Academic Catalog 2017-2018 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2017-2018 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

English, B.A.


Requirements for the Major:


12-courses: two introductory, seven intermediate, and three advanced.

1. Two Introductory Courses chosen from the following:


2. Seven Intermediate Courses:


At least one Introductory Course is a prerequisite to courses at the Intermediate level (see exception for students who received a 5 on their AP exam in either English language or literature). In this group, majors must complete the following courses:

Four intermediate electives


Selected with faculty guidance so as to reflect each student’s interests, intentions, and plans after Union College

3. Three Advanced Courses:


Advanced courses, also called Junior Seminars and Senior Seminars, are writing intensive, typically research oriented, and usually organized around the work of particular authors or topics. Students must complete three advanced courses, including one Junior Seminar, one Senior Seminar, and one seminar of choice, either 300 level or 400 level. Students must take at least two Intermediate Courses before enrolling in a Junior Seminar. Students must take at least four Intermediate Courses and both Introductory Courses before enrolling in a Senior Seminar. Students are strongly advised to take at least one Junior Seminar before enrolling in a Senior Seminar.

Requirements for Honors in English


Fourteen courses are required for honors, the usual twelve plus a two-term honors thesis seminar, EGL 402  and EGL 403 .

In this seminar, students are expected to learn research methods, discuss their subjects and approaches to them, and share ideas and writing, as they work toward completing their individual theses under the direction of the seminar instructor. Prospective Honors thesis writers are required to take the Literary Theory Seminar EGL 302  in Winter of their Junior year, prior to applying to write a thesis, whether proposing a creative or an analytical thesis. Students proposing creative theses are strongly encouraged to have already participated in a creative writing workshop in the proposed genre. Interested students should discuss possible thesis subjects with their advisor and other departmental members in order to develop an appropriate thesis topic. Prospective Honors students are required to submit a two-to three-page thesis proposal and writing sample in Spring of their junior year, for review by the department’s Honors selection committee.