English, Bachelor of Arts
The English program at Wilson College has four degree options for students:
• The concentration in literary studies emphasizes the shaping authority of cultural texts. Students will read and study text from a variety of periods, learning how to interpret these works, how to examine them critically, and how to share their knowledge with others. This concentration prepares students for careers in teaching (including in higher education or journalism), public service and other jobs that require analytical ability.
• The concentration in creative writing is for students who have an interest in developing their talent as novelists, short fiction or creative nonfiction writers, poets and dramatists. It also emphasizes general and technical writing skills, preparing students for lives as working writers. By the end of the program, students will have completed a full-length manuscript and learned the process for submitting their work for publication. The department’s emphasis on general writing skills and career preparedness also ensures that students will be ready to enter the world of work, whether in publishing, freelance writing or numerous other writing-related fields.
• The concentration in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is designed for students who may wish to travel and work abroad upon completing their bachelor’s degree. This degree will prepare students to teach English to foreign speakers in a variety of settings, including professional and educational settings. By the end of their program students will understand the structure and component parts that make up the English language and study how to transmit that information to non-native speakers.
• The concentration in English Secondary Education is designed for students who wish to teach English in the high school setting. The concentration emphasizes breadth of learning and preparation for being in the classroom. Students will complete their program with student teaching and a certification that will allow them to teach in almost every state in the union.
All English concentrations lead to a knowledge of literature, a heightened awareness of language, an appreciation of cultural differences and an understanding of human relations over time.
Concentration in Literary Studies
Required Courses
| ENG 346 | Shakespeare's Romances and Tragedies | 3 |
| OR | |
| ENG 345 | Shakespeare's Histories and Comedies | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 311 | Structure of the English Language | 3 |
| ENG 380 | Literary and Cultural Interpretation | 3 |
| ENG 400 | Assessment Portfolio inLiterary Studies | 1 |
Plus eight (24 semester hours) additional literature courses. Of these, at least three must be taken at the 300 level and one must be in each of the following areas: British literature, American literature, European literature, literature written before 1700 and literature written after 1900. Students may choose ENG 220 as one of the eight courses, provided that the above criteria are met. No 100-level English courses count toward completion of the concentration.
Concentration in Creative Writing
Required Courses
| ENG 210 | Advanced Exposition | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 212 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| OR | |
| ENG 201 | Media Writing | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 220 | Creative Writing | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 346 | Shakespeare's Romances and Tragedies | 3 |
| OR | |
| ENG 345 | Shakespeare's Histories and Comedies | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 311 | Structure of the English Language | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 321 | Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry | 3 |
| OR | |
| ENG 323 | Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 499 | Thesis in Creative Writing | 3 |
| OR | |
| ENG 459 | Sr Advanced Study & Research | 3 |
| AND | |
| ENG 460 | Senior Advanced Study and Research | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 355 | Internship | 3 |
| ENG 400 | Assessment Portfolio inLiterary Studies | 1 |
| Three additional courses from the offerings in literature in English. | |
At least two of the four literature courses (which would include the required Shakespeare course) must be at the 300 level. No 100-level English courses count toward the completion of the concentration.
Concentration in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Required Courses
Students in the concentration will also complete three additional courses in English above the 200-level. At least one of those courses must be at the 300-level or higher.
Students must also complete a minor in Global Studies, a foreign language, or Education as part of their degree. A minor in Global Studies will prepare students for living abroad and help them to understand how to navigate different cultures in order to facilitate communication and interpersonal interactions with those cultures. A minor in a foreign language will further familiarize students with the structures of language and the culture behind language creation and transmission. A minor in Education will train students more about how to educate and instruct others by allowing them to learn more about how people learn and various methods and tools that can be used in teaching.
Please note that this degree does not provide Educational certification for teaching non-native speakers of English in an American secondary educational setting. To work in such a setting, students are generally required to complete certification in Education first. If you wish to work in an American high school, you may be well advised to complete a major in English Secondary Education and then a further certification in TESOL.
Concentration in Literary Studies for Secondary Education
Required Courses
| ENG 210 | Advanced Exposition | 3 |
| ENG 224 | Young Adult Literature | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 230 | Film Analysis and History | 3 |
| OR | |
| ENG 335 | Film Genres and Genders | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 345 | Shakespeare's Histories and Comedies | 3 |
| OR | |
| ENG 346 | Shakespeare's Romances and Tragedies | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 311 | Structure of the English Language | 3 |
| COM 110 | Effective Speaking | 3 |
| | |
| COM 105 | Intro to Media Communications | 3 |
| OR | |
| COM 210 | Women in the Media | 3 |
| | |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 206 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 207 | Adolescent Dvlpmnt, Cognition & Learning | 3 |
| EDU 215 | Education - Students W/Special Needs | 3 |
| EDU 312 | Teaching English Learners | 3 |
| EDU 332 | Secondary Methods in Content | 3 |
| EDU 333 | Secondary Methods in Literacy | 3 |
| EDU 341 | Educational Assessment | 3 |
| EDU 348 | Pre-Practicum | 3 |
| EDU 430 | Special Needs Seminar | 3 |
| EDU 431 | Sec English Student Teaching Practicum | 12 |
| One mathematics course | |
| One statistics course | |
18 semester hours of English electives: Must include a minimum of four courses in literature: two in American, one in British, and one in European translation. Two of the electives may be writing courses. At least two electives must be at the 300 level. No 100-level courses count toward completion of the concentration.