English BA

Major: English
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 181.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 23.0101

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 25-1123

Secondary Education Concentration

English majors who select the concentration in Secondary Education 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. Students receive a strong grounding in English to prepare for a career in teaching.

The concentration offers additional courses, including coursework and student teaching through the School of Education, that prepare students to meet the certification requirements for a career as a high school English teacher.  

For more information about this program, please visit the Department of English & Philosophy web page.

Degree Requirements

University Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
UNIV H101The Drexel Experience1.0
UNIV H201Looking Forward: Academics and Careers1.0
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
Symbolic Logic II
Engaging the Natural World **6.0-8.0
Understanding Society and Human Behavior **6.0-8.0
Analyzing Cultures and Histories **6.0-8.0
Cultivating Global Competence **6.0-8.0
Perspectives in Diversity **3.0-4.0
Language Requirement (two consecutive courses in a foreign language, reaching at least 103) ***8.0
Major Requirements
Core Courses
English Seminars
ENGL 195English Freshman Seminar 3.0
ENGL 490Seminar in English and American Literature3.0
ENGL 492Seminar in World Literature3.0
Language at Work (choose 1)3.0
Intro to Rhetorical Theory
Intro to Digital Humanities
Writing
WRIT 195Threshold Concepts in Writing Studies3.0
WRIT 200Language Puzzles and Word Games: Issues in Modern Grammar3.0
WRIT 225Creative Writing3.0
Literature
ENGL 207African American Literature3.0
ENGL 315Shakespeare3.0
ENGL 325Topics in World Literature3.0
ENGL 355Women and Literature3.0
Education Seminars
EDUC 106First Year Seminar: A Case of Schools and Cities1.0
EDUC 107First Year Seminar: Exploring Pedagogies1.0
EDUC 108First Year Seminar: Designing Learning Spaces 1.0
EDUC 205Sophomore Pedagogy Seminar1.0
EDUC 305Junior Pedagogy Seminar1.0
EDUC 405Senior Pedagogy Seminar1.0
English Education Concentration
English Education Language & Methods
COM 230Techniques of Speaking3.0
EDUC 358English Teaching Methods 0.0,3.0
INFO 101Introduction to Computing and Security Technology3.0
LING 101Introduction to Linguistics3.0
WRIT 211Advanced Composition3.0
Literature Surveys (choose 3)9.0
Classical to Medieval Literature
Renaissance to the Enlightenment
Romanticism to Modernism
Survey of World Literature
Post-Colonial Literature
American Literature I
American Literature II
British Literature I
British Literature II
Young Adult Literature3.0
Young Adult Fiction
Education Certification
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics4.0
EDEX 142Special Education Foundations: Referral and Assessment3.0
EDEX 344Inclusive Practices3.0
EDEX 368Literacy and Content Skill Development PK-123.0
EDLT 325Design for Learning with Digital Media3.0
EDUC 101Foundations in Education I: A Historical and Philosophical Perspective3.0
EDUC 123Adolescent Development3.0
EDUC 308Creating a Positive Classroom Climate3.0
EDUC 312Educational Policy, Law & Advocacy3.0
EDUC 322Evaluation of Instruction3.0
EDUC 409Teaching Practicum9.0
EDUC 410Student Teaching9.0
HIST 201United States History to 18154.0
or HIST 202 United States History, 1815-1900
or HIST 203 United States History since 1900
MATH 173Introduction to Analysis C3.0
or MATH 107 Probability and Statistics for Liberal Arts
NFS 100Nutrition, Foods, and Health2.0
or NFS 101 Introduction to Nutrition & Food
SOC 335Sociology of Education3.0
Total Credits178.0-192.0
*

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 and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

See Core Curriculum List for complete list of course options.

Students taking the Education Concentration should select the following Core Curriculum courses in order to complete their education certification requirements in a timely manner:

***

Select two consecutive courses at the 102-499 level within the same subject code: ARBC, CHIN, FREN, GER, JAPN, KOR, SPAN.

Language courses may count toward the College Core Curriculum requirements in Cultivating Global Competence, in which case students may take a corresponding number of free electives.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4 year, 1 co-op

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
EDUC 101 Foundations in Education I: A Historical and Philosophical Perspective 3.0
EDUC 106 First Year Seminar: A Case of Schools and Cities 1.0
ENGL 101
Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research
or English Composition I
3.0
ENGL 195 English Freshman Seminar 3.0
UNIV H101 The Drexel Experience 1.0
Developing Quantitative Reasoning (recommend MATH 171) 3.0-4.0
 Credits14-15
Winter
CIVC 101 Introduction to Civic Engagement 1.0
EDUC 107 First Year Seminar: Exploring Pedagogies 1.0
EDUC 123 Adolescent Development 3.0
ENGL 102
Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing
or English Composition II
3.0
WRIT 200 Language Puzzles and Word Games: Issues in Modern Grammar 3.0
Developing Quantitative Reasoning (recommend MATH 172) 3.0-4.0
 Credits14-15
Spring
EDEX 142 Special Education Foundations: Referral and Assessment 3.0
EDUC 108 First Year Seminar: Designing Learning Spaces 1.0
ENGL 103
Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres
or English Composition III
3.0
ENGL 207 African American Literature 3.0
MATH 173 Introduction to Analysis C 3.0
WRIT 195 Threshold Concepts in Writing Studies 3.0
 Credits16
Summer
VACATION  
 Credits0
Second Year
Fall
EDEX 344 Inclusive Practices 3.0
EDUC 205 Sophomore Pedagogy Seminar 1.0
EDUC 312 Educational Policy, Law & Advocacy 3.0
WRIT 225 Creative Writing 3.0
Literature Survey 3.0
Perspectives in Diversity (recommend EDUC 365) 3.0-4.0
 Credits16-17
Winter
INFO 101 Introduction to Computing and Security Technology 3.0
LING 101 Introduction to Linguistics 3.0
Foreign Language 4.0
Literature Survey 3.0
Understanding Society and Human Behavior (recommend PSY 101) 3.0-4.0
 Credits16-17
Spring
COOP 101 Career Management and Professional Development * 1.0
EDEX 368 Literacy and Content Skill Development PK-12 3.0
EDUC 305 Junior Pedagogy Seminar 1.0
Analyzing Cultures and Histories (recommend ARTH 101 or 102 or 103) 3.0-4.0
Analyzing Cultures and Histories (recommend MUSC 130) 3.0-4.0
Foreign language 4.0
 Credits15-17
Summer
ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics 4.0
EDUC 322 Evaluation of Instruction 3.0
ENGL 315 Shakespeare 3.0
HIST 201
United States History to 1815
or United States History, 1815-1900
or United States History since 1900
4.0
Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0
 Credits17-18
Third Year
Fall
COOP EXPERIENCE  
EDUC 358 English Teaching Methods 3.0
 Credits3
Winter
COOP EXPERIENCE  
Literature Survey 3.0
 Credits3
Spring
COM 230 Techniques of Speaking 3.0
ENGL 325 Topics in World Literature 3.0
ENGL 490 Seminar in English and American Literature 3.0
UNIV H201 Looking Forward: Academics and Careers 1.0
WRIT 211 Advanced Composition 3.0
Understanding Society and Human Behavior (recommend PSY 320) 3.0-4.0
 Credits16-17
Summer
ENGL 304 Young Adult Fiction 3.0
SOC 335 Sociology of Education 3.0
Engaging the Natural World (recommend ENVS 260) 3.0-4.0
Engaging the Natural World (recommend PHYS 181) 3.0-4.0
WRIT 212
Intro to Rhetorical Theory
or Intro to Digital Humanities
3.0
 Credits15-17
Fourth Year
Fall
EDUC 308 Creating a Positive Classroom Climate 3.0
EDUC 409 Teaching Practicum 9.0
 Credits12
Winter
EDLT 325 Design for Learning with Digital Media 3.0
EDUC 410 Student Teaching 9.0
 Credits12
Spring
EDUC 405 Senior Pedagogy Seminar 1.0
ENGL 355 Women and Literature 3.0
ENGL 492 Seminar in World Literature 3.0
NFS 100 Nutrition, Foods, and Health 2.0
Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0
 Credits12-13
 Total Credits181-192
*

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 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

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
EDUC 101 Foundations in Education I: A Historical and Philosophical Perspective 3.0
EDUC 106 First Year Seminar: A Case of Schools and Cities 1.0
ENGL 101
Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research
or English Composition I
3.0
ENGL 195 English Freshman Seminar 3.0
UNIV H101 The Drexel Experience 1.0
Developing Quantitative Reasoning (recommend MATH 171) 3.0-4.0
 Credits14-15
Winter
CIVC 101 Introduction to Civic Engagement 1.0
EDUC 107 First Year Seminar: Exploring Pedagogies 1.0
EDUC 123 Adolescent Development 3.0
ENGL 102
Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing
or English Composition II
3.0
WRIT 200 Language Puzzles and Word Games: Issues in Modern Grammar 3.0
Developing Quantitative Reasoning (recommend MATH 172) 3.0-4.0
 Credits14-15
Spring
COOP 101 Career Management and Professional Development * 1.0
EDEX 142 Special Education Foundations: Referral and Assessment 3.0
EDUC 108 First Year Seminar: Designing Learning Spaces 1.0
ENGL 103
Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres
or English Composition III
3.0
ENGL 207 African American Literature 3.0
MATH 173 Introduction to Analysis C 3.0
WRIT 195 Threshold Concepts in Writing Studies 3.0
 Credits17
Summer
VACATION  
 Credits0
Second Year
Fall
COOP EXPERIENCE  
 Credits0
Winter
COOP EXPERIENCE  
 Credits0
Spring
EDEX 368 Literacy and Content Skill Development PK-12 3.0
EDUC 305 Junior Pedagogy Seminar 1.0
Analyzing Cultures and Histories (recommend ARTH 101, 102, or 103) 3.0-4.0
Analyzing Cultures and Histories (recommend MUSC 130) 3.0-4.0
Foreign Language 4.0
 Credits14-16
Summer
ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics 4.0
EDUC 322 Evaluation of Instruction 3.0
ENGL 315 Shakespeare 3.0
HIST 201
United States History to 1815
or United States History, 1815-1900
or United States History since 1900
4.0
Foreign language 4.0
 Credits18
Third Year
Fall
COOP EXPERIENCE  
EDUC 358 English Teaching Methods 3.0
 Credits3
Winter
COOP EXPERIENCE  
 Credits0
Spring
COM 230 Techniques of Speaking 3.0
ENGL 325 Topics in World Literature 3.0
ENGL 490 Seminar in English and American Literature 3.0
WRIT 211 Advanced Composition 3.0
UNIV H201 Looking Forward: Academics and Careers 1.0
Understanding Society and Human Behavior (recommend PSY 101) 3.0-4.0
 Credits16-17
Summer
ENGL 304 Young Adult Fiction 3.0
SOC 335 Sociology of Education 3.0
Engaging the Natural World (recommend ENVS 260) 3.0-4.0
Engaging the Natural World (recommend PHYS 181) 3.0-4.0
Literature Survey 3.0
 Credits15-17
Fourth Year
Fall
COOP EXPERIENCE  
 Credits0
Winter
COOP EXPERIENCE  
 Credits0
Spring
EDEX 344 Inclusive Practices 3.0
EDUC 205 Sophomore Pedagogy Seminar 1.0
EDUC 312 Educational Policy, Law & Advocacy 3.0
WRIT 225 Creative Writing 3.0
Literature Survey 3.0
Perspectives in Diversity (recommend EDUC 365) 3.0-4.0
 Credits16-17
Summer
INFO 101 Introduction to Computing and Security Technology 3.0
LING 101 Introduction to Linguistics 3.0
Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0
Literature Survey 3.0
Understanding Society and Human Behavior (recommend PSY 320) 3.0-4.0
WRIT 212
Intro to Rhetorical Theory
or Intro to Digital Humanities
3.0
 Credits18-20
Fifth Year
Fall
EDUC 308 Creating a Positive Classroom Climate 3.0
EDUC 409 Teaching Practicum 9.0
 Credits12
Winter
EDLT 325 Design for Learning with Digital Media 3.0
EDUC 410 Student Teaching 9.0
 Credits12
Spring
EDUC 405 Senior Pedagogy Seminar 1.0
ENGL 355 Women and Literature 3.0
ENGL 492 Seminar in World Literature 3.0
NFS 100 Nutrition, Foods, and Health 2.0
Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0
 Credits12-13
 Total Credits181-192
*

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 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

  • 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.