Bachelor of Arts
Michael Twomey, 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 Center for Teacher Education, it also provides a program through which prospective secondary school teachers can apply for New York State teaching certification upon graduation.
Since departmental requirements and course offerings often change between catalog printings, students should be aware that current information concerning the English major can be obtained from the student's adviser, from the chairperson of the department, or from the departmental secretary. Each semester, in the Humanities and Sciences Supplement, the department publishes detailed descriptions of literature courses planned for the following semester.
Students with a sufficiently high grade point average in all their courses receive their degree with College honors. In addition, students who fulfill the appropriate departmental requirements graduate with honors in their major. To qualify to pursue honors in English, a student must have received a grade of A- or above in at least three English courses, two of which must be at level 3 or 4 and/or be required for the major. Detailed requirements for the honors project are available from the departmental secretary. In summary, they are as follows:
1. Successful application to candidacy by fulfillment of prerequisites, support for the project from a faculty mentor, and formal submission of a letter of application to the department chairperson.
2. Successful completion of a course of independent study with the mentor, which will involve completion of an extensive annotated bibliography in the candidate's chosen field, a prospectus of 1,000-1,500 words describing the thesis he or she aims to write, and an oral examination to determine the candidate's preparedness for the next stage.
3. Successful completion of a second course of independent study with the mentor, during which the student will write the thesis --- usually a long essay written under supervision of the mentor and read by a committee of three faculty members.
Students who wish to earn departmental honors are advised to inform the chairperson 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.
307-11300 |
Introduction to Poetry |
3 |
307-21900 |
Shakespeare |
3 |
|
Three of the Periods of Literature courses 307-13100, 307-23200, 307-27100, 307-27200, 307-38100 |
9 |
|
Two of the remaining two Periods of Literature courses or designated substitutes (a list is available in the department) |
6 |
|
Electives, of which 9 credits must be at level 3 or 4 |
15 |
|
Total, in the major |
36 |
Of the courses counted toward the 36 required credits, no more than 12 credits shall be (1) in any one period of literature or (2) in comparative literature and literature in translation (taught by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures)
|
Electives |
84 |
Total, B.A. in English |
120 |
All English majors are also required to complete a foreign language through the intermediate level or demonstrate equivalent proficiency as part of their major requirements.
307-11300 |
Introduction to Poetry |
3 |
307-21900 |
Shakespeare |
3 |
|
Level 3-4 courses |
9 |
|
Literature electives |
6 |
|
Total |
21 |
Of the courses counted toward the 21 required credits, no more than 6 credits shall be in any one period. 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.
The program requirements below are for students who will graduate and apply for New York teaching certification before February 2, 2004.
|
English courses as described for the major |
36 |
|
Teacher certification (see p. 168 for list of requirements) |
26 |
|
Electives |
58 |
Total required for degree |
120 |
Note: Before commencing student teaching, a student must have completed at least 27 credits of requirements in the major with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA in literature courses and approval of the department. Only students with an overall GPA of 2.75 or above in English courses will be allowed to preregister for 327-30800 Methods and Materials or 327-31100 Special Methods in English. Students who do not maintain a GPA of 2.75 or above in English courses during and after 327-30800 will not be allowed to take 327-49800 Professional Semester in Education.
The program requirements below are for students who will graduate and apply for New York State teaching certification on or after February 2, 2004. Entering first-year students in fall 2000 and thereafter will complete the following program.
307-11300 |
Introduction to Poetry |
3 |
307-21900 |
Shakespeare |
3 |
|
Three of the Periods of Literature courses 307-13100, 307-23200, 307-27100, 307-27200, 307-38100 |
9 |
|
Two of the remaining two Periods of Literature courses or designated substitutes (a list is available in the department) |
6 |
|
Electives, of which 9 credits must be at level 3 or 4 |
15 |
|
Total in the major |
36 |
Of the courses counted toward the 36 required credits, no more than 12 credits shall be (1) in any one period of literature or (2) in comparative literature and literature in translation (taught by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures).
All English majors are also required to complete a foreign language through the intermediate level or demonstrate equivalent proficiency as part of their major requirements.
327-21910 |
Elements of Tutoring |
3 |
312-20100 |
Technology for the Middle/Secondary School Teacher |
2 |
327-10100 |
Literacy Education for the Middle/Second School Teacher |
2 |
620-23900 |
Educating Children with Special Needs |
2 |
620-22900 |
Second Language Acquisition: Its Nature and Meaning for Educators |
2 |
330-21010 |
Educational Psychology |
3 |
395-34000 |
Social Foundations of Education |
3 |
327-30810 |
Pedagogy and Practice across the Disciplines |
3 |
327-31110 |
Pedagogy and Practice for the English Teacher |
3 |
327-41210 |
Seminar on the Practical Issues of Teaching |
3 |
327-49810 |
Professional Semester in Education |
12 |
Total core education requirements |
38 |
· 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 at the 106 level or above.
· All teaching option students must successfully complete the second year review and maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA 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 327-30810 and 327-31110 to qualify for student teaching. A grade of B- does not qualify.
· Professional Semester in Education and the Seminar on the Practical Issues of Teaching constitute a full course load during the student teaching semester. No additional courses may be taken.
· All candidates for provisional or initial certification must successfully complete all three sections of the New York State Teacher Certification Exam: 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.
Electives |
46 | |
Total, B.A. in English with teaching option |
120 |
21 credits in minor (of which 9 credits must be level 3 or 4)
from the following (only one may be an "Introduction" )
307-10700 |
Introduction to Literature |
|
307-11000 |
Introduction to Fiction |
|
307-13100 |
Ancient Literature |
|
307-23200 |
Medieval Literature |
|
307-27100 |
Renaissance Literature |
|
307-36500 |
Studies in the Novel |
|
307-38200 |
Modern Literature I |
|
307-38300 |
Modern Literature II |
|
307-41000 |
Seminar in Medieval English Literature |
|
307-43000 |
Seminar in the English Renaissance |
|
307-48000 |
Studies in Literary Criticism |
6 |
308-31200 |
French Literature in Translation |
|
309-15200 |
German Literature in Translation |
|
318-26600 |
Spanish/Latin American Literature in Translation |
9 |
(Note: Students proficient in a foreign language may substitute 3 credits of literature in the foreign language.)
307-21600 |
Contemporary British Fiction |
|
307-21900 |
Shakespeare |
|
307-27200 |
The Enlightenment (1660-1770) |
|
Any level 3 or 4 course in British literature (see English department course listing for courses currently offered) |
||
Total, British literature |
3 |
307-10500 |
Introduction to American Literature |
|
307-31900 |
Great American Writers before 1890 |
|
307-32000 |
Great American Writers after 1890 |
|
307-37000 |
American Poetry |
|
307-37200 |
Studies in American Literature |
|
307-47000 |
Seminar in American Literature |
|
Total, American literature |
3 |
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, or toward the major or minor in modern languages and literatures.
Total, minor in comparative literature |
21 |
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