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Department of English

Faculty:

Renée Bergland, Department Chair, Professor

Pamela Bromberg, Professor

Lydia Fash, Senior Lecturer

Sheldon George, Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in English

Audrey Golden, Assistant Professor

Kelly Hager, Professor of English and Women’s & Gender Studies and Chair of the Department of Women’s & Gender Studies

Suzanne Leonard, Associate Professor

Lowry Pei, Professor

Richard Wollman, Professor

Overview:

Students of literature become familiar with the work of important writers; are introduced to the individual and cultural values, ideas, debates, and insights woven into literature; and sharpen their understanding of the English language. Repeated practice in thinking, writing, and speaking about literary texts helps students discover their own voices, develop their skills of critical analysis, and gain confidence in themselves as independent thinkers. Students who major in English learn to read with discernment, an ability that can enrich them for the rest of their lives. At the same time, they develop pragmatic skills that will serve them well in the world of the professions. Simmons English majors have gone on to successful careers in law, publishing, journalism, advertising, business, public service, technology, and education.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of a BA in English, a graduate should have gained the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

  1. Disciplinary Skills

    Students will be able to read closely and critically, write critical essays driven by their own insights in conversation with those of published scholars, do research independently, reflect critically on their own analytical thinking, and talk intelligently about their insights in discussions or formal presentations.

  2. Disciplinary Content

    Students will be able to think about literature on the basis of a reasonably broad knowledge of individual literary works, literary history in different periods (both British and American), and literary or critical theories.

  3. Critical-Historical Awareness

    Students will be able to discuss how literary works fit into the context of their times and grow out of a society with a particular history and politics. Students will be able to discern the complex relationship of representation to issues of power in relation to race, class, gender, and sexuality.

  4. Life Skills After Graduation

    Students will be able to write insightfully, read closely, think critically, and do independent research in ways that serve them after graduation, in a variety of career paths or further degree programs. They will be especially aware of the power of language and discourse to shape thought and action.

  5. Caring about Literature as Art

    Students will be able to recognize, appreciate, and express original insights regarding the artfulness of literary works. Some will be able to pursue the creation of such art works on their own.

Departmental Honors:

Honors in English

Students may earn Honors in English in one of two ways.

  1. Thesis option: A student with a GPA of 3.67 in English may submit a thesis application and a portfolio at the end of the first semester of her junior year to the chair of the department. The portfolio should include a writing sample, two letters of recommendation, and a statement of intent describing her intellectual interests and reasons for pursuing an honors thesis in English. The chair, in consultation with members of the department, will determine candidacy. A student who is interested in this thesis option should consider enrolling in ENGL 390 as a junior. This version of Honors in English requires that candidates complete the regular English major through either the creative writing option or the literature option, plus ENGL 350, Independent Study, followed by ENGL 355, Thesis.
  2. Twelve Course option: Students may instead earn Honors in English by taking 12 English classes plus ENGL 390, Seminar in Literary Scholarship. This option requires that the student maintain a GPA of 3.5 in English and earn at least an A- in ENGL 390.

Students intending to continue the study of English at the graduate level will find it advisable to complete honors in English. They are also strongly urged to take a significant number of English courses at the 300-level and to take a literature course in another modern language.