The English Major

The NYIT English Major has three specialties: LITERATURE AND CULTURE DRAMA PROFESSIONAL WRITING

The Philosophy of the English Major:

The undergraduate degrees in English offered at the New York Institute of Technology are designed as forward-looking programs projected to help graduates address the challenges of a changing world. Students build from general as well as English major core courses through advanced classes in literature and culture, drama, and professional writing that help prepare them for the challenges emerging in the classrooms and the marketplace of the 21st century. While the curriculum is both rigorous and structured, it offers the student the opportunity to pursue his or her own interests and shape his or her education through a subspecialty and through a substantial elective component. The curriculum reflects attention to multiculturalism and engages NYIT's strengths in computers, literature, writing, multimedia, theater, and professional writing.

NYIT's distinctive and progressive English program offerings are fully in line with the college's mission of career-oriented education and its philosophy of incorporating technology of all kinds in the education process. While students meet routinely in conventional classes, they also utilize computers and emerging technologies throughout their program. Some of their courses meet in computer classroom labs and video-conferencing classrooms in which students and faculty communicate in virtual classroom settings and exchange ideas electronically.

Employment opportunities for English majors have traditionally been sound. The skills and flexibility an English major provides are an asset in our changing economy and the world. In an increasingly service-oriented economy, the demand for candidates with strong writing, speaking skills, computer literacy, software skills, and training will continue to rise. The NYIT English major helps students develop not only intellectual skills and cultural literacy, but some marketable applied competencies, such as reading, writing, speaking, editing, thinking, graphic communication and computer applications. These skills give English majors a competitive edge in the ever changing workplace.

English Major Credit Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students register for 39-40 credits of core curriculum courses, 30 credits of English courses beyond the freshman/sophomore level, and 50-51 elective credits. In the English area, students take five required core courses in English plus 15 credits (5 courses) in one of three areas: Literature and Culture, Drama, and Professional Writing. The B.A. in English is offered at all three NYIT campuses and courses taken at any NYIT campus apply toward the degree. Students can also earn a separate technical writing certificate.