English

Faculty

Dr. Elizabeth Child, Associate Professor of English (program chair)
Dr. Pamela Barnett, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences; Distinguished Professor of English
Dr. Bill Beverly, Associate Professor of English (program chair)
Ms. Wendy Bilen Thorbjornsen, Assistant Professor of English
Dr. Rewa Burnham, Assistant Professor of English
The English program is also supported by a dedicated team of Instructional Specialists.

Description

The English Program provides all students with the opportunity to become familiar with English as an effective tool in speaking and writing, to explore the range of literature in English from the earliest periods to the present, and to develop facility in original writing in various genres. Embracing the interdisciplinarity of Trinity's curriculum and its focus on gender, race, and ethnicity, the courses offered by the English Program invite students to study the rich traditions of and the current challenges to the standard canon of literary works. Thus, the Program encourages students to focus on: texts, whether printed, filmed, electronically published, or performed; gender issues in literature; and literary treatments of social concerns. The Program proposes to students the study of literary traditions, of literature by and about women, and of literature written in English by members of diverse cultures in the United States and internationally.

Requirements for the major are carefully selected to ensure that each student is able to construct a dynamic program of study built on a core of courses that provide an understanding of literary genres, of themes and movements, and of major figures. Consistent with the mission of Trinity, the English Program stresses the development of the ability to analyze, criticize, and synthesize the structures and ideas encountered in texts; the viewing of literature as the reflection of diverse cultures; and the understanding of literature as a sociological and political event and as a commentary on human values, particularly values related to justice, gender, and race.

Through research projects and participation in seminars and class discussions, students develop the ability to reason, write, and speak persuasively. In their capstone experience in the senior year, the Program's faculty members encourage English majors to view themselves as independent researchers. The English Program supports both a major and a minor in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Major Requirements

To fulfill the requirements of the B.A. in English, students must complete 39 hours of required coursework in the following areas:

Writing about Literature	3 credits
Major British or U.S. Authors Requirement	6 credits
Major Figures Requirement	6 credits
Major Genres and Movements Study	3 credits
Global Literature in English Study	3 credits
Literary and Critical Theory	3 credits
English Electives	12 credits
Senior Colloquium	3 credits

Writing about Literature (3 credits)

ENGL 150

Major British or U.S. Authors Requirement (6 credits)

TWO of the following courses, which examine the work of writers whose ideas and achievements have shaped and are shaping literature in English. The program recommends that students pursue one of the two sequences, either ENGL 211/212 or ENGL 214/215:

ENGL 211
ENGL 212
ENGL 214
ENGL 215

Major Figures Study (6 credits)

TWO courses at the 300-level or above specifically devoted to the work of one author or a limited set of authors. Please note that ENGL 389 is a pre-requisite for course at the 300-level and above.  Sample courses include:

ENGL 325
ENGL 374
ENGL 434
ENGL 435
ENGL 451
ENGL 470
ENGL 476

Major Genres and Movements Study (3 credits)

ONE course that uses genre or literary period as a category of analysis. Please note that ENGL 389 is a pre-requisite for courses at the 300-level and above.   Sample courses include:

ENGL 273
ENGL 275
ENGL 283
ENGL 285
ENGL 310
ENGL 363
ENGL 365

Global Literature in English Study (3 credits)

ONE course that addresses literature written in English by writers of diverse cultures in the US and globally. Please note that ENGL 389 is a pre-requisite for courses at the 300-level and above. Sample courses include:

ENGL 220
ENGL 267
ENGL 271
ENGL 370

Literary and Critical Theory (3 credits)

ENGL 389

Students must take this course before progressing to 300- and 400-level courses in English.

English Electives (12 credits)

FOUR additional English courses at the 200-level or higher, two of which must be at the 300-level or higher.

Senior Colloquium (3 credits)

ENGL 499

In the Senior Colloquium, English majors write the senior comprehensive paper.  Pre-requisite:  senior status.

Minor Requirements

Writing about Literature (3 credits)

ENGL 150

Major British or U.S. Authors Requirement (6 credits)

TWO of the following courses that examine the work of writers whose ideas and achievements have shaped and are shaping literature in English.  The program recommends that students pursue one of the two sequences, either ENGL 211/212 or ENGL 214/215.

ENGL 211
ENGL 212
ENGL 214
ENGL 215

Major Figures Requirement (3 credits)

ONE course at the 300-level or above specifically devoted to the work of one author or a limited set of authors (see above).

Electives (6 credits)

TWO additional courses in the English Program at the 200-level or above.

Program Policies

Advanced Placement:
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences who earn a score of a 4 or a 5 on the AP examination in English Language & Composition may waive out of ENGL 107. CAS students who earn a score or a 4 or a 5 on the AP examination in English Literature & Composition may waive the CAS Gen Ed requirement for literature.

CLEP Policy:
Students interested in receiving credit for CLEP examinations should contact the Program Chair.

Grades in Major and Minor Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major or minor in English.

Pass/No Pass:
The pass/no pass grading option is not accepted in courses to be applied for the major or minor in English.

Senior Assessment:
All majors are required to take ENGL 499 for which students write an independent supervised comprehensive and scholarly research paper.

Study Abroad:
Students are encouraged to plan their studies to allow for the possibility of study abroad.

TELL Policy:
Students with substantial experiential learning are encouraged to apply for TELL credit in English.

Transfer Credits:
Students may apply transfer credit in English toward the major and minor in English if the transferred courses parallel courses required for the major or minor. Transfer students who elect an English major must complete a minimum of 12 credits in English major courses at Trinity, of which three must be in ENGL 499. Similarly, transfer students who elect an English minor must complete a minimum of 6 credits in English courses at Trinity.

Course Descriptions

ENGL 105S
ENGL 105
ENGL 107
ENGL 150
ENGL 170
ENGL 198
ENGL 200
ENGL 201
ENGL 208
ENGL 209
ENGL 211
ENGL 212
ENGL 214
ENGL 215
ENGL 217
ENGL 218
ENGL 219
ENGL 220
ENGL 250
ENGL 267
ENGL 270
ENGL 271
ENGL 273
ENGL 275
ENGL 277
ENGL 283
ENGL 285
ENGL 299
ENGL 301
ENGL 302
ENGL 304
ENGL 310
ENGL 321
ENGL 322
ENGL 325
ENGL 332
ENGL 348
ENGL 363
ENGL 365
ENGL 366
ENGL 368
ENGL 370
ENGL 371
ENGL 372
ENGL 373
ENGL 374
ENGL 377
ENGL 378
ENGL 379
ENGL 380
ENGL 381
ENGL 385
ENGL 389
ENGL 399
ENGL 421
ENGL 428
ENGL 434
ENGL 435
ENGL 447
ENGL 451
ENGL 470
ENGL 475
ENGL 476
ENGL 477
ENGL 491
ENGL 492
ENGL 498
ENGL 499