Goals:
The chief goals of the English major are (1) to provide training and experience in the effective use of English prose, including a knowledge of and practice in the techniques and devices by which oral and written expression can be improved; (2) to assist students in gaining an understanding of the nature of language and a balanced knowledge of the historical development and present-day descriptions of the English language; (3) to develop in students an understanding and appreciation of literature and to acquaint them with the rich literary heritage of the past and variety of the present; (4) to assist students in developing critical standards for evaluating literature based on understanding of such concepts as genres, prosody, styles, and levels of meaning, and the most significant theories and practices of representative crffitics, past and present; (5) to offer instruction and guidance designed to develop the student’s potentialities for creating, thinking and writing; (6) to help students to develop an appreciation of and a growing interest in literary scholarship by providing instruction and practice in the writing of scholarly papers, critical and historical; and (7) to acquaint students in all focus areas with technological tools to enhance their preparation for leadership roles in the twenty-first century. The English major is recommended for students interested in a variety of professions that require a knowledge of language, writing, literature and human values. The program for the English major encourages the student to focus on the area best suited for his or her chosen profession: publishing, diplomacy, journalism, law, teaching, creative writing, and advanced professional writing such as film and television writing and technical writing.
Teacher Certification Requirement in English:
To qualify for teaching certification, a student majoring in English must also complete courses in the School of Education and Urban Studies. An interested student should contact the School of Education and Urban Studies for additional information.
College-wide Requirements:
In addition to meeting the requirements in General Education and in the major, students must also complete six (6) credits in the Liberal Arts Core required of all majors in the College of Liberal Arts. Options for satisfying this requirement are outlined under the section on the College of Liberal Arts. Also, in order to qualify for graduation, students must pass the Senior Departmental Comprehensive Examination with a score of 70 or higher; must have taken two-thirds of their junior- and senior-level requirements in the major at Morgan (unless granted prior written permission by the Dean to take courses elsewhere); and must have earned a cumulative average of 2.0 or better and a major average of 2.0 or better, with no outstanding grades below “C” in the major (which includes all courses required for the major, including foreign language courses ).