Designed to produce skilled and sophisticated readers and writers, the University of Toledo English major gives students sound academic preparation while providing flexible professional options. It involves not only the study of great literature but essential practice in the skill of reading, a skill necessary for communicating and understanding in a complex world. Alumni of the English department find these skills valuable in the classroom, in publications of all kinds, and in law, politics, and business. The major also provides a solid background for students considering graduate study in English; for those students, and others interested in the challenge of an independent project, the department's Honors Program is recommended.
General Literature: This concentration is intended to provide a solid background in the skills of literary criticism and the knowledge of literary history. In addition to the major core, this concentration requires four courses leading to an understanding of literature advanced in both breadth - through coverage of major historical categories - and depth - through investigation of a single author.
American Literature: The American Literature builds on the requirements for the General Literature Concentration, including many of the same courses but focusing the student’s studies in American literary history.
General Writing: A literature concentration, based on the model of General Literature, with an extra emphasis on writing courses. General Writing is intended to supplement literary study to give the student a broad background in writing skills.
Creative Writing: The Creative Writing Concentration is intended for students with a serious interest in writing poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction, students who are considering obtaining an MFA in Creative Writing. The major is focused around three writing workshops, which build skills in specific genres through rigorous revision and peer review, and the capstone course, designed to prepare student work for applications to graduate school or submission to literary journals.
Click on the links above for specific requirements for each concentration.
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