The Elm Student Newspaper
English majors of '02 now offered new senior requirements, classes
Becca Tyson
Dr. Richard Gillin chairs the English
Department.
Photograph courtesy of the Pegasus.
Starting with the graduating class of 2002, any English major may choose either to complete a thesis, compile a creative writing portfolio or take a comprehensive exam.
"This change opens up new avenues and possibilities of doing different kinds of work for the senior obligation," said Chair of English Department, Richard Gillin.
The old regulations gave only the seniors with a 3.5 grade point average or better the opportunity to consult with a professor and write a thesis or compile a creative writing portfolio. This was a concern among students because not all seniors made the 3.5 cut-off.
"In the past, students who had a 3.3 or 3.4 GPA and were excellent writers were often denied the opportunity to work on and display their creative genius," said senior English major Stephanie Fowler, "Now, those students will be able take advantage of this wonderful and rare opportunity to have a one-on-one relationship with a specialized advisor and create a completely unique portfolio."
Now, students will be allowed to pick a topic or author that particularly interests them in their junior year as a basis of what they want to continue to research and write about in their senior-year thesis.
"The aim of this program was to allow students to develop ideas in their junior-year courses and develop this into their thesis," Gillin said
Since the topic of the thesis is to stem out of the students' course work, the students now rely on topics covered in classes.
"This really puts an emphasis on the students' class work because this is where the student will get their idea for the thesis," Gillin stated. "If they liked a particular topic or a particular author interested them, then they could, with the guidance of a faculty member, research this in detail and use this topic for their thesis. So the thesis really starts in the junior year."
Another change added to the department this year, is the change in course work required for students. An English major now has to take 10 courses in specific areas of the English department.
"In order to be an English major, you should have a good sense of the English literature," Gillin commented. "In the past, we have only recommended courses that the student take, but now we require courses."
Some students are disappointed that they will be more limited in their class choices, though.
"I think [course requirements] is a good idea, but it does cramp the possibilities of the classes we might want to take," said English major Jill Coste. "For example, I could really want to take another course in 19th-century literature, but I might instead have to pass up a course I'm interested in to fulfill the requirement for, say, another American lit course."
Overall, though, Gillin said that the students and faculty are excited about the new changes to the English major.
The students seem to have a positive outlook on the changes as well.
"I believe it is the responsibility of the English department to create guidelines that help and nurture the growing minds of the young seniors, regardless of the option a student chooses," Fowler said. "This college is an amazing place; the writing minds here are capable of greatness.
I say, let them flourish, and I believe these new guidelines will aid in that cause."Because of some errors in the college catalog and on the Web, there is some confusion about the new requirements. Students who have questions about the changes are encouraged to see Gillin. All English majors should have already received messages about the requirements.
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