Mississippi University for Women

Department of Languages, Literature & Philosophy

The English Major
— Literature —

The English Major at MUW offers students a wide range of classes in English, American, and World Literature and considerable flexibility when choosing requirements and electives.

Beyond the survey courses, our offerings in English literature range from single author classes on Chaucer, Shakespeare, Spencer, and Milton to period classes in Renaissance Drama, Restoration and 18th Century, Gothic, Romantic, Victorian, and Twentieth Century. American offerings include Early and Late Nineteenth Century, African-American Literature, Twentieth-Century Fiction, and Literature of the South. World Literature offerings include Greek and Roman Mythology and Literature in the Postcolonial World. Other courses that cross national boundaries include Images of Women in Literature, Images of Women in Medieval Literature, Adolescent and Children’s Literature, Modern Poetry, Contemporary Poetry, and Twentieth Century Drama. Special Topics, Seminars, and Internships are also available, as are advanced writing courses and courses in linguistics, the history of the language, and literary theory.

Degree Requirements

Requirements for the English major are meant to be flexible to allow students to tailor their degree to their interests and goals. Please see your catalogue of record for exact requirements, the description that follows is a summary of the most recent requirements. All students take a full literature survey in sequence as part of their core curriculum requirement; one course in Shakespeare; one course in Advanced Grammar, Literary Theory, or History and Structure of the English Language; one advanced writing course; and English Capstone. These required courses help the program ensure that every student is exposed to the core ideas of the English curriculum. Beyond the required courses, students take four literature electives of their choice and one elective in literature, writing, theory, or TESL. Students engage in literary scholarship in all upper-level classes and learn to analyze and interpret works in different genres. Students interested in creative writing may add the Creative Writing Concentration and students interested in teaching English may earn Secondary Education Certification. The English department also offers a TESOL Certification Program.

But Can I Get a Job?
An English major is an excellent preparation for many careers. It fits in well with MUW’s liberal arts core and helps students develop strong skills in writing, communication, and analysis. Some obvious career paths for English majors are in magazine or book publishing, editing, copy editing,or technical writing. Corporate or small business managers often cite writing and communication skills as the ones they look for. Work in the pubic sector for non-profit or government agencies may also be a option. English can be a good major for students interested in law school (see the Pre-Law Emphasis) or in graduate school in English or related fields such as Folklore, Comparative Literature, or Women’s Studies. Here are a few places online where you can find out more about Careers in English