English and Textual Studies, BA

Director:

TBA, Director of Undergraduate Studies
401 Hall of Languages
315-443-2173

Faculty

Crystal Bartolovich, Dorri Beam, Michael Burkard, Dympna Callaghan, Jonathan Dee, Susan Edmunds, Carol Fadda-Conrey, Arthur Flowers, Chris Forster, Ken Frieden, Mike Goode, Roger Hallas, Chris Hanson, Brooks Haxton, Mary Karr, Christopher Kennedy, Claudia Klaver, Erin S. Mackie, Patricia Moody, Kevin Morrison, Donald E. Morton, Patricia Roylance, George Saunders, Will Scheibel, Stephanie Shirilan, Bruce Smith, Dana Spiotta, 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 Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies 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.

Major Requirements

To qualify for a B.A. degree in English and Textual Studies, students complete a total of 30 credits of coursework. These credits include:

ETS 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:

ETS 305 - Topics in Critical Analysis

Five other courses (15 credits)

Five critical courses numbered 300 or above. Two of these five courses must focus on texts written before 1900.

Two remaining elective courses may be chosen from any upper division ETS critical courses, or from among upper division creative writing courses (ETS), 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:

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

And one of the following:

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 ETS 145 , ETS 146 , or ETS 154 . Three of the five upper division ETS 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 ETS 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 ETS 215 or ETS 217 as a prerequisite to the advanced workshops. ETS 151 or ETS 153 must be taken to meet the 100-level major requirement. One of the five upper division ETS critical courses taken must be ETS 301 , ETS 303 , or ETS 304 . Both major electives must be advanced creative writing workshops (ETS 401 1 or ETS 403 ).