Room: E-Building, E-103
Phone: (718) 482-5656
About
The English major is designed for students that enjoy reading, writing, critical thinking, and discussion. The study of literature is not about finding that one right answer–it’s about coming up with your own ideas and learning how best to express them, to challenge yourself, be creative, and learn how to think. Reading great literature—whether written a thousand years ago or published just last month—can expand your horizons, introduce you to worlds you would otherwise never know, and teach you about the human condition across space and time. Our major helps students understand the historical and contemporary importance of writing and literature from diverse cultural and historical contexts. Whether it’s through essays, prose, poetry, plays, stories, novels, or other forms of textual expression, being a good writer and reader is key to making yourself understood both verbally and on the page. College is a time to open your mind to new experiences and ideas–and becoming an English major is a great way to accomplish this: Welcome to your exciting future!
What distinguishes the general option from Creative Writing: While you will have the opportunity to take creative-writing workshops and other courses where you produce original poetry and prose, the general option for English is best suited for students that enjoy reading, writing about, and discussing literature, philosophy, current events, and literary theory.
Are You Interested In...
Skills You Will Learn
What makes this major unique?
What makes the English major unique is its versatility: Our major prepares you to study and write better in all your courses. It also allows you to embark on a successful career in a wide variety of fields since the skills you learn can be adapted to almost any educational or work environment. Being an English major can also lead to a richer and more engaged life personally, emotionally, and intellectually. The program provides students with the opportunity for exciting extracurricular activities such as professional events, readings, and working closely with faculty. The program hosts a career panel every year, inviting former English majors working in a wide range of fields to share their experiences. We also offer students the chance to get hands-on relevant professional experience, such as working on issues of The Lit, our literary journal, and The Bridge, our student newspaper.
Career Possibilities
You can do anything with an English Major! Many employers look to hire people with “communication skills”—someone who can express their ideas clearly and convincingly both verbally and in writing. This includes speaking in meetings, on the phone, writing memos and reports, and via e-mail and other correspondence. Employers also want someone who can think independently, access important information, weigh the pros and cons when confronted with several choices, make decisions about the best course of action, and is aware of the richness of cultural diversity around the world. In short, becoming an English major offers you the skills that today’s employers are looking for!
Transfer Possibilities
Note: because English is a broad liberal arts program, students have the flexibility to transfer into non-English programs at 4-year colleges.
A. REQUIRED CORE: 12 Credits
English: 6 credits
Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning: 3 credits
Select one of the following courses: 3
Life & Physical Sciences: 3 credits
B. FLEXIBLE CORE: 18 Credits
Select one course from each of the five flexible core categories AND one additional course from any flexible core category.
Students are advised to select one Urban Study course to complete college requirement. To complete the degree requirements from the Flexible Core, students are advised to select courses from the recommended course selections listed on the program website. Note: Students can select only two courses from any one discipline.
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| Social Science: 3 Credits | |
| SSY101 General Psychology | 3 |
| English: 24 Credits | |
| ENF101 First Year Seminar for English | 3 |
| ENG270 Introduction to Poetry | 3 |
| ENG289 Introduction to Literary Study* | 3 |
| ENG295 World Literatures Written in English | 3 |
| Select two of the following courses: 6 Credits | |
| ENG290 British Literature Survey I | 3 |
| ENG291 British Literature Survey II | 3 |
| ENG292 American Literature Survey I | 3 |
| ENG293 American Literature Survey II | 3 |
| ENG294 Classical Literature** | 3 |
| Select two of the following courses: | 6 |
| ENG204 Asian American Literature | 3 |
| ENG205 The Bible as Literature | 3 |
| ENG/ELL110 English Grammar and Syntax | 3 |
| ENG211 Journalism | 3 |
| ENG220 Seminar in Teaching Writing | 3 |
| ENG225 Afro-American Literature | 3 |
| ENG235 Cultural Identity in American Literature | 3 |
| ENG245 Images of Women in Literature | 3 |
| ENG247 The Woman Writer | 3 |
| ENG248 Latino/Latina Writing in the U.S. | 3 |
| ENG252 Sexuality in Literature | 3 |
| ENG256 Humor in Literature | 3 |
| ENG260 The Novel | 3 |
| ENG261 LGBTQ Literature | 3 |
| ENG265 The Drama | 3 |
| ENG266 Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG268 The Immigrant Experience in American Literature | 3 |
| ENG269 Contemporary Black American Fiction | 3 |
| ENG271 Poetry Workshop | 3 |
| ENG272 Literature and Film | 3 |
| ENG274 Creative Non-Fiction Workshop | 3 |
| ENG275 The Great Writer | 3 |
| ENG276 Fiction Workshop | 3 |
| ENG280 Children’s Literature | 3 |
| ENG288 English Major Internship | 3 |
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