English

Degree

English, B.A.
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
School of Arts and Humanities

Contact

Andrew Rotondo, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, School of Arts and Humanities
arotondo@une.edu

Michael Cripps, Ph.D.
Director, School of Arts and Humanities
mcripps@une.edu

Mission

Through interdisciplinary course offerings, innovative theoretical models, and accomplished instructors, the English major exposes students to a wide and diverse body of knowledge and provides them with the tools to think, analyze, and write with confidence.

Major Description

English programs offer a wide range of literature and writing courses that introduce students to significant global literary works and train them in the careful analysis of texts, ranging from traditional novels to diverse forms of electronic communication. English faculty specialize in the study of animals in culture, law and humanities, digital humanities, and literature and health, among other areas. Working through a variety of theoretical approaches, students will learn how to analyze the heavily textualized world around them, communicate their ideas effectively, and prepare themselves for thoughtful lives and professional success.

Curricular Requirements

Nor’easter Core RequirementsCredits
Total Credits40
Program Required CoursesCredits
ENG 206 – Intro Lit Theory & Criticism3
LIL 420 – Arts & Humanities Capstone3
Three (3) credits of British Literature electives3
Three (3) credits of U.S. Literature electives3
Six (6) credits of Diversity and Global Literature electives6
Select one (1) English Concentration21
Total Credits39
Open elective courses (as needed to reach 120 credits)Variable
Minimum Total Required Credits120

English Concentration Options

Literature ConcentrationCredits
Three (3) credits of U.S. Literature electives or British Literature electives3
Eighteen (18) credits of electives with at least twelve (12) credits from List A and at least six (6) credits at 300- or 400-level18
Total Credits21
Writing ConcentrationCredits
Three (3) credits of Creative Writing Foundation courses3
Three (3) credits of Professional Writing Foundation courses3
Fifteen (15) credits of electives with nine (9) credits from List C and six (6) credits from List C or List D15
Total Credits21
English Education ConcentrationCredits
Three (3) credits of U.S. Literature electives3
Three (3) credits of British Literature electives3
Fifteen (15) credits of electives with at least nine (9) credits from List A and at least six (6) credits at 300- or 400-level15
Total Credits21

Elective Course Options

U.S. Literature ElectivesCredits
ENG 200 – Writing, Revolution, & Resistance in U.S. Lit3
ENG 201 – Who and What is an American? Reimagining US Lit3
ENG 235 – Topics in U.S. Lit to 18653
ENG 237 – Topics in U.S. Lit after 18653
ENG 310 – Writing & Women’s Health3
British Literature ElectivesCredits
ENG 115 – Poets, Pilgrims & Other Yahoos3
ENG 116 – Democratizing Literature3
ENG 216 – Criminals, Idiots & Minors3
ENG 229 – Topics in Brit Lit Before 18003
ENG 234 – Topics in Brit Lit After 18003
ENG 312 – Global Shakespeare3
ENG 330 – Topics in British Literature3
ENG 340 – The English Novel3
ENG 409 – Storytelling, Literature, Law3
ENG 420 – Victorian Monsters3
Diversity and Global Literature ElectivesCredits
ENG 135 – Dog Stories3
ENG 140 – Indigenous Film and Literature3
ENG 200 – Writing, Revolution, & Resistance in U.S. Lit3
ENG 201 – Who and What is an American? Reimagining US Lit3
ENG 202 – Lyrics3
ENG 204 – Animals, Literature, & Culture3
ENG 208 – Narrative Medicine & Writing3
ENG 214 – Freedom & Authority3
ENG 221 – Justice3
ENG 235 – Topics in U.S. Lit to 18653
ENG 237 – Topics in U.S. Lit after 18653
ENG 255 – Literary Topics3
ENG 276 – English Human Trad I3
ENG 278 – English Human Trad II3
ENG 301 – Nature Films3
ENG 310 – Writing & Women’s Health3
ENG 312 – Global Shakespeare3
ENG 326 – Topics in Literature & Health3
ENG 329 – Topics in World Literature3
ENG 330 – Topics in British Literature3
ENG 401 – Literatures of the Sea3
ENG 405 – Topics in Postcolonial Lit3
ENG 409 – Storytelling, Literature, Law3
Creative Writing Foundation ElectivesCredits
WRT 111 – Topics in Creative Writing3
WRT 211 – Creative Writing: Poetry3
WRT 212 – Creative Writing: Short Fiction3
WRT 213 – Creative Writing: Non-Fiction3
Professional Writing Foundation ElectivesCredits
CMM 110 – Intro to Communications3
CMM 211 – Introduction to Journalism3
WRT 233 – Professional & Tech. Commun.3

Lists A-D Elective Courses

List A ElectivesCredits
EDU 498 – Secondary Internship & Seminar12
ENG 115 – Poets, Pilgrims & Other Yahoos3
ENG 116 – Democratizing Literature3
ENG 135 – Dog Stories3
ENG 140 – Indigenous Film and Literature3
ENG 200 – Writing, Revolution, & Resistance in U.S. Lit3
ENG 201 – Who and What is an American? Reimagining US Lit3
ENG 202 – Lyrics3
ENG 204 – Animals, Literature, & Culture3
ENG 208 – Narrative Medicine & Writing3
ENG 214 – Freedom & Authority3
ENG 216 – Criminals, Idiots & Minors3
ENG 221 – Justice3
ENG 227 – Illness Narratives3
ENG 229 – Topics in Brit Lit Before 18003
ENG 234 – Topics in Brit Lit After 18003
ENG 235 – Topics in U.S. Lit to 18653
ENG 237 – Topics in U.S. Lit after 18653
ENG 255 – Literary Topics3
ENG 276 – English Human Trad I3
ENG 278 – English Human Trad II3
ENG 300 – Literary Topics3
ENG 301 – Nature Films3
ENG 310 – Writing & Women’s Health3
ENG 312 – Global Shakespeare3
ENG 326 – Topics in Literature & Health3
ENG 329 – Topics in World Literature3
ENG 330 – Topics in British Literature3
ENG 340 – The English Novel3
ENG 397 – Independent Study1–12
ENG 399 – Independent Study3
ENG 401 – Literatures of the Sea3
ENG 402 – Directed Study in English1–12
ENG 405 – Topics in Postcolonial Lit3
ENG 412 – Humanities Seminar3
ENG 420 – Victorian Monsters3
ENG 491 – English Studies Internship I3–9
ENG 492 – English Studies Internship II3–9
List B ElectivesCredits
ARB 101 – Basic Arabic3
ART 124 – The Painted Book3
ASL 101 – Intro to American Sign Lang3
CMM 122 – Oral Communication or SPC 100 – Effective Public Speaking3
CMM 211 – Introduction to Journalism3
CMM 225 – Topics in Digital Storytelling3
CMM 290 – Intro to Broadcast Media Writ3
CMM 410 – Writing for the Screen3
CMM 415 – Sports Reporting and Writing3
EDU 436 – Teaching Secondary English3
WRT 110 – Becoming a Writer3
ENG 209 – Introduction to Linguistics3
ENG 220 – History of the English Language3
FRE 101 – Basic French3
HIS 150 – Telling Tales of the Past3
HIS 341 – Bestsellers & the Big Bad City3
LIT 124 – Lit, Nature & the Environment3
PHI 212 – Thinking Philosoph about Arts3
SPA 101 – Basic Spanish3
SPA 306 – Span. For Health Professions3
WRT 111 – Topics in Creative Writing3
WRT 211 – Creative Writing: Poetry3
WRT 212 – Creative Writing: Short Fiction3
WRT 213 – Creative Writing: Non-Fiction3
WRT 214 – Screenwriting3
WRT 233 – Professional and Technical Communication3
WRT 304 – Read & Write in Digital Env.3
WRT 312 – Fiction Writing Workshop3
WRT 317 – Proposal and Grant Writing3
WRT 342 – Writing Fellows Practicum1
List C ElectivesCredits
ART 124 – The Painted Book3
CMM 211 – Introduction to Journalism3
CMM 415 – Sports Reporting and Writing3
ENG 208 – Narrative Medicine & Writing3
ENG 209 – Introduction to Linguistics3
ENG 220 – History of the English Language3
ENG 310 – Writing & Women’s Health3
ENG 397 – Independent Study1–12
ENG 399 – Independent Study3
ENG 402 – Directed Study in English1–12
ENG 491 – English Studies Internship I3–9
ENG 492 – English Studies Internship II3–9
LIL 120 – Intro Arts & Humanities Sem3
WRT 111 – Topics in Creative Writing3
WRT 211 – Creative Writing: Poetry3
WRT 212 – Creative Writing: Shrt Fiction3
WRT 213 – Creative Writing: Non-Fiction3
WRT 214 – Screenwriting3
WRT 233 – Professional and Technical Communication3
WRT 304 – Read & Write in Digital Env.3
WRT 312 – Fiction Writing Workshop3
WRT 317 – Proposal and Grant Writing3
WRT 342 – Writing Fellows Practicum1
List D Electives*Credits
ANB 425 – Adv Methods in Animal Behavior3
ART 395 – Studio Concentration Seminar3
BUMK 200 – Marketing3
BUMK 310 – Advertising3
CMM 110 – Intro to Communications3
CMM 122 – Oral Communication or SPC 100 – Effective Public Speaking3
CMM 225 – Topics in Digital Storytelling3
CMM 240 – Social Media: Theory & Practice3
CMM 410 – Writing for the Screen3
ENG 110 – English Composition or WRT 110 – Becoming a Writer3–4
ENG 334 – Methods of Literacy and Cultural Criticism3
ENV 316/316L – Land Conserv Pract w/Field Lab4
ENV 321 – Env Comm: Expert Prac Eco3
ENV 333/333L – Nature Writers w/Field Lab4
ENV 334 – Contemporary Nature Writing3
HIS 150 – Telling Tales of the Past3
MAF 400 – Marine Affairs Capstone3
NEU 410 – Neurobiology of Mental Illness3
NSG 332 – Evidence Based Pract (EBP) I2
NSG 432 – Evidence Based Pract (EBP) II2
NSG 445 – Leadership2
PUB 310 – Social, Behavior & Environmental3
PUB 400 – PH Planning & Evaluation3
PUB 420 – Community Health Assessment3

Please note: While some courses can fulfill both core and program requirements, the credits earned do not count twice towards the minimum total required credits for the degree.

*Some courses have pre-requisites that may prevent registration.

English majors are required to maintain an e-Portfolio that archives their course and other relevant writing, which they will deliver in an oral presentation to the faculty during their senior year.

The English Program requires an overall minimum 2.0 GPA in the major.

Students wishing to pursue teacher certification in English should complete a major in Middle and Secondary Education with a concentration in English. Students pursuing this path are strongly encouraged to complete the English minor.

For more information, speak with an advisor or the director of the School of Arts and Humanities and see the Middle and Secondary Education catalog page.

Students majoring in English can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of completing the B.A. with a major in English graduate will be able to:

Read texts closely and think critically

  • Comprehend a text’s literal/factual content
  • Distinguish between a passage's literal/factual content and its figurative/symbolic/interpretive content
  • Analyze a text closely and identify rhetorical strategies therein
  • Connect a passage's formal structure and thematic content with the text as a whole
  • Extrapolate the larger implications (social, philosophical, ethical, argumentative) of these patterns

Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of literature in English

  • Demonstrate familiarity with specified content areas in literature, literary history, theory, and criticism
  • Understand literature as a culturally and historically embedded practice
  • Relate literature to other fields of inquiry

Communicate effectively

  • Approach writing as a recursive process
  • Develop and support claims about literary texts
  • Articulate claims in conceptually coherent essays
  • Use conventions of standard written English
  • Present research findings orally within the conventions of the discipline

Conduct research in literary and cultural studies

  • Use bibliographic tools to find source material
  • Employ appropriate critical approaches in their research
  • Contribute to scholarly conversations about literary and cultural texts and phenomena
  • Incorporate and document source material using MLA style
  • Communicate in accordance with standards of academic integrity

HuMed

É«ÏãÊÓÆµâ€™s HuMed program is for undergraduate students who have an affinity for history, literature, or philosophy, and a demonstrated aptitude for the natural sciences to pursue their passions on the pathway to medical school. 

Learn more about the HUMED program

Honors Program

We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, creative, or experiential activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their advisor. 

Transfer Credit

Courses completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the required courses offered at É«ÏãÊÓÆµ in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they may transfer as general electives. All courses completed must be no older than five (5) years.

Other restrictions apply. See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Admissions

See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog

This catalog outlines the academic programs, degree criteria, policies, and events of the É«ÏãÊÓÆµfor the 2025–2026 academic year and serves as the official guide for academic and program requirements for students enrolling at the University during the Summer of 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026 semesters.

The information provided is accurate as of its publication date on April 30, 2025.

The É«ÏãÊÓÆµreserves the right to modify its programs, calendar, or academic schedule as deemed necessary or beneficial. This includes alterations to course content, class rescheduling, cancellations, or any other academic adjustments. Changes will be communicated as promptly as possible.

While students may receive guidance from academic advisors or program directors, they remain responsible for fulfilling the requirements outlined in the catalog relevant to their enrollment year and for staying informed about any updates to policies, provisions, or requirements.