English Program
Chairperson: V. McDonald
Faculty: S. Ayers, K. Brown, S. Browner, J. Cohen, B. Crachiolo, V. Daniels, K. Egerton, L. Jones, D. Martin, A. Onyedike, R. Sears, B. Wade, and B. Wooten
The Department of English, Theatre, and Speech Communication offers courses in literature (American, British, and other literature, including literature in translation), speech communication, composition, creative writing, theatre, and film. The Department offers the following majors and concentrations—English (with concentrations in Literature and Writing), English Education with Secondary Teaching Certification, Grades 8-12, Theatre, and Speech Communication—as well as a minor in Speech Communication.
The Department has two principal responsibilities: advancing the student's skill in writing, speech, theatre, and critical analysis, and furthering the student's insight into the meaning and value of human experience through the study of literature and other art forms and through the student's own creativity.
Upon graduation, majors proceed into graduate or other professional schools, secondary teaching, theatre work, communications, or numerous other occupations.
Course Categories
English courses are offered in three categories: Literature, Writing, and Language, as outlined below.
Literature Categories
Authors
These courses focus on a specific author or group of authors, guided by an organizing principle that may be centered on concepts, styles, themes, or related influences shared among the works to be studied. These courses may consider authors from different historical eras or nations (including those whose writing is treated in translation). A course in this category might emphasize a single author, or consider significant combinations of authors. See course descriptions for ENG 210 and 310.
Genres
Courses in this category focus on literature and writing based on types of texts—prose (fiction and nonfiction), poetry, or drama—or particular audiences. In addition to investigating individual genres, these courses will examine the concept of genre. See course descriptions for ENG 225 and 325.
Times
These courses focus on literary developments in a specific historical era, or compare/contrast the literature of different eras, or of different cultures. This category is called “Times” because all literary “times” do not present themselves in tidy century-long packages, and all courses involving literary periods do not confine themselves to one particular chronological time. See course descriptions for ENG 200 and 300.
Cultures
Courses in this category will introduce students to traditionally under-represented literatures. Regular offerings include ENG 135 (also AFR); ENG 140 (also APS); ENG 141 (also AFR); ENG 212 (also AFR and WST); ENG 237 (also WST); and ENG 242. This category also can be fulfilled with any 300-level literature course offered by the Foreign Languages department. Also see course descriptions for ENG 205 and 305.
Film
Courses in this category focus on film as an art form, in its own right and/or as compared/contrasted with other art forms. These courses may take a variety of approaches, including (but not limited to): history of film; adaptation; aesthetics and critical appreciation; cultural studies; and narrative. See course descriptions for ENG 220 and 320.
Language Category
Language
These courses focus on English as a modern language, and may take a variety of perspectives: linguistic; cultural; aesthetic; and historical. Emphasis is on language as a system of meaning. Regular course offerings include ENG 330, 387, and LAT 117. This requirement also can be met by taking foreign-language courses through the 103 level.
Writing Categories
Creative Writing
These courses focus on the art of imaginative writing. Emphasis is on the study of particular genres of writing—poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and drama—as well as the practice of those genres. See course descriptions for ENG 282 and 382.
Professional Writing
These courses focus on writing in diverse professional situations. Emphasis is on the study and practice of writing in such fields as journalism and media, law and public policy, science, technology, business, and grant writing, among others. See course descriptions for ENG 280 and 380.
Composition / Rhetoric
These courses focus on academic writing, including classical rhetoric, literacy studies, composition theory/processes, persuasion, the use of research, and the many forms of the academic essay. See course descriptions for ENG 284 and 384.
Majors
- B.A. Degree with a Major in English, with an Area of Concentration in Literature
- B.A. Degree with a Major in English, with an Area of Concentration in Writing
- B.A. Degree with a Major in English Education with Secondary Teaching Certification, Grades 8-12
Notice and Disclaimer
This online publication is the official text of the Berea College Catalog & Student Handbook. Berea College reserves the right to amend, revise, or modify content within this publication at any time.
Effective Date: 9-1-2009
Approved by: Rita Fox
