Students also select a minor in another discipline or, with the approval of an English advisor and the department chair, take any six approved courses in the contextual and support area for English. The purpose of these courses is to foster appreciation of artistic creation in other media (courses in art, music, speech, or theatre); to explore cultural and ideological contexts for literary creation (courses in geography, history, international and area studies, and political science); to compare languages, literatures, philosophies, and religions (courses in languages, philosophy, and religion); and to probe the complex processes of human behavior and social dynamics (courses in mass communications, psychology, public policy and community service, sociology, and women’s studies). These courses will help students prepare for career fields such as teaching, communications, law, ministry, creative writing, library and museum work, public relations, publication, and writing-intensive jobs in business, government, and social services.

English - Literature and Creative Writing (B.A.)
Objectives: To provide students with breadth and depth in literary studies; to develop skills in writing fiction, poetry, and expository prose; and to prepare students for advanced study in composition and creative writing, or for careers in writing, information services, or teaching.
Requirements: Core courses are 201 or 202; 250, 251, or 360. Additional requirements are two courses chosen from 231, 232, 233, 234, 341, and 343; one course chosen from 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, and 334; 320 or 321; 402; two courses chosen from 322, 323, Theatre 325 and 326; and one course chosen in consultation with the advisor. The senior project, involving critical writing about literature, is undertaken as a part of English 402. To meet the religion requirement, students complete Religion 131 or 132. The college mathematics requirement is met by Mathematics 121 or another 100-level mathematics or statistics course. Majors must also complete 101 and 102 in a foreign language.

Students also select a minor in another discipline or, with the approval of an English advisor and the department chair, take any six approved courses in the contextual and support area for English. The purpose of these courses is to foster appreciation of artistic creation in other media (courses in art, music, speech, or theatre); to explore cultural and ideological contexts for literary creation (courses in geography, history, international and area studies, and political science); to compare languages, literatures, philosophies, and religions (courses in languages, philosophy, and religion); and to probe the complex processes of human behavior and social dynamics (courses in mass communications, psychology, public policy and community service, sociology, and women’s studies). These courses will help students prepare for career fields such as teaching, communications, law, ministry, creative writing, library and museum work, public relations, publication, and writing-intensive jobs in business, government, and social services.

English - Teacher Preparation (B.A.)
Objective: To enable students to meet Virginia requirements for licensure to teach English in one of the following tracks. Note: Students pursuing licensure to teach must notify the Neff Center immediately and must be assigned an individual advisor from the Education Department.

Interdisciplinary English (PK-3, PK-6, 6-8)
English requirements: English 317, 324, 333; English 320 or 321; one course chosen from English

Secondary English (9-12)
English requirements: English 201 or 202, 250, 251, 312, 320 or 321, 324, 333, 360, 402; a course in gender, ethnic, or cultural literature chosen from 255, 315, 334, 345, 350 (when appropriate), 380, 385. The senior project, English 402, includes a researched critical paper and a survey of critical theory. 101 and 102 in a foreign language are required.
General education requirements: Religion 131 or 132; Computer Information Management 140; Mathematics 121, 123, or 151; and Statistics 161, 162, or 163.
Writing proficiency requirement: For admission to the teacher preparation program, students must pass the Writing Proficiency Examination or, if they fail it, must pass English 199.
Praxis examination requirement: See the explanation under the Education headnote.
Professional studies requirements: Education 114 and two enrollments of 115 (116 can be substituted for one enrollment of 115); Psychology 305; Education 370, 445, 449, and Student Teaching, which includes Education 440, 441, and 450 during the professional semester. Student Teaching is the senior project. Additional requirements are Speech 150, History 211 or 212, and a lab science (four semester hours) other than psychology. A course chosen from Physical Education 231, 232, and 251 is recommended. Education 401 must be added for middle school licensure (6-12).
Add-on endorsements: A student who has completed a major in one subject area often can use a minor or its equivalent in another field to add a second teaching field. Examples are theatre, speech, mass communications, or a foreign language with English. An add-on endorsement in English as a Second Language is available to students in all teacher preparation programs. For more information about add-on endorsements, consult faculty advisors in the Neff Education Center.

Writing Proficiency Test
A junior-level writing proficiency test is administered at the beginning of each semester for students pursuing the B.A. in English or Interdisciplinary English. The proficiency test must be passed for a student to complete a degree in English or Interdisciplinary English. Students failing the test will be required to enroll in and pass English 199.

Minor in English - Literature and Creative Writing
A student may complete this minor with English 320 or 321; two courses chosen from 322, 323, Theatre 325 and 326; one course chosen from 231, 232, 233, 234, 341, 343; and two additional courses chosen in consultation with an advisor in literature and creative writing.

Professors:
Robert L. Reid, Chair
Scott M. P. Boltwood
Kathleen R. Chamberlain
James Harrison
John D. Lang
Felicia Mitchell
Meighan L. Sharp

English courses