English

English majors at Wesleyan read American, British, and world literature. They also focus in depth on such topics as globalization, sustainability, digital culture, science fiction, African-American literature, Victorian and Edwardian drama, Southern women writers, and African women’s fiction. They discover various theoretical approaches to literary analysis in an Introduction to Literary Criticism class, and they strengthen writing skills through professional writing, creative writing, and writing for the web courses. Students conclude their studies by designing a creative or scholarly project integrating their studies in English with another area of scholarship. Internships and study abroad experiences are available for all students.

Each year the English Department hosts the Campbell-Stripling Distinguished Writer in Residence. Established in 2010 to honor family members of poet and alumna Kathryn Stripling Byer ’66, the program invites a visiting writer to give readings and convocations, attend classes, lead workshops, and meet individually with student writers. Students may submit pieces to the Wesleyan Creative Arts Magazine, serve as magazine staff members, and work as Writing Center Tutors where they also develop teaching skills. Students may enter their writing in Wesleyan’s annual poetry and essay competitions. Finally, students have the opportunity to become HASTAC (Humanities, Arts, Sciences and Technology Alliance and Collaboratory) Scholars, and join an online scholarly community that explores digital culture.

ENG 205: Perspectives on World Literature.
Each semester this class selects a particular perspective from which to consider authors' use of creative writing to address issues in their lives and the lives of their communities. Such perspectives may include a particular geographical region, cultural phenomenon, or component of writers' identity (for example, African literature, globalization, or expatriated writers).

ENG 213: Survey of United States Literature.
Writings by important literary figures from America, from the Puritans to modern times.

ENG 217: Readings in African-American Literature.
Works by African-Americans such as Frederick Douglass, Zora Neale Hurston, Malcolm X, Jean Toomer, Gwendolyn Brooks, Toni Morrison, and Tayari Jones.

ENG 280: Writing for Equity.
In this course, students will practice creative writing and participatory art strategies to examine social and racial equity issues on both the national and regional level. Students will analyze and create participatory art and writing experiences using various visual, performative, and writing methods to engage in self-reflection, creative expression, social critique, and social action. Students in this course will also partner with the Lane Center for Social and Racial Equity to create community-engaged writing experiences.

ENG 300: Literature and Film.
Students will gain the tools and vocabulary to complete both literary and film analysis, and they will use these skills to observe, comment on, and write about effective techniques in each medium.

ENG 302: Digital Culture.
Students will consider the significant social changes that have taken place since the rise of digital communications, including areas as diverse as copyright and ownership, artistic and literary production, privacy rights, corporate media control, fandom, and grassroots social movements. A history of writing technologies will help students to see the computer as one of many such historical shifts in human consciousness and social institutions.

ENG 337: Seminar in American Literature.
Texts by poets, dramatists, essayists, and/or novelists as appropriate to topic. Critical essays pertaining to relevant works.

ENG 347: Seminar in World Literature.
Texts by poets, dramatists, essayists, and/or novelists as appropriate to topic. Critical essays pertaining to relevant works.

More English major requirements