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English Liberal Arts

Program Goals

The English Liberal Arts major leads to a B.A. degree that prepares students for careers which demand strong skills in critical thinking, written and oral communication, and textual analysis.  It encourages further study in graduate or professional school by providing quality education in three areas: Creative Writing, Literature, and Pre-law. The Pre-Law track is designed for students who plan on attending law school, and enables them to minor in an appropriate secondary field, such as History, Philosophy, or Political Science. The Creative Writing Track focuses on the study and creation of four major literary genres: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and screenwriting. It fosters interest in the literary arts while at the same time training students for professional positions that demand strong language skills. The Literature track emphasizes the study of canonical works in English, American, African-American, and other Anglophone literature. All three tracks require study of the history and structure of the English language, the practice of rhetorical forms, and the opportunity to minor in a related field.

Outcomes

Program Student Learner Outcomes:

  • Produce a portfolio of student work that represents a variety of different genres and demonstrates an awareness of audience expectations
  • Perform, discuss, and defend close-readings of various written and visual texts, using concepts of literary analysis, theory, and methodology
  • Identify major writers and literary texts in the English, American, and African American literary traditions
  • Describe the structure, history, and evolution of spoken and written English
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the conventions of technology as they impact the production, analysis, and dissemination of writing
  • Exhibit mastery of the use of standard academic English and MLA conventions in research for oral and written presentations.

English Liberal Arts/Creative Writing Track

The Creative Writing Track focuses on the formal, critical, and expressive understanding of four major literary genres: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and screenwriting. It fosters interest in the literary arts while at the same time training students for professional positions that demand strong language skills. Students will concentrate their study in the following areas:

  1. Literature courses (landmark literature, literary theory, and literary criticism)
  2. Literary production (workshop classes, performances, and publications)
  3. Co-curricular activities and practicums (I.S.P.I.T. poetry club, SIMBAA editorial staff)
  4. Professional opportunities (visiting writers, conferences, internships)

Additionally, students will have opportunities to publish in SIMBAA, Lincoln’s literary magazine, and perform their work at campus events and for local organizations, including retirement communities, libraries, and history associations. The Creative Writing curriculum allows for a wide range of university electives selected according to the special interests of the student. Together, these components will prepare students for graduate study in Creative Writing (MFA, Ph.D), as well as provide the foundation for professional success in the fields of editing and publishing.

English Liberal Arts/Literature Track

The Literature track is committed to producing scholars who demonstrate proficiency in textual analysis, critical thinking, and written and oral communication. They will read, discuss, and write about the major works of literature in English, with emphasis placed on those of the British, American, and African American literary traditions. In addition, they will study the history, structure, and ongoing evolution of the English language. The Literature Track is designed for students preparing for further study in graduate school, professional school (law, medicine, business), or any career path that calls for strong analytic and communications skills.

English Liberal Arts Pre-Law Track

While the American Bar Association advises students that any major can prepare students for a career in law, a writing-intensive and research-focused major is the best precursor to the rigorous demands of law school.

The English Liberal Arts/Pre-Law Track has these advantages:

  • Offers numerous research opportunities for textual analysis
  • Emphasizes written and oral communication skills
  • Allows students to take four courses within the major that Lincoln University’s PLUS Program (Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars) has developed for students
  • Prepares students for the LSAT and admission to law school
  • Encourages students to add a minor in another department (History, Philosophy, Political Science, or Spanish) that may also emphasize research and writing

Requirements

Please see the University Catalog for more information and program requirements.

Contact

For more information contact the Languages and Literature Department.