Major in English
Interested in Writing?
Each different profession requires a particular set of skills—statistical analysis, facility with computers, a knowledge of biology or finance—but every profession requires the capacity to read perceptively, think critically, and write clearly. Your knowledge in any discipline is only as useful as your ability to share it with others, whether online or on paper.
The ability to write in a concise and engaging way is often cited as the single most sought-after attribute in the professional marketplace. And beyond your professional life, there is the pleasure, insight, and encouragement to be found in reading and responding to great pieces of writing from across cultures and historical periods.
What Can Your English Degree Do For You?
A major in English is a gateway to careers in business, publishing, law, education, library science and many other dynamic fields. To direct your studies for the greatest effect, the Department of English offers its major tailored to different interests and careers, with emphases in literature or writing, or the teaching of English in secondary school.
Major Requirements
An English major consists of a minimum of 10 one-credit (4 semester hours) courses taken from courses at the 200, 300 and 400 levels. English majors may choose to complete either the Literature or the Writing track. All majors complete:
- ENG 220 Principles of Literary Study
- Either ENG 201 Composition III or another writing course above the 106 level
- A selection of further core courses determined by a student’s selected emphasis in either literature or writing
- A 400-level capstone course
- Three 400-level elective English courses
No more than one literature or writing course at the 200 level in addition to ENG 220 may count toward the major.
Choose Your Emphasis
It’s a pretty safe bet that almost as soon as human beings began using language they began playing with it. From the cooking fire to the mead hall to the Globe Theatre and the New York Times Best Seller List, people have been telling stories, singing songs, and writing down the best of them to share and preserve their experiences and to understand themselves and each other better.
The Literature Track of the English major is designed to help students learn to respond sensitively and shrewdly to a wide range of written works from Ancient Greece to this year’s Pulitzer Prize winner and from every part of the world. Our respect for the diversity of human experience is woven into all our literature courses, where our students read authors from Amy Tan and Gabriel Garcia Marquez to Shakespeare and Sophocles. Courses focus on women’s writing, literary theory, ethical values in literature, and many other topics.
Required Courses
Students pursuing an emphasis in literature must complete six core courses:
- ENG 220 Principles of Literary Study
- One writing course beyond ENG 106 Composition II
- One course chosen from:
- ENG 321 British Literature I
- ENG 345 Shakespeare
- Two courses chosen from:
- ENG 322 British Literature II
- ENG 351 American Literature I
- ENG 352 American Literature II
- ENG 451 Advanced Literary Study
- Three electives, so that the 10-course total includes at
least three 400-level English courses in addition to
ENG 451
No more than one 400-level writing course may be counted toward the Literature Emphasis.
Elmhurst’s writing concentration is designed for students preparing for careers in publishing, journalism, advertising, and other fields. Courses in this track include fiction and nonfiction writing, poetry, and more specialized courses in journalism and business writing.
Writing courses are taught in computerized classrooms with state-of-the-art software. In addition, students have plenty of opportunities to practice their art by writing for our award-winning school newspaper, The Leader, or MiddleWestern Voice, Elmhurst’s full-color journal of literature and the arts.
Required Courses
Students pursuing an emphasis on writing must complete seven core courses:
- ENG 220 Principles of Literary Study
- ENG 201 Composition III: Classical Rhetoric and Contemporary Discourse
- Two core literature courses chosen from:
- ENG 321 British Literature I
- ENG 345 Shakespeare
- ENG 322 British Literature II
- ENG 351 American Literature I
- ENG 352 American Literature II
- Two writing courses at the 300 and/or 400 level chosen from:
- ENG 303 Business and Technical Writing
- ENG 305 News Reporting
- ENG 306 Advanced News Reporting
- ENG 312 Writing Fiction
- ENG 313 Writing Poetry
- ENG 317 Introduction to Screenwriting
- ENG 401 Composition IV
- ENG 403 Advanced Professional and Multimedia Writing
- ENG 410 Advanced Writing Seminar
- ENG 412 Advanced Fiction Writing
- ENG 417 Advanced Writing for Film and Television
- ENG 455 Portfolio Development for English Writing Majors (Senior Capstone)
- Three electives, so that the 10-course total includes at least three 400-level English courses in addition to ENG 455
Recommended Course Clusters in Writing
The English writing emphasis offers students the ability to construct a challenging curriculum from flexible options. These options include coursework in journalism, creative writing, professional writing, and rhetoric and composition. Students may design their own curriculum in consultation with their advisors, or base their work on one of these clusters of recommended courses:
Journalism
- ENG 305 News Reporting
- ENG 306 Advanced News Reporting
- ENG 365 Journalism Practicum
- ENG 468 Internship
Professional Writing
- ENG 303 Business and Technical Writing
- ENG 403 Advanced Professional and Multimedia Writing
- One additional journalism course: ENG 305 or ENG 306
- ENG 468 Internship
Creative Writing
At least two courses from the following:
- ENG 306 Advanced News Reporting
- ENG 312 Writing Fiction
- ENG 313 Writing Poetry
- ENG 317 Introduction to Screenwriting
- ENG 410 Advanced Writing Seminar
- ENG 412 Advanced Fiction Writing
- ENG 415 Literary Theory Rhetoric and Composition
- ENG 417 Advanced Writing for Film and Television
Rhetoric and Composition
- One journalism course
- ENG 303 Business and Technical Writing
- One creative writing course: ENG 312 Writing Fiction or ENG 313 Writing Poetry
- ENG 401 Composition IV: Theory and Research
- ENG 403 Advanced Professional and Multimedia Writing
- ENG 410 Advanced Writing Seminar
- ENG 415 Literary Theory
If you’re planning a teaching career, you can earn licensure for teaching of English. On this track, you’ll gain a working knowledge of British and American literature, composition theory and writing—and gain valuable hands-on experience in schools.
A student seeking licensure should consult with advisors in both the education and the English departments as early as possible. For more information on teacher education at Elmhurst, see the School of Education.
General Requirements
An English major leading to teacher licensure consists of a minimum of 10.5 courses including the literature core requirements. Students wishing to student teach are required to show a cumulative grade-point average in their major of 2.75. Students must also complete all other components established by the School of Education to satisfy the Illinois State Board of Education licensure requirements.
Transfer students with a degree in English from another institution must take at least two courses in English at Elmhurst University at the 300/400 level and must earn at least a B average in those courses.
Required Courses
Courses required for licensure in English education:
- ENG 201 Composition III: Classical Rhetoric and Contemporary Discourse
- ENG 220 Principles of Literary Study
- ENG 321 British Literature I or
ENG 345 Shakespeare - ENG 451 Advanced Literary Study
Two courses from the following:
- ENG 322 British Literature II
- ENG 351 American Literature I
- ENG 352 American Literature II
To meet the State licensure requirements:
- ENG 372 Multicultural/Postcolonial Literature
- ENG 451 Advanced Literary Study (Senior Capstone)
- ENG 401 Composition IV: Theory and Research
- ENG 416 History and Structure of English
- ENG 440 Middle and High School English and Language Arts Methods
- ENG 315 Adolescent Literature (.50 credit)
- One elective course selected to ensure the student has a total of 10.5 English courses, three of which must be 400-level courses, excluding ENG 440.
Students are required to pass the appropriate content area test prior to the student teaching semester and the edTPA prior to program completion.