EnglishProgram description Four programs are offered through the English Department at Houston
Baptist: a liberal arts English major, teacher certification in
English, an internship, and a writing specialization. Requirements The liberal arts English major: The 31 hours of required course work includes freshman-level
Composition and Literature, English Literature I and II, American
Literature, Continental Literature, and nine semester hours (six
must be in English Literature) selected from the following courses
in English Literature: The Middle Ages, The Renaissance, The Seventeenth
Century, The Eighteenth Century, The Romantic Age, The Victorian
Age, The Twentieth Century, and Shakespeare; in American Literature:
The Age of Romanticism, The Age of Realism and Naturalism, and
The Twentieth Century. In addition the student must complete two
senior seminars in English and American Literature. Preparation
for graduate study in English should include additional courses
in English. Teacher Certification in English: Course work required for certification at either the elementary
or secondary level includes freshman-level Composition and Literature,
English Literature I and II, American Literature, Continental
Literature, and six semester hours (three must be in English Literature)
selected from the following courses in English Literature: The
Middle Ages, The Renaissance, The Seventeenth Century, The Eighteenth
Century, The Romantic Age, The Victorian Age, The Twentieth Century,
and Shakespeare; in American Literature: The Age of Romanticism,
The Age of Realism and Naturalism, and The Twentieth Century.
In addition the student must complete two senior seminars in English
and American Literature. Students working toward certification
at the secondary level must also take Writing Practicum. Internship in English: This program offers outstanding English majors the opportunity
to work as interns in a commercial environment for 120 hours for
one quarter in order to apply writing and analytical skills that
they have developed. Admission to the program is determined by
the English Intern Selection Committee. Applicants must be in
good academic standing, be classified as a junior or senior, be
working toward a degree in English at Houston Baptist University
with at least nine semester hours of required upper level English
courses completed, have at least a 3.0 GPA in English, and have
taken Elements of Professional Writing and Technical Writing before
the internship. The applicant must submit an application and letters
of recommendation and, if accepted by the committee, be interviewed
and accepted by the prospective employer. Additional required course work for the Internship in English program includes freshman-level Composition and Literature; English Literature I and II; American Literature; Continental Literature; nine semester hours (six must be in English Literature) selected from the following courses in English Literature: The Middle Ages, The Renaissance, The Seventeenth Century, The Eighteenth Century, The Romantic Age, The Victorian Age, The Twentieth Century, and Shakespeare; and American Literature: The Age of Romanticism, The Age of Realism and Naturalism, and The Twentieth Century. The student must also complete two senior seminars in English and American Literature. Writing Specialization: This program teaches expertness in writing and should be especially
useful to students majoring in business, social and medical sciences,
education, English, pre-law, communications, and liberal arts.
The courses are designed to give students flexibility in career
choices and enhance needed communication skills in their fields.
Students may take any individual course offered, or they may obtain
certification in one of three specializations: Technical Writing,
Creative Writing, and Rhetoric. Each track requires eight or nine
semester hours, eight of which must be completed at Houston Baptist
with a 3.0 or above average. Upon completion of the program, students
will receive a certificate of completion, and the Writing Specialization
Program will be noted on their transcripts. Course work in the Technical Writing track includes Elements of
Professional Writing, and Technical Writing and Business Communications,
plus six hours of electives selected from Advanced Technical Writing
Seminar, Advanced Grammar and Writing, Writing Practicum, Creative
Writing Seminar, and Creative Writing. Course work in the Creative Writing track includes Creative Writing:
Fiction and Creative Writing: Poetry, plus six hours of electives
selected from Advanced Technical Writing Seminar, Elements of
Professional Writing, Business Communications, Technical Writing,
Advanced Grammar and Writing, Writing Practicum, and Creative
Writing Seminar. Course work in the Rhetoric track includes Elements of Professional
Writing, Advanced Grammar and Writing, and Writing Practicum.
Advantages and Opportunities of the Writing Specialization This program teaches expertness in writing. The courses in this
program should be especially useful to students majoring in business,
social and medical sciences, education, English, pre-law, communications,
and liberal arts. They are designed to give students flexibility
in career choices and enhance needed communications skills in
their fields. Advantages and opportunities of the English major The liberal arts English major develops language and writing skills
because there is a fundamental relationship between accurate reading,
clear thinking, and well-organized oral and written expression.
The English major also nurtures the imagination both in the study
of literature and in the courses in writing and in creative writing.
The English major gives students the opportunity to further develop
their critical-thinking skills and to acquire the techniques that
enable them to express their ideas effectively. In the literature courses students develop a knowledge and appreciation
of the masterpieces of world literature; they gain an appreciation
and deeper understanding of British and American thought and literature;
they trace the cultural continuity of Great Britain and America
through the language and literature of the two traditions. English majors who follow the Teacher Certification Program may
earn certification in English at the elementary or secondary level.
They are prepared to implement the Texas Essential Knowledge and
Skills in Language Arts in the classroom. Credit by Examination: Students coming to the University with language proficiency may receive credit for language proficiency. After graduation Students with majors in English and Teacher Certification may
enter the teaching profession. Some students with majors in English
enter graduate school in literature or creative writing or enter
professional schools in business, law, medicine, or seminary.
Other students find employment in fields such as business, government,
publishing, and foreign service. For more information, contact Phyllis B. Thompson, Ph.D. |
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