Program Overview

University of the Pacific English Program

The University of the Pacific offers a comprehensive English program designed to prepare students for careers that value critical thinking and literacy. The program provides a solid foundation in English literature, language, and writing, with opportunities for students to focus on specific areas of interest.

Degrees Offered

• Bachelor of Arts: The undergraduate major in English prepares students for a wide range of careers, including teaching, business, government service, law, medicine, and other professions.
• Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors: Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with departmental honors by completing a minimum of 124 units with a Pacific cumulative grade point average of 3.5 and a major/program grade point average of 3.75.

Majors Offered

• English: The English major provides a broad-based education in English literature, language, and writing.
• English with Departmental Honors: This major is designed for students who wish to pursue a more rigorous course of study and earn departmental honors.

Minors Offered

• English: The English minor is available to students who wish to pursue a secondary area of study in English.
• Writing: The Writing minor is designed for students who wish to develop their writing skills and pursue a career in writing.

Concentrations Offered

• Gender Studies: Students can pursue a concentration in Gender Studies, which involves completing a minimum of three courses that are cross-listed in Gender Studies.

Program Requirements

General Education Requirements

• Minimum 42 units and 12 courses that include:
  • PACS 001: What is a Good Society
  • PACS 002: Topical Seminar on a Good Society
  • PACS 003: What is an Ethical Life?
• One course from each subdivision:
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Diversity Requirement

• Students must complete one diversity course (3-4 units)

College of the Pacific BA Requirement

• Students must complete one year of college instruction or equivalent training in a language other than English.

Fundamental Skills

• Students must demonstrate competence in:
  • Writing
  • Quantitative analysis

Breadth Requirement

• Students must complete 64 units outside the primary discipline of the first major.

Major Requirements

• A minimum of 11 courses, adding up to at least 40 units, including:
  • Lower Division Core Courses
  • Upper Division Courses
  • Electives

English Courses

The English program offers a wide range of courses, including:

• ENGL 025: English 25
• ENGL 031: Aesthetics of Film
• ENGL 039: Introduction to Digital Humanities
• ENGL 041: British Literature before 1800
• ENGL 043: British Literature after 1800
• ENGL 051: American Literature before 1865
• ENGL 053: American Literature after 1865
• ENGL 063: Masterpieces of World Literature
• ENGL 082: How English Works
• ENGL 093: Special Topics
• ENGL 101: Integrative Tutorial
• ENGL 105: Technical Communications
• ENGL 106: Content Engineering
• ENGL 107: Creative Writing: Nonfiction
• ENGL 109: Professional Communications
• ENGL 111: Creative Writing: Fiction
• ENGL 113: Creative Writing: Poetry
• ENGL 115: Screenwriting
• ENGL 117: Film Production
• ENGL 121: Major Filmmakers
• ENGL 123: Film, Literature, and the Arts
• ENGL 124: Film History
• ENGL 125: Critical Colloquium
• ENGL 126: Environment and Literature
• ENGL 127: Contemporary Critical Issues
• ENGL 128: Science and Literature
• ENGL 130: Digital Chaucer
• ENGL 131: Shakespeare
• ENGL 133: Major British Authors
• ENGL 134: Jane Austen
• ENGL 135: Major American Authors
• ENGL 136: Literature of William Faulkner and Toni Morrison
• ENGL 141: Topics in British Literature Pre-1800
• ENGL 143: Topics in British Literature after 1800
• ENGL 144: Medieval Women Readers and Writers
• ENGL 145: Romances of Magic in the West
• ENGL 151: Topics in American Literature before 1865
• ENGL 153: Topics in American Literature after 1865
• ENGL 160: Blues, Jazz, and Literature
• ENGL 161: Topics in American Ethnic Literature
• ENGL 162: Asian American Literature
• ENGL 163: Topics in Transnational Literatures
• ENGL 164: WAR
• ENGL 166: Literature and the Law
• ENGL 182: History of the English Language
• ENGL 187: Internship
• ENGL 189: Practicum
• ENGL 190: Writing Capstone
• ENGL 191: Independent Study
• ENGL 197: Undergraduate Research

English Faculty

The English faculty at the University of the Pacific includes:

• Amy Elizabeth Smith, Professor and Chair
• John Lessard, Associate Professor and Film Studies Program Director
• Andreea D. Boboc, Associate Professor
• Diane M. Borden, Professor Emerita
• Cynthia Dobbs, Associate Professor
• Jeffrey Hole, Associate Professor
• Courtney Lehmann, Professor
• Camille Norton, Professor
• Eric A. Sonstroem, Associate Professor
• Xiaojing Zhou, Professor

Communication Skills

The English program aims to help students develop the following communication skills:

1. Formulate a thesis, construct arguments, and develop professional and creative writing skills.
2. Successfully adapt their communication styles to the occasion, task, and audience.

Critical Analysis

The English program aims to help students develop the following critical analysis skills:

1. Analyze critically literary and cultural texts.
2. Demonstrate awareness of the history or cultural context of literature in English.
3. Evaluate literature in comparative terms.