English Department

Major: English (Traditional)
Minor: English

For Course Offerings and Program Requirements see The Hiram College Catalog.

   1. Which courses are for first year students who wish to explore new areas of interest, but have no clear intent to major in this area?

      Any 200-level English course, except for 206, which is designed for potential majors; First Year Seminar taught by any member of the English Department.
   2. What is the desirable course work a prospective major/minor should complete by the end of their first year and the end of their second year?

      Majors:First year: English 206 and completion of language requirement (especially if the student is bringing some language credit from high school). Second year: Two to three 300-level “core” courses (319, 322, 323, 326) or departmental electives (200-level or other 300-level courses). Another option is an off-campus study course, especially the Cambridge Program.

      Minors:First year: English 206.

      Second year: One to two 300-level “core” courses
   3. What is the minimum a prospective major/minor must do by the end of their first and second year?

      Majors:Complete English 206. Take two courses toward the major and if possible, complete the language requirement by the end of second year. If a student waits until the third year to take the language requirement, the student precludes a study-abroad trip for that year.

      Minors:206
   4. How important is it for a student with some interest in majoring in your area to make contact with a member of your department?

      Please do so by the end of the first year, if possible. (If student wishes to do a double major of English and Integrated Language Arts, they need to contact both the English and education departments in their first term at Hiram).
   5. What are the major pitfalls a student should avoid during their first year and how can an advisor help the student to avoid them?

      In general, procrastination and not planning time well, so that the student does not have enough time to do all the reading and to write and edit papers.

      Putting off English 206, as it is the prerequisite for 300- and 400-level courses required for the major.

      Not working on completion of the Foreign Language requirement.