English Department

The English Bachelor's Degree Program

Luminous details, sweeping narratives

All that was and is, alive with heightened intensity

The stories of humanity, preserved in language

English majors at Franciscan University take a front row seat in the great conversations of the ages. You will immerse yourself in poetry, plays, memoirs, essays, short stories, novels, all springing from the fertile minds of history's great communicators. Telling the stories of cultures long lost or the ones in which the reader is most interested.  

Students of literature are students of humanity, observed through a passionate study of a uniquely human characteristic, intelligible, dynamic language. Observe the story of humanity, expressed in words, turns of phrase and rhythm, across barriers of culture, language, time, and distance.

English Degree Concentrations 

English majors may choose among four concentrations at Franciscan: British and American Literature, Western and World Literature, Drama, or Writing.

In British and American Literature you will be exposed to a broad range of styles, ideas, and authors, with authors ranging from the medieval world to the most current trends in English-language literature. Our students enrolled in this Literature Bachelor’s Degree Program usually take courses in classical mythology, Shakespearean works and more.

The Western and World Literature concentration looks at the British and American traditions, but moves beyond them to explore the traditions outside the English-speaking world. Students will be exposed to subjects such as Russian literature as well as modern world literature.

Those who take the Drama concentration learn about the literary aspects of drama, accompanied by courses in the technical aspects of the theater, both of which serve to bring these treasures of literature to life. Topics often include theater history as well as courses in acting and directing. Drama is also offered separately as a major within the Fine Arts Department.

Students in the Writing concentration experience and develop the writing process through the reading of great literary models, through collaboration with real audiences, and through editing and incorporating writing techniques and strategies into their own styles. Students learn to appreciate not only content but also style. A variety of written discourses is presented for students to emulate and to analyze as they experience their own voice through writing. Within this concentration, students will engage in composition and creative writing courses, all while coming to understand their need as writers to present truth and beauty with concision and clarity.

Note that all English majors have specific graduation requirements. During senior year, you will develop and present a well-reasoned senior thesis as well as compile a collection of written work from your years of study to be put into a diverse portfolio. 

No matter what your focus area, when you leave Franciscan’s English Bachelor’s Degree Program, you will possess a deeper understanding of the human person, the world, and God, equipped with the ability to think critically and write well—two of the most sought-after skills by today's employers.

For more information about the English program, please contact the Admissions office or one of the faculty members below.

Sample Program | Course Descriptions

FIRST YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
Communications Core	Classical Mythology
Social Science Core	Communications Core
Elem. Foreign Lang. or Elective	Elem. Foreign Lang. or Elective
Humanities Core (History)	Social Science Core
Natural Science Core	Natural Science Core

SECOND YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
Communications Core	English Elective
Interm. Foreign Lang. Requirement	Interm. Foreign Lang. Requirement
Theology Core	Theology Core
Humanities Core (Philosophy)	Humanities Core
Elective	Elective

THIRD YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
English Elective	Shakespeare's Tragedies
Elective	English Elective
Elective	English Elective
Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective
	Elective

FOURTH YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
English Elective	English Elective
English Elective	Thesis
Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective
	Elective

FIRST YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
Theater History I	Theater History II
Freshman English I	Stagecraft
Classical Mythology	Theater Practicum
Elem. Foreign Language or Elective	Freshman English II
Social Science Core	Elem. Foreign Language or Comm. Core Elective
	Social Science Core

SECOND YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
Humanities Core (History)	Fundamentals of Acting I
Humanities Core (Philosophy)	Shakespeare's Tragedies
Theology Core	Natural Science Core
Elective	Theology Core
Elective	Elective

THIRD YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
Theatre Literature I	Principles of Directing
Drama Elective	Theatre Literature II
Literature Elective	Natural Science Core
Intermediate Foreign Lang. Requirement	Intermediate Foreign Lang. Requirement
Elective	Elective

FOURTH YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
Literature Elective	Literature Elective
Literature Elective	Senior Thesis
Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective

FIRST YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
Freshman English I	Freshman English II
English Elective	Social Science Core
Social Science Core	Humanities Core (History)
Elem. Foreign Lang. or Comm. Core Elective	Elem. Foreign Lang. or Comm. Core Elective
Natural Science Core	Natural Science Core

SECOND YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
Advanced Composition	Advanced Composition II
Interm. Foreign Lang. Requirement	Interm. Foreign Lang. Requirement
English Elective (Literature)	English Elective (Literature)
Theology Core	Theology Core
Humanities Core (Philosophy)	Humanities Core

THIRD YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
Creative Writing	Shakespeare's Tragedies
English Elective (Writing)	Fiction Writing or Poetry Writing
Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective
Elective

FOURTH YEAR

First Semester	Second Semester
English Elective (Writing)	English Elective (Writing)
English Elective (Lit.)	English Elective (Lit.)
Elective	Thesis
Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective
	Elective

Meet the Faculty

• Dr. Stephen Lewis, Chair
• Dr. Benjamin Alexander
• Dr. David Craig
• Dr. Frank Hermann
• Dr. John Holmes
• Dr. Mary Ann Sunyoger