Why do I have to take all of these English courses when I am a Biology major?

    This is a question often asked by new students who aren't quite sure of their liberal studies requirements and how they benefit their individual field of study. At Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the liberal studies program was developed to prepare you for the most important field of study--LIFE! Liberal studies will help you to learn and use knowledge efficiently. Through the English requirements of this program, you develop critical thinking and literacy skills that benefit the study of your major, from art history to biochemistry. Critical thinking enables you to ask questions, reason logically and abstractly, to analyze something critically, and to make better, more thoughtful decisions. Literacy consists of reading, writing, speaking, and listening effectively. English liberal studies enhance and develop these skills so that you can put them to the utmost use in your major courses.

Imagine This:

    You have a ten page research paper due for one of your major courses. It is sixty percent of your overall grade. You'll thank your lucky stars that you learned the MLA citing techniques along with how to get around the library in your research writing course three or four semesters ago. You may not think when you are taking one of these courses that it will be put to use anytime in your college career, but there's no question about it...you will use these skills!

    There are four courses that are classified as English liberal studies: Basic Writing (ENGL 100), College Writing (ENGL 101), Humanities Literature (ENGL 121), and Research Writing (ENGL 202). It is suggested that you follow the sequencing of courses in the order that they are presented in this booklet. As with anything, there are a few quirks that may or may not concern you. During orientation you probably remember a placement exam. Through this exam, you may have been exempted from taking one or more of these courses. Being exempt from these courses simply means you have placed out of the courses and do not have to take them. If you placed into Basic Writing, and have done well in the course, there is a chance that you may be exempt from taking College Writing. This may occur if you are recommended by your Basic Writing professor to take the exemption exam provided by the English Department. If you are an English major, you will take Research Writing specifically for English majors and in the place of Humanities Literature, you will register for Literary Analysis.

    To take advantage of the benefit that these courses offer you in your major area of study, it is highly recommended that you schedule these classes early in your college career. If you are an English major, taking these courses early will set the foundation for the skills that you will need to utilize throughout the required curriculum.

    Carefully read the following detailed information that outlines the characteristics of each English liberal studies course that is offered here at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Hopefully by doing so, all of your questions about the English section of your curriculum will be answered.

ENGL 100  | ENGL 101 | ENGL 121 | ENGL 202 | General Tips

Liberal Studies | IUP English