Declaring a Major/Minor in English
Welcome to our programs! If you have decided to major or minor in English or Creative Writing, the steps and information below will help you smoothly integrate into your new major or minor.
Step 1: Come to the English Department (714 Jacobson Faculty Tower) and fill out a Declaration/Change of Major form. Our office secretary, Ethel Wesdorp, will assist you in completing this step.
Step 2: Familiarize yourself with the Major/Minor you have chosen. All of our major and minor programs are set up in a logical sequence of courses that you should try to follow as nearly as you can, loosely described below:
Liberal Arts English Majors/Minors and Adolescence Education English Majors:
Ideally, you’ll begin with some 200-level electives (many of which also fulfill General Education (GE) requirements). You will then move to our survey courses in English and American literary traditions (ENG301, ENG302, ENG331, ENG332). These survey courses are prerequisite for courses offered at the 400-level. All English majors (Liberal Arts) will also take a Senior Seminar.
English / Childhood Education Majors:
Begin taking one or more of the three required courses in the theory and practice of writing (Analysis and Interpretation of Literature, Expository Writing, Practical Grammar, Development of Modern English, Creative Writing I, Theories of Writing, Journalism, Intro. to Linguistics). You will then move to our survey courses in English and American literary traditions (ENG301, ENG302, ENG331, ENG332). These survey courses are prerequisite for courses offered at the 400-level.
Please follow these links for more detailed major plans and minor plans.
Step 3: Meet with your Advisor. When you declare your major or minor, you will be assigned to an advisor. Ask Ethel Wesdorp to whom you will be assigned, or check your Progress Report (available on my.newpaltz.edu). Your advisor will be listed at the top of the report.
It is a good idea to set up an introductory meeting wit your advisor, to ask questions and to establish a relationship. He or she will be an invaluable resource to you as you work through your major.
