English BA
Major: English
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 180.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 23.1302
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 27-3043.05
Creative Writing Concentration
English majors who select the concentration in Creative Writing benefit from the full range of courses and opportunities that we offer. These include core courses taken by all our majors, offering a strong foundation in textual and rhetorical analysis along with writing skills.
The concentration offers additional in-depth coursework in creative writing , backed up by opportunities for hands-on experience in writing, editing, and publishing. Students will complete a senior project in creative writing and may take full advantage of the opportunities for growth and experience offered by our Drexel Publishing Group, Writers Room, the Drexel Writing Center, campus publications, and local literary organization.
For more information about this program, please visit the Department of English & Philosophy web page.
Degree Requirements
| University Requirements | ||
| CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
| COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development * | 1.0 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
| ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
| ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
| UNIV H101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
| UNIV H201 | Looking Forward: Academics and Careers | 1.0 |
| College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum ** | ||
| Developing Quantitative Reasoning ** | 6.0-8.0 | |
Two courses in MATH based on placement exams OR | ||
| Symbolic Logic I | ||
or PHIL 121 | Symbolic Logic II | |
| Engaging the Natural World ** | 6.0-8.0 | |
| Analyzing Cultures & Histories ** | 6.0-8.0 | |
| Understanding Society & Human Behavior ** | 6.0-8.0 | |
| Cultivating Global Competence ** | 6.0-8.0 | |
| Perspectives in Diversity ** | 3.0-4.0 | |
| Language Requirement | 8.0 | |
| Select two consecutive courses in a foreign language, reaching at least 103 *** | ||
| ENGLISH MAJOR REQUIREMENTS | ||
| English Core Courses | ||
| Seminars | ||
| ENGL 195 | English Freshman Seminar | 3.0 |
| ENGL 301 | English Major Colloquium (1-credit course, take three times for 3 credits total) | 3.0 |
| ENGL 490 | Seminar in English and American Literature | 3.0 |
| ENGL 492 | Seminar in World Literature | 3.0 |
| Language at Work | ||
| WRIT 212 | Intro to Rhetorical Theory | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 250 | Intro to Digital Humanities | |
| Writing | ||
| WRIT 195 | Threshold Concepts in Writing Studies | 3.0 |
| WRIT 200 | Language Puzzles and Word Games: Issues in Modern Grammar | 3.0 |
| WRIT 225 [WI] | Creative Writing | 3.0 |
| Literature | ||
| ENGL 207 [WI] | African American Literature | 3.0 |
| ENGL 315 [WI] | Shakespeare | 3.0 |
| ENGL 325 | Topics in World Literature | 3.0 |
| ENGL 355 [WI] | Women and Literature | 3.0 |
| Senior Project | ||
| ENGL 495 | Senior Project in Literature | 3.0 |
| Creative Writing Concentration Courses | ||
| Required Workshops | ||
| WRIT 220 [WI] | Creative Nonfiction Writing | 3.0 |
| WRIT 301 [WI] | Writing Poetry | 3.0 |
| WRIT 302 [WI] | Writing Fiction | 3.0 |
| Elective Workshops | 9.0 | |
| Select three additional courses for a minimum of 9.0 credits (at least 2 must be WRIT courses) | ||
| Playwriting I | ||
| Screenwriting I | ||
| Writing in Public Spaces | ||
| Writing Humor and Comedy | ||
| Life is Beautiful | ||
| Writing About the Media | ||
| Literary Editing & Publication | ||
| Writing and Reading the Memoir | ||
| Writing Your Novel | ||
| Writing in Cyberspace: Writing for/about the Web | ||
| Advance Workshops | 3.0 | |
| Select one course for 3.0 credits | ||
| Advanced Poetry Workshop | ||
| Advanced Fiction Workshop | ||
| Publishing Internship | ||
| WRIT 405 | Internship in Publishing | 3.0 |
| Elective in ENGL or WRIT | ||
| Choose any additional course in ENGL (300+) or WRIT (200+) for 3.0 credits | 3.0 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Choose 60.0 credits from any discipline. Consider a second major or minor, or education certification. | 60.0 | |
| Total Credits | 180.0-191.0 | |
Sample Plan of Study
4 year, 1 co-op
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| ENGL 195 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 207 | 3.0 | ||
| UNIV H101 | 1.0 | WRIT 225 | 3.0 | WRIT 195 | 3.0 | ||
| Developing Quantitative Reasoning | 3.0-4.0 | Cultivating Global Competence | 3.0-4.0 | Analyzing Culture and Histories | 3.0-4.0 | ||
| Foreign Language Course | 4.0 | Developing Quantitative Reasoning | 3.0-4.0 | Engaging the Natural World | 3.0-4.0 | ||
| Understanding Society and Human Behavior | 3.0-4.0 | Foreign Language Course | 4.0 | ||||
| 17-19 | 17-19 | 15-17 | 0 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ENGL 301 | 1.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | ENGL 301 | 1.0 | ENGL 325 | 3.0 |
| WRIT 200 | 3.0 | WRIT 301 | 3.0 | ENGL 315 | 3.0 | WRIT 302 | 3.0 |
| WRIT 220 | 3.0 | Analyzing Culture and Histories | 3.0-4.0 | WRIT 212 or ENGL 250 | 3.0 | Elective Workshop | 3.0 |
| Cultivating Global Competence | 3.0-4.0 | Elective Workshop | 3.0 | Free Electives | 9.0 | Free Electives | 6.0 |
| Engaging the Natural World | 3.0-4.0 | Perspectives in Diversity | 3.0-4.0 | ||||
| Understanding Society and Human Behavior | 3.0-4.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| 16-19 | 16-18 | 16 | 15 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ENGL 301 | 1.0 | Free Electives | 15.0 | ||
| WRIT 405 | 3.0 | ||||||
| Free Electives | 9.0 | ||||||
| 0 | 0 | 13 | 15 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ENGL 490 | 3.0 | ENGL 355 | 3.0 | ENGL 495 | 3.0 | ||
| WRIT 401 or 402 | 3.0 | ENGL 492 | 3.0 | UNIV H201 | 1.0 | ||
| Elective Workshop | 3.0 | English Elective (ENGL or WRIT) | 3.0 | Free Electives | 9.0 | ||
| Free Electives | 6.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| 15 | 12 | 13 | |||||
| Total Credits 180-191 | |||||||
- *
-
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
5 year, 3 co-op
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | VACATION | |
| ENGL 195 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
| UNIV H101 | 1.0 | WRIT 225 | 3.0 | ENGL 207 | 3.0 | ||
| Developing Quantitative Reasoning | 3.0-4.0 | Cultivating Global Competence | 3.0-4.0 | WRIT 195 | 3.0 | ||
| Foreign Language Course | 4.0 | Developing Quantitative Reasoning | 3.0-4.0 | Analyzing Culture and Histories | 3.0-4.0 | ||
| Understanding Society and Human Behavior | 3.0-4.0 | Foreign Language Course | 4.0 | Engaging the Natural World | 3.0-4.0 | ||
| 17-19 | 17-19 | 16-18 | 0 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ENGL 301 | 1.0 | WRIT 301 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
| WRIT 200 | 3.0 | Analyzing Culture and Histories | 3.0-4.0 | ||||
| WRIT 220 | 3.0 | Elective Workshop | 3.0 | ||||
| Cultivating Global Competence | 3.0-4.0 | Perspectives in Diversity | 3.0-4.0 | ||||
| Engaging the Natural World | 3.0-4.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| Understanding Society and Human Behavior | 3.0-4.0 | ||||||
| 16-19 | 15-17 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ENGL 301 | 1.0 | ENGL 325 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
| ENGL 315 | 3.0 | WRIT 302 | 3.0 | ||||
| WRIT 212 or ENGL 250 | 3.0 | Elective Workshop | 3.0 | ||||
| Free Electives | 9.0 | Free Electives | 6.0 | ||||
| 16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ENGL 301 | 1.0 | Free Electives | 15.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
| WRIT 405 | 3.0 | ||||||
| Free Electives | 9.0 | ||||||
| 13 | 15 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Fifth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ENGL 490 | 3.0 | ENGL 355 | 3.0 | ENGL 495 | 3.0 | ||
| WRIT 401 or 402 | 3.0 | ENGL 492 | 3.0 | UNIV H201 | 1.0 | ||
| Elective Workshop | 3.0 | English Elective (ENGL or WRIT) | 3.0 | Free Electives | 9.0 | ||
| Free Electives | 6.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
| 15 | 12 | 13 | |||||
| Total Credits 180-191 | |||||||
- *
-
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
Program Level Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of major genres, authors and the cultural and historical contexts of literary periods.
- Demonstrate critical thinking, writing and textual analysis skills
- Demonstrate research skills and facility with terms and methods of critical analysis and synthesis
- Demonstrate strong analytical, communication, technological and writing skills that enable students to make intertextual connections between material in their coursework and examine the relationships between literature and the world.
- By virtue of their coursework, internship and coop experience, be prepared for careers or graduate work in the humanities, law, teaching, professional writing and other fields
English Faculty
Kenneth Bingham, MA (Temple University). Teaching Professor. First-year writing; engineering ethics; literature of baseball.
Valerie Booth, PhD (Emory University). Associate Teaching Professor.
Jakeya Caruthers, PhD (Stanford University). Assistant Professor. English and Africana Studies. Black popular culture, literature, and media representation; black feminist theory; anti-carceral feminism; art and visual culture.
Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Columbia University) Distinguished Professor, Dean of the Pennoni Honors College. Co-editor, Journal of Modern Literature; Host of the Drexel Interview. Nineteenth- and early twentieth-century English and American literature; film studies.
Lisa DiMaio, MEd (Temple University). Teaching Professor. English as a second language
Dan Driscoll, MA (Temple University) Coordinator, Writing Curriculum Initiatives, University Writing Program. Teaching Professor. Associate Director, University Writing Center: Curricular Initiatives. Co-Director, Minor in Writing. First-year writing.
Nomi Eve, MFA (Brown University) Director of the Creative Writing MFA Program. Assistant Teaching Professor.
Robert Finegan, MFA (University of Pittsburgh). Associate Teaching Professor. First-year writing; technical and creative writing.
Edward Fristrom, PhD (State University of New York-Albany). Associate Teaching Professor. Professional writing, creative writing, multimedia, and writing education.
Keunah Han, PhD (Temple University). Associate Teaching Professor. English as a Second Language (ESL)
Cassandra Hirsch, MFA (Rosemont College). Associate Teaching Professor. Writing fiction and memoir; mentoring; community-based learning.
Jonathan Hobratsch, MFA (Texas State University). Assistant Teaching Professor.
Henry Israeli, MFA (University of Iowa) Director of Drexel Writing Festival, Director of Jewish Studies. Associate Teaching Professor. Founder and editor of Saturnalia Books, a publisher of contemporary poetry.
Elizabeth Kimball, PhD (Temple University). Assistant Professor. Rhetorical theory; writing studies; engaged learning; multilingual practice; community-based learning; writing program administration.
Miriam Kotzin, PhD (New York University). Professor. Founding Editor, Per Contra. American literature; genre studies; creative writing; communications.
Roger Kurtz, PhD (University of Iowa) Department Head. Professor. Postcolonial and world literatures, East African literature and culture; trauma theory.
Deirdre McMahon, PhD (University of Iowa). Teaching Professor. 19th-century British literature and culture: empire, critical race studies and analyses of material culture.
Jill Moses, MFA (University of Oregon). Associate Teaching Professor. Contemporary poetry; feminist literature; creative writing.
Christopher T. Nielson, PhD (Purdue University). Teaching Professor. Shakespeare; Drama; early modern literature; British Renaissance literature; medieval literature; world literature; composition studies.
Karen Nulton, PhD (Rutgers University) Director, Writing Assessment. Teaching Professor. Writing assessment; work-integrated-learning (WIL); reflective writing.
Margene Peterson, MA (Rhode Island School of Design). Assistant Teaching Professor. Multilingual learners; mentor; visual rhetorical analysis; anti-racist pedagogy.
Maegan Poland, PhD (University of Nevada, Las Vegas). Assistant Teaching Professor. Creative writing; first-year writing; fiction; memoir.
Elizabeth Polcha, PhD (Northeastern University). Assistant Professor. English and Digital Humanities. Black Atlantic Literature; digital humanities; early American studies; postcolonial and settler colonial studies; gender sexuality studies; environmental studies; history of science; history of the book.
Abioseh Porter, PhD (University of Alberta, Canada) Director of Africana Studies. Professor. Comparative literature; postcolonial literatures
Donald Riggs, PhD (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill). Teaching Professor. Cinematic monsters; science fiction and fantasy literature and film; Renaissance literature; creative writing; first-year writing.
Donna Rondolone, PhD (University of Pennsylvania). Associate Teaching Professor. Medieval literature; Arthurian legend; first-year writing.
Gail Rosen, JD (Temple University). Teaching Professor. Literature and law; first-year writing.
Doreen Alvarez Saar, PhD (SUNY Buffalo). Professor. Early American literature; Eighteenth-century America; race and gender studies.
Sheila Sandapen, PhD (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) Director, First Year Writing Program. Associate Teaching Professor. First-year writing; cultural studies;Black British literature; Cultural Studies; Contemporary British literature; Feminist literature.
Fred A. Siegel, PhD (New York University) Director, First-Year Writing Program. Teaching Professor. Popular theater; dramatic literature, creative non-fiction; first-year writing.
Matthew Ross Smith, MCW (University of Auckland). Assistant Teaching Professor.
Scott Stein, MFA (University of Miami) Director, Drexel Publishing Group. Teaching Professor. Creative writing; fiction and novels; satire and humor; publishing, Kafka; superheroes; first-year writing; Founding Editor, Write Now Philly.
Eva Thury, PhD (University of Pennsylvania). Associate Professor. Classical and world Mythology; classical literature; Superheroes; Vampires; Popular Culture; Mythology and film, Educational software.
Kathleen Volk Miller, MA (Rutgers University). Teaching Professor. Co-Editor,Painted Bride Quarterly (PBQ); creative writing; publishing, literary magazines, writing and neuroplasticity; healing through writing; journaling; personal essay.
Maria Volynsky, EdD (Temple University) Associate Director, First-Year Writing Program; ESL Coordinator. Associate Teaching Professor. TESOL, linguistic diversity, multilingualism, online teaching, social emotional learning, language acquisition, assessment.
Scott Warnock, PhD (Temple University) Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education. Professor. Teaching with technology, online writing instruction; writing administration; learning assessment; faculty development.
Robert A. Watts, MA (Temple University). Associate Teaching Professor. Creative writing; first-year writing.
Vincent Williams, PhD (Temple University). Associate Teaching Professor. First-year writing; the intersection of race, gender, class and urbanism.
Jennifer Yusin, PhD (Emory University) Director Women's and Gender Studies. Associate Professor. LGBTQ+ studies; trans studies; psychoanalytic studies; philosophies of race and gender; global modernisms.
Emeritus Faculty
Jan Armon, PhD (University of Michigan). Associate Teaching Professor. Academic functions of personal writing, composition.
Valarie Arms, PhD (Temple University). Professor Emeritus. Rhetoric and Composition
Richard Astro, PhD (University of Washington) Distinguished Professor. Provost Emeritus. Twentieth-century American literature; literature and sports.
Raymond Brebach, PhD (University of Illinois). Professor Emeritus. Modern British fiction; the novel; textual studies.
Stephen Mandell, PhD (Temple University). Professor. First-year writing; technical writing; speech; American literature.
Harriet Levin Millan, MFA (University of Iowa) Director, Certificate in Writing and Publishing. Associate Teaching Professor. Poetry.
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