Program Overview:
English majors explore literature from antiquity through the contemporary moment, from within and without the traditional canon, and from a variety of critical and cultural perspectives. English students also study expository and creative writing, performance, and film. Career opportunities for graduates in English include publishing, editing, journalism, website content development, advertising, library and information science, teaching on all levels, broadcasting, technical writing, and public relations. English majors also qualify for a wide variety of administrative positions in business, government, and human service. Our majors are well prepared for graduate study in English and other fields, such as law.
The English program also offers other important opportunities: an affiliation agreement with Regent’s College in London, allowing Saint Rose students to spend a semester abroad without concern about transferring the credits earned; and a 3+3 program for exceptional students who wish to pursue advanced study in law. All English majors gain professional experience as seniors: English majors complete an internship in a professional context, such as a government agency, non-profit organization, or public relations firm.
The English Department provides minors in writing, film and digital media studies, digital publishing, and literature to students in all disciplines.
Policies
Once students have matriculated, courses counting as major or concentration requirements must be taken at The College of Saint Rose. Writing courses may not ordinarily be taken on an audit basis.
Students must receive a grade of C or better in courses counting toward the major.
Program Contacts:
Dr. Brian Sweeney
Chair, English Department
Email: sweeneyb@strose.edu
Program Webpage: English
Program Requirements:
Major in English (48 credits)
Required courses (16 credits):
ENG 330 prerequisites: ENG 112 or ENG 114 and two literature courses at the 200-level or one 200-level and one 300-level literature course.
ENG 494 and ENG 498 prerequisites: ENG 330, one 300-level writing course, 90 credits, and at least one 300-level literature course.
English Portfolio
In addition to the course work listed for English majors, each student prepares and submits a portfolio at the end of their course of study. Students should see their advisors or consult the English Department webpage for further information.
Thirty-two additional credit hours of English courses with these stipulations: (See lists below for categories that fulfill specific requirements. Although one course may fulfill two stipulations, all English majors must complete 32 credits of these courses.)
Literature Courses (20 credits):
| | Two 200-level literature courses | 8 |
| | Three 300-level literature courses | 12 |
Two of these courses, on either the 200- or 300-level, must be in Early Literature and two, on either the 200- or 300-level, in Later Literature.
Writing courses (8 credits):
| | 200-level writing course | 4 |
| | 300-level writing course | 4 |
Performance Arts or Film/Digital Media course (4 credits):
| | Performance Arts or Film/Digital Media course | 4 |
Categories for English elective courses:
Early Literature (Pre-1800 for British Literature; pre-1865 for American Literature; pre-1650 for World Literature):
Later Literature (Post-1800 for British Literature; post-1865 for American Literature; post-1650 for World Literature):
200-level literature courses:
300-level literature courses (all writing-intensive):
| ENG 320 | Studies 19th-C. US Literature | 4 |
| ENG 322 | Studies in Modernisms | 4 |
| ENG 323 | Studies 20th-C. US Literature | 4 |
| ENG 328 | Interdisciplinary Connections | 4 |
| ENG 335 | Studies in Renaissance Lit | 4 |
| ENG 336 | Studies in Black Literatures | 4 |
| ENG 340 | Studies in the Novel | 4 |
| ENG 342 | Studies in Medieval Literature | 4 |
| ENG 344 | Restor/18th C. British Lit | 4 |
| ENG 346 | Shakespeare on Stage & Screen | 4 |
| ENG 350 | Romanticism/Early19thCBritLit | 4 |
| ENG 355 | Victorian Literature & Culture | 4 |
| ENG 370 | Literature and Empire | 4 |
| ENG 371 | Studies in Women's Literature | 4 |
| ENG 372 | Studies in Diverse Literatures | 4 |
| ENG 373 | Studies Contemporary Narrative | 4 |
| ENG 377 | Literary & Cultural Studies | 4 |
| ENG 379 | Studies in Film | 4 |
| ENG 381 | Periodical Studies | 4 |
200-level writing courses:
300-level writing courses (all writing-intensive):
Performance Arts courses:
Film/Digital Media courses*:
* Additional courses with a film and/or digital media focus may also fulfill this requirement.
Internship/Field Experiences/Service:
Required Course:
English majors complete an internship in a professional context, such as a government agency, non-profit organization, or public relations firm.
Culminating Academic Experiences:
Required Courses:
Suggested 4 Year Course Plan:
This suggested plan is designed to give students an idea of how to balance their coursework over 8 semesters and to graduate within 4 years. Most students will need to take a minimum of 30 credits each year in order to meet the graduation requirement of a minimum of 122 overall credits. This plan should be used along with your Degree Works worksheet and in consultation with your faculty advisor. It is meant as a guide, not a definitive list of courses that must be taken as written. Your faculty advisor will help you make any necessary adjustments during advisement.
Fall (15 credits)
ENG 105 (L01) (4 credits)
ENG 112 (4 cr)
Lib Ed Requirement (L09) (4 cr)
Lib Ed Requirement (L02) (3 cr)
Spring (15 credits)
200-level literature (4 credits)
Lib Ed Requirement (4 cr)
Lib Ed Requirement (3 cr)
Lib Ed Requirement (4 cr)
Fall (17 credits)
200-level literature (4 credits)
ENG Perf/Film/Digital Media (4 cr)
Lib Ed requirement (L03) (3 cr)
Lib Ed requirement (L08) (3 cr)
Lib Ed requirement (L06) (3 cr)
Spring (17 credits)
200-level writing course (4 credits)
ENG 330 or 300-level literature (4 cr)
Lib Ed requirement (L10) (3 cr)
Lib Ed requirement (L11) (3 cr)
Lib Ed requirement—Further Disciplinary Study (3 cr)
Fall (15-17 credits)
ENG 330 or 300-level literature (4 cr)
ENG 300-level literature (4 cr)
General elective or minor (3 or 4 cr)
General elective or minor (3 or 4 cr)
Phys Ed (L12) (1 cr)
Spring (15-17 credits)
ENG 300-level literature (4 cr)
ENG 300-level writing (4 cr)
General elective or minor (3 or 4 cr)
General elective or minor (3 or 4 cr)
Phys Ed (L12) (1 cr)
Fall (17-18 credits)
ENG 494 or ENG 498 (4 cr)
ENG 300-level literature (4 cr)
General elective or minor (3 cr)
General elective or minor (3 cr)
General elective or minor (3 or 4 cr)
Spring (16 credits)
ENG 494 or ENG 498 (4 cr)
General elective or minor (3 cr)
General elective or minor (3 cr)
General elective or minor (3 cr)
General elective or minor (3 cr)
Two of your literature courses, on either the 200 or 300 level, must be in Early Literature and two, on either the 200 or 300 level, in Later Literature.
Early Literature courses are pre-1800 for British Literature; pre-1865 for American Literature; and pre-1650 for World Literature.
In certain situations, students may substitute ENG 114 for ENG 112.
Professional Accreditation:
The College of Saint Rose, sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, Albany Province, is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State. All of its degrees and programs are registered and its professional programs fully approved by the Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department.
The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267-284-5000) The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. http://www.msche.org
Career Opportunities and Graduate Study:
Career opportunities for graduates in English include publishing, editing, journalism, website content development, advertising, library and information science, teaching on all levels, broadcasting, technical writing, and public relations. English majors also qualify for a wide variety of administrative positions in business, government, and human service. Our majors are well prepared for graduate study in English and other fields, such as law.
Careers for English Majors
Although there is not one obvious career choice for an English major, the possibilities are almost endless. This isn't just an empty promise, either. Look below for a sampling of positions held by recent English graduates at The College of Saint Rose.
- Digital Operations Administrator at Barnes & Noble’s digital headquarters in Manhattan
- Parent Engagement Facilitator for the Reading School District
- Associate of Rights and Permissions for Penguin Random House Audio, New York, NY
- Assistant Professor of Poetry/Social Action and Composition Studies at California State University Monterey Bay
- House Principal, Farnsworth Middle School in Guilderland, NY
- Student Development at Columbia College
- Public Affairs Officer, US Navy
- Case Manager/Housing Specialist in County Mental Health Department
- Human Resources Specialist
- Assistant Professor of English at several colleges, e.g., Union College, Western Arizona State College, Siena College
- Assistant Professor at community colleges, e.g., Fulton Montgomery Community College, Adirondack Community College, Hudson Valley Community College
- Directors of Writing Centers at colleges, e.g., Siena and FMCC
- Editor at Thomson West
- Editor, Federal Register
- Lawyer, Warren County
- High School Guidance Counselor
- Writer
- Director of Prayer and Worship for a Catholic diocese
- Case Manager at a school for court-referred girls
- High school and middle school English Teachers in many local and regional and national secondary schools, such as Schalmont, Shaker, Schenectady, Bethlehem Central, Colonie Central, Watervliet, Cohoes, Scotia-Glenville, and Voorheesville
- Medical Services Coordinator
- Program Officer for Support Group
- Peace Corps Worker in French-speaking Africa
- Positions in Advertising
- Librarian
- Positions in Public Relations
- Positions in Business Administration
- Positions in Forestry
- Events Manager and Fundraising Associate
Graduate Study
Many of our majors also go on to graduate school and have been successful in achieving M.A., M.F.A., J.D. and Ph.D. degrees in a range of fields from such institutions as Binghamton University, Emerson College, Harvard University, New York University, the State University of New York at Albany, Stony Brook University, Northeastern University, University of New Hampshire, Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan, and many others.
Admissions and Financial Aid Information:
The Undergraduate Admissions Office begins review of Freshman applications each fall in late September for the following Fall. Students are encouraged to submit a complete an application as early as November. The Admissions Team will return a decision on complete applications within just three weeks. The College awards academic scholarships at the same time.
What Makes an Application Complete
- Online or Paper application (fee waived for online applicants!)
- Official High School Transcripts
- Official Transcripts for any College Level Courses
- SAT or ACT scores (See Test Optional FAQ's)
- Letter of Recommendation from a Counselor or Teacher
- Essay or Graded Paper
- Applicants may also apply via the Common Application Online.
- Art applicants are required to complete a portfolio review.
Admissions contact information (telephone number, admissions web pages)
Scholarships and Financial Aid
See Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid section for more information.
The Bottom Line
The total cost of The College of Saint Rose (including tuition, fees, room and board) is one of the lowest of any private college in the Northeast, and we still award more than $25 million in Saint Rose scholarships, grants and financial aid.
Take a look at our bottom line, and view a cost comparison with a four-year public institution.
More about Financial Aid
Financial Aid is defined as any grant, scholarship, loan, or employment opportunity given with the express purpose of assisting you with education-related expenses to make you education affordable. Financial Aid is awarded on the basis of student need and the availability of funds.
The Admission and Financial Aid teams have designed a Guide to Scholarships and Financial Aid to help prospective students and families get to the bottom line and find that The College of Saint Rose is one of the lowest of any private college in the Northeast--while maintaining powerful academic opportunities.
Find Out More: