Major in English at Linfield College
Friday, February 27th, 2009For the general student, the Department of English offers study in fiction, drama, poetry, and nonfiction in the effort to imagine, understand, and critically analyze such works in a variety of ways. Courses in English offer instruction and discussion aimed at developing the ability to think imaginatively, independently, and in community ? abilities necessary for success in various careers or in future study.
Through its majors in literature and in creative writing, the Department of English seeks to foster in students a sophisticated awareness of the range of literary genres, periods, critical theories, and the uses of imagination.
Goals for the Major
In successfully completing a major in English, students will have:
Clearer understanding of the ways literature at once articulates and reflects social, political, and cultural contexts.
Deeper aesthetic appreciation of poems, drama, fiction, nonfiction, and/or films as manifestations of imagination.
Familiarity with the methods, theories, and issues of literary criticism.
The ability to advocate critical responses in classroom discussion and to listen to and consider the critical analyses of others.
The ability to analyze narrative and literary motifs and to present those understandings in critical papers.
An appreciation and critical understanding of Shakespeare’s plays and their influence on other literature.
Goals for the Creative Writing Major
In successfully completing a major in Creative Writing, students will have:
Writing skills in a variety of literary genres and familiarity with the craft of writing in its formal aspects.
Substantial experience with group discussion and writing workshops and the ability to benefit from workshop discussion.
Broad familiarity with literature, with emphasis on English and American but not excluding world literature, and recognition of the influence of literary precursors on contemporary writing.
The ability to critique a manuscript-in-progress in a constructive way and apply editing skills at each stage of the writing process.
Familiarity with various stages of the writing process, from gathering of material and free writing to revision and completion of a final polished manuscript.
The ability to complete successfully a polished, sustained manuscript in the genre of a student’s choice and to present that manuscript in an appropriate format.
In successfully completing a major in Creative Writing, students have:
Writing skills in a variety of literary genres and familiarity with the craft of writing in its formal aspects.
Substantial experience with group discussion and writing work-shops and the ability to benefit from workshop discussion.
Broad familiarity with literature, with emphasis on English and American but not excluding world literature, and recognition of the influence of literary precursors on contemporary writing.
The ability to critique a manuscript-in-progress in a constructive way and apply editing skills at each stage of the writing process.
Familiarity with various stages of the writing process, from gathering of material and free writing to revision and completion of a final polished manuscript.
The ability to complete successfully a polished, sustained manuscript in the genre of a student’s choice and to present that manuscript in an appropriate format.
Requirements for Major or Minor
For the English Major: 40 credits, including 260, 275, either 350 or 351, 486, and 16 additional credits at or above the 300 level (with at least one course in American and one course in English literature). A further 8 credits may be taken at any level. A maximum of 8 credits in creative writing may be counted toward the English major.
For the English Minor: 20 credits, with at least one course at the 300 level. Either 260 or 275 strongly recommended. An English minor may include 4 credits in creative writing.
For the Creative Writing Major: 40 credits, including 16 credits in creative writing courses; 20 credits in literature, including 275 and at least one course in American literature; and 485. One 3-5 credit course in an allied field (arts or mass communication) may be included in the total of 40 credits. Creative writing courses may be chosen from the following: 200 Creative Writing; 316 Poetry; 317 Fiction; 318 Scripts; 319 Non-fiction.; and 320 Creative Writing and the Art of the Book. 316, 317, 318 and 319 may be repeated once for credit. (Independent study courses may be substituted at the department?s discretion.) Literary Magazine (120) may be used as part of the total with permission of the department. Strongly recommended in addition to course work: internship in a related field.
For a Creative Writing Minor: 20 credits in creative writing courses. A creative writing minor may include the senior thesis (485) as part of that 20, provided the student notify the creative writing advisor during the academic year preceding composition of the thesis.
For Oregon Initial Teacher Licensure in Language Arts: A student must complete the Linfield Teacher Education Program requirements and the State of Oregon licensure requirements (see pages 57 and 58 in the print catalog). In order to complete these requirements, a student must begin taking education courses no later than his/her sophomore year. The student must be advised by an Education Department faculty member each semester prior to registration.
Course Information
Courses listed here are derived from the currently published Linfield Catalog and are for informational purposes only. Some courses may be changed or modified as the academic year progresses. For more information, please contact the Office of the Registrar. ENGL-020 LITERARY MAGAZINE
ENGL-120 LITERARY MAGAZINE
ENGL-125 ENGLISH GRAMMAR
ENGL-200 INTRO TO CREATIVE WRITING
ENGL-230 CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
ENGL-250 THE LITERATURE OF EXPERIENCE
ENGL-260 TRANS-ATLANTIC SURVEY OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGL-275 CRITICAL METHODS OF LITERARY STUDY
ENGL-301 TOPICS IN LITERATURE
ENGL-304 ENVIRONMENTAL LITERATURE
ENGL-305 DIVERSE VOICES IN LITERARY EXPRESSION
ENGL-315 ACADEMIC WRITING & CONSULTING
ENGL-316 CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY
ENGL-317 CREATIVE WRITING: FICTION
ENGL-318 CREATIVE WRITING: SCRIPTS
ENGL-319 CREATIVE WRITING: NON-FICTION
ENGL-325 LITERARY GENRES
ENGL-327 INTRODUCTION TO FILM
ENGL-330 MAJOR FIGURES
ENGL-340 ENGLISH LITERATURE: THE MIDDLE AGES (TO 1485)
ENGL-341 ENGLISH LIT: 16TH & 17TH CENTURIES
ENGL-342 ENGLISH LIT: RESTORATION & 18TH CENTURY
ENGL-343 ENGLISH LIT: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD
ENGL-344 ENGLISH LIT: THE VICTORIAN AGE
ENGL-350 SHAKESPEARE: COMEDIES & HISTORIES
ENGL-351 SHAKESPEARE: TRAGEDIES & TRAGICOMEDIES
ENGL-360 AMERICAN LITERATURE SURVEY: 1620-1860
ENGL-361 AMERICAN LITERATURE SURVEY: 1860-1914
ENGL-362 AMERICAN LITERATURE SURVEY: 1914-1960
ENGL-363 AMERICAN LITERATURE SURVEY: 1960 T0 PRESENT
ENGL-365 POSTCOLONIAL LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
ENGL-380 ULTIMATE QUESTIONS IN LITERATURE
ENGL-398 SPECIAL TOPICS: JAN TERM TRAV
ENGL-425 HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANG
ENGL-439 PEER INSTRUCTION
ENGL-450 LITERARY CRITICISM
ENGL-480 INDEPENDENT STUDY
ENGL-485 SENIOR SEMINAR: CREATIVE WRITING
ENGL-486 SENIOR SEMINAR: LITERATURE
ENGL-487 INTERNSHIP
ENGL-490 HONORS THESIS, LITERATURE OR CREATIVE WRITING