English Majors concentrating in English and American Literature will focus on literary analysis and literary criticism, becoming familiar with traditional and emerging texts from a variety of literatures. Students in the Literature concentration become sharp readers and perceptive interpreters of complicated ideas in preparation for a wide variety of future paths. The Literature concentration emphasizes rigorous analysis and interpretation, wide-ranging reading, and enjoyable encounters with a variety of challenging novels, plays, essays, and poems, as well as film and other media. The Literature concentration builds skills of argumentation, communication, and research and familiarizes students with important texts, influential ideas, and a range of historical and cultural information.
Students concentrating on Creative Writing will take sequences of courses in fiction writing, poetry writing, screen and script writing, and nonfiction writing. Creative writing is offered in the English Department through both undergraduate and graduate degrees. A master of arts in English with a creative thesis option is available as a 34-unit program, and the bachelor of arts in English with a creative writing emphasis is a 48-unit program.
Students concentrating in the English Education take a program of study that satisfies the subject matter preparation requirement for entry into an English teaching credential program and exempts the student from taking the CSET (California Subject Examination for Teachers)in English. English majors interested in seeking a general elementary credential may demonstrate subject matter competence by pass-ing the CSET Multiple Subjects Assessment. For more information, contact the English Department Office at (707) 664-2140.
