Department of English

Bachelor of Arts

Hugh Egan, Professor and Chair

The English curriculum provides a broad chronological study of Western literature from ancient to modern, as well as concentrated study in British and American literature. In cooperation with the College's Department of Education, it also provides a program through which prospective secondary school teachers can apply for New York State teaching certification after graduation.

English, B.A.
English, B.A. with Teaching Option
Minor in English
Minor in Comparative Literature

Since departmental requirements and course offerings often change between catalog printings, students should be aware that the most current information concerning the English major can be obtained from the student's adviser, from the chair of the department, or from the departmental administrative assistant. Each semester the department publishes detailed descriptions of literature courses planned for the following semester in the Humanities and Sciences Supplement.

Requirements for Honors in English

Students with a sufficiently high grade point average in all their courses receive their degree with College honors. Students who fulfill the appropriate departmental requirements also graduate with honors in their major. To qualify to pursue honors in English, a student must have completed eight of the twelve English courses that the curriculum requires, and must receive a grade of A- or higher in four of these courses.

A student who pursues departmental honors will undertake an extensive research project beginning in the fall semester of the senior year. In the spring semester, the project will conclude with the presentation and defense of a lengthy thesis paper. This paper should offer an original analytical argument and should reflect a sustained engagement with contemporary critical discourse. Over the course of the academic year the student will work closely on his or her project with a faculty adviser, who will offer guidance in gathering primary and secondary literature for the project and provide feedback during the various stages of its development. When the thesis is complete and, in the judgment of the faculty adviser, ready to defend, the student will submit it to the thesis committee. The distinction of honors will be conferred by the committee following a successful oral defense of the thesis.

Detailed requirements for the honors project are available from the department administrative assistant. Students who wish to earn departmental honors are advised to inform the chair as early in their college careers as possible so that they can ascertain well in advance appropriate courses, readings, and faculty sponsors for the project.

Requirements for the Major in English -- B.A.

Requirements for English -- B.A. with Teaching Option

Additional requirements

• All teaching-option students must successfully complete a year of college-level study in a language other than English. All English majors are required to complete a foreign language through the intermediate level or demonstrate equivalent proficiency as part of their major requirements.
• All teaching-option students must successfully complete a writing course numbered WRTG 10600 or above.
• All teaching-option students must successfully complete the second-year review and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in their subject. If a student receives an unsuccessful review or a review with stipulations, the student must participate in and successfully pass a second review the following year. Unsuccessful reviews and reviews with stipulations will be accompanied by a written statement outlining what must be done before the second review is completed.
• Students must earn a grade of B or better in EDUC 40810 and EDUC 41110 to qualify for student teaching. A grade of B- does not qualify.
• EDUC 49810 Professional Semester in Education and EDUC 41210 Seminar in Reflective Practice constitute a full course load during the student-teaching semester. No additional courses may be taken.
• All candidates for initial certification must successfully complete all three sections of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: the liberal arts and sciences test, the assessment of teaching skills (written), and the content area exam.
• The student's department chair and the coordinator of teacher education must approve any exceptions to the above requirements.

Requirements for the Minor in English

Of the courses counted toward the 21 required credits, no more than 6 credits shall be in any one area. Students who wish to declare the English minor must do so, at the latest, in the semester previous to the semester in which they graduate.

Minor in Comparative Literature

There are 21 credits in the minor (of which 9 credits must be level 3 or 4).

General literature

Select two courses from the following (only one may be an "Introduction" course):

European literature

All of the following courses:

Note: Students proficient in a foreign language may substitute 3 credits of literature in the foreign language.

British literature

Select one course from the following:

American literature

Select one course from the following:

Students with no prior college-level literature courses are advised to begin this minor with a level-1 introductory course. Courses taken for the comparative literature minor may not be counted toward the English major or minor, nor toward the major or minor in modern languages and literatures.