English (BA)
Program Mission
The mission of the English Program is to guide students, within a robustly Catholic liberal arts college setting, toward a greater understanding of themselves, others, and the world through the wisdom of excellent writing. Intensive reading and writing, critical evaluation of ideas and arguments, and engagement in scholarly communities prepare our students for careers that require superior writing, reading, speaking, and thinking skills.
Program Outcomes
- Graduates will be familiar with literature in English and with the British and American literary tradition.
- Graduates will have the ability to analyze and interpret literary works.
- Graduates will be competent writers.
- Graduates will understand of the nature, structure, and uses of language.
- Graduates of English Education will be competent in the content of literature and writing and be able to teach both.
- Graduates will be prepared to live in a diverse society through required readings in World and American literature by writers of diverse genders, ethnicities, and cultures.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ENGL-1600 | British Literature to 1750 | 3 |
| ENGL-1650 | British Literature After 1750 | 3 |
| ENGL-1700 | American Literature to Civil War | 3 |
| ENGL-1750 | American Literature After Civil War | 3 |
| ENGL-3020 | Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENGL-4110 | Literary Criticism | 3 |
| ENGL-4310 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| ENGL-4910 | Language & Literature Seminar (may be taken more than once) | 3 |
| ENGL-1500 | World Lit I: Ancient to Renaissance | 3 |
| or ENGL-1550 | World Lit II: Enlightenment-Present | |
| Additional Upper-Division Courses | ||
| Select at least 9 additional upper-division hours, for a total of no less than 36 hours in the major. One of these upper-division elective courses will be selected from the genre courses, and one from the period courses. | 9 | |
| Genre Courses | ||
| The Novel | ||
| Short Story | ||
| Poetry | ||
| The Play | ||
| Film | ||
| Literary Period Courses | ||
| Old & Middle English Literature | ||
| Renaissance Literature | ||
| Restoration & 18th Century Literature | ||
| Colonial & Revolutionary Lit, 1650-1820 | ||
| Romanticism & Amer Renaissance 1820-1865 | ||
| Romantic Literature | ||
| Victorian Literature | ||
| Modern Amer Lit 1890-1945 | ||
| 20th Century British Literature | ||
| Contemporary American Literature | ||
| Senior Comprehensive Exam | ||
| ENGL-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
The department recommends that majors take additional English courses beyond the minimum and that they take at least some of their electives in related fields such as history, theatre arts, music, and upper-division foreign language.
Transfer students majoring in English must take a minimum of 50% of the coursework required for the major at Benedictine College. Transfer students pursuing a minor in English must take at least 50% of the coursework required for the minor at Benedictine College.
Suggested Sequence of Courses for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL-1010 | English Composition | 3 |
| THEO-1100 | Introduction to Theology | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Natural World Foundation | 4 | |
| GNST-1000 | BC Experience | 1 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGL-1600 | British Literature to 1750 | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| PHIL-1750 | Principles of Nature | 3 |
| EXSC-1115 | Wellness for Life | 1 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENGL-1650 | British Literature After 1750 | 3 |
| ENGL-1700 | American Literature to Civil War | 3 |
| Historical Foundation | 3 | |
| Philosophical Inquiry Foundation | 3 | |
| Faith Foundation | 3 | |
| EXSC Fitness Course | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGL-1750 | American Literature After Civil War | 3 |
| English Course | 3 | |
| Historical Foundation | 3 | |
| Natural World Foundation (with lab) | 4 | |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| English Courses | 6 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Faith Foundation | 3 | |
| ENGL-4310 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| English Courses | 6 | |
| Person and Community Foundation | 3 | |
| Electives | 7 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| English Courses | 6 | |
| ENGL-4110 | Literary Criticism | 3 |
| Electives | 7 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGL-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| English Courses | 6 | |
| ENGL-4910 | Language & Literature Seminar | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 129 | |