The information on this page pertains to program requirements for students who matriculated in the 2020-2021 academic year. View requirements for previous catalog years here.
The program in English is committed to establishing a habit of lifelong learning that emphasizes the relationship of reading, writing and critical thinking. Our students:
Our courses involve students in a range of activities, including discussions (in class and online), collaborative projects, conferences, presentations, independent study, internships, and service learning.
The English Department is committed to supporting interdisciplinary programs and encourages students to pursue interdisciplinary concentrations, second majors and/or minors. A number of the Department's courses are cross-listed with interdisciplinary programs, facilitating such study. In addition, the English major permits students to include related courses taken outside the department for credit toward their program of study, subject to approval by the student’s English Department adviser.
Our graduates pursue professional careers in such fields as professional writing, editing, advertising, publishing, education, management, computers, public relations and public service, or pursue post-baccalaureate study in English studies, law school or medical school. Students contemplating graduate study should confer with their advisers about special preparation and should be aware that many graduate schools typically expect proof of competence in foreign languages. Students interested in pursuing careers in primary or secondary education can obtain certification by completing the appropriate professional courses in teacher education.
The English major requires 12 courses: at least 5 at the lower division and at least 6 at the upper division. The English major allows for 3 electives, 2 of which must be 100-level courses. An English course may be used only once to fulfill a particular major requirement. Transfer students majoring in English must take at least 6 courses in English at Drake. Students with advanced placement (A.P.) will be credited one lower-level elective toward the major.
Course | Credits |
Lower Division Core | |
Gateway | |
ENG 038 - Literary Study | 4 |
ENG 039 - Writing Seminar | 4 |
History and Traditions | |
Any ENG course numbered 040-059 | 3-4 |
Culture and Identity | |
Any ENG course numbered 060-079 | 3-4 |
Writing: Topics and Genres | |
Any ENG course numbered 080-099 | 3-4 |
Upper Division - Select a track and complete nine hours from within one track. | |
History and Traditions | |
ENG 104 - History of English Language | 3 |
ENG 124 - Advanced Topics in History and Tradition | 3 |
ENG 126 - Film/TV History and Criticism | 3 |
ENG 130 - Studies in Literary Genres | 3 |
ENG 131 - Major Historical Figures (Before 1900) | 3 |
ENG 132 - Dickens in London | 3 |
ENG 133 - Major Contemporary Figures (Since 1900) | 3 |
ENG 134 - Transatlantic Landscapes | 3 |
ENG 140 - Shakespeare: Texts and Contexts | 3 |
ENG 142 - Advanced Topics in Early English Texts (to 1500) | 3 |
ENG 143 - Advanced Topics in Early Modern Texts (1500-1780) | 3 |
ENG 146 - 19th Century British Literature | 3-5 |
ENG 150 - Poetry and Society 1720-1920 | 3 |
ENG 151 - Colonial American Literature | 3 |
ENG 152 - 19th Century American Literature | 3 |
ENG 166 - Literature of War | 3 |
ENG 169 - Theories of Myth and Archetypes | 3 |
Theory and Criticism | |
ENG 102 - Structure of Modern American English | 3 |
ENG 104 - History of English Language | 3 |
ENG 109 - Prose Stylistics | 3 |
ENG 111 - Reading/Writing Personal Essay | 3 |
ENG 112 - Autobiography and Memoir | 3 |
ENG 123 - Advanced Topics in Theory and Criticism | 3 |
ENG 126 - Film/TV History and Criticism | 3 |
ENG 130 - Studies in Literary Genres | 3 |
ENG 141 - Advanced Topics in Irish Literature | 3 |
ENG 147 - 20th Century British Literature | 3 |
ENG 149 - Contemporary British Literature | 3 |
ENG 155 - 20th Century American Literature | 3 |
ENG 156 - Contemporary American Literature | 3 |
ENG 158 - South African Literature | 3 |
ENG 163 - Trans-Cultural Literature | 3 |
ENG 164 - Latino/a Literature | 3 |
ENG 165 - Postcolonial Literature | 3 |
ENG 166 - Literature of War | 3 |
ENG 168 - Storytelling as a Social Practice | 3 |
ENG 169 - Theories of Myth and Archetypes | 3 |
ENG 171 - Teaching Writing: Theory and Practice | 3 |
ENG 172 - Teaching Tutorial Writing | 3 |
ENG 173 - Critical Theory | 3 |
ENG 174 - Theories of Language and Discourse | 3 |
ENG 178 - Topics in Multicultural Literature | 3 |
Film, Drama, and New Media | |
ENG 116 - Creative Writing for New Media | 3 |
ENG 125 - Advanced Topics in Culture and Identity | 3 |
ENG 126 - Film/TV History and Criticism | 3 |
ENG 127 - Advanced Topics in New Media | 3 |
ENG 128 - Advanced Topics in Drama | 3 |
ENG 129 - Advanced Topics in Film | 3 |
ENG 137 - Critical Theory | 3 |
ENG 140 - Shakespeare: Texts/Contexts | 3 |
ENG 173 - Critical Theory | 3 |
Culture and Identity | |
ENG 125 - Advanced Topics in Culture and Identity | 3 |
ENG 135 - Adolescent Literature | 3 |
ENG 136 - Adolescence and American Fiction | 3 |
ENG 141 - Advanced Topics in Irish Literature | 3 |
ENG 142 - Advanced Topics in Early English Texts (to 1500) | 3 |
ENG 143 - Advanced Topics in Early Modern Texts (1500-1780) | 3 |
ENG 146 - 19th Century British Literature | 3-5 |
ENG 147 - 20th Century British Literature | 3 |
ENG 149 - Contemporary British Literature | 3 |
ENG 152 - 19th Century American Literature | 3 |
ENG 155 - 20th Century American Literature | 3 |
ENG 156 - Contemporary American Literature | 3 |
ENG 158 - South African Literature | 3 |
ENG 163 - Trans-Cultural Literature | 3 |
ENG 164 - Latino/a Literature | 3 |
ENG 165 - Postcolonial Literature | 3 |
ENG 168 - Storytelling as a Social Practice | 3 |
Electives - Courses may be taken outside of the department with advisor approval. Up to six individual experience hours (internship, independent study, or portfolio) may be counted as electives. Nine upper-division elective hours may be used to fulfill a second track. Consult the course lists above four courses that fulfill requirements for each of the specific tracks. | |
One ENG course numbered 020-099 | 3-4 |
At least six hours of ENG courses numbered 100 or higher | 6 |
Capstone | |
ENG 195 - Capstone in English and Writing, or | 3 |
ENG 197 - Capstone in English | |
TOTAL | 38-41 |
Students who wish to complement their degrees in other areas of study, to pursue personal interests in critical reading and creative writing, and to provide employers or graduate schools with supplementary credentials in writing or English can choose a six-course minor. Students majoring in writing may not minor in English; students may not double-minor in English and writing.
Course | Credits |
---|---|
ENG 038 - Literary Study | 4 |
ENG 039 - Writing Seminar | 4 |
Lower Division Electives - Select two ENG courses numbered 020-099 | 6-8 |
Upper Division Electives - Select two ENG courses numbered 100 or higher | 6 |
TOTAL | 20-22 |
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.