English majors can focus on literature, composition, linguistics, or education. Required courses include American and British literature and a Shakespeare course. Electives vary by focus and may include creative writing, journalism, or philosophy.
There are many things an English major can study on the way to an English course, but there are generally four areas a student can focus on: literature, composition, linguistics or English education. The area the student focuses on may depend on their interests or career goals. While there are general courses that virtually all English learners must complete, the area of focus often dictates the other courses a student must take.
English is generally considered a liberal arts course; therefore, students are often required to complete classes in other subjects, including science and math. Often, English courses required by an English specialist are also required, regardless of the area the student plans to focus on. Upon completion of these required courses, students will be able to focus on English courses specific to their goals.
Frequently required courses of all English courses are surveys of American and British literature, which cover a wide time period and a wide variety of writers. A Shakespeare course is also typically a requirement for all English courses. Specific English course requirements may vary from college to college, however.
An English major who focuses on literature, for example, will need to take courses consisting of novels, plays, poetry and short stories by English-speaking writers. Students often need to examine what is read and develop an opinion about the work. Some ways in which an English specialist who focuses on literature may be required to showcase their knowledge is by writing articles and participating in course discussions. Within a literature focus, English courses can further refine their focus by looking at a specific literary period or author.
With a focus on education, on the other hand, it will take an English course to take courses on how to teach students in English classes. This could include lessons on how to develop English lesson plans, for example. Students who focus on composition take writing courses in English, and students who focus on linguistics can take courses that study the history, usage, and structure of the English language, for example.
Many English courses also require you to take a theory or critique course. Depending on the focus, it could be a class in literary criticism or composition. These courses address different ways of interpreting works and are important for developing critical thinking skills.
In addition to the required English courses, students also have the opportunity to take elective courses, and a wide range of options are available to students. For example, they might take courses in creative or technical writing or journalism if composition is the focus. If literature is the focus, electives may include romantic literature, women’s literature, or world literature courses. Other possible electives include public speaking and philosophy.
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