English Literature
Do you enjoy myths and mysteries? Have you always loved reading and writing? Do you get inspired by discussing books, films, and television shows with your friends? An English Literature major at RWU means developing the intellectual and critical thinking skills to analyze what you read and see defend your positions in papers, publications and discussions. At RWU, our student-centered program will teach you the strong writing, research and presentation skills you need to transform your passion into a career.
Course Offerings
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Whether you're interested in magic, nature, romance, or drama, the English Literature Program at RWU has a course for you. Our courses celebrate British and American literature, while offering opportunities to explore authors and works from other traditions, including world literatures in translation and literatures that focus on cultures, genres, periods and themes representative of both non-western and western perspectives.
Magazine
As an RWU English major, learning happens both in and outside the classroom. Our student magazine, Voices, gives you the chance to submit your work and get published. Whether its poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or just snippets of daily life, we want to hear from you. Check out the magazine
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esearch
We take your research seriously. Whether you’re analyzing the role of women in Harry Potter or exploring Marxism in Mean Girls, you will have the opportunity to make connections among pop culture, literature, and the world around you, and present your findings at national conferences.
Special Events
Whether it’s a Victorian high tea in English gardens or a career night to get you excited for your future, there’s always something going on in the English department.
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nternships
Internships in fields like marketing, communications, and publishing, help English majors apply their passions to a career path. Getting real-world experience before graduation will set you up for success.
Your Future
Wondering what you can do with an English Literature major? The possibilities are endless! See where our alumni are working and get inspired.
Degree Requirements
Majors pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in English must satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements and the College speech requirement, COMM 210. In addition, majors must complete the following 14 courses as specified and sufficient electives to total 120 credits. Majors are encouraged to apply electives taken outside the major toward a minor or second major.
To read more about our academic offerings, or to view full course descriptions, please refer to our University Catalog.
Student Learning Outcomes
100-level courses:
- Formulate a succinct, well-constructed thesis statement
- Identify the operative genre differences between novels, plays, and drama
- Conduct close reading of primary texts
- Complete at least two formal short essays (3-5 pages)
- Complete frequent, regular writing assignments—textual commentaries (TC), 1-2 pages
- Master literary terms
- Carry this knowledge and these skills to subsequent English Literature courses
200-level courses:
- Complete annotated bibliographies
- Master more sophisticated literary texts
- Develop more sophisticated/thesis skills
- Complete critical essays of 5-6 pages with both primary and secondary sources
- Deliver formal oral presentations
- In ENG 220 (Literary Analysis)
a) Recognize and apply a number of literary theories to any given text (e.g., Marxism, feminism, post-colonialism, Gender Studies)
b) Complete a critical / research essay: of 8-12 pages
c) Develop the paper in stages: proposal, draft of introduction with thesis statement, outline of paper, and multiple drafts
300/400-level courses:
- Further develop reading/research/writing skills develop in lower levels
- Master additional literary terminology
- Integrate additional theoretical approaches to studying texts with continued emphasis on close reading of primary texts
- Complete a major critical essay of at least 10-12 pages that includes integration of critical sources
- Deliver more sophisticated formal oral presentations
- In ENG 480/481 (Senior Thesis):
a) Compose a formal thesis proposal with outline (ENG 480)
b) Complete a thesis – a minimum of 20-30 pages (ENG 481)
c) Participate in a public colloquium (ENG 481)
Building Her Future Career
Hannah Little, RWU Class of 2020In just two years at Roger Williams University, Hannah Little has gained enough experience to build a career on.
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Faculty Lead Classroom Equity Initiatives Across Campus
The Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship is part of a multifaceted initiative for faculty to reflect on and combat educational injustice in the classroom.
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Student Advocacy Days on March 7-8 will bring together students and faculty from U.S. and Canada to advocate for wrongfully imprisoned scholars.
