The English Department

Program Coordinator:

Michael Grosso

Faculty:

Edward Chong, Mark Glover, Kris Hoover, Vanessa Karam, Scott Underwood, David Vega, Alyssa Guthrie

The Bachelor of Arts in English

The Department offers a Bachelor of Arts in English with two tracks, respectively Language (Linguistics) and Literature. Overall, the program invites students to explore the different ways in which the field of English has been studied while presenting an integrated approach to the subject that delves into the nature of language, in its literary and practical forms.

Course offerings in the program are intended to ensure that students acquire the following skills and knowledge:

1) Acquire a foundational knowledge of English through a selection of Literature and Languages courses;
2) Learn critical reading approaches to produce multiple interpretations of the text;
3) Understand the role of the reader in the reading process;
4) Develop individual, cultural, and cross-cultural perspectives on canonical and noncanonical texts;
5) Cultivate individual, cultural, and cross-cultural perspectives on various language practices and experiences;
6) Contextualize the study of English within a Buddhist, or a moral/intellectual, approach to determine how the text presents lessons on character formation and development;
7) Ground the study of English within a Buddhist, or a moral/intellectual, approach to determine how the text presents messages on contemporary issues and concerns in the world;
8) Build language skills (e.g., critical thinking abilities and communication skills);
9) Sharpen media and information literacy skills;
10) Possess an understanding of the writing process: from the general principles of composition/argument to sophisticated methods of library research and research writing.

To graduate with a B.A. in English, students must complete a minimum of 120 semester units with a cumulative grade point average of a 2.0 or higher. These requirements include a minimum of 48 General Education units, of which 9 units must be at the upper-division level, and 42 units in the major, of which 36 must be at the upper-division level. A minimum of 30 units, including at least 24 upper-division units, must be completed at the University of the West.

The degree in English from UWest provides a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for those who wish to pursue a graduate degree in English literature, linguistics, teaching English as a second language, or a related field. The major imparts the intellectual and analytical skills necessary to succeed in a variety of professions for which the major in English can provide excellent preparation, including law, administration, business, and teaching.