Do you love to read, and are you a good writer? If so, you should consider majoring in English.

The study of literature is one of the best ways to develop skills in critical reading, creative thinking and effective writing. By studying the works of great writers, English majors deepen their understanding of themselves, broaden their understanding of the world and become acquainted with the best models in written thought and expression. Through this reading, and through their own extensive and varied writing, English majors learn how societies, groups, and individuals use writing to express themselves and to understand and shape their world; thus, they gain skills and knowledge that will help them succeed in many different kinds of occupations.

The English Major

The English major, one of the most popular majors at Dominican, is designed to help students become reflective, articulate and creative. The English department offers a large course selection, allowing students to choose from three areas of concentration: literature, English education and writing. All English majors must take a senior coordinating seminar, which focuses on the major genres and periods of English and American literature and must pass a comprehensive examination in their last semester.

Literature

Courses in the literature concentration focus on literary genres and periods, individual authors and special topics. The English department offers courses in the history of the novel and drama as well as courses in every major period in American and British literature. Other courses include Introduction to English Studies, in which students explore different critical approaches to written texts; Explorations, a course for majors and non-majors, focusing on a variety of intriguing topics; courses focusing on a single genre (for example, autobiography, poetry, drama and the short story); courses focusing on the literature of a country, region or city (for example, Irish literature, Southern literature, the Chicago Scene in Literature, and Literary London); African-American Literature; World Literature: The Western Epic, which includes the study of Homer, Dante, and Milton; and courses in individual authors such as Chaucer and Shakespeare and in other special topics.

English Education

Students who plan a career in teaching choose the English education concentration, taking courses in literary genres and periods and in the teaching of English, as well as courses in education and the social sciences required for teaching certification. Because the requirements for teaching certification are complex, students with this goal are urged to seek help in planning their programs early in their university career. Students interested in education should refer to the education brochure for information about offerings and requirements.

Writing

Students who choose the writing concentration participate in writing workshops in addition to taking literature courses with other English majors. Writing courses include Introduction to Creative Writing; Writing and Editing Prose; Writing at Work; and Writing Creative Non- Fiction, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. During their final semester, seniors submit for faculty approval a complete portfolio of their writing. Many students in the writing concentration publish works in The Eagle, the university’s literary magazine.

The English Major With A Business Minor

Students who major in English can earn a minor in a business-related field by taking six of the courses required for the business major.

Five-Year BA/MBA

Qualified students may begin graduate-level work in the Brennan School of Business while they are in the university, reducing the time required to complete an MBA degree. The required foundation courses are taken as electives in the undergraduate program. Students take one graduate core course during each semester of their senior year and then take the remaining core courses the following year.