English and Textual Studies, BA

Director:

Jess Butler, Director of Undergraduate Studies
401 Hall of Languages
315-443-9475

Faculty

Nana Adjei-Brenyah, Crystal Bartolovich, Dorri Beam, Michael Burkard, Jess Butler, Dympna Callaghan, Jonathan Dee, Susan Edmunds, Chris Eng, Carol Fadda-Conrey, Arthur Flowers, Chris Forster, Ken Frieden, Mike Goode, Roger Hallas, Chris Hanson, Sarah Harwell, Brooks Haxton, Mary Karr, Christopher Kennedy, Coran Klaver, Erin S. Mackie, Patricia Moody, Patricia Roylance, George Saunders, Will Scheibel, Stephanie Shirilan, Bruce Smith, Dana Spiotta, Scott Manning Stevens, Harvey Teres, Silvio Torres-Saillant

The Department of English offers programs in textual and cultural studies, with special emphasis on literary history, criticism, and theory. Courses deal with such problems as the nature and implications of reading and interpretation, the production of meaning in language and culture, and the nature of literary forms. The curriculum also includes courses in creative writing.

Students who wish to major in English and Textual Studies should consult the English Studies Coordinator to be assigned an appropriate advisor, who helps plan the course of study.

Some students majoring in English and Textual Studies may wish to pursue a concentration in either Creative Writing or Film and Screen Studies.

Some students majoring in English and Textual Studies may wish to apply for a dual enrollment with another school or college within the University, such as the School of Information Studies, the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, or the School of Education. Those interested in certification to teach English should see “English Education (Dual), BA ” in the School of Education’s Academic Offerings. Students must have departmental approval to become candidates for honors or distinction in English and Textual Studies. For more information, see the web site at english.syr.edu.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Recognize how meanings are created through acts of critical reading and analysis of texts

2. Analyze texts using theoretical paradigms for literary and cultural studies

3. Analyze texts in relation to their historical contexts

4. Analyze texts as bearers of political and ethical meaning and mediators of power relationships

5. Analyze texts in relation to their aesthetics

6. Analyze the way texts construct categories of difference, including differences of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, and class

7. Formulate sustained interpretive, analytical, or conceptual arguments based on evidence drawn from texts

8. Develop skills for writing fiction or poetry

Major Requirements

To qualify for a B.A. degree in English and Textual Studies, students complete a total of 30 credits of coursework. Students must attain a grade of C- or better in order to count a course toward their major credits. These credits include:

ENG 242 - Reading and Interpretation

And one course chosen from among the following:

Remaining 24 credits

The remaining 24 credits are in courses numbered above 299 and must include:

Six upper division critical courses numbered 300 or above (18 credits). Creative writing workshops and “Reading & Writing” courses do not count toward the six required upper division critical courses. 

Of these six courses, at least two must focus on texts written before 1900, at least one must be a “Race, Empire, and Culture” course, and at least one must be an “Advanced Critical Writing” course. A course may fulfill more than one of these requirements at the same time.

Advanced Critical Writing

Courses fulfilling the “Advanced Critical Writing” requirement have titles beginning with “Advanced Critical Writing”:

Before 1900

Courses fulfilling the “before 1900” requirement have titles that end in the phrase “Before 1900”:

Race, Empire, and Culture

Courses fulfilling the “Race, Empire, and Culture” requirement have titles that include the word “Race”:

Two remaining elective courses:

Two remaining elective courses may be chosen from any upper division critical courses, or from among upper division creative writing courses, or one upper division Literature in Translation course (LIT) or one approved upper division Writing Program course (WRT). Of the two electives, only one may come from outside the department.

Dually enrolled in the School of Education

Students dually enrolled in the School of Education include the following among the 24 credits of upper-division courses:

ENG 325 - History and Varieties of English
A course in Shakespeare
A course with multicultural content

And one of the following:

Distinction

Outstanding junior ETS majors will be invited to participate in the Distinction Program, enabling them to earn the designation “Distinction in English and Textual Studies” with their degree. The Distinction Program requires students to demonstrate outstanding academic accomplishment by maintaining a 3.4 overall GPA and a 3.6 within the major, enroll in and complete a graduate-level English course during their senior year, and successfully complete a senior thesis project (which will include enrolling in the 1-credit Thesis Research Practicum in the fall and the 2-credit Thesis Workshop in the spring semester of their senior year). The “Distinction” designation will be granted upon graduation.

Pursuing a concentration in Film and Screen Studies

Students pursuing a concentration in Film and Screen Studies within the ETS major must meet the 100-level requirement by taking ENG 146 , ENG 154, ENG 156, ENG 170, or ENG 171 . Three of the six upper division critical courses taken must focus on film and screen studies (as indicated by the terms “Film,” “Cinema,” “Media,” and/or “Screen” in the section title). One major elective must be an upper division film or screen studies course, either from English or an approved course from another department.

Pursuing a concentration in Creative Writing

Students pursuing a concentration in Creative Writing within the ETS major must take either ENG 215 or ENG 217 as a prerequisite to the advanced workshops. ENG 122, ENG 151 or ENG 153 must be taken to meet the 100-level major requirement. In the place of one of the six upper division critical courses, students in the Creative Writing concentration must take ENG 301, ENG 303, or ENG 304. Both major electives must be advanced creative writing workshops (ENG 401 or ENG 403 ).