English/Journalism Major (B.A.)
https://cola.unh.edu/english/program/ba/englishjournalism-major
In our digital age, the ability to evaluate, edit, package and communicate information has become crucial to many, if not most, careers. Founded on the study of literature, the oldest form of story-telling, our English/journalism major prepares students for success in the media or any vocation that requires strong research and communications skills. Learn the basics: interviewing, fact gathering, verification and writing in both news and feature styles. Then broaden your repertoire by producing stories for digital platforms using audio, photo, video and data visualization.
Students interested in the English/journalism major should see Carla Cannizzaro, Senior Academic Advisor, Department of English, 230F Hamilton Smith Hall, (603) 862-1313, or the director of the Journalism Program, Prof. Tom Haines.
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
English/journalism majors must complete ENGL 401 First-Year Writing before taking the first journalism course, ENGL 534 21st Century Journalism: How the News Works. After completing ENGL 534 21st Century Journalism: How the News Works, majors may move on to ENGL 621 Newswriting. Journalism majors must complete classes taken for major credit with a grade of C- or better, with the exception of ENGL 419 How to Read Anything and the course taken for Capstone credit.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| ENGL 419 | How to Read Anything 1 | 4 |
| Select one pre-1800 literature course (select from list below) | 4 | |
| Select one post-1800 literature course (select from list below) | 4 | |
| Select one course that addresses race, the construction of race, and racial theories (select from list below) | 4 | |
| Select one additional ENGL course at the 500, 600 or 700 level. Any English course may be used to satisfy this requirement except courses with a journalism focus (see list of excluded courses in footnote) 2 | 4 | |
| ENGL 534 | 21st Century Journalism: How the News Works | 4 |
| ENGL 621 | Newswriting | 4 |
| Select three additional journalism courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Creative Nonfiction | ||
| Digital Reporting | ||
| Travel Writing | ||
| Editing | ||
| Multimedia Storytelling | ||
| Advanced Reporting | ||
| Feature Writing | ||
| Capstone: Any English course at the 700 level (except ENGL 795). 3 | 4 | |
- 1
Must be completed with a minimum grade of C. ENGL 419 How to Read Anything is the only 400-level class that may count towards the English/Journalism major. ENGL 415s, "Literature and..." courses, and ENGL 444s will NOT count towards this major.
- 2
English courses with a journalism focus are ENGL 534, ENGL 621, ENGL 623, ENGL 631, ENGL 703T, ENGL 711, ENGL 712, ENGL 720, ENGL 721, ENGL 722, ENGL 725.
- 3
Capstone course may not be double-counted towards other major requirement areas. Minimum grade required: C. ENGL 788 Senior Honors written as part of the English Honors in Major program may be used as a Capstone course. Students must submit a Capstone Declaration form at the time of registration. Capstone course credit may not be applied retroactively.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1800 Literature Courses | ||
| British Literature I Age of Heroes: Beowulf to Dr. Faustus | ||
or ENGL 513W | British Literature II Age of Revolutions: Shakespeare to Austen | |
| Literary Topics (if topic is appropriate) | ||
| Shakespeare | ||
| Special Topics in Literature (if topic is appropriate) | ||
| Medieval Romance | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Advanced Shakespeare | ||
| Milton | ||
| English Major Seminar (if topic is appropriate) | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Post-1800 Literature Courses | ||
| British Literature III: Revolts, Renewals, Migrations | ||
or ENGL 516W | American Literature II Money, Migration, and Modernity: Huck Finn to Beloved | |
| Literary Topics (if topic is appropriate) | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| Special Topics in Literature (if topic is appropriate) | ||
| Asian American Studies | ||
| Literary Modernisms: Return, Revolt, Recycle | ||
| Modern Irish Literature: A Changing Landscape | ||
| The English Novel in the World | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Drama | ||
| English Novel of the 19th Century | ||
| English Major Seminar (if topic is appropriate) | ||
| Special Studies in Literature (Race & Racial Theories) (if topic is appropriate) | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Race, the Construction of Race, and Racial Theory Courses | ||
| Honors/On Race in Culture and Society | ||
| Introduction to the Literature and Culture of Race | ||
| Introduction to Latinx Literature and Culture | ||
| I Hear America Singing: Studying American Literature and Culture | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| Special Topics in Literature (subtopic R) | ||
| Special Topics in Literature | ||
| Asian American Studies | ||
| Race and Gender in Film and Popular Culture | ||
| Special Studies in Literature (Race & Racial Theories) | ||
(Note: the course used to fulfill this requirement may be double counted as one of the pre-1800 and post-1800 literature courses required for this major.)
Please see your advisor if you have questions about other courses that might fulfill these requirements.
Certain courses publish student writing digitally, at times in collaboration with professional news outlets. Students are also encouraged to write and edit for student publications such as The New Hampshire and Main Street Magazine.
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.
English/journalism majors may use one major-required course to satisfy one Discovery category requirement.
Majors may only count one online course toward their English major requirements.
All undergraduate English majors acquire the same core skills. These include:
- Proficiency in analytical writing, critical thinking, and public-speaking.
- Knowledge of important literary genres and subgenres
- Fluency in literary terminology,
- A broad understanding of British-and-American literature, from the medieval period in England and the moment of first contact in America to the present day.
- Demonstrated proficiency in writing an analytical essay that offers a sophisticated close-reading or explication of a literary text. This essay will have a clear thesis and proceed in a logical fashion, with interpretive claims supported by evidence from the text.
- Demonstrated proficiency in literary research and in writing an extended thesis-driven research paper in which sources are correctly and responsibly cited.
- Demonstrated understanding of how to read across the color line in the US and /or how to analyze literary works written in English from outside the UK and the US--from India, Africa, and the Caribbean, for example.
Students in our major tracks acquire the following specialized skills. English /Journalism majors will be able to:
- Demonstrate proficiency in a wide range of reporting skills (i.e., finding trends, understanding context, editing, and so forth).
- Find and interview credible sources.
- Know how to write feature articles, profiles, and other kinds of news stories.