Lourdes University’s English faculty guides students in developing a broad range of critical methods to help them become independent thinkers rooted in the humanistic tradition. As an English major, you will critically read, analyze, and synthesize texts from various historical and cultural contexts. Through theoretical and practical knowledge, you will become a more active, productive, informed citizen who capably evaluates and argues in a language-based culture. Learn about the Communication and Media Studies minor.
English
Bachelor of Arts
Associate in Arts
The Bachelor of Arts in English program is ideal for students who believe in the power of the spoken word and the pen. As an English major, you will conduct in-depth investigations of language, rhetoric, and literature and how these fields of inquiry interact.
English majors often contribute to The Vitruvian, the university’s student online news journal, and The Tau Literary and Visual Arts Journal. Many also become members of the Literati student organization. Students who excel in the major may receive invitations to join Lourdes’ Sigma Tau Delta International Honors Society chapter.
Lourdes graduates have successfully gained entrance into graduate schools. Many have secured positions in various professions, including public relations, marketing, in-house publications, copywriting, editing, media, speechwriting, and technical writing.
Plan of Study
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN ENGLISH
Total credit hours: 60
REQUIRED CURRICULUM
Core and General Education for Associate of Arts degree (36 credit hours)
English (24 credit hours)
Two of the following:
ENG 300 Foundations of Western Literature
ENG 301 Studies in English Literature I
ENG 302 Studies in English Literature II
ENG 303 Studies in American Literature I
ENG 304 Studies in American Literature II
ENG 315 Studies in Nonwestern Literature
Two of the following:
ENG 220 Structures of the English Language
ENG 316 Foundations of Rhetoric
ENG 351 Media Writing
ENG 352 Professional Writing
DMS 300 Introduction to Digital and Media Studies
Two of the following:
ENG 401 Studies in Fiction
ENG 402 Studies in Drama
ENG 403 Studies in Poetry
ENG 405 Shakespeare
ENG 410 Studies in Film
ENG 411 Single Author Study
ENG 440 Studies in Rhetoric
Any 2 other ENG courses at 200-400 level*
*A 200-level literature course designated for general education may be used for both general education and major requirement, in which case, a student would need an additional 3 hours of elective credit to total 60 hours.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH
Total credit hours: 120
REQUIRED CURRICULUM
Core and General Education for Bachelor of Arts degree (56-57 credit hours)
English (39 credit hours)
Each of the following:
ENG 220 Structures of the English Language
ENG 316 Foundations of Rhetoric
ENG 390 Approaches to Literary Theory
ENG 490 Capstone: Senior Research
Two of the following:
(One of these may be used to fulfill both the general education literature requirement and the major requirement)
ENG 200 Introduction to Literature
ENG 211 Postcolonial Literature
ENG 212 Gender and Literature
ENG 213 Multiethnic U.S. Literature
ENG 214 Ecology and Literature
Three of the following:
ENG 300 Foundations of Western Literature
ENG 301 Studies in English Literature I
ENG 302 Studies in English Literature II
ENG 303 Studies in American Literature I
ENG 304 Studies in American Literature II
ENG 315 Studies in Nonwestern Literature
One of the following:
ENG 351 Media Writing
ENG 352 Professional Writing
ENG 313 Theoretical Approaches to Writing, Reading, and the Teaching of Writing
DMS 300 Introduction to Digital and Media Studies
Three of the following:
ENG 401 Studies in Fiction
ENG 402 Studies in Drama
ENG 403 Studies in Poetry
ENG 405 Shakespeare
ENG 440 Studies in Rhetoric
ENG 410 Studies in Film
ENG 411 Single Author Study
Electives 24-28 hours
MINOR
Total credit hours: 21
REQUIRED CURRICULUM
Two of the following:
ENG 300 Foundations of Western Literature
ENG 301 Studies in English Literature I
ENG 302 Studies in English Literature II
ENG 303 Studies in American Literature I
ENG 304 Studies in American Literature II
ENG 315 Studies in Nonwestern Literature
Two of the following
ENG 220 Structures of the English Language
ENG 316 Foundations of Rhetoric
ENG 351 Media Writing
ENG 352 Professional Writing
DMS 300 Introduction to Digital and Media Studies
One of the following:
ENG 401 Studies in Fiction
ENG 402 Studies in Drama
ENG 403 Studies in Poetry
ENG 405 Shakespeare
ENG 410 Studies in Film
ENG 411 Single Author Study
ENG 440 Studies in Rhetoric
Any 2 other ENG courses at 200-400 level*
*A 200-level literature course designated for general education may be used for both general education and minor requirement.
Learning Outcomes
The Bachelor of Arts degree with an English major includes 56-57 semester hours of core and general education courses and 39 semester hours in the major.
The English major prepares students to:
- Identify and explain the significance of specific literary elements of texts.
- Identify and understand multiple theoretical and critical perspectives.
- Synthesize ideas and information among multiple primary literary texts and among primary texts and other period resources and/or secondary theoretical and critical resources, to develop analytical arguments.
- Identify characteristics of historical literary periods/movements and analyze works of American, British, and world literature within the contexts of their historical literary periods/movements.
- Analyze and evaluate the interaction between literature and culture.
- Identify and analyze rhetorical, grammatical, and stylistic features of texts.
- Apply sound principles of rhetoric, grammar, and style in writing analytical, persuasive, and scholarly papers and other types of writing.
- Develop an analytical/persuasive thesis and perform systematic research and evaluate sources in support of that thesis.
- Produce effective oral analyses of literary works and researched topics.
- Master fundamental skills of technical, professional writing, media writing, and/or writing pedagogy.
- Demonstrate information fluency through the informed use of technology to create rhetorically sound materials.
The major is of value to students needing broad liberal learning for their professional goals, students interested in teaching, and students interested in law or graduate school.
Transfer Students
Lourdes University is a member of the Ohio Consortium for Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts and offers a clear, consistent pathway in English for community college students transferring to Lourdes University.
OHIO CONSORTIUM FOR TRANSFER PATHWAYS TO THE LIBERAL ARTS
Lourdes University is a member of the Ohio Consortium for Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts and offers a clear, consistent pathway in English for community college students transferring to Lourdes University.
Alpha Sigma Nu
The Lourdes University English department houses the Alpha Sigma Nu chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. Students who meet the academic eligibility criteria are invited to join our chapter of Sigma Tau Delta by department faculty during the spring semester of each year. An induction ceremony for new members is held in conjunction with spring capstone presentations.
ADVISOR
Shawna Rushford-Spence, Ph.D.
Email