Whether their major is in viticulture and enology or biochemistry and molecular biology — to name just two current examples — many students find that pursuing a minor in English allows them to develop their abilities to read and to write critically while enjoying all the pleasures that great literature has to offer. Students minoring in English learn to analyze what they read; they learn to read critically, to think about both what is said and how it is said, and to employ various methods of criticism, including the latest theoretical approaches. They also learn to articulate, in oral reports, in-class, and written papers what they have discovered. Through much writing practice and excellent instruction, they improve their writing ability, a lifetime skill worth having.

This minor joined with any major on campus will give students useful preparation for any position requiring orderly and clear thinking and expression. For example, many Davis graduates have found the minor a nice complement for majors preparing students for pre-professional training in law, medicine, library work, and teaching.

Minor Requirements