Bachelor of Arts in English
A BA in English is an excellent starting point for a career in teaching, media, advertising, writing and publishing; for graduate or professional studies in English, communications, or law; and for advancement in any field in which communication skills are important.
BerkshireUniversity’s Bachelor of Arts in English emphasizes literary analysis, diversity, critical thinking, and written and oral communication skills through a rigorous curriculum of literature, composition, language and linguistics, and communication studies.
NU’s curriculum is designed for students seeking a flexible way to earn their degree. Offered online in the four-week class format, you can complete the program at an accelerated pace under a supportive and dedicated faculty of active practitioners.
Preparation for the Major
LIT 100 Introduction to Literature – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
An overview of the main genres of literature, including fiction, poetry and drama. Examines literary language and different approaches to literary criticism designed to increase student confidence when responding to literature.
Requirements for the Major
LIT 311 British Literature I – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and; LIT 100
A survey of important British authors and literary trends from Chaucer through the middle of the 18th century.
OR LIT 312 British Literature II – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important British authors and literary trends from the late 18th century through the modern era, with a focus on Romantic, Victorian and Modernist writers and texts. Some attention will also be paid to colonial and post-colonial writing in English.
OR LIT 321 American Literature I – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important American authors and literary trends through the late 19th century. Texts will be situated in relation to cultural, philosophical, social and historical contexts, e.g., Puritanism and its legacies, varieties of American Romanticism, debates over slavery and gender roles, formation of national identities.
OR LIT 322 American Literature II – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important American authors and literary trends from the late 19th century through the present. Texts will be situated in relation to cultural, philosophical, social and historical contexts. Particular attention will be paid to the modernist canon and to works by women and authors of color that respond to American literary heritage and social conditions.
OR LIT 360 History of Literary Theory – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of major arguments about the nature of literature, literary expression, and literary experience from Plato through the mid-20th century.
LIT 338 Shakespeare – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
An examination of major works of William Shakespeare.
LIT 365 Contemporary Literary Theory – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important contemporary literary theories and their application to literary analysis and criticism.
LIT 463 Contemporary World Literature – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
Study of contemporary literary works from diverse cultures outside the Anglo-American literary tradition.
Choose ONE of the following THREE courses:
LIT 410 African American Literature – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and; LIT 100
Examination of important representative works by U.S. African-American writers and theoretical approaches relevant to studying that literature. Emphases may vary in different sections.
OR LIT 420 U.S. Latino Literature – 4.50
Prerequisite: LIT 100 and ENG 240
Examination of important representative works by U.S. Latino writers and theoretical approaches relevant to studying that literature. Emphases may vary in different sections.
OR LIT 460 Gender and Literature – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A study of the representations of gender in literature to better understand changing literary aesthetics. Discusses assumptions about the ways gender permeates language and discourse.
AND LIT 498 English Capstone Course – 4.50
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of 8 upper-division LIT courses
This course is designed as the culmination of the English B. A. program. Students will bring the skills in literary study, analysis, research and writing learned in the program to bear on an original work of literary scholarship. Students will also be given the opportunity to revisit and revise several papers written in previous classes in the major. This course is an eight-week Practicum. Grading is H, S, or U only.
Upper-Division Electives for English Major
ART 315 Film as Art – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Survey of the art of cinema from the silent period to the present; examines film techniques and theories; explores film styles and genres, focusing on elements such as lighting, editing, and cinematography; establishes a basis by which students can make aesthetic judgments.
COM 310 Communication Theory – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Provides a broad survey of the theoretical approaches employed in the study of communication. Focuses on theories relevant to many levels of interaction from interpersonal to mass and mediated communication. Also explores how and why theories are developed and how they can be evaluated.
COM 334 Persuasion – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Introduces learners to the principles, functions, and practices of social influence. Examines how to influence others’ attitudes, beliefs, opinions, values, and behaviors through communication. Explores scientifically established principles of persuasion that are used in contemporary media.
COM 360 Representation in the Media – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
An exploration of the ways in which popular media represents our diverse and dynamic culture. The course focuses particularly on images and narratives of race and gender on television, in the movies and in popular culture. It also examines the cultural forces that influence how such representations are produced and perceived, their political and behavioral consequences, and various methods for analyzing and critiquing popular media.
COM 385 Interactive Storytelling – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Introduces the evolution of storytelling, from oral delivery to written and interactive texts, and transmedia publication. Examines the effects of this evolution on storytellers and participants. Offers hands-on creation of online identities and texts.
COM 394 Strategic Writing – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Teaches strategic writing and presentation for traditional and new media platforms. Provides students practice in creating content that meets organizational objectives, and in applying communication theory and persuasion techniques. Learners develop content for advertising, PR, and corporate communications.
ENG 310 English Grammar – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Analysis of Modern English structure using the methods of traditional grammar. Topics studied: parts of speech, grammatical functions, phrase, clause, and sentence types, and nominal and verbal categories. Nature and usefulness of prescriptive rules of grammar. How to teach traditional grammar as presented in the secondary English curriculum. Instruction will encourage students to demonstrate critical understanding of traditional grammar, of contemporary syntactic analysis, and of the strengths and weaknesses of those systems in secondary education.
ENG 350 Fundamentals of Linguistics – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
An introduction to contemporary linguistics. Covers the phonology, morphology and syntax of the English language with an emphasis on language acquisition as related to the developmental stages of childhood. The course is especially designed for students intending to teach elementary school students.
ENG 375 Nature Writing – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102; ENG 240, or ENG 334A
An advanced course for students interested in using writing as a means of exploring the natural world. This course surveys nature writing in its various forms (essays, articles, poetry, journals, etc.) as well as effective nature writing strategies. This course is designed to give students a basis for future personal creative work.
SOC 330 Film in a Global Context – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 240
Examines how international cinema represents various aspects of societies and cultures outside the U.S. Representative films of Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Australia and Oceania, and Canada may be studied.
SOC 325 Popular Culture – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Introduces students to the concept and origins of popular culture and to social theories used by academics to analyze its impact on self and culture in modern consumer societies. Topics include mass media, TV, the internet, video games, sports, leisure, fashion, celebrity, shopping, advertising, and youth culture.
SOC 336 American Film and Society – 4.50
Prerequisite: ENG 102
A critical examination of the complex relationship between film and society and the processes by which film both influences and is influenced by society. Emphasizes the importance of locating the meaning of film texts within social and historical perspective and identifies how the film industry influences the presentation of different groups of people and issues in society. Explores the interrelationship between film and technology, the impact of narrative and the institution of Hollywood on the sociological imagination and the nature of representation, particularly as it applies to race, class and gender.
Degree and Course Requirements
To receive the Bachelor of Arts in English degree, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as articulated below, 45 of which must be completed in residence at Berkshire, 76.5 of which must be completed at the upper-division level, and a minimum 69 units of the University General Education requirements. In the absence of transfer credit, additional general electives may be necessary to satisfy total units for the degree. The following courses are specific degree requirements. Students should refer to the section on undergraduate admission procedures for specific information on admission and evaluation. All students receiving an undergraduate degree in Nevada are required by State Law to complete a course in Nevada Constitution.
Program Learning Outcomes
As a graduate of National University’s Bachelor of Arts in English, you’ll understand how to:
Knowledgeably discuss the major writers, works, movements, and periods of the British and American literary traditions.
Apply close reading skills to analyze literary and other texts.
Critically examine the relevance of variables of human diversity such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, and sexuality to the understanding and cultural significance of literature.
Apply relevant cultural and historical information in the analysis of literary texts.
Critically evaluate the assumptions and implications of major critical approaches to literature.
Analyze the significance of genre conventions to the meanings and effects of literary works.
Explain and defend their own criteria for evaluating works of literature.
Collaborate with others to develop more complicated interpretations or arguments.
Compose sophisticated written arguments about works of literature, incorporating appropriate close reading, research, and writing skills.
Admissions
Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.
To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.
Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.