program description

the study of literature is the study of culture itself: the stories and myths, values and ideals, struggles and conflicts that shape our understanding of ourselves as individuals and of our relationships in the world. courses in the english department are designed to increase students' literary, cultural, and critical awareness, and help them develop the skills necessary to express their ideas effectively both orally and in writing: in addition to literary studies, we offer courses in writing, rhetoric, and public speaking.

degree outcomes:

• enhanced ability to appreciate the aesthetics and pleasures of diverse literary forms
• recognition of literature as a product and producer of social, cultural, and individual identities
• advanced analysis and interpretation of primary course material
• advanced synthesis of relevant scholarly resources
• ability to integrate critical thinking with secondary resources to produce independent scholarship related to course texts and material in writing and presentations
• refinement of academic writing skills, including development of a voice and prose style appropriate to the discourse situation
• understanding of the ethics involved with intellectual property and the practice of scholarship
• ability to participate in a collaborative learning community