Requirements & Course Descriptions

The English curriculum at PC is both traditional and innovative at the same time. You can take courses in the classics, like Shakespeare, the Romantics, Chaucer, the American Renaissance, or African American literature. We also offer courses in contemporary areas like Postcolonial Literature, Southern Women’s Writing, and the Modern Novel. Consider courses in film, such as Introduction to World Cinema and Silent Film. Or perhaps you’d like to take some creative writing workshops or a literary theory class. Several members of our department direct interdisciplinary minors such as Media Studies, Southern Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies.

Major in English

The major in English requires 33 or 39 hours taught at or above the 2000-level, including

• ENGL 4100 or 4003;

Select three hours from the following:

• ENGL 2101, 2102, or 2103;

Select at least nine hours from the following:

• ENGL 2201, 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, 2207, or  2208;

Select at least three hours of Medieval or Renaissance literature from the following:

• ENGL 3101, 3102, 3110, or 3111;

Select three hours of 18th or 19th-century literature from the following:

• ENGL 3120, 3130, 3131, 3132, or 3201;

Select three hours of pre-1900 literature from the following:

• ENGL 3101, 3102, 3110, 3111, 3130, 3131, 3133, or 3201;

Select three hours of post-1900 literature from the following:

• ENGL 3001, 3301, 3302, ENGL 3360/SOST 314, ENGL 3361/SOST 315, 3362, 3370, 3371, 3372, 3380, or 3520;

And select six hours of electives from CRWR, ENGL, or MDST 230.

Students who seek honors in English must complete an additional six hours in ENGL electives, including three hours chosen from ENGL 2101, 2102, or 2103 (if not chosen above) and three additional hours of ENGL 4005 or other ENGL elective as approved by the Department.

Major in English – Creative Writing Concentration

Students majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing must complete 33 hours taught at or above the 2000-level, including

• CRWR 4100;

Select three hours from the following:

• ENGL 2101, 2102, or 2103;

Select nine hours from the following:

• ENGL 2201, 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, 2207, or 2208;

Select three hours of pre-1900 literature from the following:

• ENGL 3101, 3102, 3110, 3111, 3130, 3131, 3133, or 3201;

Select three hours of post-1900 literature from the following:

• ENGL 3001, 3301, 3302, 3360, 3361, 3370, 3371, 3372, 3380, or 3520;

Select six hours of workshop courses from the following:

• CRWR 2100, 2200, 2300, or 2400;

Select three hours from the following:

• CRWR 2100, 2200, 2300, or 2400 (if not chosen for workshop credit), 2500, 4003, 4005, 4007;
• ENGL 2101, 3650;
• MDST 230;
• THEA 2301, 3000;
• or appropriate courses as approved by creative writing director

Select three hours from either CRWR 4000 or 4003.

Major in English – Communication Studies Concentration

Students majoring in English with a concentration in communication studies must complete 39 to 40 hours, including

• Comm 2100, 2200, and 4007;
•  ENGL 4100;

Select three hours from the following:

• ENGL 2101, 2102, 2103;
• or SPCH  201;

Select three hours from the following:

• ENGL 2201, 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, 2207, or 2208;

Select three hours of pre-1900 literature from the following:

• ENGL 3101, 3102, 3110, 3111, 3131, 3133, or 3201;

Select three hours of post-1900 literature from the following:

• ENGL 3001, 3301, 3302, 3361, 3362, 3370, 3371, 3372, 3380, or 3520;

Select three hours from Visual Communcation courses:

• COMM 3110;
• ART 274;
• ENGL 2301, 3510, 3511;

Select three to fours hours from Digital Communication coureses:

• COMM 3210;
• CSC 1231, 3300;

Select three hours from Mass Communication courses:

• COMM 3310, 3320, 3330, 3340;
• ENGL 2208, 33500;
• PLSC 312;

Select 3 hours from Rhetoric and Public Advocacy courses:

• COMM 3410, 3420;
• PHIL 205;
• RELG 220;

Select three hours of electives from COMM or ENGL or MDST 230 or any of the above not taken previously.

Major in English – Minor in Secondary Education Certification to teach High School English

A student who wants to be certified to teach English in the high school setting must complete 73 hours of ENGL coursework taught at or above the 2000-level, including

• ENGL 2101, 2102 or 2103, 3001, 3002, 3111, and 4100;

Select nine hours from the following:

• ENGL 2201, 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, or 2207;

Select three hours of pre-1900 literature from the following:

• ENGL 3101, 3102, 3110, 3120, 3131, 3133, or 3201;

Select three hours of post-1900 literature from the following:

• ENGL 3362, 3370, 3371, 3372, 3380, 3520

In addition, students must complete all other courses required for teacher certification and meet the criteria for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program. See catalog.

Minor in English

Students who minor in English must complete 18 hours, including

• ENGL 1001 and 1002;

Select three hours from the following:

• ENGL 2201, 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, or 2207 or 2208;

Select three hours from literature courses;

Select six hours of electives from CRWR, ENGL, or MDST 230.

Minor in Creative Writing

Students minoring in creative writing must complete 18 hours, including

• CRWR 4000, 4100
• and ENGL 1002;
• Select three hours of creative writing workshop coursework selected from 2100, 2200, 2300, or 2400;
• Select six additional hours from
  • CRWR 2100, 2200, 2300, or 2400 (if not chosen for workshop credit), 2500, 4005, 4007;
  • ENGL 2101, 3650;
  • MDST 230;
  • THEA 2301, 3000
  • or appropriate courses as approved by creative writing director

Minor in Media Studies

Requirements for the Minor in Media Studies with Business Concentration
The minor in media studies with the business concentration requires completion of 21 to 24 hours, including

• ACCT 203;
• BADM 307 and 353;
• ECON 201;
• MDST 230;
• an internship of three to six hours (MDST 444);
• and three hours selected from BADM 325, or SPCH 201.

Requirements for the Minor in Media Studies with Journalism and Communications Concentration
The minor in media studies with the journalism concentration requires completion of 18 to 19 hours chosen from one of two options:

On-Campus Option:

• MDST 230 and MDST 444 for a minimum of three semester hours;
• three hours of writing electives chosen from CRWR 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, or ENGL 4000;
• three to four hours of foundations electives chosen from ART 230, 240,260, BADM 307, BADM/PHIL 316, CSC 1231, 3300, 3700, ENGL 2101, 2102, STAT 319, SPCH 201;
• three hours of theory electives chosen from ENGL 2103, PHIL 203, 205, 314, BADM/PHIL 316, PLSC 312, or WGST 225;
• and three hours of film electives chosen from ENGL 2208, 2301, 3500, 3510, 3511, FREN 3022.

Washington, DC Option:

• MDST 230
• and 15 to 16 hours of journalism taken with the Washington Semester Program.
• (See Career and Professional Development or the English Department for information on the Washington Semester Program.)

Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies

Students who minor in women’s and gender studies must complete 18 hours, including

• WGST 225

Select 12 hours from the following:

• ARTH 257;
• ENGL 3370, 3371, 3372;
• HIST 3241, 3640, 3642;
• PSYC 330;
• RELG 312;
• SOC 302, 363;
• WGST/R-CE 355
• WGST 258, 444, 452, or 458