English

Both majors are intended to prepare students for graduate study or for a variety of business, professional and teaching careers.

The B.A. program consists of 180 quarter hours of coursework. (Most courses at NLU carry 5 quarter hours of credit.) The Liberal Arts general education requirements make up 69 quarter hours of this total and include 15 quarter hours of courses in English (two composition courses and an English elective). The major consists of an additional 50 hours in English. Students supplement this work with 30 quarter hours in a minor area, or in a language and arts specialization, or in foreign language studies.

The concentration in English, for students majoring in Education or in Liberal Arts, consists of 30 quarter hours beyond the general education requirements.

The English Department offers courses at four Chicago-area sites: Chicago, North Shore, Lisle and Elgin.

The Faculty

Stephen J. Masello (Department Chair)

Joanne B. Koch
Bruce H. Boyer
Terry Magdongon
Joyce B. Markle
Lee C. Ramsey

The English Major

The English major in literature acquaints students with the major writers and periods of English and American literature, with a variety of genres and literary traditions, and with language and critical theory. The English major in composition supplies a foundation in several varieties of writing, in recent English and American literature, and in language, rhetorical, and composition theory.

Both majors are intended to prepare students for graduate study in English or for a variety of business, professional and teaching careers. These majors include the traditional requirements, in addition to innovative course work, for a total of 65 quarter hours in English: 15 quarter hours (3 courses) contained in the General Studies Requirements, plus 50 quarter hours (10 courses) in addition.

Students supplement this work with 30 quarter hours in a minor area, choosing from one of the following: a) a standard departmental minor such as art, philosophy, mathematics, natural science, psychology, social science, theater, or music, or b) a language and arts specialization (defined below), or c) foreign language studies. The remainder of the degree courses may consist of free electives. (See below.)

The English Concentration

The English concentration is a 45 quarter hour program consisting of 15 hours (3 courses) of general studies composition and literature courses and 30 quarter hours (6 courses) in addition. It is intended for students completing K-9 certificates or Liberal Arts Studies. (See next page.)

The English Minor

The standard departmental minor: 30 quarter hours which may consist of 15 quarter hours (3 courses) from the general studies requirements and 15 quarter hours (3 courses) in addition. (See next page.)

The Composition Minor

Students may elect to earn a 30 quarter hour minor specifically in composition. (See next page.)

(1) The English Major in Literature

General Studies English courses 15
LAE305 Major British Writers I 5
LAE306 Major British Writers II 5
LAE406 American Writers II 5
American Writers elective (LAE405 OR 407 OR 408) 5
World Literature (LAE308) OR
Minority Voices (LAE309) OR
Myth and Mythology (LAE313) 5
LAE434 Shakespeare and Elizabethan Drama 5
LAE303 English Language and Linguistics 5
LAE425 Literary Criticism and Interpretation 5
Literature elective (300 or 400 level) 5
Literature or composition elective 5

Total Minimum Hours 65 QH

(2) The English Major in Composition

General Studies English courses 15
LAE301 Advanced Composition 5
LAE302 Introduction to Creative Writing 5
LAE303 English Language and Linguistics 5
LAE406 American Writers II 5
LAE408 Contemporary American Literature 5
LAE410 Modern British Fiction 5
LAE512 Rhetorical Theory 5
LAE420 Current Issues in College Composition 5
Composition elective (300 or 400 level) 5
Composition or literature elective 5

Total Minimum Hours 65 QH

Choice of a standard departmental minor, OR a language and arts specialization, OR a foreign language specialization:

(a) Standard Departmental Minor
See various department listings 30 QH total

(b) Language and Arts Specialization
Art or Music Elective (300 or 400 level) 5
Psychology of Language (LAP304) OR -
Cross-Cultural Communications (LAP348) 5
Oral Interpretation of Literature (LAT212) OR
Oral Interpretation of Drama (LAT213) 5
Introduction to Theater (LAT220) 5
History of Philosophy OR
Philosophy of Religion (LAH310) OR
Religions of the World (LAH315) 5
Folklore (LAS342) OR
Anthropological Linguistics (LAS440) 5

(c) Foreign Language Specialization
See departmental advisor 30 QH or equivalent

Concentration in English (for students majoring in Education or Liberal Arts Studies)

General Studies English Courses* 15
Literary period course (LAE305, 306 405, 406, 407, 408, 410 or 434) 5
LAE303 English Language and Linguistics 5
Literature or composition electives 20

Total Minimum Hours 45

* Survey of the English Language (LAE203) is counted as a general education requirement for Education majors; therefore, it does not count toward a concentration (or major) in English. LAE303 (linguistics) may be substituted for LAE203 in fulfillment of the general education requirement but then must be replaced by an additional literature or composition elective (5 QH) so that English quarter hours still total 45.

The English Minor
General Studies English courses 15
Composition or literature electives 15
Total Minimum Hours 30 QH

The Composition Minor
General Studies English courses 15
LAE301 Advanced Composition 5
Two electives from 300, 400, or 500
level composition courses 10

Total Minimum Hours 30 QH