English (B.A.) with Literature 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:

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

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

ENGL 201	Introduction to English Studies I	3
ENGL 202	Introduction to English Studies II	3

ENGL 494	Literature Seminar	3
	OR
ENGL 496	Writing 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 391	English-Journalism Practicum	1-3
ENGL 392	Student Publications Practicum	1-3
ENGL 393	Staff Writer Practicum	1
INTE 391	Internship	1-3

Literature Concentration (15 credits)

Three credits from a different time period than the core:

ENGL 310	British Literature before 1800	3
ENGL 320	British Literature after 1800	3

Three credits from a different time period than the core:

ENGL 330	American Literature before 1900	3
ENGL 340	American Literature After 1900	3

Three credits from the following:

ENGL 203	Introduction to Creative Writing	3
ENGL 204	Introduction to Professional Writing & Rhetoric	3
ENGL 305	Writing
ENGL 306A	Writing for the Workplace

Six credits of ENGL 2xx or 3xx

One of these courses must be a designated genre course

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