English
Requirements
Major Concentrations and Requirements
The English major offers six different concentrations:
1) American Literature,
2) British Literature,
3) Creative and Professional Writing,
4) English Education
5) Film Studies, and
6) International Literature in English.
Only courses in which the student receives a grade of “C” or better may be used to satisfy major or minor requirements. A grade of “C“ or better in ENG 1009: Approaches to Literature is required for all concentrations except Creative and Professional Writing, which requires a C+ or better in ENW 2030: Approaches to Creative Writing.
A Comprehensive Exam in literature, taken during the senior year, is required for all concentrations. To ensure that students in advanced courses have experience thinking in analytical terms, a previous ENG course at the 1000 or 2000 is a prerequisite for all 3000 level ENG courses.
Honors Program in English
Each spring, the Department invites selected juniors with at least a B+ average in their major work and at least a B average in all other course work to enter the Honors English Major. Students enrolled in this Honors Major must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by showing that they have successfully completed either an intermediate level course or a proficiency test in their chosen language. Honors majors complete an Honors Thesis (ENG 3999) during the senior year under the mentorship of a departmental faculty member. If the thesis receives a grade of “A-“ or better, the student will receive the designation of Honors English on the transcript. If not, the work will be given credit as an Independent Study project.
Independent Study
An advanced student who wishes to work on a specialized interest with a particular professor may, if the professor consents, do an independent study as ENG 4495. This cannot be used as a substitute for a core course required by the major. The department permits independent studies only with fulltime members of the department. Any exceptions to this rule must be approved by the Chair.
Internships
Internships related to the major may be available as ENG 4497 or ENW 4497. These are subject to the same rules as independent studies.
American Literature Concentration
In addition to ENG 1009: Approaches to Literature, the Concentration in American Literature requires a total of 12 courses, including:
· four core British Literature courses (English II, III, IV, and V),
· three core American Literature courses (American Literature I, II, and III),
· the Senior Comprehensive Exam (ENG 3998),
· four other electives. One of these electives must be devoted to a genre (e.g., the short story, poetry, drama, the novel, satire, comedy, or film) or a major author or authors (e.g., Shakespeare; Hawthorne, Melville, and Poe; D.H. Lawrence).
The core courses need not be taken in sequence. Composition courses (listed as ENC) may not be used as part of the major; however, up to two courses from the creative/professional writing (ENW) or film concentrations may be used.
British Literature Concentration
In addition to ENG 1009: Approaches to Literature, the Concentration in British Literature requires a total of 12 courses, including:
· five core courses (English I, II, III, IV, and V),
· the Senior Comprehensive Exam (ENG 3998: Senior Comprehensives),
· six other elective courses. One of these electives must be in American Literature; one must be devoted to a genre (e.g., the short story, poetry, the novel, satire, comedy, or film) or a specific author or authors (e.g., Shakespeare; Hawthorne, Melville, and Poe; D.H. Lawrence).
The core courses need not be taken in sequence. Composition courses (listed as ENC) may not be used as part of the major; however, up to two courses from the creative/professional writing (ENW) or film concentrations may be used.
English Minor in American and British Literature
These minors require at least five courses from the literature courses offered by the department. Two may be creative/ professional writing or film courses.
Creative and Professional Writing Concentration
Students who plan to become professional writers will find that this concentration rigorously prepares them. Students whose chosen profession requires writing, e.g., Law or Business, will find that this concentration aids them in communicating more effectively. Students who simply enjoy writing will find that this concentration allows them to explore and develop their interest. Students will have the opportunity to study: Advanced Writing with Research, Fiction, Journalism (including work on the campus newspaper, Touchstone), Memoir, Playwriting, Poetry, Screenwriting, and Writing for the Media. Internships will be available with Inkwell Magazine, Manhattanville’s national journal of fiction and poetry. Other internships are available through our Career Services Office.
Each spring, the Writing Concentration jointly with Inkwell Magazine, awards the Eileen O’Gorman Undergraduate Prize in Fiction and the Robert O’Clair Undergraduate Prize in Poetry. The English Department as a whole may also award the Sr. Margaret Williams Prize for Literary Criticism, the Dan Masterson Prize for Screenwriting, and the William K. Everson Prize for Writing on Film.
The Creative and Professional Writing Concentration
requires ENW 2030: Approaches to Creative Writing, completed with a grade of C+ or better, and twelve additional courses, as follows:
· Six literature courses, one of which must be in American literature. Since students must pass the Senior Comprehensive Exam in literature, they are strongly urged to take as many of the core courses as possible beyond those required:
o English I, English II or Shakespeare
o English III
o English IV, American Literature I or II
o English V or American Literature III
o One elective literature course
o Senior Comprehensive Exam (ENG 3998).
· Six Writing Courses, as follows:
o Narrative Writing Seminar I and II (a year-long seminar; it is highly recommended that students take this in the sophomore year, since it is a prerequisite for upper level writing courses)
o Four of the following electives in writing: Advanced Writing with Research, Fiction Writing Workshop (repeatable for credit), Journalism (repeatable for credit), Memoir Writing, Playwriting, Poetry Workshop (repeatable for credit), Screenwriting I (repeatable for credit), Screenwriting II (repeatable for credit), Writing for the Media.
· Senior Writing Portfolio (ENW 3998)
Minor in Creative and Professional Writing
· Narrative Writing Seminar (a year-long course)
· two writing (ENW) courses, and
· two literature (ENG) courses.
English Education Concentration
Designed by the English and Education Departments for students who wish to become secondary English teachers, this concentration draws on courses by both majors. This is a dual major that requires advisors from both departments. The program includes 13 courses in English as well as the Senior Comprehensive Examination. The list below includes all courses, so that students can plan their schedules more effectively.
Required English courses:
· ENG 1009: Approaches to Literature
· ENW 2030: Approaches to Creative Writing
· American Literature: American Literature I, II, and III
· British Literature: English II, III, IV, and V
· Four electives, of which:
o 1 must be a film course,
o 2 must be in international literature in English and
o 1 must be in a major genre or author.
In addition, the following ENE courses must be taken:
· ENE 3005: Literature for Adolescents, and
· ENE 3010: Linguistics of English: Past, Present, and Future.
· In addition, the following EDU courses must be taken:
· EDU 2000: Fundamentals of Education,
· EDU 2010: Educating Learners with Diverse Needs,
· PSY 2002: Developmental Psychology: Early Through Late Adolescence,
· EDU 3024: Curriculum and Methodology in Grades 5-12 (General),
· EDU 3021: English Curriculum and Methodology in Grades 5-12,
· EDU 3376: Fundamentals of Middle Childhood Education,
· EDU 3273: Teaching Literacy Skills in Middle School Through Collaborative Study of Social Identity,
· EDU 3029: Literacy Development in Grades 5-12, and
· EDU 3384: Student Teaching and Seminar: Middle Childhood and Adolescence.
Film Studies Concentration
In addition to ENG 1009: Approaches to Literature, the Concentration in Film Studies requires 12 courses, including:
· Six core literature courses, as follows:
o English I or II
o English III or IV
o English V
o Two courses from the American Literature sequence (I, II and III)
o Senior Comprehensive Exam (Eng 3998)
Since students must pass the Senior Comprehensive Exam in literature, they are strongly urged to take as many of the core courses as possible beyond those required.
· Six film courses, as follows:
o Introduction to Film Criticism
o Film Theory (Note: Introduction to Film Criticism is a prerequisite for this course)
o Either History of Cinema I or History of Cinema II
o Three electives in film, of which only one may be from outside the department.
Minor in Film Studies
At least five film courses, including Introduction to Film Criticism, Film Theory, and History of Cinema I or II. Only one film course may be from outside the department.
International Literature in English Concentration
The Concentration in International Literature in English centers on the literature of countries deeply influenced by British culture and investigates how these works extend the British literary tradition while also reflecting native cultures.
In addition to the requirement of ENG 1009, this concentration requires 13 courses:
· Shakespeare
· English III or IV
· English V
· two of the American Literature core courses (I, II, III),
· Survey of International Literature I and II
· the Senior Comprehensive Exam,
· four electives in world literature, one of which may be a course in international film
· one a course in foreign literature in translation, from outside the department.
Additional courses for this concentration are currently being developed.