English (B.A.) with Literature Concentration

Program Overview

The English major at Messiah University assists students in studying a wide array of literatures using a variety of critical thinking and writing skills to help them become perceptive readers, insightful thinkers, and responsible writers. Students engage deeply with Christian faith as they explore the way language shapes our identities, deepens our interactions with others, and enables us to change the world.

The Literature concentration allows students to read broadly and develop original interpretations of diverse literatures focused on questions of faith, history, culture, power, identity, craft, genre, and form. Because many careers call for close analysis and interpretation of texts, fluency in writing, and creative and critical thinking, the English major prepares students for success in a variety of fields. Besides the obvious career choices of advanced scholarship, teaching, journalism, and publishing, Messiah English majors have thrived in law, business, ministry, public relations, social media marketing, library science and other professional careers.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s English program can:

  1. Analyze literary texts by reading closely and applying disciplinary vocabularies, theories, and methods.
  2. Respond to literary texts by developing and supporting interpretations informed by the text’s cultural context.
  3. Demonstrate writing and rhetorical skills appropriate to critical, creative, and professional tasks for a variety of audiences and in a variety of media and genres.
  4. Develop and challenge their thinking through scholarly research projects that develop significant research questions and effectively analyze primary and secondary evidence to support claims in the field of English.
  5. Reflect on vocational calling, explore possible career paths, and develop action plans for their professional lives.
  6. Articulate the connections between Christian faith and the study of English.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

ENGL 201Introduction to English Studies I

3

ENGL 202Introduction to English Studies II

3

ENGL 270Critical Theory

3

ENGL 380Vocation Seminar

1

LANG 495/ENGL 495Language, Literature, and Writing Seminar

3

ENGL 202: Writing in the major requirement.

One to three credits from the following

ENGL 391English-Journalism Practicum

1-3

ENGL 392Student Publications Practicum

1-3

ENGL 393Staff Writer Practicum

1

INTE 391Internship

1-3

Literature Concentration (24 credits)

Six credits from the Questions of Faith in Literature category:
ENGL 331Topics in Faith & Literature

3

ENGL 332Slavery & Abolition in Literature

3

ENGL 333John Milton

3

ENGL 334Victorian Literature

3

ENGL 335The Inklings

3

 
Six credits from the Questions of Literature in History category:
ENGL 341Topics in Literature in History

3

ENGL 343Medieval/Renaissance Literature

3

ENGL 345Romanticism

3

ENGL 346Modernism

3

 
Six credits from the Questions of Culture, Identity, and Power category:
ENGL 351Topics in Culture, Identity, Power

3

ENGL 353Ethnic Literatures of the US

3

ENGL 355American Women's Writing

3

ENGL 357Postcolonial/World Literature

3

 
Six credits from the Questions of Form, Genre, and Craft category:

ENGL 361Topics in Form, Genre, Craft

3

ENGL 363Ancient Epic

3

ENGL 364Shakespeare

3

ENGL 365Young Adult Literature

3

ENGL 366Contemporary Poetry

3

 
 

QuEST Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement 0
QuEST requirements Credits
First Year Seminar 3
Oral Communication 3
Created and Called for Community (W) 3
Mathematical Sciences 3 or 4
Laboratory Science 3 or 4
Science, Technology & the World 3
Two of the following (six credits total):
   Social Science
   European History
   United States History
6
Literature waived
Philosophy and Religion 3
Arts 3
First Semester of Language 3
Second Semester of Language 3
Third Semester of Language or Cross Cultural 3
Non-Western Studies 2-3
Bible 3
Christian Beliefs 3
Wellness course 1
Ethics, World Views or Pluralism 3
QuEST requirements 51-54
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration) 38-40
Free electives 34-29
Total credits 123