Overview

Calvin's literature major allows you to develop both a deep and broad understanding of the literary world, past and present. Explore culture, politics, philosophy and faith through the words of Shakespeare, George Elliot, William Faulkner and contemporary writers such as Margaret Atwood and Olga Grushin. Prepare for your career by working at a local internship location such as Zondervan Publishing Housing, Baker Publishing House or a Grand-Rapids-area law firm.

Careers in English - Literature

• Editor
• Lawyer
• Minister
• Social Media Manager
• Writer

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Study abroad in England, Hungary, Ghana or New England; Participate in biannual, department-wide retreats; Write or help to coordinate Chimes or Dialogue; Attend the Festival of Faith and Writing; Volunteer with the Festivals of Youth Writing.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Literature major

(36 semester hours)

• ENGL-295 Introduction to Studies in English (prerequisite for 300-level literature courses)
• ENGL-330 Hermenuetics and the Study of Literature
• One course from:
  • ENGL-200 Literature in a Global Context
  • ENGL-202 Russian Literature
  • ENGL-300 Advanced World Literature
• Two courses from: (one 300-level required, two recommended)
  • ENGL-212 Survey of British Literature I
  • ENGL-213 Survey of British Literature II
  • ENGL-214 Survey of British Literature III
  • ENGL-310 British Literature of the Middle Ages
  • ENGL-311 British Literature of the Sixteenth Century
  • ENGL-312 British Literature of the Seventeenth Century
  • ENGL-313 British Literature of the Eighteenth Century
  • ENGL-314 British Literature of the Early Nineteenth Century
  • ENGL-315 British Literature of the Middle and Later NineteenthCentury
  • ENGL-316 British Modernism
  • ENGL-317 Comtemporary British and Commonwealth Literature
  • ENGL-337 Major Authors
  • ENGL-338 Shakespeare
• Two courses from: (one 300-level required, two recommended)
  • ENGL-220 Survey of American Literature I
  • ENGL-221 Survey of American Literature II
  • ENGL-225 African American Literature
  • ENGL-226 Ethnicity in American Literature
  • ENGL-320 Literature of the United States I: Settlement to Civil War
  • ENGL-321 Literature of the United States II: Civil War to Great Depression
  • ENGL-322 Literature of the United States III: WW2 to the Present
• One course from:
  • ENGL-262 Business Writing
  • ENGL-264 Basic Journalism
  • ENGL-265 Writing for the Media
  • ENGL-266 Feature Journalism
  • ENGL-360 Creative Nonfiction
  • ENGL-362 Creative Writing
  • ENGL-370 Linguitics
  • ENGL-371 History of the English Language
  • ENGL-372 Sociolinguistics and Issues in Language Education
  • ENGL-373 Stylistics and Discourse Analysis
  • ENGL-374 English Grammar
  • ENGL-375 Grammar for Teachers of ESL
• One course from:
  • ENGL-238 Film as a Narrative Art
  • ENGL-332 The Novel
  • ENGL-333 Poetry
  • ENGL-334 Drama
  • ENGL-335 Genre Study
• One course from:
  • ENGL-380 Internship in Journalism and Publishing
  • ENGL-390 Independent Study
  • ENGL-399 Honors Thesis
• One course from:
  • ENGL-200 Literature in a Global Context
  • ENGL-202 Russian Literature
  • ENGL-212 Survey of British Literature I
  • ENGL-213 Survey of British Literature II
  • ENGL-214 Survey of British Literature III
  • ENGL-220 Survey of American Literature I
  • ENGL-221 Survey of American Literature II
  • ENGL-225 African American Literature
  • ENGL-226 Ethnicity in American Literature
  • ENGL-230 Understanding Literature
  • ENGL-234 Gender and Literature
  • ENGL-238 Film as a Narrative Art
  • ENGL-299 Special Topics in Literature
  • ENGL-300 Advanced World Literature
  • ENGL-310 British Literature of the Middle Ages
  • ENGL-311 British Literature of the Sixteenth Century
  • ENGL-312 British Literature of the Seventeenth Century
  • ENGL-313 British Literature of the Eighteenth Century
  • ENGL-314 British Literature of the Early Nineteenth Century
  • ENGL-315 British Literature of the Middle and Later NineteenthCentury
  • ENGL-316 British Modernism
  • ENGL-317 Comtemporary British and Commonwealth Literature
  • ENGL-320 Literature of the United States I: Settlement to Civil War
  • ENGL-321 Literature of the United States II: Civil War to Great Depression
  • ENGL-322 Literature of the United States III: WW2 to the Present
  • ENGL-332 The Novel
  • ENGL-333 Poetry
  • ENGL-334 Drama
  • ENGL-335 Genre Study
  • ENGL-337 Major Authors
  • ENGL-338 Shakespeare
  • ENGL-340 Children's Literature
  • ENGL-341 Adolescent Literature
  • an approved English interim
• ENGL-395 Senior Seminar
• At least two courses (taken to fulfill a specific requirement or as an elective) must primarily cover American or British literature written before 1800.

Only one interim may count toward the major.

Literature minor

(21 semester hours)

• ENGL-295 Introduction to Studies in English (prerequisite for all 300-level literature courses)
• One course from:
  • ENGL-200 Literature in a Global Context
  • ENGL-202 Russian Literature
  • ENGL-300 Advanced World Literature
• One course from:
  • ENGL-212 Survey of British Literature I
  • ENGL-213 Survey of British Literature II
  • ENGL-214 Survey of British Literature III
  • ENGL-310 British Literature of the Middle Ages
  • ENGL-311 British Literature of the Sixteenth Century
  • ENGL-312 British Literature of the Seventeenth Century
  • ENGL-313 British Literature of the Eighteenth Century
  • ENGL-314 British Literature of the Early Nineteenth Century
  • ENGL-315 British Literature of the Middle and Later NineteenthCentury
  • ENGL-316 British Modernism
  • ENGL-317 Comtemporary British and Commonwealth Literature
• One course from:
  • ENGL-220 Survey of American Literature I
  • ENGL-221 Survey of American Literature II
  • ENGL-225 African American Literature
  • ENGL-226 Ethnicity in American Literature
  • ENGL-320 Literature of the United States I: Settlement to Civil War
  • ENGL-321 Literature of the United States II: Civil War to Great Depression
  • ENGL-322 Literature of the United States III: WW2 to the Present
• One course from:
  • ENGL-330 Hermenuetics and the Study of Literature
  • ENGL-337 Major Authors
  • ENGL-338 Shakespeare
  • ENGL-370 Linguitics
  • ENGL-371 History of the English Language
  • ENGL-372 Sociolinguistics and Issues in Language Education
  • ENGL-373 Stylistics and Discourse Analysis
  • ENGL-374 English Grammar
  • ENGL-375 Grammar for Teachers of ESL
• Two courses from:
  • ENGL-200 Literature in a Global Context
  • ENGL-202 Russian Literature
  • ENGL-212 Survey of British Literature I
  • ENGL-213 Survey of British Literature II
  • ENGL-214 Survey of British Literature III
  • ENGL-220 Survey of American Literature I
  • ENGL-221 Survey of American Literature II
  • ENGL-225 African American Literature
  • ENGL-226 Ethnicity in American Literature
  • ENGL-230 Understanding Literature
  • ENGL-234 Gender and Literature
  • ENGL-238 Film as a Narrative Art
  • ENGL-300 Advanced World Literature
  • ENGL-310 British Literature of the Middle Ages
  • ENGL-311 British Literature of the Sixteenth Century
  • ENGL-312 British Literature of the Seventeenth Century
  • ENGL-313 British Literature of the Eighteenth Century
  • ENGL-314 British Literature of the Early Nineteenth Century
  • ENGL-315 British Literature of the Middle and Later NineteenthCentury
  • ENGL-316 British Modernism
  • ENGL-317 Comtemporary British and Commonwealth Literature
  • ENGL-320 Literature of the United States I: Settlement to Civil War
  • ENGL-321 Literature of the United States II: Civil War to Great Depression
  • ENGL-322 Literature of the United States III: WW2 to the Present
  • ENGL-332 The Novel
  • ENGL-333 Poetry
  • ENGL-334 Drama
  • ENGL-335 Genre Study
  • ENGL-337 Major Authors
  • ENGL-338 Shakespeare
  • ENGL-340 Children's Literature
  • ENGL-341 Adolescent Literature
  • an approved English interim (one 300-level required, two recommended)
• Only one interim may count toward the minor

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

George G. Harper Scholarship

• award amount: $2,400
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; U.S. African American minority student
• automatic consideration

Reverend Bernard Haven Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $3,200
• first-year
• HS GPA 3.0+
• financial need considered; child of missionary
• submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1

Winifred Holkeboer Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required
• apply through the English department

Kenneth and Lillian Kuiper Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered
• apply through the English department

Helen Hoogland Meulink Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• junior or senior
• financial need required; secondary education; preference to an English major
• apply through the Calvin Portal

William and Matilda Monsma Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• sophomore, junior, or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to students from the South Chicago area
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Schemper-Kamp Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; demonstrate a Christian perspective in writing
• apply through the English department

Henrietta Ten Harmsel English Scholarship

• award amount: $2,300
• sophomore or junior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required; show an enthusiasm and love for reading and writing
• apply through the English department

Richard R. and Kathleen J. Tiemersma Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required
• apply through the English department

Steve J. and Viola Van Der Weele Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; interest in English language and literature; demonstrate an ability to integrate faith and learning
• apply through the English department

William E. and Margaret J. Van Wienen Scholarship

• award amount: $2,200
• junior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; have an interest and be active in community involvement projects
• apply through the English department

Clarence and Janice Walhout Scholarship

• apply through the Calvin Portal

Henry and Mildred Zylstra Scholarship

• award amount: $1,600
• senior
• GPA of 3.5+
• financial need considered; planning to attend graduate school in literature or language within five years following graduation
• apply through the English department

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Roy Anker Professor of English Department of English CFAC 289 anker@calvin.edu (616) 526-6530 Chad Engbers Associate Professor Department of English CFAC 280 cengbers@calvin.edu (616) 526-8516 Susan Felch Professor Department of English CFAC 285 felch@calvin.edu (616) 526-6591 Donald Hettinga Professor Department of English CFAC 274 hett@calvin.edu (616) 526-6520 Jennifer Holberg Assoc Director Honors Program, Professor Department of English CFAC 298 jholberg@calvin.edu (616) 526-6598 Nancy Hull Assistant Professor Department of English CFAC 286 nhull@calvin.edu (616) 526-6728 Brian Ingraffia Associate Professor Department of English CFAC 278 bi22@calvin.edu (616) 526-8595 Lew Klatt Associate Professor, on leave spring 2013 Department of English CFAC 296 lsk4@calvin.edu (616) 526-7530 Sarina Moore Assistant Professor Department of English CFAC 286 sgm5@calvin.edu (616) 526-7829 Linda Naranjo-Huebl Associate Professor Department of English CFAC 271 ln22@calvin.edu (616) 526-8682

Debra Rienstra Professor Department of English CFAC 270 drienstr@calvin.edu (616) 526-8526 Karen Saupe Co-Director of RAC Program, Professor Department of English CFAC 294 ksaupe@calvin.edu (616) 526-6467 Gary Schmidt Professor, on leave spring 2013 Department of English CFAC 287 schg@calvin.edu (616) 526-6540 John Timmerman Professor Department of English CFAC 291 timm@calvin.edu (616) 526-6560 David Urban Associate Professor Department of English CFAC 277 dvu2@calvin.edu (616) 526-8646 James Vanden Bosch Professor Department of English CFAC 292 vand@calvin.edu (616) 526-6592 Dean Ward Professor Department of English CFAC 269 ward@calvin.edu (616) 526-6139 Jennifer Williams Assistant Professor Department of English CFAC 276 jlw28@calvin.edu (616) 526-8515 Jane Zwart Assistant Professor Department of English CFAC 290 jcz3@calvin.edu (616) 526-8606