English Major

Choosing to become an English major at Seattle University means choosing to become an active and sophisticated reader – of texts, history, and culture. From such critical reading comes engaged, incisive, and graceful writing that is capable of contributing to both traditional and contemporary discourses – from poetics to politics. The English major has two concentrations from which you may choose: Literature and Creative Writing. Both tracks lead students through a well-designed course of study that cultivates critical thinking and composition skills, close-reading and textual analysis, methodological awareness and theoretical sophistication, historical breadth, and social awareness.

Whichever track you choose, the English major will prepare you not only for graduate study in literature, teaching, and creative writing, but also for work in journalism, advertising and marketing, technical writing, government, law, and many other fields. In the English Department, learners will come to understand literary, social, and cultural history, engaging questions of justice and value, history and aesthetics. English majors share and exchange their critical and creative ideas with others in hopes of becoming and remaining thoughtful and active citizens – of the university, nation, and world.

Requirements

In order to earn the bachelor of arts degree with a major in English, students must complete a minimum of 180 quarter credits, with a cumulative and a major/program grade point average of 2.00, including the following:

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

ENGL 110 - College Writing: Inquiry and Argument 5
ENGL 120 - Introduction to Literature 5
PHIL 110 - Introduction to Philosophy and Critical Thinking 5
HIST 120 - Origins of Western Civilization 5
MATH 107 - Mathematical Reasoning and Its Applications 5 or
MATH 110 - Functions and Algebraic Methods 5 or above
Lab Science (5)
Fine Arts (one approved 5 credit course; see course descriptions ) (5)
PHIL 220 - Philosophy of the Human Person 5
Social Science I (5)
Social Science II (different discipline from Social Science I) (5)
Theology and Religious Studies Phase II (200-299) (see course offerings ) (5)
Ethics (upper division) (5)
Theology and Religious Studies Phase III (300-399) (see course offerings ) (5)
Interdisciplinary Course (3 to 5)
Senior Synthesis (3 to 5)

II. College of Arts and Sciences Requirements

Modern Language 115, 125, 135, or equivalent (15)

NOTE:

All students with a major in the College of Arts and Sciences must demonstrate competency through the level of 135 in a language other than English. This competency is ordinarily achieved by successful completion of the three-course sequence: 115, 125, and 135. Because these courses are a college requirement, no course in the sequence may be taken on a pass/fail, correspondence, or audit basis. Placement into other than the beginning course of the sequence is achieved by acceptable performance on the Modern Language Competency Examination. See the Modern Languages Department for details on the examinations. Courses used to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences modern language requirement may not be used to fulfill English major requirements.

Choose one of the following two courses:

III. Major Requirements

55 credits in English, beginning with:

Then choose one 300-400 level course from each of five required areas, below:

At least one of these 300- level courses must include 300, 301, 302, or 303. In addition, among the five required area courses and three elective courses, at least one must be at the 400 level.

Pre-modern Literature, to 1500 (5)
Early Modern Literature, 1500-1800 (5)
British & European Literature, 1800-Present (5)
American Literature (5)
U.S. Ethnic & Non-Western Literature (5)
English Electives (300-400 level) (see course offerings ) (15)

NOTE:

1. A required course may not be used to satisfy two requirements simultaneously. Moreover, requirements of the core (for example, ENGL 110 , ENGL 120 , interdisciplinary courses and senior synthesis) do not satisfy requirements for the English major.

Departmental Honors

English Major with Departmental Honors

Additional Information

Creative Writing

These courses focus on the craft of imaginative writing in four genres (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scripts) and are available to all students, though priority may be given to

Literature (200-level)

200-level Readings Courses are foundational to the advanced study of literature and creative writing. Students will learn to identify different literary genres and conventions, and to develop close reading skills while developing a coherent sense of the sweep of English and American literary history.

ENGL 252 - Readings in British Literature I 5
ENGL 253 - Readings in British Literature II 5
ENGL 254 - Readings in American Literature 5
ENGL 291 - Special Topics 1 to 5
ENGL 292 - Special Topics 1 to 5
ENGL 293 - Special Topics 1 to 5
ENGL 296 - Directed Study 2 to 5

Literature (300-level)

300-level courses build on the skills of close reading developed in 200-level courses, extend students’ repertoire of interpretive strategies, and teach sound habits of scholarship needed for success in 400-level courses. 300-level courses offer a wide range of approaches to literature. Instructors’ teaching strategies and course assignments aim to help students read with sophistication, develop theoretical awareness, and understand disciplinary methods of inquiry and analysis. 300-level courses are designed for both majors and non-majors. English Majors are advised to complete 300, 301, 302, or 303 before taking a 400-level literature course.

Literature (400-level)

Courses with a 400 number are advanced studies in literature and writing that build on the research writing skills developed in 300-level courses. 400-level courses have three goals: first, to help students gain a depth of understanding of a focused series of texts, e.g. on a major theme, by one or two authors, or in a particular genre; second, to help students gain an understanding of various theories and methods of literary criticism, as well as learn to apply them to the central texts of the course; and third, to assist students in the writing of a major scholarly paper or creative portfolio. The literary paper will demonstrate close reading, the raising of a literary question in relation to debates among the critics, and the pursuit of an extended and persuasive literary argument.