Undergraduate Programs

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Bachelor of Arts in English
The Department of English offers the B.A. in English as the cornerstone of studies in the humanities. This rich and versatile major provides students with a source of personal enrichment as well as verbal, analytical, and cultural skills that are readily adaptable to a variety of careers. The English curriculum includes courses in literature, language, creative writing, technical and professional communication, rhetoric, cultural studies, digital media and film. Our majors go on to succeed in a wide range of professions, including secondary and post-secondary education, business, government, and law. We offer four different major emphases that students can tailor to their individual needs, in (1) English, (2) Creative Writing, (3) Literature, Language, and Culture, and (4) Rhetoric, Digital Media, and Professional Communication. The department provides strong and personalized advising designed to help students reach their full academic potential and future career goals.

The department also offers minors in English, creative writing, literature, medieval and early modern studies, and rhetoric and professional communication. Further information about career opportunities, emphases, and minors is available from the Department of English. Students who wish to pursue English as a double major may eliminate one elective from the departmental requirements.

Emphasis Tracks

Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major: English
Emphasis Tracks

Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major: English

Departmental Requirements:

In addition to meeting the English basic skills requirement (see basic academic skills in the index), the student majoring in English must complete 42 credits in English beyond ENGL 111G, Rhetoric and Composition, satisfying the following requirements:

A. Twelve credits from the following courses:*

ENGL 220G, Introduction to Creative Writing	3
ENGL 243, The Bible as Literature	3
ENGL 251, Survey of American Literature I	3
ENGL 252, Survey of American Literature II	3
ENGL 261, Masterpieces of Western European Literature, Beginnings to the Renaissance	3
ENGL 262, Masterpieces of Western European Literature, Post-Renaissance to Modern	3
ENGL 263, History of Argument	3
ENGL 271, English Literature I	3
ENGL 272, English Literature II*	3

*Students may make 1 or 2 of the following substitutions: HON 229G for ENGL 243; HON 220G, 231G, 234G, or 239G for ENGL 271; HON 220G, 234G, or 239G for ENGL 261; HON 231G for ENGL 272

B. Three credits of ENGL 310, Critical Writing

C. Three credits from ENGL 301, Theory and Criticism: Rhetoric and Culture; ENGL 302, Theory and Criticism: Literature and Culture; or ENGL 303, Theory and Criticism: Film, Media, and Culture

D. Six additional credits from English Courses numbered 298-399**
** Students may count 1 or 2 of the following Honors courses towards the requirement of 6 hours of 300-level electives: HON 325V, 345V, 348V, 365V, 366V, 369V, 376V, 379V, and 382V. Students may not take both ENGL 325V and HON 325V or ENGL 392V and HON 348V.

E. Three credits from:

ENGL 469, Advanced Study in American Literature or ENGL 438, Literature of the American Renaissance
ENGL 439, American Realism and Naturalism
ENGL 440 Harlem Renaissance and Modernism
ENGL 441 Modern and Contemporary American Fiction
ENGL 442 Modern and Contemporary American Poetry
ENGL 456, Ethnic Studies in US Literature and Culture
ENGL 457, American Indian Literatures
ENGL 458, Latino/a Literature and Culture
ENGL 459, Black Literatures and Culture in the US.

Three credits from ENGL 405, Chaucer or ENGL 407, Milton.

Three credits from ENGL 408, Shakespeare I or ENGL 409, Shakespeare II.

F. Nine additional credits from English courses numbered 400-499