English Language and Literature

Undergraduate Program: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English

Program Overview: This 4-year program equips students with critical reading, writing, and analytical skills while exploring English as a global language. Emphasizing Juneteenth's spirit of freedom and resilience, the curriculum highlights literature from marginalized voices, rhetoric of resistance, and digital storytelling. Graduates are prepared for careers in education, publishing, journalism, law, or further study.

Degree Requirements:

• Total credits: 120 (including 36 major credits).

• Core courses: 18 credits.

• Electives: 12 credits (at least 6 in interdisciplinary areas like African American Studies or Global History).

• Capstone: Senior thesis or project (6 credits).

• General education: 60 credits (including writing-intensive courses).

• Minimum GPA: 2.5.

Core Courses:

• ENGL 101: Introduction to College Writing (3 credits) – Fundamentals of academic writing, argumentation, and research, with a focus on personal narratives of identity and freedom.

• ENGL 102: Literature and Liberation (3 credits) – Survey of texts from enslaved narratives to modern freedom stories, including works by Frederick Douglass and Toni Morrison.

• ENGL 201: Global Englishes (3 credits) – Exploration of English variations worldwide, from African American Vernacular English to postcolonial literatures in Africa and the Caribbean.

• ENGL 202: Rhetoric and Social Justice (3 credits) – Study of persuasive language in movements like Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter, with practical public speaking components.

• ENGL 301: Literary Theory and Criticism (3 credits) – Key theories (e.g., postcolonialism, feminism) applied to diverse texts, emphasizing intersectionality.

• ENGL 302: Creative Writing Workshop (3 credits) – Hands-on fiction, poetry, and nonfiction writing, inspired by themes of resilience and cultural heritage.

Elective Courses (Sample Selection):

• ENGL 210: African American Literature (3 credits) – From Harlem Renaissance to Afrofuturism, featuring authors like Zora Neale Hurston and Octavia Butler.

• ENGL 220: Diaspora Narratives (3 credits) – Stories of migration and identity in global English literatures, including works from the African diaspora.

• ENGL 310: Digital Storytelling and Media (3 credits) – Creating podcasts, blogs, and videos on themes of emancipation and intercultural dialogue.

• ENGL 320: Shakespeare and Adaptation (3 credits) – Reinterpreting Shakespeare through modern lenses, including African and Caribbean adaptations.

• ENGL 410: Internship in Publishing or Education (3 credits) – Experiential learning with a focus on diverse voices in media.

Capstone:

• ENGL 499: Senior Thesis (6 credits) – Independent research project, such as analyzing Juneteenth representations in contemporary literature.

Graduate Program: Master of Arts (MA) in English

Program Overview: This 2-year program (thesis or non-thesis track) deepens expertise in English studies, with a focus on research, teaching, and cultural analysis. It builds on Juneteenth themes by prioritizing scholarship on liberation literatures, language equity, and global interconnectivity. Ideal for educators, writers, or PhD preparation.

Degree Requirements:

• Total credits: 30 (thesis track) or 36 (non-thesis).

• Core courses: 12 credits.

• Electives: 12-18 credits.

• Thesis/Comprehensive Exam: 6 credits (thesis) or exam plus portfolio.

• Teaching assistantship option for pedagogy experience.

• Minimum GPA: 3.0.

Core Courses:

• ENGL 501: Advanced Literary Theory (3 credits) – In-depth study of critical frameworks like critical race theory and decolonial approaches.

• ENGL 502: Research Methods in English Studies (3 credits) – Archival research, digital humanities, and ethical scholarship on underrepresented texts.

• ENGL 601: Seminar in African American Rhetoric (3 credits) – Analysis of oratory and writing from figures like Sojourner Truth to Barack Obama.

• ENGL 602: Intercontinental Literatures (3 credits) – Comparative study of English-language works from Africa, the Americas, and Europe, focusing on transnational themes.

Elective Courses (Sample Selection):

• ENGL 510: Postcolonial Literature and Language (3 credits) – Texts from Chinua Achebe to Arundhati Roy, examining empire and resistance.

• ENGL 520: Gender and Sexuality in Literature (3 credits) – Intersectional readings, including queer Black voices like Audre Lorde.

• ENGL 610: Pedagogy of English (3 credits) – Strategies for teaching diverse literatures in multicultural classrooms.

• ENGL 620: Environmental Literature and Justice (3 credits) – Eco-criticism through global lenses, linking climate narratives to social equity.

• ENGL 710: Special Topics: Juneteenth in American Culture (3 credits) – Cultural studies of Juneteenth's literary and linguistic impact.

Thesis/Exam:

• ENGL 699: MA Thesis (6 credits) – Original research, e.g., on language reclamation in African American communities.

Graduate Program: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in English

Program Overview: This 4-6 year program fosters original scholarship and leadership in English studies. It emphasizes interdisciplinary research on language, literature, and culture, with a Juneteenth-inspired commitment to equity and global perspectives. Graduates pursue academia, policy, or cultural consulting.

Degree Requirements:

• Total credits: 60 (post-MA; includes coursework and dissertation).

• Core courses: 18 credits.

• Electives: 12 credits.

• Qualifying exams, dissertation proposal, and defense.

• Teaching or research assistantship required.

• Minimum GPA: 3.3.

Core Courses:

• ENGL 701: Doctoral Seminar in Literary History (3 credits) – Chronological and thematic survey with a focus on liberation eras.

• ENGL 702: Advanced Linguistics and Discourse Analysis (3 credits) – Examining power dynamics in language, including code-switching in diaspora communities.

• ENGL 801: Intercultural Communication (3 credits) – Theories of global Englishes and their role in social movements.

• ENGL 802: Ethics in Literary Research (3 credits) – Addressing representation, appropriation, and inclusive methodologies.

• ENGL 901: Dissertation Workshop (3 credits) – Guidance on proposal development and scholarly writing.

• ENGL 902: Professional Development in Academia (3 credits) – Publishing, conferencing, and job market preparation.

Elective Courses (Sample Selection):

• ENGL 710: Archival Studies in Black Literature (3 credits) – Hands-on work with historical texts from emancipation archives.

• ENGL 720: Comparative Global Literatures (3 credits) – Cross-cultural analysis, e.g., African vs. African American novels.

• ENGL 810: Digital Humanities and Cultural Preservation (3 credits) – Using tech to document and analyze endangered languages and stories.

• ENGL 820: Literature of Resistance (3 credits) – From abolitionist writings to contemporary activism.

• ENGL 910: Interdisciplinary Topics: English and History (3 credits) – Collaborations with history departments on Juneteenth-related themes.

Dissertation:

• ENGL 999: PhD Dissertation (24 credits) – Original contribution, such as a study on linguistic evolution in post-emancipation societies.

This framework can be adapted based on faculty expertise, student needs, or partnerships (e.g., with HBCUs or international institutions). If you'd like me to expand on specific courses, add syllabi outlines, or incorporate elements like online delivery or assessment rubrics, just let me know!