Anthony O'Keeffe, Chair, PhD (email)
John Gatton, PhD (email)
Charles Hatten, PhD (email)
Thomas Kemme, PhD (email)
Carole Pfeffer, PhD (email)
Fred Smock, MA (email)
Catherine Sutton, PhD (email)
Kathryn West, PhD (email)

The English Department has carefully designed its program of study to reflect the challenges and the pleasures of such a diverse field. This is reflected clearly in the variety of courses offered, and in the sequential way in which we ask our majors to approach their study. That study must begin with English 201, The World of Texts, which introduces the student to the basic principles underlying the discipline. Students are also required to take at least one half of the American Literature Survey before moving into upper-level American literature courses, and one half of the British Literature Survey before moving into upper-level British literature courses. The 300 and 400 level courses presume the solid grounding in literary history and critical reading skills that our 200 level courses are designed to provide. In the student's senior year, the major provides a distinct "capstone" experience through Eng. 450, the Integrative Seminar.

The deep literacy that one can achieve through careful work in the major prepares the student for a range of post-graduate opportunities. Naturally, one can pursue the discipline further, through graduate study in English. But the major in English, in connection with the full experience of coursework that a Bellarmine education provides, can lead also to a range of professional opportunities; recent graduates in English have gone on to work in such fields as banking, law, medicine, management, public relations, advertising, and academic administration.