Requirements for a Major or Minor in English


Programs offered
• Major in English – Literature (36 credits)
• Minor in English (20 credits)
• Major in English – Writing (40 credits)
• Minor in English – Writing (20 credits)
• Major in English with Communication Arts/Literature Education (52 plus 36 credits in education)
• Major in Multimedia Journalism, an interdisciplinary program
(see multimedia journalism), (36 credits)
• Communication Arts/Literature optional add-on endorsement for Elementary Education majors (see education) (20 credits in communication arts/literature and 10 credits in education)

Faculty
Jonathan M. Steinwand, chair
W. Scott Olsen
James E. Coomber
James Postema
Dawn E. Duncan
Vincent Reusch
Alfhild Ingberg
William J. Snyder Jr.
Karla Knutson
David A. Sprunger
Joan L. Kopperud
Amy S. Watkin
Catherine O. McMullen

Concordia English majors engage the world through words. By participating in an English major or minor, you equip yourself for life by learning to read challenging texts; to communicate complex ideas concisely and precisely; to use reading, research, and writing to render the ordinary extraordinary and the extraordinary ordinary.

As an English major, you will be able to
1. Read challenging texts closely and analytically
2. Articulate and discuss informed opinions about literature and literary craft
3. Research library, Internet, and field sources to understand texts and contexts
4. Write in the mode(s) appropriate to your English concentration
5. Use the discipline of English to examine your beliefs and values
6. Apply your English degree as you learn, work, and live in community with others.
The English department also sponsors an honors program for exceptional students. For details, see the department chair.

For all major and minor concentrations, it is recommended that students complete the required ENG 100- or 200-level course before taking 300- or 400-level courses. Consult with your advisor for a plan that best fits your situation.

The following variable topic courses may be counted multiple times when taken with different topics:
• ENG 380 – Special Topics, 2 to 4 credits
• ENG 410 – Individual Author, 4 credits
• ENG 421 – Traditions in Literary Genre, 4 credits

Major in English – Literature
Successful completion of the major in English with a literature concentration will enable students to identify and explain the techniques used to create meaning in a text, using the vocabulary of the discipline; make connections between literary texts and their historical and cultural contexts; interpret texts using a variety of critical approaches, attentive to ethical implications; develop moral, aesthetic and existential awareness; and express complex ideas with clarity and style. The requirements for a major in English with a literature concentration are 36 credits:

• ENG 220 – Human Values in British and American Literature, 4 credits
• ENG 230 – Introduction to Literary Scholarship, 4 credits
• 12 credits in cultural contexts:
– ENG 315 – English Language: Historical and Analytical, 4 credits
– ENG 326 – British Literature: Medieval to Renaissance, 4 credits
– ENG 336 – British Literature: The Restoration to Romanticism, 4 credits
– ENG 346 – British Literature: Empire to Independence, 4 credits
– ENG 353 – American Literature: Beginnings to Realism, 4 credits
– ENG 355 – American Literature: Realism to the Present, 4 credits
– ENG 358 – Native American Literatures, 4 credits
– ENG 365 – Writing of Women, 4 credits
– ENG 380 – Special Topics, 2 to 4 credits (when designated cultural contexts)
• 8 credits in study-in-depth:
– ENG 401 – Shakespeare and the English Renaissance, 4 credits
– ENG 410 – Individual Author, 4 credits
– ENG 421 – Traditions in Literary Genre, 4 credits
– ENG 439 – Film and Literature, 4 credits
– ENG 441 – Theory and Practice of Criticism, 4 credits
– ENG 451 – Postcolonial Literatures, 4 credits
• ENG 488 – Senior Capstone in Literature, 4 credits
• 4 elective credits from any ENG course offering in linguistics, literature, or writing except ENG 491 – Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing for the Secondary School.

Minor in English
The requirements for a minor in English are 20 credits from an English (ENG) offering, eight credits of which must be at or above the 300 level.

Major in English – Writing
Successful completion of the major in English with a writing concentration will enable students to write skillfully in a variety of genres; demonstrate advanced skill in a particular genre; show familiarity with a range of contemporary styles; use ethical, effective language; and understand research methods and responsibilities. Requirements for a major in English with a writing concentration are 40 credits:
• ENG 227 – Foundations of Creative Writing, 4 credits
• 8 credits from one set of the following pairs:
– ENG 316 – Business Writing, 4 credits AND
ENG 324 – Technical Writing, 4 credits OR
– ENG 317 – Telling the Story: News Writing, 4 credits AND
ENG 318 – Telling the Story: Feature Writing, 4 credits OR
– ENG 377 – Nonfiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits AND
ENG 477 – Advanced Nonfiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits OR
– ENG 378 – Poetry Writing Seminar, 4 credits AND
ENG 478 – Advanced Poetry Writing Seminar, 4 credits OR
– ENG 379 – Fiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits AND
ENG 479 – Advanced Fiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits
• 8 credits from writing courses (beyond the required pair):
– ENG 316 – Business Writing, 4 credits
– ENG 317 – Telling the Story: News Writing, 4 credits
– ENG 318 – Telling the Story: Feature Writing, 4 credits
– ENG 324 – Technical Writing, 4 credits
– ENG 377 – Nonfiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 378 – Poetry Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 379 – Fiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 380 – Special Topics, 2 to 4 credits (when designated for writing)
– ENG 390 – Cooperative Education, 2 to 4 credits (when designated for writing)
– ENG 477 – Advanced Nonfiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 478 – Advanced Poetry Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 479 – Advanced Fiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits
• ENG 489 – Senior Capstone in Writing, 4 credits
• 16 elective credits from any English course offering in linguistics or literature except ENG 491 – Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing for the Secondary School. Only ENG 150 or 160 may be included.

Minor in English – Writing
Requirements for a minor in English with a writing concentration are 20 credits:
• ENG 227 – Foundations of Creative Writing, 4 credits
• 8 credits from one set of the following pairs:
– ENG 316 – Business Writing, 4 credits AND
ENG 324 – Technical Writing, 4 credits OR
– ENG 317 – Telling the Story: News Writing, 4 credits AND
ENG 318 – Telling the Story: Feature Writing, 4 credits OR
– ENG 377 – Nonfiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits AND
ENG 477 – Advanced Nonfiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits OR
– ENG 378 – Poetry Writing Seminar, 4 credits AND
ENG 478 – Advanced Poetry Writing Seminar, 4 credits OR
– ENG 379 – Fiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits AND
ENG 479 – Advanced Fiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits
• 4 credits from writing courses (beyond the required pair):
– ENG 316 – Business Writing, 4 credits
– ENG 317 – Telling the Story: News Writing, 4 credits
– ENG 318 – Telling the Story: Feature Writing, 4 credits
– ENG 324 – Technical Writing, 4 credits
– ENG 377 – Nonfiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 378 – Poetry Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 379 – Fiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 380 – Special Topics, 2 to 4 credits (when designated for writing)
– ENG 390 – Cooperative Education, 2 to 4 credits (when designated for writing)
– ENG 477 – Advanced Nonfiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 478 – Advanced Poetry Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 479 – Advanced Fiction Writing Seminar, 4 credits
– ENG 489 – Senior Capstone in Writing, 4 credits
• 4 credits from any ENG course offering in linguistics or literature except ENG 491 – Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing for the Secondary School.

Major in English with Communication Arts/Literature Education
This major prepares students to be recommended by the Concordia College department of education for Minnesota licensure to teach English with communication arts/literature in grades 5-12. To be eligible to complete this major, the student must be admitted to the teacher education program. (See education pages for program information, requirements and course descriptions.)

The requirements for a major in English with communication arts/literature education are 52 credits plus 36 credits in education:
• 20 credits in literature foundations:
– ENG 220 – Human Values in British and American Literature, 4 credits
– ENG 230 – Introduction to Literary Scholarship, 4 credits
– 4 credits from these American literature courses:
ENG 353 – American Literature: Beginnings to Realism, 4 credits
ENG 355 – American Literature: Realism to the Present, 4 credits
– 4 credits from these British literature courses:
ENG 326 – British Literature: Medieval to Renaissance, 4 credits
ENG 336 – British Literature: The Restoration to Romanticism, 4 credits
ENG 346 – British Literature: Empire to Independence, 4 credits
– 4 credits 400 from a level literature elective:
ENG 401 – Shakespeare and the English Renaissance, 4 credits
ENG 410 – Individual Author, 4 credits
ENG 421 – Traditions in Literary Genre, 4 credits
ENG 439 – Film and Literature, 4 credits
ENG 441 – Theory and Practice of Criticism, 4 credits
ENG 451 –Postcolonial Literatures, 4 credits
ENG 488 – Senior Capstone in Literature, 4 credits
• 8 credits in language and writing:
– ENG 315 – English Language, Historical and Analytical, 4 credits
– 4 credits from the following:
ENG 227 – Foundations of Creative Writing, 4 credits
ENG 316 – Business Writing, 4 credits
ENG 317 – Telling the Story: News Writing, 4 credits
• 4 credits in diversity:
– ENG 160 – Global Literature and Human Experience, 4 credits
– ENG 165 – Global Literature and Environmental Justice, 4 credits
– ENG 358 – Native American Literatures, 4 credits
– ENG 365 – Writing of Women, 4 credits
– ENG 380 – Special Topics, 4 credits (when designated diversity)
• 4 credits in education theory and methods:
– EDUC 374 – Young Adult Literature, 2 credits
– ENG 491 – Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing for the Secondary School, 2 credits
• 16 credits in communication studies:
– COM 201 – Introduction to Communication Studies, 4 credits
– COM 205 – Advanced Public Speaking, 4 credits
– COM 312 – Interpersonal Communication, 4 credits
– COM 314 – Group Communication, 4 credits
– COM 325 – New Media, 4 credits OR
COM 493 – Documentary and Historical Film, 4 credits
• EDUC 376 – Methods of Teaching English, 4 credits (required methods of teaching course)
• EDUC 394 – Methods of Teaching in Communication Studies, 4 credits (required methods of teaching course)
• Successful completion of the secondary/5-12 required coursework (see education: Curriculum in Secondary/K-12 Education)
• Cocurricular activity participation. Must be approved by the English department and the communication studies and theatre art department.

Cocurricular Activities for Communication Arts/Literature
Participation in cocurricular activities approved by the English department and the CSTA department is a required part of the communication arts/literature licensure. Two different cocurricular activities are required. A minimum of one semester of participation for each activity is suggested; however, participation should not occur during the student teaching semester. Teaching majors are responsible for getting specific information on cocurricular participation requirements from the CSTA and English departments. Suggested activities include Forensics; a media activity such as the AfterWork literary magazine, Concordia On-Air, The Concordian or KORD radio; Campus Service Commission (when English- or education-related and not a requirement for an existing course); Theatre; or alternate cocurricular activity approved in advance by the student’s advisor and the CSTA department and English department chairs.