English, AB

To read literature is to see the world anew through others’ eyes. To write is to wield one of the most powerful tools of social change. Students studying English at Wesleyan College become strong readers and writers as they work with texts from a range of cultures, periods, and perspectives. Discussion-based classes invite students to consider the power of language in shaping experiences of place, gender, race, class, and other essential components of culture and identity. Through coursework, individual and collaborative projects, and interactions with faculty, students practice critical thinking, analytical reasoning, empathy, and creativity. Together with writing and speaking skills, these attributes ensure that English majors are prepared for the workplace and for the important task of communicating across cultures and in a variety of genres, both traditional and evolving.

Students choosing to study English at Wesleyan College read broadly in American, British, and world literature. They also focus in depth on such topics as globalization, sustainability, digital culture, science fiction, African-American literature, Victorian and Edwardian drama, Southern women writers, and African women’s fiction. They discover various theoretical approaches to literary analysis in an Introduction to Literary Criticism class, and they strengthen writing skills through persuasive and creative writing courses. Students conclude their studies by designing a scholarly project integrating their studies in English with some other area of scholarship, and they have the opportunity to engage in internships and other professional activities.

Upon completion of their work in English, students will be able to

1. Write clearly and cogently;
2. Analyze individual texts from a range of genres, periods, and authors;
3. Explain the dynamic relationship between individual texts and the social, political, and historical contexts in which they were created;
4. Produce original scholarly and/or creative work.

While every class in the English curriculum enables students to strengthen these skills, each class foregrounds one or two, which are noted parenthetically below. In addition to completing 36 hours of coursework, the major includes an integrative experience (completed as part of ENG 401: Senior Seminar in English).