U-ENGL-AB - English (AB)

The English major is designed to convey to students a broad knowledge of English, American, and Anglophone literature, a sophisticated habit of critically engaging literary and cultural texts, a shared understanding of major problems, trends, and methods of literary and cultural analysis, and the ability to pose questions and organize knowledge in productive and original ways. While offering students clear direction on how to profit most from their study within the English department, the major also seeks to encourage students to assume an enduring habit of questioning and intellectual self-articulation. Each of the four areas of requirement for completion of the major thus invites students, in consultation with their advisor, to devise a coherent, challenging, and intellectually distinctive plan of study. 

Foreign Languages

The department recommends that students majoring in English complete at least two years of college-level study, or the equivalent, of a foreign language. Students contemplating graduate work in English should note that many master’s programs require examination in one foreign language and that doctoral programs commonly require examination in two. Students interested in linguistics are strongly urged to study at least one non-Indo-European language.

Teacher Certification

Each year a number of Duke English majors earn certificates as secondary school teachers. While licensed by the state of North Carolina, these majors are essentially certified for other states, as well. Also, such training is urged for those who consider teaching in independent schools, since most private or parochial schools would prefer candidates who have earned teaching certificates.

Such certification may be gained as part of the English major and is not as time-consuming as is sometimes believed. Candidates should have a solid background in both American and British literature; also helpful are courses in composition and cultural studies. Among the requirements are one course in linguistics (English 396S, 204, 206, or 395), an appropriate course in psychology, and several courses in education.

The last semester of the senior year is devoted to the student teaching block, including two special, accelerated courses and ten weeks of full-time teaching and observation in the schools, working with a mentor teacher and with Duke faculty. This experience leads to an English teaching certificate to accompany the bachelor’s degree.

Anyone considering secondary school English teaching should confer with the director of secondary school teacher preparation in the Program in Education as soon as possible.

Departmental Graduation with Distinction

The English department offers its majors two options to earn distinction: the Critical Thesis option or the Creative Writing Thesis option.

Structure. Either two independent studies or a “home seminar” and one independent study. (This may be fall/spring or spring/fall.) Under most circumstances, a completed length of thirty-five to seventy pages.

Coursework. The distinction courses count toward the major. Students must complete eleven total courses to graduate with distinction in the major instead of the standard ten.

Application. To apply students must have completed, by the beginning of the senior year, at least five 200-level or above English courses and must have a GPA of at least 3.5 in English courses.

Students submit an application that includes a writing sample of about ten pages from an English course, one letter of recommendation from an English faculty member, and a project description and basic bibliography (one page single-spaced). Applications must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies. Applications are due November 15 for a spring-to-fall option and March 15 for a fall-to-spring option.

Evaluation Procedure. Upon approval by the instructor, the completed thesis is submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by December 1 (for a spring-to-fall project) or March 31 (for a fall-to-spring project) of the senior year for evaluation by the director of undergraduate studies, the thesis advisor, and one other faculty member. Please deliver three spiral-bound copies to Allen 303AA. 

Levels of Distinction. Three levels: Distinction, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction. Levels of distinction are based on the quality of the completed work. Students who have done satisfactory work in the seminar or independent study but whose thesis is denied distinction will simply receive graded credit for their seminars and/or independent studies. Whereas the standard major in English asks for a total of ten courses, students pursuing honors in English will take nine courses plus either two independent studies or a “home seminar” to be followed by an independent study.

Website: english.duke.edu/undergraduate/major