By Lauren Toole
Effective immediately, the English Department will offer a minor for all interested students.
According to Chair of the English Department and Associate Professor of English Deborah Laycock, the possibility of a minor has been floating around the department for several years.
The English department submitted a proposal to the Curricular Policy Committee (CPC) before spring break, and as soon as it was approved, they made the annoucement.
Over the years, theres been a lot of student demand for an English minor for a credential that indicates substantial achievement in writing skills, Laycock said. So we decided that it was time to [add the minor].
When the College first began instituting minors, the structure of the English major necessitated approximately nine area requirements.
That composition was hard to condense. When they moved to a more flexible requirement structure three area requirements it was more feasible to transpose to a minor scale, and the addition of more 100-level courses in recent years, the department felt it could provide students with a greater introduction to writing and literature, renewing the discussion of creating a minor.
So many students are doing double majors, said Laycock. A credential in writing, either as a major or minor and especially from Kenyon, is a valuable one to have.
The English minor requires students to complete a minimum of 2.5 units (five courses total) offered or approved by the department. They must complete at least one course in Pre-1700, 1700-1900 and Post-1900 literature.
In addition, the minor requires the completion of two electives and at least two courses above the 200-level.
Laycock expects higher enrollment in English courses, but she is confident that the department will be able to handle the influx.
Were prepared, at all levels, to accommodate more students, she said.
By offering a minor, Laycock also believes that the department will attract students who might not have otherwise taken English courses.
We have a wide range of courses and we really enjoy having students from other departments in the classes, said Laycock.
We hope to encourage more students to consider taking some English courses.
Seniors interested in declaring a minor should contact Laycock.
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