9.18. English and Comparative Literature

Programs offered:

  • B.A. in English and Comparative Literature (TU)
  • Minor in English and Comparative Literature (TU)
  • Minor in English (ADP)

In literature courses, students examine written works to determine their meanings, to reach judgments about their value, to explore their relation to life and to their historical contexts, and to derive pleasure. To these ends, students make both written and oral analyses, supporting their conclusions with close examination of specific textual passages from the works of literature being studied. In both literature and writing courses, students learn to compose their interpretations and supporting details into a coherent and convincing structure of thought and language. Students in literary writing classes learn about poetry, fiction, and nonfiction by working to develop the insight, imagination, and discipline required to create them and by studying instructive examples of these genres.

A major in English and Comparative Literature is excellent preparation for law school or any other professional training that requires students to interpret written material and support their assertions with specific evidence. Given the expressed need in the business community for people who can communicate well orally and on paper, the combination of an English and Comparative Literature major and courses in Business Administration or an Accounting minor may be very attractive to prospective employers. Oglethorpe graduates also work in public relations and editing, where they use their skill with words—a major emphasis of every English and Comparative Literature course. They go into teaching and sometimes work for publishers, television stations, film-making companies or computer firms where they write press releases, training manuals, in-house newspapers, and news copy.

To help students bridge the gap between academic life and work experience, Oglethorpe places English and Comparative Literature majors in internships with area newspapers, publishing companies, public relations firms, cultural associations, and radio and television stations. Such experiences enhance students’ chances of finding the jobs they want after graduation.

B.A. in English and Comparative Literature (see Sec. 8.5.1. for a complete list of B.A. graduation requirements)

  1. Completion of one of the following courses in Comparative Literature:
    • ENG 101 Ancient Literature
    • ENG 105 Global Literatures
  2. Completion of all of the following period courses at the 100 level:
    • ENG 102 Medieval and Renaissance Literature
    • ENG 103 18th and 19th Century Literature
    • ENG 104 Modern and Contemporary Literature
  3. Completion of one of the following courses:
    • ENG 204 Shakespeare: Early Plays, To 1603
    • ENG 206 Shakespeare: Late Plays, 1603-1613
  4. Completion of both of the following courses:
    • ENG 220 Literary Tribalism: How to Read Race, Class, Nation and Gender
    • ENG 310 Research Methods and Critical Theory
  5. Completion of three additional English and Comparative Literature electives; at least two of these five must be at the 300-level.
  6. Additional requirements and things to note:
    • A grade of “C-“ or higher is required in all courses contributing to the major.
    • The following courses are pre-approved upper-level credit in the major and the minor in English and Comparative Literature:
      • HON 401 Honors Thesis
      • FRE 406, SPN 406 French and Spanish Crossroads in the Caribbean and Africa

Minor in English and Comparative Literature (TU)

  1. Completion of a minimum of four English and Comparative Literature courses, at least three of which must be at the 300-level.
  2. A grade of “C-“ or higher is required in all courses contributing to the minor.

Minor in English (ADP)

The requirements are identical to those for the Minor in English and Comparative Literature (TU) (see above).