2004-05 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705
 

Website: www.iup.edu/english

The program of studies in the English Department at IUP focuses on critical thinking and effective reading and writing at all levels. English majors study a wide variety of subjects ranging from literary theory to practical pedagogy, in an atmosphere that encourages and fosters a high degree of professional commitment.

Course choices depend upon a student’s career goals; three specialized majors are offered, each of which undergoes regular revision to reflect the needs of students and the structure of a changing, competitive job market.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in English Humanities offers a wide range of courses in both traditional and nontraditional areas, which allows students to tailor their programs to reflect their own interests and career plans.

English/Pre-Law track offers specialized training for those interested in a career in law or some related field.

The English Education program offers special training for prospective secondary school teachers. IUP’s consistent success in placing graduates from this major in teaching positions suggests that the program is highly regarded among educators outside the university.

English Humanities

The English Department’s Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities curriculum emphasizes the traditional concerns of English literary study by providing a common core of four courses that provide students with a uniform background in English and American literature, after which they are offered a wide range of choices in six substantial areas of required study. These required and controlled-elective courses constitute 30 credits of a major that totals 36; the remaining courses can be any upper-level English elective offerings, but students are urged to explore possibilities carefully with their advisors so as to complete the program best suited to their future goals.

Specifically, after completing the four prerequisite courses and the Liberal Studies English requirements, students must take

• one Period Course (Category A)

• one Form and Theory of Genre Course (Category B)

• one Alternative Literatures Course (Category C)

• one International Literatures Course (Category D)

• one Major Western Authors Course (Category E)

• one Writing, Speech, Linguistics Course (Category F)

• a minimum of two courses beyond these group requirements. These two courses may be from
  one or more of the groups or may be Topics Courses in literature, film, or literary theory.

Students, especially those for whom the B.A. is a terminal degree, are encouraged to seek an internship in their junior or senior year as a means of developing and demonstrating the skills they have acquired.

Since the major can be completed with 36 credits of coursework, students have 25-31 credits outside of the Liberal Studies requirements, depending on their foreign language status, of unspecified coursework. Students should explore their options carefully with their advisor. Beyond the basic requirements of the major, opportunities exist for students to elect courses allowing them to concentrate further in such areas as writing, film, and British or U.S. literature.

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English/Pre-Law Track

Successful lawyers possess excellent skills in writing and speaking and can analyze a problem and explain its solution in clear, logical terms. Pre-Law English prepares the student especially well in these areas and provides the skills and knowledge needed to do well in the law school admissions examination.

Most graduates have had successful internships in the offices of practicing attorneys and government agencies, although an internship remains optional. Students wishing an internship should contact the department director of internships early in their career at IUP. 

Education Program

The English Department offers a program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Education degree in English Education. This program has been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Graduates are prepared to teach in middle, junior high, and senior high schools.

English Education majors fulfill all of the requirements for state certification, including practical experience in methods courses and student teaching; content preparation in a variety of literature, language, and composition courses; and philosophical background in current theories of teaching. Although most students choosing an English Education major will be best prepared for the secondary school classroom, those who opt not to teach will find that their speaking, writing, and management skills may also be useful to the media, governmental services, and business.

Program requirements are available at the English Department office and in the English Education Handbook. Majors must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. They must be formally admitted to English Education, a process that includes application and screening within the English Department as well as an application to the Teacher Certification Program in the College of Education. This screening involves review of the student’s portfolio of written work and faculty evaluations as well as an interview with English Education faculty. Refer to the section “Admission to Teacher Education and Certification” in the College of Education and Educational Technology section of this catalog and the English Education Handbook.

Minor in English

To minor in English, 15 credits in English are required beyond the Liberal Studies requirement of ENGL 101, 121, and 202. Of these 15 credits, no more than 6 credits may be transferred to IUP from another university.

Students who choose to minor in English should, if their major department concurs, substitute ENGL 122 for ENGL 121.

English Honors Program

The honors program is open by departmental permission to declared English majors with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA and a 3.5 GPA in English courses. To determine how honors track courses will be integrated into existing requirements for the English major, students should consult their advisors or a member of the English honors track program committee (HTP).

To apply, students must submit a letter of application, a list of English courses taken (with instructors’ names), and a portfolio demonstrating high-quality work in English courses, to the HTP. To be accepted, students must receive favorable evaluations from a majority of professors of courses taken and portfolio approval by the HTP committee.

Students complete ENGL 480/H/ Distinction in English Seminar, HNRC 499, which fulfills the Liberal Studies Synthesis requirement, and 6 credits in any combination of the following: ENGL 483 (0-6 cr) and 0-6 credits of H-designated major courses, 3 credits of which must be upper-level. Students must earn at least a B in each course completed for the honors track.

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Bachelor of Arts–English

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Bachelor of Arts–English/Pre-Law Track

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Bachelor of Science in Education–English Education (*)

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