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B.A. Degree in English (Literature)
Minor in English
Secondary Teacher Licensure in English
Connect yourself to other times, other places, and other cultures through the literature of great writers such as John Donne, Jane Austen, Henry James, and Toni Morrison. Connect to your inner self through the exploration of poetry and narrative, and connect with your fellow students through dynamic conversations about things that matter, the topics of great literature.
The English Department faculty at Catawba College bring E.M. Forster's directive, "only connect," to life by connecting Literature majors with the world of words. In small classes led by these inspiring faculty who love literature and words as much as their students do, the emphasis is on intellectual curiosity. You can grow your knowledge, your confidence and your mastery of the English language by studying the major writers and works in the British and American literary traditions.
Studying literature helps cultivate skills such as strong writing, perceptive reading, an awareness of the motivations of individuals, the influence of culture, and the complications of language. In short, your pursuit of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature at Catawba College can lay the bedrock on which you can build a variety of satisfying careers, everything from business to teaching to publishing-related fields. With the B.A. degree in Literature, students are prepared for graduate or professional study in fields such as literature, professional and creative writing, law, and related academic disciplines.
In today’s work world, employers are specific about the skills they seek in the college graduates whom they hire. Employers want employees who write well and present strong oral communications. Employers seek to hire individuals who can think critically, analytically solve problems, and who work well in teams. Employers also want employees who are ethical in their judgments and decisions. If you seek to improve your employment prospects after your college graduation by acquiring or enhancing these characteristics that employers seek, consider adding an English minor from Catawba College to any academic major that you pursue.
Offered by the English Department at the college that is ranked #4 among Best Regional Colleges in the South by U.S. News, a minor in English from Catawba will help you grow your knowledge, your confidence and your mastery of the English language. As you study writers and works in the British and American literary traditions, you will cultivate skills such as strong writing, perceptive reading, an awareness of the motivations of individuals, the influence of culture, and the complications of language. In small classes led by inspiring faculty who love literature and words, the emphasis is on developing and enhancing a student’s intellectual curiosity.
With a minor in English and regardless of their chosen academic major, Catawba College graduates will be well prepared for graduate or professional study in a variety of disciplines.
Secondary Teacher Licensure (9-12) in English
Literature majors who seeking secondary (grades 9-12) teacher licensure in English must satisfy the requirements for the B.A. degree in Literature and the requirements for undergraduate teacher licensure (including the Secondary Education Minor and student teaching) outlined under the heading for the Department of Teacher Education.
Literature Program Highlights
Students are drawn to Catawba College’s Bachelor of Arts in Literature degree program by the magic of words and by knowledgeable professors who share their passion for literature and writing. It also helps that this degree program is offered at a small private college that is ranked 4th among Best Regional Colleges in the South by U.S. News.
Several scholarship opportunities are available at Catawba College for Literature majors. Preference for the Olive L. Jenkins Memorial Endowed Scholarship and the Olive and Raymond Jenkins Scholarship are awarded to majors in the English Department. The Charles Turney Award is made annually to a rising senior who excels in the Literature major.
Catawba College Literature majors are encouraged to complete internships to build links to their professional interests, and gain work-world experience, especially in jobs related to journalism, editing and the non-profit sector.
Literature majors who study abroad engage with other cultures and experience first-hand many of the settings they read about in their favorite books. Rising juniors and seniors may apply to be considered for The Gerry and Jim Hurley International Study Scholarship which is open to all students pursuing a Humanities majors, including Literature, at Catawba. This scholarship funds a semester-long study abroad experience, including travel, tuition, room, and board.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature at Catawba are encourage to pursue extended research projects which allow them to delve deep into a topic of their personal interest. Students can present their research on campus at a well-attended annual Catawba Research and Creativity Showcase or at state and regional professional conferences such as the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Research Symposium.
Outcomes
CAREERS FOR LITERATURE MAJORS.
Literature majors who completed the Bachelor of Arts degree program are building their careers in the following positions:
GRADUATE SCHOOLS.
Catawba College Literature majors have gone on to pursue graduate degrees at the following schools:
"The professors in Catawba's English department are real people who are readily accessible. They love what they teach and are enthusiastic about their classes. Our resident experts in their fields, like poetry, Shakespeare, and rhetoric, offer engaging classes to stimulate creative minds."
Meagan Kittle Autry '08
English Major; French and Sociology Minors; Currently the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at William Peace University
Literature Facilities
Literature majors and Writing majors can polish their skills with the written word while serving as tutors in Catawba College’s Writing Center.
Students pursuing Literature majors at Catawba can be part of the staff of The Arrowhead, an annual literary journal published by students in the English Department. Or strive for excellence with membership in Sigma Tau Delta, a national honor society in English.
Literature students also are immersed in the literature of and conversations with authors who speak at Catawba College’s annual Brady Author’s Symposium.
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