English (B.A.) with Creative Writing Concentration

Program Overview

The English program at Messiah College assists students in studying a wide array of literatures using a variety of critical thinking and writing skills to help them become perceptive readers, insightful thinkers, and responsible writers. Professors encourage students to develop perspectives on the relationship of Christian faith to all aspects of literary endeavor.

Because many careers call for close analysis and interpretation of texts as well as fluency in writing, the English major prepares students for success in a variety of fields. Besides the obvious career choices of advanced scholarship, teaching, journalism, and publishing, Messiah English majors have pursued law, business, Christian ministry, public relations, and other professional careers.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s English program can:

  1. Analyze literary texts by reading closely and applying disciplinary vocabularies, theories, and methods.
  2. Respond to literary texts within their contexts such as culture, genre, literary history, aesthetic values, and ideological orientation.
  3. Demonstrate writing and rhetorical skills appropriate to both critical and creative tasks in a variety of media and genres.
  4. Develop and challenge their thinking through scholarly research in support of both critical studies and creative activities.
  5. Reflect on vocational calling, explore possible career paths, and develop action plans for their professional lives.
  6. Articulate the connections between Christian faith and the study of English.

In addition, the creative writing concentration students will:

  • Define craft terms and concepts and how describe how these aspects of craft contribute to text’s literary, aesthetic, or emotional effects. 
  • Craft compelling works of literary merit in prose or poetry. 
  • Demonstrate the professional habits of creative writers: revision, workshopping, public reading, and submission for publication.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

ENGL 201Introduction to English Studies I

3

ENGL 202Introduction to English Studies II

3

 

ENGL 494Literature Seminar

3

OR

ENGL 496Writing Seminar

3

ENGL 494, ENGL 496: fulfills writing enriched for the major

Twelve credits meeting the following distribution:

CHEM
One American literature (e.g. ENGL 330, ENGL 340)

3

CHEM
One British literature (e.g. ENGL 310, ENGL 320)

3

CHEM
One critical theory course (e.g. ENGL 370)

3

CHEM
One genre course (e.g. ENGL 360)

3

CHEM
One Post-colonial/World literature (e.g. ENGL 350)

3

Note – at least one course will need to meet two of the distribution categories

One to three credits from the following

ENGL 391English-Journalism Practicum

1-3

ENGL 392Student Publications Practicum

1-3

ENGL 393Staff Writer Practicum

1

INTE 391Internship

1-3

Creative Writing Concentration (15 credits)

ENGL 203Introduction to Creative Writing

3

Three credits from the following:
COMM 112Newswriting

3

COMM 247Writing for Mass Media

3

COMM 351Public Relations Writing

3

COMM 376Topics in Journalistic Writing

3

ENGL 204Introduction to Professional Writing & Rhetoric

3

ENGL 305A/COMM 305Magazine Writing

3

ENGL 305B/COMM 112Newswriting

3

ENGL 305CPersuasive Writing

3

ENGL 305DWriting: Nature and Travel

3

ENGL 305EWriting: Formal Poetry

3

ENGL 306AWriting for the Workplace

ENGL 306BMagazine Writing

3

ENGL 306CWriting: Nature and Travel

3

ENGL 306DWriting for Social Change

3

Courses must be unique and not count towards other requirements in the major.
Nine credits of the following:

ENGL 305A/COMM 305Magazine Writing

3

ENGL 305B/COMM 112Newswriting

3

ENGL 305CPersuasive Writing

3

ENGL 305DWriting: Nature and Travel

3

ENGL 305EWriting: Formal Poetry

3

Courses must be unique and not count towards other requirements in the major.

Note: While students can only earn three credits per course, they may meet more than one area requirement in a single course. Any course meeting more than one requirement must be approved in advance by the English Department.

QuEST Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement 0
QuEST requirements Credits
First Year Seminar 3
Oral Communication 3
Created and Called for Community (W) 3
Mathematical Sciences 3 or 4
Laboratory Science 3 or 4
Science, Technology & the World 3
Two of the following (six credits total):
   Social Science
   European History
   United States History
6
Literature waived
Philosophy and Religion 3
Arts 3
First Semester of Language 3
Second Semester of Language 3
Third Semester of Language or Cross Cultural 3
Non-Western Studies 2-3
Bible 3
Christian Beliefs 3
Wellness course 1
Ethics, World Views or Pluralism 3
QuEST requirements 51-54
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration) 37-39
Free electives 35-30
Total credits 123