English

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Course work for a Bachelor of Arts in English provides comprehensive instruction in the resources of English, its language and literatures. This instruction is central to a liberal education and fundamental preparation for graduate liberal arts and professional programs. The English degree provides excellent preparation for a wide range of careers that depend on critical and creative thinking and the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.

Bachelor of Arts in English

Literature
Courses in literature make up the largest portion of the English major’s studies. Our curriculum provides students with a broad-based foundation in English and American literature as well as in-depth inquiry into focused areas of literary study. Within this curriculum students are encouraged to read creatively and to discover what others have not seen. Students are asked to present these discoveries in writing in a persuasive way that allows others to see their importance. The literature program is enhanced and supported by links to the National Poetry Foundation, an internationally recognized center for the study of modern and postmodern poetry.

Writing Concentrations
In addition to at least 27 credits in literature and literary theory, every English major completes a 9-12 credit concentration in Creative Writing, Literary Critical Writing or Technical/Professional Writing. Each concentration provides both introductory and advanced instruction and prepares students for further education or for work in many professions.

Core Requirements for All Majors:

Majors take a minimum of 36 credits in English beyond ENG 101 (39 for the professional writing concentration). At least 18 of these credits must be University of Maine courses. By the time of graduation, a student must also complete an additional field requirement, which may be satisfied in three ways: a minor, a second major, or intermediate proficiency in a language other than English (to the 204 level in college courses, or the equivalent by examination).

All majors must complete the following specific requirements:

ENG 170 - Foundations of Literary Analysis Credits: 3
ENG 222 - Reading Poems Credits: 3
ENG 271 - The Act of Interpretation Credits: 3
Five literature courses at the 300 or 400 level including at least one British and one before 1800. Credits: 15
One additional literature course at the 200 level or higher. Credits: 3
Three or four courses in the chosen writing concentration. Credits: 9-12

Writing Concentrations

Each writing concentration requires a 9-12 credit sequence of courses beginning at the 200 or 300 level and culminating in directed writing or preprofessional experiences in the senior year.

Creative Writing:

This concentration allows students to explore their worlds with carefully crafted language and to make the writing of imaginative literature a way of life. Course work usually includes:

ENG 205 - An Introduction to Creative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 206 - Descriptive and Narrative Writing Credits: 3
ENG 307 - Writing Fiction Credits: 3
or
ENG 308 - Writing Poetry Credits: 3
or
ENG 309 - Writing Creative Nonfiction Credits: 3
ENG 405 - Topics in Creative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 407 - Advanced Fiction Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 408 - Advanced Poetry Writing Credits: 3
The Capstone Experience for this sequence is completed by the submission and approval of a creative manuscript, usually supervised by the instructor of the 400-level writing workshop. Students register for ENG 499, a non-credit Capstone designator, in the semester they plan to complete their Capstone.

Literary Critical Writing:

This concentration is for students interested in the crafting of essays, academic papers, feature pieces, and other forms of creative nonfiction. It provides excellent preparation for law school or for graduate study in language and literature. it is also useful for students planning to teach at the secondary or college level. Course work usually includes:

ENG 206 - Descriptive and Narrative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 212 - Persuasive and Analytical Writing Credits: 3
and two of the following:
ENG 301 - Advanced Composition Credits: 3
ENG 309 - Writing Creative Nonfiction Credits: 3
ENG 395 - English Internship Credits: 3
The Capstone Experience for this sequence is completed by the submission and approval of a thesis-level research paper in a 400-level literature course, or by tutoring for a semester in the Writing Center after the completion of ENG 395. (Students must notify instructor at the beginning of the 400-level literature course of their intention to complete the Capstone in the course). Students register for ENG 499, a non-credit Capstone designator, in the semester they plan to complete their Capstone.

Technical/Professional Writing:

This 12-credit concentration is useful for students planning careers in such diverse professions as law, public relations, management, arts administration, technical writing, and journalism. Course work usually includes:

ENG 317 - Business and Technical Writing Credits: 3
two of the following:
ENG 415 - Advanced Report & Proposal Writing Credits: 3
ENG 416 - Technical Editing & Document Design Credits: 3
ENG 418 - Topics in Professional Writing Credits: 3
and
ENG 496 - Field Experience in Professional Writing Credits: 1-6
Because ENG 496 is itself designated as a Capstone Experience, there is no need to register for ENG 499 when completing the Capstone Experience in this Writing Concentration.

Senior Capstone Requirement:

The senior capstone requirement applies to all majors in all concentrations. It may be satisfied in a number of ways appropriate to a student’s interests and plans, and is normally a natural culmination to previous choices within the major. Most of the capstone options also satisfy other major requirements. Any one of the following courses or experiences may be used:

ENG 395 - English Internship Credits: 3
and at least one semester tutoring in the Writing Center
ENG 400-level literature course in which the student writes a seminar-quality research paper.

ENG 405 - Topics in Creative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 407 - Advanced Fiction Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 408 - Advanced Poetry Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 496 - Field Experience in Professional Writing Credits: 1-6
(at least 3 hrs.)
Approval of an Honors thesis with a topic in an area of English studies

Note: Students using ENG 395, ENG 405, ENG 407, ENG 408, or a 400-level literature course as a capstone must register for ENG 499 (zero credit, zero tuition) during the semester they will complete tutoring (ENG 395) or complete the manuscript (ENG 405, 407 or 408) or write the research paper in the 400-level literature class. This is the accounting mechanism that signals Student Records to count these courses as a capstone.

Suggested curriculum for the B.A. in English

First Year - First Semester

ENG 101 - College Composition Credits: 3
or
ENG 129 - Topics in English Credits: 3
or
ENG 170 - Foundations of Literary Analysis Credits: 3

First Year - Second Semester

ENG 101 - College Composition Credits: 3
or
ENG 129 - Topics in English Credits: 3
or
ENG 170 - Foundations of Literary Analysis Credits: 3
Credits toward Additional Field Requirement (second language, minor or second major)
General Education Credits: 8-9

Second Year - First Semester

ENG 205 - An Introduction to Creative Writing Credits: 3
or

ENG 206 - Descriptive and Narrative Writing Credits: 3
or

ENG 212 - Persuasive and Analytical Writing Credits: 3
or

ENG 222 - Reading Poems Credits: 3
ENG 317 - Business and Technical Writing Credits: 3
Credits toward Additional Field Requirement, BA Requirement, General Education Requirements and electives. If possible, take 3 credits in an upper-level BA course outside English while exploring possible other major and minor options. Credits: 4-6

Second Year - Second Semester

ENG 205 - An Introduction to Creative Writing Credits: 3
or

ENG 206 - Descriptive and Narrative Writing Credits: 3
or

ENG 212 - Persuasive and Analytical Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 317 - Business and Technical Writing. Credits: 3

ENG 271 - The Act of Interpretation Credits: 3
ENG 200 or 400-level Credits: 3
200-level language if needed or credits chosen from remaining General Education and BA requirements and free electives. Credits: 3-4

Third Year - First Semester

ENG 300 or 400-level writing course in concentration. Credits: 3

ENG 300 or 400-level literature courses. Credits: 3-6

General Education and B.A. Requirements. Credits: 6-9

Third Year - Second Semester

ENG 300 or 400-level writing course. Credits: 3

ENG 300 or 400-level literature course. Credits: 3-6

Electives, other program requirements remaining. Credits: 3-6

Fourth Year - First Semester

ENG 300 or 400-level courses including capstone options Credits: 3-12

Electives. Credits: 3-9

Fourth Year - Second Semester

Finish capstone and ENG 300/400-level courses if you haven’t already done so. Major credits should total at least 36, with minimum GPA in major courses of 2.0. Total credits earned should be at least 120, with an overall GPA of 2.0. Credits: 15

Note: A minimum of 72 credits must be completed outside of the major.