Literatures Track
Welcome to the Literatures Track! This track of the English major focuses on the study of literature in its many complex
genres (poetry, fiction, drama, film, graphic novels, digital literature, and more),
historical periods (from the ancient world to the twenty-first century), and cultural
traditions (U.S., British, Multi-Ethnic, World, and Comparative). Our students read
and interpret literature for the urgent questions it raises about identity, ethics,
justice, race, gender, nationality, sexuality, and humanity, even as they develop
concrete career skills in writing, research, critical analysis, information literacy,
and oral communication. Literature is where the meanings are—come discover them with
us!
Why Choose the Literatures Track?
Nurture Your Passion for Literature.
Do you love the written word? Do you relish the sense of personal and intellectual
discovery that comes from engaging with experiences and perspectives different from
your own? Whether your interests lie in fiction or poetry, films or graphic novels,
print or electronic literature, or ancient texts or contemporary ones, you'll find
that the Literatures Track offers you a unique opportunity—as both a writer and reader—to
explore, experience, and actively respond to literature in all of its varied forms.
Enhance Your Career Prospects.
Students in the Literatures Track graduate with a valuable set of job skills. Our
majors learn to read, analyze, and interpret complex texts; write, speak, and communicate
with clarity and confidence; conduct meaningful research in both digital and print
realms; and understand and embrace diversity in our increasingly globalized, multicultural
world. These professional skills are prized by employers not only in fields such as writing, editing, marketing, teaching, and the law, but
also in business, technology, and medicine.
Learn to Master Textual Analysis.
Studying literature trains you to look beneath the surface. As a student in the Literatures
Track, you'll practice theoretically informed, historically minded "close" reading
that equips you to uncover the full range of meanings and interpretations within a
given text. Moreover, you'll find that the research and critical analysis skills that
you bring to bear on a literary work can be applied to nearly every "text" in your
life and career—be it a political ad on TV, a workplace issue, or even the subtle
signals that make up everyday interpersonal dynamics.
Sharpen Your Writing and Communication Skills.
The Literatures Track trains you to be a better writer, not just a better reader.
Our courses emphasize the crucial interplay between attentive reading and compelling
writing, and our students learn to produce high-quality written work that exhibits
style, clarity, and creativity. The Literatures Track faculty have published their
own writing in various genres and venues and are dedicated to giving you the intensive
feedback on your writing that will help you to become a more adept wielder of the
written word. In addition, through class presentations and discussions, you'll develop
your skills as a public speaker capable of articulating arguments and ideas with confidence
and authority.
Develop Your Information Literacy.
Students in the Literatures Track acquire information literacy—the ability to find,
evaluate, and make use of relevant sources of information in both print and digital
spheres. Our courses teach you how to synthesize and analyze information and to do
so effectively and ethically. We also train you to identify relevant research topics,
generate compelling ideas, pose productive questions, and assert your own critical
voice as you shape your research into a cogent piece of writing and analysis.
Grapple with Big Questions.
Literature prompts us to ask big questions about ourselves and our relationship to
the world. Who am I? What path should I follow? How do we distinguish perception from
reality? What is subjectivity? How do race and gender shape our lives? How can individuals
contribute to solving large-scale social and political problems? As a student in the
Literatures Track, you'll gain confidence in your ability to read literary works for
the profound questions they pose and for the nuanced responses they offer. You'll
also find that this spirit of inquiry prepares you to succeed in any professional
context—and to live a more examined, fulfilling life.
Experience an Exciting Field.
The field of literary studies has grown exponentially in recent decades to emphasize
multiethnic and women's writing, digital literature, global/transnational perspectives,
and an energized attention to the symbiosis between literature's social and aesthetic
dimensions. With innovative courses and accomplished faculty who specialize in some
of the most exciting growth areas in the field—including environmental writing, digital
humanities, law and literature, performance studies, and more—we bring these disciplinary
developments directly to you in the classroom.
Join a Dynamic Literary Community.
Literatures Track students are drawn together by a love of literature, a passion for
reading and writing, and an investment in complex texts and ideas. This sense of community
comes through not only in our dynamic class discussions guided by expert faculty,
but also in out-of-class activities such as our newly established Literatures Colloquium
series and our "Literary Luncheon" pizza parties. Come join us!
Advising Sheets
The advising sheets posted here come from the most recent version of the English Majors' Handbook . Students in the Literatures Track should print and save the sheet that corresponds
to their specific degree program (i.e., B.A. or B.S.Ed.); fill in the sheet as they
make their way through the major; and discuss their progress at least once per semester
with their advisor.
Courses
Students in the Literatures Track take intermediate-level courses in three separate
categories—Genre, U.S. Multi-Ethnic & World, and Historical Contexts. Be sure to consult
the advising sheet for your specific degree program to see how many classes you should
take from each category. Note that B.S.E.d students must also fulfill specific Literature
categories—American, British, and World—that overlay the track requirements; these additional categories help prepare B.S.Ed. majors for
the Praxis II exams.
Learning Outcomes
Literatures Track courses are designed to fulfill specific learning outcomes that
work in addition to the English Department's own program outcomes. The Literatures
Track Committee assesses these track-specific outcomes using sample papers drawn from
portfolios submitted by graduating seniors.
