English, B.A.

Program Chair: Melissa Heidari, Ph.D

Available in the Day College.

The English program provides students with a solid foundation in English with an emphasis on writing, reading, and analyzing texts. Through a diverse selection of coursework, students will be qualified to work in a wide range of career fields. Most of the universal analytical English skills and techniques that employers look for in potential candidates are covered by the program. A unique feature of the program is its affiliation with CAST, the Cambridge American Stage Tour. CAST is a major international theatre tour from Cambridge University whose aim is to bring the works of Shakespeare to as wide an audience as possible in the United States and beyond. Each year, in addition to their performances, CAST members offer acting workshops to Columbia College students. The English program’s affiliation with CAST encourages an appreciation for literature and performance and offers experiential learning to our students.   

Mission: The English major develops students’ skills in analyzing and interpreting literature and other forms of imaginative text from diverse perspectives. The major also implements appropriate approaches to effective writing in the discipline of literary studies. Cultivating strong critical reading and thinking skills and effective written expression to prepare students for graduate studies and a variety of practical careers, the English major further helps learners develop a respect for the value of humanistic and inclusive thinking that is an essential dimension of a liberal-arts education. 

Student Learning Outcomes: 

1. Students will demonstrate the ability to compose a literary analysis using both primary and secondary sources. 
2. Students will demonstrate understanding of major authors, works, genres and movements in British and American literature. 
3. Students certifying to teach secondary English will exhibit the ability to demonstrate knowledge of how theories and research about social justice, diversity, equity, student identities, and schools as institutions can enhance students’ opportunities to learn in English Language Arts. 
4. Students certifying to teach will demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of texts and the ability to plan standards-based, coherent, and relevant learning experiences that are motivating and accessible to all students. 

Leadership in the English Major

The English major prepares graduates for leadership in their communities and in a variety of professions, including teaching, law, business, digital media, and journalism. They enhance students’ critical thinking, reflective judgment, and communication skills. In addition, they challenge students to explore new ideas and provide them with opportunities to take risks as creative and critical writers, campus and community citizens, conference presenters, organization officers, active participants in class discussions, collaborative researchers, and more. Students who elect to take WRIT 399LS - Leadership Semester in Writing will work closely with a mentor to plan, reflect upon, and share with others a meaningful leadership experience related to the English discipline.