Dr. Debali Mookerjea-Leonard, Coordinator
Phone: (540) 568-3751
Email: mookerdx@jmu.edu
The cross disciplinary minor in world literature is designed for students who wish to extend their critical understanding of literature and other artistic productions beyond the confines of Anglo-America and offers them the opportunity to study literary and artistic productions from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean Islands, continental Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and a special interest area (Native America, African America, Asian America, Immigrant Britain). By offering a broad yet substantial introduction to literature and other arts produced beyond their traditional experience, the minor provides students with a bridge to understanding new cultures and languages. It aims to equip students with the critical and analytical skills necessary to reflect upon and appreciate these artistic practices as well as to develop a clear understanding of social context and artistic expression by encouraging them to think outside the local and on a more global level. The minor provides a good foundation for students to meet the challenges of graduate studies in comparative literature, world cinema and cultural studies/history.
The minimum requirement for a minor in world literature is 18 hours. Six credit hours may be double-counted between the minor and the major or general education courses. In addition to the gateway course, ENG 239 , students can take one 200-level course to count toward the minor. The English, Department of and the Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Department of (FLLC) offer a range of courses which will fulfill the minor. FLLC offers students the opportunity to study non-English language literatures from Europe often in the original language, while all courses in the English department are taught in English or in translation. Students can also take a maximum of two relevant courses from disciplines other than English and foreign languages, with the permission of the program coordinator. Students should consult the coordinator about new courses and appropriateness of the subject of special topics courses. The following courses may include several sections per term—ENG 221 , ENG 222 , ENG 302 , ENG 368 , ENG 383 , ENG 385 , ENG 405 , ENG 410 , ENG 412 , ENG 423 , ENG 466 , HUM 200 —and only certain sections will satisfy the minor requirement. Students electing this minor can acquire more information from the program coordinator regarding courses which will count toward the minor. Courses from disciplines other than English and foreign languages may be considered for credit with the prior approval of the coordinator.
