English (EN) major

What you will study

Studying English at Alverno means building your program of study to match your professional goals and personal passions. As a major in English choose your courses from the following tracks – Literary Studies, Film Studies, Creative Studies in Writing –  or focus your minor on one area for a more intensive experience. If teaching is your goal, the English Language Arts programs prepare you to be a successful K-12 educator.

Literary Studies

Books matter and the people who read them develop a set of sought after critical abilities–excellent communication, creative thinking, strong close reading, sharp synthesizing and a keen understanding of the role of the language and literature in the world. Whether you’re participating in a mock trial on moral dilemmas in a class on the novel or reading and writing memoirs, literary studies prepares you for a variety of traditional careers and any number of emerging ones.

Film Studies

Explore the history and techniques of film and engage in creative personal and cultural interpretations and analysis in this exciting program. Core courses explore fiction into film, influential genre films, and world film while also introducing you to storyboarding and the basics of film production and editing. This program gives you the opportunity to respond to film at a highly informed and active personal level.

Creative Studies in Writing

Whether you want to write creative non-fiction, fiction, poetry, comics or Manga, this program nurtures your creative thinking, heightens your distinctive voice and style, while developing your narrative skills and a sophisticated use of language. The program also teaches you how to navigate the challenging world of publishing if your interests are in that area.

Internships for the English Student

English students have completed internships with the following organizations: WTMJ’s The Morning Blend, Harley Davidson, Reiman Foundation, The Shepherd Express, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Milwaukee Magazine, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, Journal Sentinel, Metro Parent Magazine, Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee State Public Defender’s Office and Milwaukee International Film Festival.

Beginning Requirements
EN-210
& EN-310

and
4
or EN-211
& EN-310

and
or EN-250 Oprah's Books
or EN-251 Introduction to Creative Writing
Intermediate Requirements
EN-252Fiction Into Film4
EN-330Imagination & Identity in Literary Stds4
EN-399Formal Introduction to Advanced Work0
EN CourseEnglish (EN) Courses, above 330 level15
English Major Advanced
HUM-351Chinese Civilization & Cultures4
or HUM-352 South Asia Civilization
or HUM-353 Latin American Civilizations
or HUM-355 Japan: Studies in Civilizations and Culture
or HUM-357
or HUM-358 Middle Eastern Civilization
HUM CourseEnglish (EN), History (HS), Humanities (HUM), Philosophy (PL), Religion (RL) or Spanish Language Culture (SLC), above 320 level2-4
HUM-410Senior Humanities Seminar4
INTERN-383Internship Seminar2
EN CourseEnglish (EN) Course, above 450 level4
EN-430External Assessment for Majors1