STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

FOR ENGLISH MAJORS AND PROGRAMS

 

Affirming the university's mission statement and its emphasis on Excellence, Faith, Leadership, and Service (and the College of Arts & Sciences' Core Curriculum Statement), the English Department pursues a number of interrelated learning outcomes for achieving its part in that mission.   These derive from our First Year English program, from our contributions—through our courses in Rhetoric, Literature, and Diversity—to the University Core of Common Studies and the Helen Way Klingler College of Arts & Sciences College Curriculum, from our three majors, and from our graduate programs.  

 

I.   Student Learning Outcomes for the English Major:

Upon completion of any of the three English majors (Literature, Writing-Intensive, or Teaching English) , Marquette University students will be able to:

 

1.      Analyze literary texts or their equivalents (e.g. film).

2.      Write convincing interpretive arguments of texts under                  consideration.

        •  Writing-Intensive English majors will be able to                         construct texts within  specific creative and/or workplace             genre conventions

3.      Explain how language and literary works shape their                   perceptions of themselves and their world.

4.      (TENG only) Demonstrate competency in content areas                    specified by the Department of Public Instruction.

 

These learning outcomes for English majors build on the learning outcomes for the University Core in the Literature and in the Rhetoric Knowledge Areas.

 

II.   Student Learning Outcomes for the Core Literature Knowledge Area:

Upon completion of core studies in literature, Marquette University students will be able to:

 

1. Produce oral and written assessments of literary and cultural texts and/or performances using the language and concepts of one of these two knowledge area disciplines.
2. Articulate how literary and cultural texts and/or performances can transform one's understanding of self, others, and communities.
3. LIT-specific outcome:

Apply the methodologies of literary criticism to representative works of literature.

 

III.   Student Learning Outcomes for the Rhetoric Knowledge Area:

After completing core courses in the rhetoric knowledge area, Marquette University students will be able to:

 

1. Identify and use rhetorical strategies (i.e., invention, arrangement and style) in the processes of analyzing and composing texts;
2. Produce effective written, visual and oral texts, given diverse purposes, genres and audiences;
3. Explain the importance of ethical communication as practiced within academic, civic and professional communities.

 

Learning outcomes for our graduate programs are listed in a separate document under “Graduate” on the English Department webpage.