process and intent through revision and reflection.
Major Requirements
Creative Writing Concentration
The Creative Writing Concentration offers students the opportunity to focus on the craft and art of writing, editing, and analyzing their own original work, the work of established writers, and peer writers.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LING 101B | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| ENGL 295 | Methods of Advanced Literary Studies | 3 |
| Select five creative writing courses 1 | 15 | |
| Select one 300-level linguistics course | 3 | |
| Select three 300-level literature courses 2 | 9 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| News Journalism | ||
Any 300- or 400-level English, linguistics and journalism courses, including department-sponsored internships and individual studies | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
Including ENGL 302A Introduction to Creative Writing, ENGL 314 The Literary Journal: Professional Practice in Publishing and Editing, and ENGL 470 Seminar in Creative Writing.
- 2
Must include at least: one course in pre-1900 literature, one course in post-1900 literature, and one course in literature of historically marginalized groups.
General Education Requirements
The general education requirements for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degrees apply to all students who are seeking to earn an undergraduate B.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. degree.
Students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree have a separate set of BLS general education requirements.
Electives
Elective courses are those that are not needed to fulfill a general education requirement or major program requirement but are chosen by the student to complete the 120 credits required for graduation with a B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. degree or the BLS degree. These courses may be taken graded or pass/fail (or S/U in the case of physical education and 100-level dance). No student in a regular B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. program may count more than 60 credits in a single discipline toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits
Plan of Study
This suggested plan of study should serve as a guide to assist students when planning their course selections. It is not a substitute for a student's Degree Evaluation or the Program Requirements listed for this major in the catalog. Academic planning is the student's responsibility, and course selections should be finalized only after speaking with an advisor. Students should familiarize themselves with the catalog in effect at the time they matriculated at the University of Mary Washington. Students should also familiarize themselves with general education requirements which can be fulfilled through general electives as well as major/minor course requirements. Course requirements and sequencing may vary with AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge or previous coursework, transfer courses, or other conditions. To be considered full-time, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in 12 or more credits for the semester.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENGL 295 | Methods of Advanced Literary Studies | 3 |
| FSEM 100 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| General Education Courses | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LING 101B | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| General Education Courses | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENGL 302A | Introduction to Creative Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 338 | British Victorian Novel | 3 |
| General Education Courses | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 304A | Creative Writing:Poetry | 3 |
| ENGL 348 | Literature of the Great War | 3 |
| General Education Courses or Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENGL 312 | Creative Writing: Nonfiction | 3 |
| ENGL 352 | African American Literature Pre-1900 | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 314 | The Literary Journal: Professional Practice in Publishing and Editing | 3 |
| LING 308 | Language and Race | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENGL 305A | Creative Writing: Fiction | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 470 | Seminar in Creative Writing | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
English and Linguistics Department
Jonathan Levin, Chair
Maya Mathur, Associate Chair
Colin T. Rafferty, Career Advisor (Creative Writing)
Janie Lee, Career Advisor (Linguistics)
Faculty
(The person’s subject field is indicated in parentheses.)
Professors
Antonio Barrenechea (English)
Christofer C. Foss (English)
Mary Katherine Haffey (English)
Jonathan Levin (English)
Eric G. Lorentzen (English)
Maya Mathur (English)
Colin T. Rafferty (English)
Gary N. Richards (English)
Mara N. Scanlon (English)
Associate Professors
Susanne Brenta Blevins (English)
Laura L. Bylenok (English)
Shumona Dasgupta (English)
Paul D. Fallon (Linguistics)
Benjamin J. LaBreche (English)
Janie Lee (Linguistics)
Clarence W. Tweedy, III (English)