Welcome to the General Education English program housed in the Department of English at Old Dominion University (51³Ô¹ÏPro). The General Education English requirement at 51³Ô¹ÏPro inspires students to become better readers, writers, and thinkers in the university and beyond. Even if our students are not English majors, our goals are to help all students understand the necessity of these abilities in many areas of life (professional, academic, civic, and personal) and find joy in developing their imagination.
General Education English courses engage students in the creation and interpretation of a variety of texts. We offer six general education courses for undergraduate students of all majors and a co-requisite writing course (ENGL 101).
All undergraduate students at 51³Ô¹ÏPro must take two composition (C) courses and one literature (L) course. All students take ENGL 110C English Composition, after which they should choose the 200-level C course required or recommended by their major. Those students who do not directly place into ENGL 110C are required to also enroll during the same semester in a composition studio course (ENGL 101).
For more information about specific General Education requirements and the General Education philosophy and objectives, you can also visit the . For more information about major requirements and recommendations, view the Curriculum Sheets.
To learn more about the General Education English program, please contact the English General Education Director, Dr. Mary Beth Pennington at mpenning@odu.edu.
ENGL 110C. English Composition. 3 Credits. The principal objective of the course is to prepare students to be effective writers of the kinds of compositions they will be called on to produce during their college careers. By the end of the course, students should be more mature in their understanding and use of language, should develop efficient writing processes, and should know and demonstrate the qualities of effective composition in a given rhetorical situation and should be able to demonstrate those qualities in their own writing. Prerequisites: A score of 3 on the Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT).
ENGL 211C: Writing, Rhetoric, and Research. To foster dynamic transfer into major-level writing courses, this course emphasizes academic literacy and the skills necessary to decode and understand the writing process, the fundamental rhetorical principles of writing, and the research process and how they adapt to shifting requirements of audience, subject matter, and context. It is recommended that students take this course in their sophomore year. Prerequisites: ENGL 110C with a grade of C or higher.
ENGL 231C: Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics. A special themed section of ENGL 211C Writing, Rhetoric, and Research that is recommended for specific populations of students according to discipline, workplace, or other shared purpose. This course emphasizes academic literacy and the skills necessary to decode and understand the writing process, fundamental rhetorical principles of writing, and research, with a focus on the expectations of specific audience/s and in response to emerging rhetorical situations, thus fostering dynamic transfer into future work. The themes of these sections will be more fully described in information distributed to academic advisors. It is recommended that students take this course in their sophomore year. Prerequisites: ENGL 110C with a grade of C or higher.
Questions about General Education Composition? Contact the General Education Composition Coordinator, Jackie Mohan (jmohan@odu.edu).
ENGL 112L. Introduction to Literature. 3 credits. This course introduces students to a broad range of literary forms, including poetry, fiction and drama, exposing students to a diverse range of writers across race, gender, sexuality, nationality and time periods. As students engage with the readings, they will develop skills in literary interpretation, analysis and critical evaluation.
ENGL 114L. American Writers, American Experiences. 3 credits. This course introduces students to the diversity of American culture as depicted in American literature. Readings expose students to a diverse range of writers across race, gender, sexuality, and time periods. As students engage with the readings, they will develop skills in literary interpretation, analysis and critical evaluation.
ENGL 215L. Deep Dive Literature. 3 credits. This course provides students the opportunity to take an in depth look into a specific literary theme or topic of shared interest while developing their skills in literary interpretation, analysis and critical evaluation. Readings will represent a diverse set of voices and forms but also center a specific set of interpretive questions to explore. Prerequisites: Completion of ENGL 110C or equivalent with C or higher.
Questions about General Education Literature? Contact the General Education Literature Coordinator, Steffani Bush (sdambruc@odu.edu).
ENGL 101: Composition Studio and Writing Placement. 3 Credits. English 101 Composition Studio is an immersive study of writing, rhetoric, and composing concepts and strategies designed to complement and extend the English 110C curriculum. English 101 provides additional instruction, guided practice, and support as writers learn to successfully compose and revise in multiple genres for multiple purposes and audiences and navigate university literacy expectations.
- * Prerequisite: A score of 1 on the Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT) or an override from the Director of Writing Placement Support.
- * Co-enrollment/ corequisite with ENGL 110C, which means that students take ENGL 101 and ENGL 110C at the same time.
- * Students who place into ENGL 101 will sign up for both courses through ENGL 101.
Learn how students are placed into English composition courses
Resources
Student Writing Showcase
Student writing award winner samples coming soon.