Academic Programs / Liberal Arts
English
Shannon Miller, Department Chair
1042 Anderson Hall
215-204-7560
smiller@temple.edu
Gabriel Wettach, Director of Undergraduate Studies
1030 Anderson Hall
215-204–7561
gwettach@temple.edu
10th Floor, Anderson Hall
215-204-7561
www.temple.edu/english/
Requirements for English Major
Requirements for English Minor
Writing Certificate
The English major helps students develop as readers of interesting, complex texts, including literary texts. Majors read writing from a variety of historical contexts and cultures; this experience builds their understanding of the relation between society and language. English majors become critical and reflective readers, aware of the history and development of writing in English. They are also good, inventive writers who are able to analyze problems, do careful and inventive research, argue and evaluate the arguments of others.
The English major is good preparation for a career in writing or editing—of stories, speeches, legal documents, advertising, research projects, poems, grant proposals, essays, or letters. English majors also find careers in publishing and journalism, public relations, business, industry, management, marketing, social services, and government. English is a strong pre-professional major for law, medicine, library science, and teaching.
The English department has a distinguished faculty of nationally-known critics, writers, and scholars who will teach you, usually in small classes. You will choose from a range of exciting courses (about 40 English courses each semester) and from interdisciplinary programs such as the Five-year Program in English and Education, Temple’s special minor in Business, or a double major in English and any other department throughout the university. Internships are offered with area institutions such as the Temple Press, the University of Pennsylvania Press, the Urban League, WHYY public radio, Philadelphia Magazine, United Way, the Red Cross, Bread and Roses, J. B. Lippincott Publishers, First Union Bank, and the Academy of Natural Sciences. The department offers community-based projects, such as the New City Press and our Institute for the Study of Literature, Literacy, and Culture. There is an active program of readings by resident and visiting writers and artists. Students are active in writing and producing literary magazines: Hyphen is published on the main campus, and The Parable at Ambler.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR
Department |
Course # |
Course Name |
Hours |
RCI |
English |
2097 |
Introduction to English Studies |
3 |
WI |
English |
2201 |
Survey of English Literature: Beginnings to 1660 |
3 |
|
English |
2202 |
Survey of English Literature: 1660-1900 |
3 |
|
English |
2301 |
Survey of American Literature I |
3 |
|
English |
2302 |
Survey of American Literature II |
3 |
|
English |
2000+ level courses |
Three English Electives |
9 |
|
English |
3000+ level courses |
Three English Electives |
9 |
|
English |
4000- level courses |
One Senior Capstone Course |
3 |
WI* |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
36 |
|
*Indicates writing capstone for the major |
|
|
All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses required for this major are listed above and are identified by "WI" in the RCI column.
Distinction in Major
Students need at least a 3.65 GPA in their English courses to earn distinction in major.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR
Department |
Course # |
Course Name |
Hours |
RCI |
|
|
|
|
|
Select two Literature Surveys from: |
6 |
|
English
English
English
English |
2201
2202
2301
2302 |
Survey of English Literature: Beginnings to 1660
Survey of English Literature: 1660-1900
Survey of American Literature I
Survey of American Literature II |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Select four Electives in English, no more than two of which are in writing
(creative, technical, or business): |
|
English |
|
2000- and 3000-level electives |
12 |
|
Total |
|
|
18 |
|
WRITING CERTIFICATE
Department |
Course # |
Course Name |
Hours |
RCI |
|
|
|
|
|
Select a total of five courses in Writing. At least one from each area listed below, no more than
three in any single area. All of the courses must average a grade of B or higher. |
Advanced Expository and Professional Writing Electives |
3-9 |
|
English |
2496 |
Introduction to Non Fiction |
|
WI |
English |
2596 |
Writing for Business and Industry |
|
WI |
English |
2696 |
Technical Writing |
|
WI |
English |
2796 |
Writing the Research Essay |
|
WI |
English |
3085 |
Career Internship |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Creative Writing |
|
|
3-9 |
|
English |
2196 |
Creative Writing: Poetry |
|
WI |
English |
2296 |
Creative Writing: Fiction |
|
WI |
English |
2396 |
Creative Writing: Plays |
|
WI |
English |
3196 |
Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry |
|
WI |
English |
3296 |
Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction |
|
WI |
English |
3396 |
Advanced Creative Writing: Plays |
|
WI |
English |
3813 |
Writers at Work |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Writing Theory |
|
|
3-9 |
|
English |
2897 |
Literacy and Society |
|
WI |
English |
2898 |
Texts/Cultures of Science |
|
WI |
English |
3811 |
Theories of Language and Literacy |
|
|
English |
3821 |
Linguistics and Grammar |
|
|
English |
3822 |
Semantics |
|
|
English |
3823 |
History of the English Language |
|
|
English |
4196 |
Studies in Language and Literacy |
|
WI |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
15 |
|
|