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 20th 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 have also been introduced into the English Literature program.

Requirements for the Degree

A. The Proficiency Requirements of the University in English, Mathematics and Foreign Language.

B. The General Distribution Requirements of the University in English Literature, Mathematics and Science, Social Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts.

C. Core Curriculum
1. EN 198 Introduction to Literature
2. EN 200 Introduction to the Novel
3. EN 210 Introduction to Poetry and Poetics
4. EN 223 Survey of American Literature
5. EN 230 Survey of English Literature I: Beginnings to Milton
6. EN 231 Survey of English Literature II: Restoration to Romanticism
7. EN 232 Survey of English Literature III: 1832-1940
8. EN 245 Shakespeare
9. EN 278 Classical Influences on English Literature or
    EN 378 Italian Visions
10. EN 380 Junior Seminar
11. EN 405 Literary Theory
12. EN 480 Senior Seminar

The University requires an overall minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all courses taken at the University with no more than two grades lower than C- in core courses.

D. Major Electives (5 courses)
At least three upper-division English literature courses, plus additional courses in literature, to be chosen with approval of the department. The same courses may not count towards fulfillment of both the English major requirements (Groups C and D) and the University’s Social Science, Humanities and Fine Arts requirements.

E. General Electives sufficient to give a total of 120 credits.