Earn Your English Degree on the Coast of Maine
Are you passionate about majoring in English but have been told it will limit your career prospects? Check your fears at the door. ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ’s Bachelor of Arts in English focuses on the highly transferable skills acquired as a student of literature: command of language, analytical skills, critical thinking, and the capacity to understand multiple perspectives. Combined with internships, research, and study abroad experiences, you will be highly valued by many fields that prize people who can communicate well, solve problems, assimilate information quickly, and work well with others.
Why ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ for Your B.A. in English
With faculty specialties in literature and health, law and humanities, creative writing, digital humanities, and more, the English program will expose you to a wide range of topics and genres.
- Flexible curriculum, allowing for double majors and minors
- Unique HuMed program to prepare for medical school while pursuing your passion for English
- Instruction in digital literacies, culminating in the creation of a personal ePortfolio
- Impressive archival collections for research and creative projects
- Opportunity to work as a Writing Fellow in our peer tutoring program
- Intriguing internships
- Study abroad opportunities
What will you study? English Degree Program Curriculum Overview
There are many ways you can navigate the English major.
B.A. in English Courses
The following are some examples of the exciting courses that the English major offers:
- Law and Literature
- Reading and Writing in Digital Environments
- Victorian Monsters
- Writing and Women’s Health
- Fiction Writing Workshop
- Animals, Literature, and Culture
- Lyrics
- Narrative Medicine
Curriculum
| Nor’easter Core Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 40 |
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENG 206 – Intro Lit Theory & Criticism | 3 |
| LIL 420 – Arts & Humanities Capstone | 3 |
| Three (3) credits of British Literature electives | 3 |
| Three (3) credits of U.S. Literature electives | 3 |
| Six (6) credits of Diversity and Global Literature electives | 6 |
| Select one (1) English Concentration | 21 |
| Total Credits | 39 |
| Open elective courses (as needed to reach 120 credits) | Variable |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 120 |
|---|
English Concentration Options
| Literature Concentration | Credits |
|---|---|
| Three (3) credits of U.S. Literature electives or British Literature electives | 3 |
| Eighteen (18) credits of electives with at least twelve (12) credits from List A and at least six (6) credits at 300- or 400-level | 18 |
| Total Credits | 21 |
| Writing Concentration | Credits |
|---|---|
| Three (3) credits of Creative Writing Foundation courses | 3 |
| Three (3) credits of Professional Writing Foundation courses | 3 |
| Fifteen (15) credits of electives with nine (9) credits from List C and six (6) credits from List C or List D | 15 |
| Total Credits | 21 |
| English Education Concentration | Credits |
|---|---|
| Three (3) credits of U.S. Literature electives | 3 |
| Three (3) credits of British Literature electives | 3 |
| Fifteen (15) credits of electives with at least nine (9) credits from List A and at least six (6) credits at 300- or 400-level | 15 |
| Total Credits | 21 |
Elective Course Options
| U.S. Literature Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENG 200 – Writing, Revolution, & Resistance in U.S. Lit | 3 |
| ENG 201 – Who and What is an American? Reimagining US Lit | 3 |
| ENG 235 – Topics in U.S. Lit to 1865 | 3 |
| ENG 237 – Topics in U.S. Lit after 1865 | 3 |
| ENG 310 – Writing & Women’s Health | 3 |
| British Literature Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENG 115 – Poets, Pilgrims & Other Yahoos | 3 |
| ENG 116 – Democratizing Literature | 3 |
| ENG 216 – Criminals, Idiots & Minors | 3 |
| ENG 229 – Topics in Brit Lit Before 1800 | 3 |
| ENG 234 – Topics in Brit Lit After 1800 | 3 |
| ENG 312 – Global Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG 330 – Topics in British Literature | 3 |
| ENG 340 – The English Novel | 3 |
| ENG 409 – Storytelling, Literature, Law | 3 |
| ENG 420 – Victorian Monsters | 3 |
| Diversity and Global Literature Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENG 135 – Dog Stories | 3 |
| ENG 140 – Indigenous Film and Literature | 3 |
| ENG 200 – Writing, Revolution, & Resistance in U.S. Lit | 3 |
| ENG 201 – Who and What is an American? Reimagining US Lit | 3 |
| ENG 202 – Lyrics | 3 |
| ENG 204 – Animals, Literature, & Culture | 3 |
| ENG 208 – Narrative Medicine & Writing | 3 |
| ENG 214 – Freedom & Authority | 3 |
| ENG 221 – Justice | 3 |
| ENG 235 – Topics in U.S. Lit to 1865 | 3 |
| ENG 237 – Topics in U.S. Lit after 1865 | 3 |
| ENG 255 – Literary Topics | 3 |
| ENG 276 – English Human Trad I | 3 |
| ENG 278 – English Human Trad II | 3 |
| ENG 301 – Nature Films | 3 |
| ENG 310 – Writing & Women’s Health | 3 |
| ENG 312 – Global Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG 326 – Topics in Literature & Health | 3 |
| ENG 329 – Topics in World Literature | 3 |
| ENG 330 – Topics in British Literature | 3 |
| ENG 401 – Literatures of the Sea | 3 |
| ENG 405 – Topics in Postcolonial Lit | 3 |
| ENG 409 – Storytelling, Literature, Law | 3 |
| Creative Writing Foundation Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| WRT 111 – Topics in Creative Writing | 3 |
| WRT 211 – Creative Writing: Poetry | 3 |
| WRT 212 – Creative Writing: Short Fiction | 3 |
| WRT 213 – Creative Writing: Non-Fiction | 3 |
| Professional Writing Foundation Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| CMM 110 – Intro to Communications | 3 |
| CMM 211 – Introduction to Journalism | 3 |
| WRT 233 – Professional & Tech. Commun. | 3 |
Lists A-D Elective Courses
| List A Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| EDU 498 – Secondary Internship & Seminar | 12 |
| ENG 115 – Poets, Pilgrims & Other Yahoos | 3 |
| ENG 116 – Democratizing Literature | 3 |
| ENG 135 – Dog Stories | 3 |
| ENG 140 – Indigenous Film and Literature | 3 |
| ENG 200 – Writing, Revolution, & Resistance in U.S. Lit | 3 |
| ENG 201 – Who and What is an American? Reimagining US Lit | 3 |
| ENG 202 – Lyrics | 3 |
| ENG 204 – Animals, Literature, & Culture | 3 |
| ENG 208 – Narrative Medicine & Writing | 3 |
| ENG 214 – Freedom & Authority | 3 |
| ENG 216 – Criminals, Idiots & Minors | 3 |
| ENG 221 – Justice | 3 |
| ENG 227 – Illness Narratives | 3 |
| ENG 229 – Topics in Brit Lit Before 1800 | 3 |
| ENG 234 – Topics in Brit Lit After 1800 | 3 |
| ENG 235 – Topics in U.S. Lit to 1865 | 3 |
| ENG 237 – Topics in U.S. Lit after 1865 | 3 |
| ENG 255 – Literary Topics | 3 |
| ENG 276 – English Human Trad I | 3 |
| ENG 278 – English Human Trad II | 3 |
| ENG 300 – Literary Topics | 3 |
| ENG 301 – Nature Films | 3 |
| ENG 310 – Writing & Women’s Health | 3 |
| ENG 312 – Global Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG 326 – Topics in Literature & Health | 3 |
| ENG 329 – Topics in World Literature | 3 |
| ENG 330 – Topics in British Literature | 3 |
| ENG 340 – The English Novel | 3 |
| ENG 397 – Independent Study | 1–12 |
| ENG 399 – Independent Study | 3 |
| ENG 401 – Literatures of the Sea | 3 |
| ENG 402 – Directed Study in English | 1–12 |
| ENG 405 – Topics in Postcolonial Lit | 3 |
| ENG 412 – Humanities Seminar | 3 |
| ENG 420 – Victorian Monsters | 3 |
| ENG 491 – English Studies Internship I | 3–9 |
| ENG 492 – English Studies Internship II | 3–9 |
| List B Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| ARB 101 – Basic Arabic | 3 |
| ART 124 – The Painted Book | 3 |
| ASL 101 – Intro to American Sign Lang | 3 |
| CMM 122 – Oral Communication or SPC 100 – Effective Public Speaking | 3 |
| CMM 211 – Introduction to Journalism | 3 |
| CMM 225 – Topics in Digital Storytelling | 3 |
| CMM 290 – Intro to Broadcast Media Writ | 3 |
| CMM 410 – Writing for the Screen | 3 |
| CMM 415 – Sports Reporting and Writing | 3 |
| EDU 436 – Teaching Secondary English | 3 |
| WRT 110 – Becoming a Writer | 3 |
| ENG 209 – Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| ENG 220 – History of the English Language | 3 |
| FRE 101 – Basic French | 3 |
| HIS 150 – Telling Tales of the Past | 3 |
| HIS 341 – Bestsellers & the Big Bad City | 3 |
| LIT 124 – Lit, Nature & the Environment | 3 |
| PHI 212 – Thinking Philosoph about Arts | 3 |
| SPA 101 – Basic Spanish | 3 |
| SPA 306 – Span. For Health Professions | 3 |
| WRT 111 – Topics in Creative Writing | 3 |
| WRT 211 – Creative Writing: Poetry | 3 |
| WRT 212 – Creative Writing: Short Fiction | 3 |
| WRT 213 – Creative Writing: Non-Fiction | 3 |
| WRT 214 – Screenwriting | 3 |
| WRT 233 – Professional and Technical Communication | 3 |
| WRT 304 – Read & Write in Digital Env. | 3 |
| WRT 312 – Fiction Writing Workshop | 3 |
| WRT 317 – Proposal and Grant Writing | 3 |
| WRT 342 – Writing Fellows Practicum | 1 |
| List C Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| ART 124 – The Painted Book | 3 |
| CMM 211 – Introduction to Journalism | 3 |
| CMM 415 – Sports Reporting and Writing | 3 |
| ENG 208 – Narrative Medicine & Writing | 3 |
| ENG 209 – Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| ENG 220 – History of the English Language | 3 |
| ENG 310 – Writing & Women’s Health | 3 |
| ENG 397 – Independent Study | 1–12 |
| ENG 399 – Independent Study | 3 |
| ENG 402 – Directed Study in English | 1–12 |
| ENG 491 – English Studies Internship I | 3–9 |
| ENG 492 – English Studies Internship II | 3–9 |
| LIL 120 – Intro Arts & Humanities Sem | 3 |
| WRT 111 – Topics in Creative Writing | 3 |
| WRT 211 – Creative Writing: Poetry | 3 |
| WRT 212 – Creative Writing: Shrt Fiction | 3 |
| WRT 213 – Creative Writing: Non-Fiction | 3 |
| WRT 214 – Screenwriting | 3 |
| WRT 233 – Professional and Technical Communication | 3 |
| WRT 304 – Read & Write in Digital Env. | 3 |
| WRT 312 – Fiction Writing Workshop | 3 |
| WRT 317 – Proposal and Grant Writing | 3 |
| WRT 342 – Writing Fellows Practicum | 1 |
| List D Electives* | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANB 425 – Adv Methods in Animal Behavior | 3 |
| ART 395 – Studio Concentration Seminar | 3 |
| BUMK 200 – Marketing | 3 |
| BUMK 310 – Advertising | 3 |
| CMM 110 – Intro to Communications | 3 |
| CMM 122 – Oral Communication or SPC 100 – Effective Public Speaking | 3 |
| CMM 225 – Topics in Digital Storytelling | 3 |
| CMM 240 – Social Media: Theory & Practice | 3 |
| CMM 410 – Writing for the Screen | 3 |
| ENG 110 – English Composition or WRT 110 – Becoming a Writer | 3–4 |
| ENG 334 – Methods of Literacy and Cultural Criticism | 3 |
| ENV 316/316L – Land Conserv Pract w/Field Lab | 4 |
| ENV 321 – Env Comm: Expert Prac Eco | 3 |
| ENV 333/333L – Nature Writers w/Field Lab | 4 |
| ENV 334 – Contemporary Nature Writing | 3 |
| HIS 150 – Telling Tales of the Past | 3 |
| MAF 400 – Marine Affairs Capstone | 3 |
| NEU 410 – Neurobiology of Mental Illness | 3 |
| NSG 332 – Evidence Based Pract (EBP) I | 2 |
| NSG 432 – Evidence Based Pract (EBP) II | 2 |
| NSG 445 – Leadership | 2 |
| PUB 310 – Social, Behavior & Environmental | 3 |
| PUB 400 – PH Planning & Evaluation | 3 |
| PUB 420 – Community Health Assessment | 3 |
Please note: While some courses can fulfill both core and program requirements, the credits earned do not count twice towards the minimum total required credits for the degree.
*Some courses have pre-requisites that may prevent registration.
English majors are required to maintain an e-Portfolio that archives their course and other relevant writing, which they will deliver in an oral presentation to the faculty during their senior year.
The English Program requires an overall minimum 2.0 GPA in the major.
Students wishing to pursue teacher certification in English should complete a major in Middle and Secondary Education with a concentration in English. Students pursuing this path are strongly encouraged to complete the English minor.
For more information, speak with an advisor or the director of the School of Arts and Humanities and see the Middle and Secondary Education catalog page.
Students majoring in English can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.
To learn more about the program visit the Catalog.
Honors Program
We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, creative, or experiential activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their advisor.
HuMed
Our HuMed program is the only one of its kind in the U.S., allowing you to indulge your passion for English while preparing for graduate study in our College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Career Paths for English Majors
The unique skill set of an English major is far more sought after than most people realize. As academic training requirements in many fields are becoming increasingly specific, employers are eager to find candidates who are excellent communicators, creative and analytic thinkers, and critical readers.
An English major is a gateway to numerous professions, including:
- Editor
- Filmmaker
- Lawyer
- Librarian
- Physician
- Project Manager
- News Reporter
- Scriptwriter
- Teacher
- Television Producer
Career Advising for B.A. in English Students
Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.
English 110
English 110 is our freshman writing course and a rigorous introduction to college-level. English 110 is not an introduction to literature or to the English major. Instead, you will be challenged to rethink your ideas, re-examine your interpretations of a reading, connect texts in provocative ways, and advance written arguments.
Learning Objectives
Demonstrate the ability to approach writing as a recursive process that requires substantial revision of drafts for content, organization, and clarity (global revision), as well as editing and proofreading (local revision).
Students in English 110 learn to read and reconsider their drafts in ways that produce substantive, global revisions of their texts. Additionally, they learn to attend to punctuation, grammar, and spelling in their texts as they edit and proofread, or engage in effective local revision.
Students learn to approach writing as a recursive process in peer review/critique and in work with sample student texts. Peer review/critique and comments on early drafts focus more on global concerns, with more local concerns becoming increasingly important at the proofreading stage in the writing process.
Students demonstrate that they have met this learning objective in their writing. Students whose final drafts on later papers are substantively different from first drafts on those same papers are approaching writing as a recursive process and are engaged in global revision. Students who take care to proofread their final drafts before handing them in are participating in local revision.
Students whose final drafts are simply cleaner versions of ea