Tracks of Study

Within the English program, students may choose from three concentrations, each of which focus your attention on either Literature, Writing, and Media & Performance Studies. Marymount also offers an English licensure to teach students in grades 6-12. Students in many other fields of study can benefit from our minor offerings in English, Writing, or Media and Performance Studies. We also offer a variety of foreign language minors.

Literature (effective Fall 2020)

Through the literature and writing courses required for the major, students develop valuable writing, critical reading, and research skills. The study of literature provides tools of critical analysis, awareness of major authors and literary traditions, and insight into how literary developments mirror and influence major societal developments. The writing courses teach the principles of clear and effective writing for a variety of purposes and audiences

  • EN 200 Approaches to Literary Study (3)
  • Nine (9) credits selected from the folllowing survey courses:
    • EN 160 Global Literary Voices I
    • EN 161 Global Literary Voices II
    • EN 162 American Voices
    • EN 163 Literature of the British Isles
  • ​EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice or EN 308 Style and Revision (3)
  • EN 490 Major Authors (3)
  • Six (6) credits in electives numbered EN 201 or above
  • Nine (9) credits in electives numbered EN 321 or above
  • EN 424 Senior Seminar (3)
  • EN 400 Internship (3-6)

Media and Performance Studies (effective Fall 2020)

The media and performance studies concentration provides an interdisciplinary examination of film, video, television, multimedia, and Web 2.0 texts with a primary emphasis on textual interpretation and theory and a secondary focus on production. The program seeks to improve student fluency with media, both for academic and commercial applications, in order to enhance students’ understanding of their major disciplinary field. Students will apply their interdisciplinary knowledge through a capstone project that results in a creative presentation, documentary, or ethnographic visual text, or other multimedia production.

  • EN 200 Approaches to Literary Study (3)
  • EN 183 Introduction to Film and Visual Studies (3)
  • Three (3) credits selected from the following survey courses:
    • EN 160 Global Literary Voices I
    • EN 161 Global Literary Voices II
    • EN 162 American Voices
    • EN 163 Literature of the British Isles
  • Nine (9) credits selected from the following courses in media or performance:
    • EN 212 Topics in Acting
    • EN 181 Digital and Nonlinear Storytelling
    • EN 270 Approaches to Creative Writing
    • EN 360 Book Histories, Book Futures
    • EN 305 Topics in Creative Writing
    • EN 390/HU 390 Digital Projects in the Humanities
    • COMM 101 Public Speaking
    • COMM 204 Video Production: Multimedia Communication
    • GMD 202 Illustration I
    • GMD 203Digital Photography
    • GMD 205 Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication
    • GMD 308Web and Social Media Design
  • EN 190 Theater History or EN 220 The Movie or the Book? (3)
  • EN 321 Modern Drama or EN 355 Shakespeare (3)
  • EN 429 Topics in Performance (3)
  • Twelve (12) credits in Literature electives

Writing

Writing is a fundamental skill in today’s world, and the writing concentration will help prepare students for professional careers and/or graduate education in a variety of fields. The courses develop students’ persuasive, stylistic, creative, and analytical skills through an examination of the characteristics of successful writing, along with the implementation of successful writing strategies in multiple modes and genres.

  • EN 200 Approaches to Literary Study (3)
  • Three (3) credits selected from the following survey courses:
    • EN 160 Global Literary Voices I
    • EN 161 Global Literary Voices II
    • EN 262 American Voices
    • EN 163 Literature of the British Isles
  • EN 211 Principles of Language (3)
  • EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice (3)
  • EN 308 Style and Revision (3)
  • Three (3) credits in Advanced Literature (LT-2)
  • Twelve (12) credits in English and/or Communication writing electives
  • Three (3) credits in support skills electives in digital publishing electives
  • EN 424 Senior Seminar (3)
  • EN 400 Internship (3-6)

Secondary Education Licensure (effective Fall 2020)

This program of study allows students to complete a baccalaureate degree in English and also be licensed to teach secondary English at the end of four years. Students pursuing licensure in this manner complete all requirements necessary for Virginia licensure, including field experience and student teaching.

To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University requirements. Some coursework fulfills teaching licensure requirements as specified by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

  • EN 200 Approaches to Literary Study
  • HI 103 Western Civilization I, HI 104 Western Civilization II, HI 110 History of the United States to 1877, or HI 111 History of the United States since 1877 (3)
  • ED 200 Foundations of Teaching and Learning (3)
  • ED 254 Technology for the K-12 Classroom (3)
  • EN 160 Global Literary Voices I (3)
  • EN 161 Global Literary Voices II (3)
  • EN 162 American Voices (3)
  • EN 163 Literature of the British Isles (3)
  • EN 211 Principles of Language (3)
  • ED 337 Literacy in the Content Areas (3)
  • PSY 110 Human Growth and Development
  • PSY 341 Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities
  • ED 338 Secondary Education: Curriculum and Methods (3)
  • EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice (3)
  • EN 183 Introduction to Film and Visual Studies or EN 220 The Movie or the Book? Narrative Adaptation in the Cinema (3)
  • ED 351 Assessment to Support Learning in K-12 (3)
  • ED 452 Managing the K-12 Classroom (3) #
  • ED 460S Student Teaching: Secondary Level (3) #
  • EN 351 Literature of Childhood and Adolescence (3)
  • EN 345 Ethnic Literary Traditions (3)ED 368 Secondary Teaching Methods in English (3)
  • EN 424 Senior Seminar (3)
  • EN 490 Major Authors (3)
  • EN 554 Applied Grammar: Syntactic Structures (3)
  • Six (6) additional credits in Literature: Three (3) credits at the 200 level or above, Three (3) credits at 300 level or above
  • EN 212 Topics in Acting (strongly suggested elective)

#ED 452 and ED 460S must be taken at the same time.