On the way to an English degree, an English major may study a variety of topics, but the four most common areas of study are literature, composition, linguistics, and English education. A student’s focus area can be determined by his or her interests or career goals. Although virtually every English major is required to take some general courses, the area of focus usually dictates the other courses that a student must take.
Because English is usually considered a liberal arts major, students are often required to take classes in other subjects, such as science and math. There are often required English courses for English majors, regardless of the area in which they plan to specialize. After completing these required courses, the student can concentrate on English courses that are specific to his or her goals.
Surveys of American and British literature, which cover a wide range of time periods and authors, are frequently required of all English majors. All English majors are often required to take a Shakespeare course. The specific English course requirements, on the other hand, may differ from one college to the next.
For example, an English major focusing on literature will need to take courses that include reading novels, plays, poetry, and short stories written by English-speaking authors. Students are frequently required to analyze what they have read and form an opinion about the work. Writing papers and participating in class discussions are two ways in which an English major focusing on literature may be required to demonstrate his or her knowledge. English majors can often narrow their focus even further within a literature focus by examining a specific literary period or author.
An English major, on the other hand, will be required to take courses on how to teach students in English classes if they are focusing on education. This could include, for example, taking classes on how to create English course lesson plans. Students interested in composition will take English writing courses, while those interested in linguistics will take courses on the history, use, and structure of the English language, for example.
Many English majors are required to take a theory or criticism class as well. It could be a literary criticism or composition criticism class, depending on the focus. These courses examine various approaches to interpreting works and are essential for the development of critical thinking skills.
Students have the option of taking elective courses in addition to the required English courses, and there is a wide range of options available. If composition is the focus, they might take courses in creative or technical writing or journalism. If you’re interested in literature, electives might include Romantic literature, women’s literature, or world literature. Public speaking and philosophy are two other options for electives.