English Literature (Major)

The organized study of literature written in the English language has long proved its worth as a traditional discipline that exercises the imagination, encourages intellectual precision, and inculcates a critical appreciation of humane, liberal values. Students trained in this discipline have generally found that it has provided an appropriate background for careers in a variety of fields beyond the discipline including law, government, diplomacy, journalism, publishing, education, and, by no means least, business.

The program emphasizes the historical and cultural understanding of the development of literature in English from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 21st century, but courses in the theory of the various literary genres are also required. In all courses, students must not only read texts with great care, but also criticize them and present the results of their own research in well-written essays. The training in the skills of research and writing culminates in the thesis that a student must present in his/her senior year.

There are clear advantages in pursuing an English major at an institution that belongs, like John Cabot University, to the English-speaking academic tradition, and this may be especially true for students whose first language is not English. There is also particular value, however, in studying English literature at an international university, which John Cabot is as well. In this international atmosphere the content of each English course inevitably becomes somewhat internationalized, as it is related to the Italian context and to the other national backgrounds of the various students. Courses in Comparative Literature and Creative Writing are also part of the English Literature program.

There may be additional costs by this University.