Bachelor of Arts in English
Fairfax, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2024
TUITION FEES
USD 4,897 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for International student | Domestic student is 1st of February
** in-state tuition per credit hour; USD 455 per credit hour - international students
Introduction
You may be surprised by all that a Mason English degree offers. In addition to providing a traditional grounding in literature and writing, the degree will introduce you to courses in film and media studies, linguistics, folklore and mythology, and cultural studies. This means that as an English major you can study the poetry of Shakespeare, the folklore of Mexico, and the films of Bollywood. You will have the chance to expand your writing skills through courses in editing and style, creative writing, and digital media.
Our classes are small because we are dedicated to teaching each of our students to read critically and write carefully. You will have the opportunity to be mentored by faculty who are recognized experts in their fields and have the chance to study abroad. Our students frequently participate in the London Theater Tour, Oxford Summer School, the Creative Writing Workshop in Ireland, the Florence Semester Experience, and more.
Program Outcome
- write effectively in a variety of genres, demonstrating an understanding of the audience, generic conventions, and the writing process
- write logically, clearly, concisely, and correctly
- analyze and interpret a range of cultural texts, including but not limited to literature, film, and folklore
- develop, design, and create a range of products, including artistic contributions
- conduct research, including finding and evaluating the reliability of sources
Career Opportunities
Our BA in English offers unparalleled opportunities and prepares students for a variety of careers. PayScale's College Salary Report recently ranked Mason as the #1 best school for English majors based on the opportunities we provide. In fact, Mason English graduates earn the highest average starting salary nationally. With Washington, D.C. next door, it's no wonder that Mason students and graduates have a competitive edge. You can intern at the Library of Congress, the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Smithsonian Institution, and hundreds of other professional associations. Many of our students are involved in Mason’s rich literary scene: the student newspaper, literary magazines, and Stillhouse Press.
Employers in the region want to hire creative, critically-minded researchers and writers. Many of our graduates go into research and writing, from technical editing to publishing, across the major industry sectors of the Washington, DC region, including government, arts and entertainment, and science and engineering.
Curriculum
Degree Requirements
Total credits: minimum 120
300-level courses in English and linguistics teach the foundational principles for a field of study, include courses of broad scope, and provide an introduction to a genre, literary period, or methodology.
400-level courses in English and linguistics provide an in-depth approach to a field of study, a single genre, literary period, or methodology. They include special topics classes and English honors classes. Some 400-level courses require ENGH 305 Dimensions of Writing and Literature as a prerequisite.
Students choose at least one and no more than two of seven concentrations.
Students should consult with an English Department advisor to learn ways in which the Mason Core requirements can also satisfy college-level requirements for the English major.
Core Courses in the Major
Required Courses
Threshold Course
- ENGH 301 The Fields of English 3
Field Introduction Courses
- ENGH 305 Dimensions of Writing and Literature 3
Select 3 credits from the following: 3
- LING 306 General Linguistics (Mason Core)
- ENGH 315 Folklore and Folklife (Mason Core)
- ENGH 318 Introduction to Cultural Studies
- ENGH 372 Introduction to Film (Mason Core)
- ENGH 380 Introduction to Writing and Rhetoric
- ENGH 396 Introduction to Creative Writing (Mason Core)
Theory Course
- ENGH 308 Theory and Inquiry 3
Capstone Course
Select 3 credits from the following: 3
- ENGH 401 RS: Honors Thesis Writing Seminar (Mason Core)
- ENGH 417 RS: Topics in Folklore Research (Mason Core)
- ENGH 458 RS: Topics in Literary Research (Mason Core)
- ENGH 470 RS: Topics in Film/Media History (Mason Core)
- LING 480 RS: First Language Acquisition (Mason Core)
- ENGH 484 RS: Writing Ethnography (Mason Core)
- ENGH 486 RS: Writing Nonfiction for the Public (Mason Core)
Total Credits 15
English Department Requirements
Courses taken to fulfill this requirement may simultaneously satisfy a concentration. Special topics courses, when relevant, may be used to fulfill this requirement with the prior written approval of the department.
Literature before 1800
Select 3 credits from the following: 3
- ENGH 320 Literature of the Middle Ages
- ENGH 321 English Poetry and Prose of the 16th Century
- ENGH 322 Shakespeare
- ENGH 323 Shakespeare: Special Topics
- ENGH 324 English Renaissance Drama
- ENGH 325 English Poetry and Prose of the 17th Century
- ENGH 330 Augustan Age: 1660-1745
- ENGH 331 Age of Sensibility: 1745-1800
- ENGH 332 Restoration and 18th Century Drama
- ENGH 333 British Novel of the 18th Century
- ENGH 340 Early American Literature
- ENGH 421 Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Literature
- ENGH 422 Chaucer
- ENGH 428 Milton
Literature before 1915
Select 3 credits from the courses listed above and the following: 3
- ENGH 334 British Poetry of the Romantic Period
- ENGH 335 Prose and Poetry of the Victorian Period
- ENGH 336 British Novel of the 19th Century
- ENGH 341 Literature of the American Renaissance
- ENGH 342 Post-Civil War American Literature, 1865-1920
- ENGH 343 Development of the American Novel to 1914
- ENGH 348 Beginnings of African American Literature Through 1865
- ENGH 349 African American Literature: Reconstruction to 1903
- ENGH 360 Continental Fiction, 1770-1880
- ENGH 361 Continental Fiction, 1880-1950
Minority, Folkloric, or Popular Literary and Cultural Traditions
Select 3 credits from the following: 3
- ENGH 310 Topics: Women and Literature
- ENGH 315 Folklore and Folklife (Mason Core)
- ENGH 319 Popular Culture
- ENGH 348 Beginnings of African American Literature Through 1865
- ENGH 349 African American Literature: Reconstruction to 1903
- ENGH 350 African American Literature Through 1946
- ENGH 351 Contemporary African American Literature
- ENGH 352 Topics in Ethnic American Literature
- ENGH 362 Global Voices (Mason Core)
- ENGH 366 The Idea of a World Literature (Mason Core)
- ENGH 367 World Literatures in English
- ENGH 412 Topics in Folklore Studies
- ENGH 414 Folklore and the Supernatural
- ENGH 415 Folk Arts and Folk Artists
- ENGH 416 Ethnicity and Migration in Folklore
- ENGH 417 RS: Topics in Folklore Research (Mason Core)
- ENGH 419 Topics in Popular Literature
- ENGH 451 Science Fiction
- ENGH 452 Critical Study of Children's Literature
- ENGH 484 RS: Writing Ethnography (Mason Core)
Total Credits 9
Electives in the Major
Students must take 0-12 elective credits in the major as needed to meet the 36-credit requirement. 0-12
Total Credits 0-12
Concentrations in the Major
Students choose one and no more than two concentrations. Special topics courses may be used to fulfill the requirements for a concentration when so designated by the department.
- Concentration in Creative Writing (CW)
- Concentration in Cultural Studies (CULT)
- Concentration in Film and Media Studies (FILM)
- Concentration in Folklore and Mythology (FOLK)
- Concentration in Linguistics (LING)
- Concentration in Literature (LIT)
- Concentration in Writing and Rhetoric (WRTR)
Concentration in Creative Writing (CW)
Select four courses from the following: 12
- ENGH 377 Digital Creative Writing
- ENGH 397 Poetry Writing
- ENGH 398 Fiction Writing
- ENGH 399 Creative Nonfiction Writing
- ENGH 492 Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop
- ENGH 493 Advanced Workshop in Nonfiction
- ENGH 494 Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop
- ENGH 497 Topics in Creative Writing
A maximum of 3 hours in literature, 500-level writing, or independent study with approval of the undergraduate director
Total Credits 12
Writing Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in English fulfill this requirement by successfully completing:
- ENGH 305 Dimensions of Writing and Literature 3
Total Credits 3
Upper-Level Courses
Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements.
Additional Electives
Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.
College Level Requirements for the BA Degree
In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the coursework below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college-level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (Mason Core requirements or requirements for the major).
- Philosophy or Religious Studies
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Foreign Language
- Non-Western Culture
Mason Core
Some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.
Foundation Requirements
- Written Communication (ENGH 101) 3
- Oral Communication 3
- Quantitative Reasoning 3
- Information Technology and Computing 3
Exploration Requirements
- Arts 3
- Global Understanding 3
- Literature 3
- Natural Science 7
- Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
- Western Civilization/World History 3
Integration Requirements
- Written Communications (ENGH 302) 3
- Writing-Intensive 3
- Synthesis/Capstone 3
Total Credits 40
Admissions
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English Language Requirements
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