School of English Language & Literature
Director: Tracey A. Sedinger, Ph.D.
The discipline of English deals with literature and language and other related subjects such as creative writing, film, folklore, myth, and cultural studies. Creative artists refuse to be limited in their subjects or approaches.
Literature, as one writer has said, is “an eloquent artistic document, infinitely varied, of mankind's journey; the autobiography of the race's soul.” The questions we ask in studying literature are as “infinitely varied” as those asked by poets, playwrights and novelists: What does it mean to be human? How is the individual related to society? By what values should one lead his or her life?
The study of literature and language requires rigorous discipline and sensitivity, a strict adherence to the highest standards of logic, evidence and argumentation, as well as creative response to language and form. One learns to think, research and write critically, while simultaneously developing sensitivity to language and to the complexities of people and situations.
Liberal Arts Emphasis
The English major is excellent preparation for any profession or occupation that stresses language usage, such as writing and teaching-related fields. Graduates of this program will be prepared to enter a variety of professional and graduate level programs, including law, theology, medicine (with appropriate science and mathematics preparation), library science, communications, media and business.
Secondary Teaching Emphasis
The English Education Major prepares English students to serve as high school students after they graduate. In addition to content areas of English literature, language, and writing, the major offers a UNC/partner school program and student-teaching experience.
English B.A. — PTEP
Must be completed after PTEP Phase II and before PTEP Phase IV:
EED 341 Methods and Materials for Teaching Language and Composition in the Secondary School (3) Offered only in Spring
STEP 363 Clinical Experience: Secondary (2) must be taken concurrently with EED 402 Methods for Teaching Literature in Secondary Schools (3)
PTEP provisional admission: completion of at least two courses in the major at UNC with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 in the major.
Admission to Phase III:
1. complete at least 30 hours in the major with a grade point average of 2.75 with no grade lower than a C.
2. retaken major courses when a grade of "D" of "F" is received for a grade of "C" or better (C- is not acceptable).