Albright's English Department is one of the largest and most diverse departments in the College.
The English Department teaches a wide variety of literature and composition courses in support of the College's general studies programs, and its staff provides courses for Albright's American Civilization Program, Women's and Gender Studies Program, and, in conjunction with the Art Department, Film Studies.
Classroom instruction in creative writing is supplemented by opportunities to edit and write for AGON, Albright College's literary magazine. The English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta, organizes literary and social events throughout the academic year.
The department's core offerings in literature include surveys of all periods of English and American literature, selected readings in world and non-western literature and more intensive study of major writers, periods, genres and critical theories.
The mission of the English Department is to develop students' ability to read literary texts in historical and critical context, and to express their conclusions in lucid writing. To that end, the objectives of the various English literature concentrations are: to train majors in the techniques of literary analysis; to offer a broad background in the central historical and formal developments of English and American literature; to provide a range of options for the study of world literature; to afford opportunities for more advanced study of selected authors and topics including the social role of privilege and marginalization; to introduce the study of critical theory and to provide instruction in the clear and effective expression of thought through written language. Attention is given in selected courses to oral presentation.
top
Concentration in English Language and Literature
Requirements: (13 courses from six groups)
• Group 1: ENG 201, 202; and 204
• Group 2: two from ENG 352, 354, 355, 356, 357
• Group 3: two from ENG 380, 384, 385, 386 or THR 388
• Group 4: two from ENG 366, 368, 372, 373, 374 or THR 389
• Group 5: two more courses from groups 2, 3 or 4, or from the following: ENG 210, 222, 225, 226, 235, 270, 371
• Group 6: ENG 399 and 491
Occasionally the department offers a section of topics in British and American Literature (ENG 390), based on a special area of facultyor student interest. The nature of the topic determines whether ENG 390 satisfies a course requirement in group 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
Full concentrators may use one literature course to satisfy both the general studies humanities-literature requirement and a concentration
requirement.
top
Co-Concentration in English Language and Literature
Requirements:
• ENG 201 and 202
• One of the following: ENG 399 or 491
• One course each from groups 2, 3, 4, and 5, with the exception of ENG 235, listed in the full 12 course concentration
Co-concentrators must take additional courses beyond the required concentration courses to satisfy the general studies humanities-literature requirement.
It is required that co-concentrators take ENG 204 to fulfill that requirement.
top
English and Secondary Education. English concentrators preparing for a career in secondary education take 10 courses and a series of education and other courses chosen by the Education Department. Candidates for teacher certification in English should consult the chair of the Education Department for specific course requirements early in their college experience. The English courses fall into three groups:
• ENG 201, 202, 301, 354, 399 and 491
• Two of the following: ENG 380, 384, 385, 386 or THR 388
• Two of the following: ENG 352, 355, 356, 357, 366, 368, 372, 373, 374, 390 or THR 389; students may substitute ENG 210, 266 or 270 for one of the previous courses. In selecting these courses, students wishing to teach in Pennsylvania should be aware of the state requirement that teachers be prepared in world literature as well as in British and American literature English-secondary education concentrators should take ENG 204 or 384 or 385 to satisfy a general studies humanities requirement.
top
English and Elementary Education Students in English may prepare for certification in elementary education in two ways. The full English and elementary education concentration requires 10 courses in English, specific courses in education and specific courses in general studies. Elementary education also qualifies as a co-concentration and may be combined with the co-concentration program in English.
The full English concentration for elementary education students includes 10 courses from five groups.
• ENG 201, 202, 399 and 491
• One or two from among ENG 352, 354, 355, 356, 357
• One or two from among ENG 380, 384, 385, 386 or THR 388
• One or two from among ENG 366, 368, 372, 373, 374 or THR 389 (a total of five in groups 2, 3 and 4)
• One more from the above groups or ENG 210, 270, 301 or 390.
Full English-Elementary Education concentrators should take ENG 204 or 384 or 385 to satisfy a general studies humanities requirement.
top
