English, B.A. (E, A)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

English Major

The English major prepares students for continued study in advanced programs, for teaching, or for entry into various professions where critical and creative thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills are valued and in demand. Designed to afford students an integrated, comprehensive learning program, the English major teaches students the fundamental ways of organizing knowledge in the discipline of English Studies. The major also provides students with a core of knowledge and skills essential to career choices in either teaching, writing, publishing, editing, or work in business and industry that requires creative thinking and excellent communication skills.

The English major incorporates a writing-in-the-discipline (WD) instructional approach that integrates instruction in writing and the use of writing as a powerful learning tool into the whole curriculum, following a sequenced and coordinated plan. Students take three WD courses throughout the major: ENGL 300 (Introduction to English Studies), ENGL 420 (Literary Criticism), and ENGL 496 (Senior Seminar).

REAL Curriculum

This major fulfills the E and A areas of the REAL Curriculum. English comprises a broad discipline that includes literary and cultural studies, creative and professional writing, critical theory, English education, film, folklore, linguistics, and composition and rhetoric. Our students read and analyze engaging works of literature; reflect on diverse perspectives of human experience; and write to persuade, inform, inspire, entertain, and awe. Students who study English apply their rhetorical and analytical skills to a diverse array of professional fields. Students need majors and/or minors to fulfill the R and L areas to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.

REAL Foundational Requirements

Foundational Writing (3 credits)

ENGL 111 - Principles of College Composition (GE)

Foundational Math (3 credits)

REAL Cornerstone Requirements

Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level. The English major includes 9 credits of writing intensive courses.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The English major includes 12 general education credits.

Major Requirements (48-50 credits)

B.A. Requirements (6-8 credits)

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires completion of the B.A. language requirements described here .

Required Major Courses (30 credits)

One of the following literature before 1825 courses:

One of the following literature after 1825 courses:

One of the following multicultural literature courses:

One of the following advanced author study courses:

Students in the English Education concentration must satisfy this requirement with ENGL 472 .

Concentrations

Students seeking one of the pre-professional concentrations will fulfill all the requirements for the English major core and use their elective hours to complete the concentration.

Creative Writing Concentration

Four courses chosen from:

ENGL 309 - Fiction Writing (WI) (GE)
ENGL 310 - Poetry Writing
ENGL 311 - Playwriting
ENGL 312 - Creative Nonfiction Writing
ENGL 409 - Advanced Fiction Writing (May be taken twice for credit.)
ENGL 410 - Advanced Poetry Writing (May be taken twice for credit.)
ENGL 411 - Advanced Playwriting (May be taken twice for credit.)

English Education Concentration

ENGL 402 - Teaching Writing: Theories and Practices
ENGL 423 - Teaching Reading in the English Classroom
ENGL 425 - The Study of Adolescent Literature
ENGL 463 - Grammar and Language for Teachers
Students must also complete all courses for licensure. See the Secondary Education page for more details.

Professional and Technical Writing Concentration

Four courses taken as English electives:

Additional English Courses (12 credits)

If a student does not choose a concentration, they must take:

Three additional semester hours from any 200-, 300-, or 400-level English course.
Nine additional upper-level semester hours from any 300- or 400-level English courses.

Additional Degree Requirements

In order to count towards the major in English, all courses with an ENGL prefix must have earned a letter grade of “C-” or higher, and a student must have an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher in the major.

Open Credit Hours (70-72 credits)

These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 120

Additional Information

Teaching Licensure

English majors who wish to earn licensure to teach English must take ENGL 463 to fulfill the language study requirement and also complete the English Education concentration (see below) as part of the major. They also must take ENGL 428 concurrently with student teaching. This counts as part of the professional education core but not as part of the major. To be licensed, a student must also take one of the following: COMS 114 - Public Speaking; COMS 330 - Communication Theory; or COMS 240 - Teamwork and Communication. In addition, appropriate courses in education must be taken.(Contact an English Education advisor for information concerning these courses.)

Students accepted into the English Education program must be within 9 hours of completing coursework in the English major before beginning the field experience (blocking) semester. Students may take only one 3-hour course (beyond the 1-hour seminar) during the semester they are student teaching.