English (BA)

Description

Students in the English program read, critique and write about the best novels, short stories, plays, poetry, hypertexts and films ever created. Over the course of their studies, students earning a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English also develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, technological savvy, artistic abilities, historical and cultural awareness and a wide range of writing proficiencies. Many go on to graduate programs in literature, law, film and cultural studies.

Our graduates also are in high demand in a variety of fields, including teaching; information sciences; creative, professional, and technical writing; editing and publishing; counseling; business; law; web-design; research; information management; and corporate consulting.

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    Degree Requirements

    To obtain this undergraduate degree, the student must fulfill the requirements of the University Core Curriculum, the requirements for the program major and have completed a minimum of 126 credit hours.

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    Requirements of the Major (36 credits)

    All English majors develop a foundational knowledge of literary genres, periods and critical approaches. Within the major, they choose between four areas of concentration: literature, creative writing, professional writing and secondary education.

    (Please note that transfer students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours in English at Detroit Mercy.)

    All English Majors Must Complete One of the Following (3 credits):

    • ENL 2350 Study of Fiction (3 credits)
    • ENL 2450 Study of Poetry (3 credits)
    • ENL 2650 Study of Drama (3 credits)
    • ENL 2800 Introduction to Media Studies (3 credits)
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    English Majors with Concentrations in Literature, Creative Writing or Professional Writing Must Complete Six of the Following (18 credits):

    • ENL 3110 American Literature to 1865 (3 credits)
    • ENL 3120 American Literature 1865-1920 (3 credits)
    • ENL 3200 Medieval Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 3210 Renaissance Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 3220 English Literature of the 18th Century (3 credits)
    • ENL 3230 English Literature of the 19th Century (3 credits)
    • ENL 3340 Transatlantic Modernisms (3 credits)
    • ENL 3350 Post-1945 Literature (3 credits)

    15 credits of special interest study meeting the requirements of one of the following four concentrations:

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    Concentration in Literature

    One of the Following (3 credits):

    • ENL 2360 Diverse Voices in Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 2850 African American Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 2950 Study of Folklore (3 credits)
    • ENL 3900 Children's Literature (3 credits)

    One of the Following (3 credits):

    • ENL 3260 History of the English Language (3 credits)
    • ENL 4090 Modern American English (3 credits)
    • ENL 4800 Literary Criticism (3 credits)

    Three of the Following (9 credits):

    • ENL 4600 Topics in Literary History (3 credits)
    • ENL 4610 Topics in Literature and Science (3 credits)
    • ENL 4620 Topics in Genre (3 credits)
    • ENL 4630 Topics in Author Studies (3 credits)
    • ENL 4640 Topics in Race (3 credits)
    • ENL 4650 Topics In Gender (3 credits)
    • ENL 4660 Topics in Class (3 credits)
    • ENL 4670 Topics in Cultural Studies (3 credits)
    • ENL 4680 Topics in World Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 4690 Topics in Literary Religion (3 credits)

    All English majors must submit a portfolio demonstrating substantive work and writing. Students should consult with their advisor for details and click here for  Portfolio Requirement instructions.

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    Concentration in Creative Writing

    Acceptance into the Concentration in Creative Writing is by portfolio submission. Students who have taken ENL 2050 and at least one literature class may submit a track portfolio to the Creative Writing Committee. Portfolios are evaluated once a semester. Students not accepted should take classes fulfilling the Literature Concentration requirements, and may re-apply. It is recommended that students who wish to be admitted to the Concentration in Creative Writing take ENL 2450: Introduction to Poetry as their gateway course.

    • ENL 2050 Introduction to Creative Writing (3 credits)

    One of the Following (3 credits):

    • ENL 3010 Writing of Fiction (Prerequisite ENL 2050 or permission of Creative Writing Director) (3 credits)
    • ENL 3020 Writing of Poetry (Prerequisite ENL 2050 or permission of Creative Writing Director) (3 credits)
    • ENL 3040 Writing of Screenplays (3 credits)
    • ENL 3050 Freelance Writing for Print and Web (3 credits)
    • ENL 3070 Writing of Creative Nonfiction (3 credits)

    Two of the Following (6 credits): At least one course must be at the 4000-level.

    • ENL 2010 The Journal (3 credits)
    • ENL 3010 Writing of Fiction (3 credits)
    • ENL 3020 Writing of Poetry (3 credits)
    • ENL 3040 Writing of Screenplays (3 credits)
    • ENL 3050 Freelance Writing for Print and Web (3 credits)
    • ENL 3070 Writing of Creative Nonfiction (3 credits)
    • ENL 4010 Advanced Writing of Fiction (Prerequisite ENL 3010) (3 credits)
    • ENL 4020 Advanced Poetry Writing (Prerequisite ENL 3020) (3 credits)
    • ENL 4040 Advanced Writing of Screenplays (Prerequisite ENL 3040) (3 credits)
    • ENL 4050 Editorial Processes and Products (3 credits)

    One of the Following (3 credits):

    • ENL 4800 Literary Criticism (3 credits)
    • ENL 4900 Senior Seminar (taught by a Creative Writing faculty member) (3 credits)

    All English majors must submit a portfolio demonstrating substantive work and writing. Students should consult with their advisor for details and click here for Portfolio Requirement instructions.

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    Concentration in Professional Writing

    • ENL 2060 Introduction to Professional Writing (3 credits)

    Two of the Following (6 credits):

    • ENL 2040 Business Writing (3 credits)
    • ENL 3030 Technical Writing (3 credits)
    • ENL 3050 Freelance Writing for Print and Web (3 credits)
    • ENL 3060 Research and Research Writing (3 credits)
    • ENL 3260 History of the English Language (3 credits)

    Both of the Following (6 credits):

    • ENL 4050 Editorial Processes and Products (3 credits)
    • ENL 4090 Modern American English (3 credits)

    All English majors must submit a portfolio demonstrating substantive work and writing. Students should consult with their advisor for details and click here for Portfolio Requirement instructions.

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    Concentration in Secondary Certification in English (36 credit hours)

    In accordance with the conditions of approval from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), this is a 36 credit hour teaching major.

    • ENL 2050 Introduction to Creative Writing (3 credits)
    • ENL 3260 History of the English Language (3 credits)
    • ENL 3910 Young Adult Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 4630 Topics in Author Studies (3 credits)

    Pick one:

    Pick one:

    • ENL 2360 Diverse Voices in Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 2850 African American Literature (3 credits)

    Pick one:

    • ENL 3010 Writing of Fiction (3 credits)
    • ENL 3020 Writing of Poetry (3 credits)
    • ENL 3060 Research and Research Writing (3 credits)
    • ENL 4090 Modern American English (3 credits)

    Pick one:

    • ENL 3110 American Literature to 1865 (3 credits)
    • ENL 3120 American Literature 1865-1920 (3 credits)

    Pick one:

    • ENL 3200 Medieval Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 3210 Renaissance Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 3220 English Literature of 18th Century (3 credits)
    • ENL 3230 English Literature of 19th Century (3 credits)

    Pick two that you have not already taken:

    • ENL 3110 American Literature to 1865 (3 credits)
    • ENL 3120 American Literature 1865-1920 (3 credits)
    • ENL 3200 Medieval Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 3210 Renaissance Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 3220 English Literature of 18th Century (3 credits)
    • ENL 3230 English Literature of 19th Century (3 credits)
    • ENL 3340 Transatlantic Modernisms (3 credits)
    • ENL 3350 Post-1945 Literature (3 credits)

    Pick one:

    • ENL 4600 Topics in Literary History (3 credits)
    • ENL 4620 Topics in Genre (3 credits)
    • ENL 4650 Topics in Gender (3 credits)
    • ENL 4670 Topics in Cultural Studies (3 credits)
    • ENL 4800 Literary Criticism (3 credits)
    • ENL 4900 Senior Seminar (3 credits)

    All English majors must submit a portfolio demonstrating substantive work and writing. Students should consult with their advisor for details and click here for Portfolio Requirement instructions.

English Department Minor Programs

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    Literature Minor (18 credits)

    Literature courses offer students the opportunity to develop critical reading and writing skills, while exposing them to a wide range of important literary periods, genres and authors. A primary objective of the Literature minor is to teach students to read, understand, and interpret literature, and to demonstrate their understanding of literary works and related ideas in writing. Also, Literature minors will learn to apply the tools of literary criticism and to be familiar with the major critical approaches to literature. This minor will make the study and critique of literature available to the non-English major, to students who have a passion for reading and for writing about and discussing literature but who choose not to major in English.

    Description of the Literature Minor

    The Literature minor is a minimum 18-credit-hour (6 course) program designed to provide students with a critical understanding of a range of literary periods, genres, authors and literary theory. This minor is relevant to any students who have an interest in reading, writing about, and discussing literature from earlier periods through the present time. The Literature minor would be highly attractive and useful to students in a variety of disciplines, as it would help to develop their critical thinking and writing skills, historical and cultural awareness, and appreciation of the diversity of written expression over the ages.

    In order to declare and successfully complete the Literature minor, students should note the following:

    1. A student must declare a major before declaring a Literature minor.
    2. A student should declare a Literature minor by the first semester of his or her junior year. A Literature minor cannot be added after graduation.
    3. A minimum of 18 credits is required for the Literature minor.
    4. The Literature minor will be certified at the same time that the student's major(s) is certified for graduation.
    5. Prior to graduation, students in the Literature minor program must submit a portfolio that includes at least three substantial critical papers representing a least two genres. Each paper shall include the writing prompt as well as comments by the instructor. Writing portfolios shall also include a self-assessment by the student, between 250-500 words long, that indicates the extent to which he or she can demonstrate the learning outcomes.
    6. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in Literature minor courses in order for the minor to be posted on the official transcript at the time of graduation.
    7. A minor will not be awarded if the student is earning or has already earned a Bachelor's degree with English as the major concentration.
    8. At most, six (6) credit hours within the Literature minor may be counted towards both the major and the minor.
    9. At least 12 credits (or 4 courses) of the courses required for the minor must be taken at Detroit Mercy unless the courses are taken as part of a consortium agreement.
    10. Where indicated for certain courses in the curriculum (see below) students must complete prerequisite courses before taking the specified course in the Literature minor.
    11. No course for the Literature minor can be taken on a pass/fail basis.
    12. None of the courses required for the Literature minor may be taken as directed studies or as independent studies.
    13. A minimum of nine (9) credit hours must come from courses at the 3000 or 4000 levels.
    14. Each student who selects an English minor in Literature will be assigned a faculty advisor from the English Department.
    15. The English Department reserves the right to review and to modify the curriculum for the Literature minor through the same procedures that it uses to review and to modify the English major.

    Literature Minor Curriculum

    1. One of the Following (3 credits):

    Note: Successful completion of one of the classes from this category is a pre-requisite for further coursework in the minor.

    II. One of the Following (3 credits):

    • ENL 2360 Diverse Voices in Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 2850 African American Literature (3 credits)

    III. Three of the following (9 credits):

    • ENL 2550 Studies in Film (3 credits)
    • ENL 3110 American Literature to 1865 (3 credits)
    • ENL 3120 American Literature 1865-1920 (3 credits)
    • ENL 3200 Medieval Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 3210 Renaissance Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 3220 English Literature of the 18th Century (3 credits)
    • ENL 3230 English Literature of the 19th Century (3 credits)
    • ENL 3340 Transatlantic Modernisms (3 credits)
    • ENL 3350 Post-1945 Literature (3 credits)

    IV. One of the Following (3 credits):

    • ENL 4600 Topics in Literary History (3 credits)
    • ENL 4610 Topics in Literature and Science (3 credits)
    • ENL 4620 Topics in Genre (3 credits)
    • ENL 4630 Topics in Author Studies (3 credits)
    • ENL 4640 Topics in Race (3 credits)
    • ENL 4650 Topics in Gender (3 credits)
    • ENL 4660 Topics in Class (3 credits)
    • ENL 4670 Topics in Cultural Studies (3 credits)
    • ENL 4680 Topics in World Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 4690 Topics in Literary Religion (3 credits)

    Total number of credits: 18

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    Creative Writing Minor (18 credits)

    The Creative Writing minor is a minimum 18 credit-hour (6 course) program designed to provide students the tools for a deeper understanding of how to use language and to express the intricacies of human experience. The creative writing minor gives students the opportunity to undertake creative writing projects—especially the writing of poetry, fiction, screenplays, and non-fiction—which emphasize the process of writing as well as the end product. In their classes, students read and study a variety of key published works, write from prompts and assignments and learn techniques for harnessing their own creative resources. The peer workshop, or group critique of student writing, is the cornerstone of growth as a writer.

    In order to declare and successfully complete the Creative Writing minor, students should note the following:

    1. A student must declare a major before declaring a Creative Writing minor.
    2. A student should declare a Creative Writing minor by the first semester of his or her junior year. A Creative Writing minor cannot be added after graduation.
    3. A minimum of 18 credits is required for the Creative Writing minor.
    4. The Creative Writing minor will be certified at the same time that the student's major(s) is certified for graduation.
    5. Prior to graduation, students in the Creative Writing minor program must submit a portfolio that includes at least three substantial pieces, from at least two genres (i.e., poetry and fiction). Writing portfolios shall also include a self-assessment by the student, between 250-500 words long, that indicates the extent to which he or she can demonstrate the learning outcomes.
    6. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in Creative Writing minor courses in order for the minor to be posted on the official transcript at the time of graduation.
    7. A minor will not be awarded if the student is earning or has already earned a Bachelor's degree with English as the major concentration.
    8. At most, six (6) credit hours within the Creative Writing minor may be counted towards both the major and the minor.
    9. At least 12 credits (or 4 courses) of the courses required for the minor must be taken at Detroit Mercy unless the courses are taken as part of a consortium agreement.
    10. Where indicated for certain courses in the curriculum (see below) students must complete prerequisite courses before taking the specified course in the Creative Writing minor.
    11. No course for the Creative Writing minor can be taken on a pass/fail basis.
    12. None of the courses required for the Creative Writing minor may be taken as directed studies or as independent studies.
    13. A minimum of nine (9) credit hours must come from courses at the 3000 or 4000 levels.
    14. Each student who selects an English minor in Creative Writing will be assigned a faculty advisor from the English Department.
    15. The English Department reserves the right to review and to modify the curriculum for the Creative Writing minor through the same procedures that it uses to review and to modify the English major.

    Creative Writing Minor Curriculum

    1. One of the Following (3 credits):

    Note: Successful completion of one of the classes from this category is a prerequisite for further coursework in the minor.

    II. The following (3 credits): successful completion of ENL 2050 is a prerequisite for further coursework in the minor.

    • ENL 2050 Introduction to Creative Writing (3 credits)

    III. Two of the Following (6 credits):

    • ENL 3110 American Literature to 1865 (3 credits)
    • ENL 3120 American Literature 1865-1920 (3 credits)
    • ENL 3200 Medieval Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 3210 Renaissance Literature (3 credits)
    • ENL 3220 English Literature of the 18th Century (3 credits)
    • ENL 3230 English Literature of the 19th Century (3 credits)
    • ENL 3340 Transatlantic Modernisms (3 credits)
    • ENL 3350* Post-1945 Literature (3 credits)

    *recommended

    IV. Two of the Following (6 credits):

    • ENL 3010 Writing of Fiction (3 credits)
    • ENL 3020 Writing of Poetry (3 credits)
    • ENL 3070 Writing of Creative Nonfiction (3 credits)
    • ENL 4010 Advanced Writing of Fiction (3 credits)
    • ENL 4020 Advanced Poetry Writing (3 credits)
    • ENL 3040 Writing of Screenplays (3 credits)
    • ENL 4040 Advanced Writing of Screenplays (3 credits)

    Total number of credits: 18

Program Contact Information

Department Chair: Michael Barry, Ph.D.
Briggs Building, Room 220
McNichols Campus

Email: barrymg@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-1050
Fax: 313-993-1166

Department Website