2010-2011 - Sweet Briar College

englishSweet Briar Collegeare encouraged to take multiple courses in eachcategory. Some courses may be featured undermore than one category.A student may choose courses for her major thatallow her to study an area of interest in greaterdepth; this may be particularly helpful as studentsprepare for the senior exercise. (For example,a major may focus on a particular historicalperiod, a particular genre, the literature of aparticular social group, or even a more narrowlydefined area of interest.) A student may insteadchoose to craft a major that emphasizes breadth,pursuing courses in a wider range of topics. Weencourage students to take courses in creativewriting as well as courses in other departmentsthat complement their course of study and theirareas of interest in English.Majors who want to study abroad often spendtheir junior year at the University of Londonor the University of St. Andrews, and/or a summerat Oxford University through the VirginiaProgram at Oxford. A student considering studyabroad should consult with her advisor for recommendedpreparatory courses.A student considering graduate school in Englishshould confer with the chair of the departmentto be sure that she has planned an appropriatecurriculum. Since most graduate schoolsrequire two modern languages and some requirea classical language as well, the student shouldhave a reading knowledge of at least one foreignlanguage by the time of her graduation fromSweet Briar.A minimum of six elective courses (18 semesterhours) in English must be taken at Sweet BriarCollege. In addition, all four credits of the seniorexercise must be completed at Sweet Briar, for atotal of 22 semester hours. With the exceptionof ENGL 451, no course used to fulfill majorrequirements may be taken on a P/CR/NC gradingoption.The English and Creative Writing Major(39 semester hours)Required:Senior Exercise:ENGL 453 (3) -Senior Portfolio SeminarChoose 6 three-credit creative writingworkshops, including ENGL 106 and at leastone course in two of the following genres: fiction,poetry, creative nonfiction.Note: As a general rule, students should begintheir work in creative writing by enrolling inENGL 106. Students may request permission tosubstitute another writing workshop for ENGL106 by submitting to the program director priorto enrolling in one of the other creative writingworkshops a portfolio of work that demonstratessignificant creative writing experienceand accomplishment.Choose 2 three-credit courses in literaturein the English department at the 200- or 300-level.Choose 4 three-credit courses in literaturein the English department at the 300-level.Note: A student may substitute the senior exerciserequirements for the English major for oneof her required literature courses. A student whoselects this option must complete both ENGL451 and ENGL 452.Working closely with her advisor, a student maychoose courses for her major that allow her tostudy an area of interest in depth; this may beparticularly helpful as students prepare for thesenior portfolio seminar. (For example, the studentmay focus on the particular literary genrethat has been the primary focus of her creativework.) Or a student may instead choose to crafta major that offers breadth, pursuing coursesin a wider range of topics. Students are encouragedto take course in other departments thatcomplement their course of study and areas ofinterest in English and creative writing.Notes: Three elective literature courses (9semester hours) in the English department andtwo workshops (6 semester hours) must betaken at Sweet Briar College. In addition, theSenior Portfolio Seminar must be completed atSweet Briar, for a total of 18 semester hours. Nocourse used to fulfill major requirements may betaken on a P/CR/NC grading option.94­