The English major provides students with broad cultural literacy, as well as the analytical, writing, and critical thinking skills for successful professional work and graduate study. Graduates with an English degree may pursue careers in business, education, law, the military, creative and professional writing, journalism, marketing, public relations, administration, and management, as well as advanced degrees in secondary teaching, literature, or related fields.

The student who graduates with a Major in English will be able to

• Analyze significant literary works, primarily those written in English.



• Critically examine major authors in terms of literary history and chronology.



• Analyze the ways in which ethical values are shaped by history and culture.



• Apply techniques of research that demonstrate information and technological literacy.



• Demonstrate critical thinking through the application of literary theory to works of literature.



• Write original academic papers that demonstrate correct English syntax and logical reasoning.

A degree with a major in English requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework, including 33 credits for the major (indicated by Δ); 41 credits in general education requirements (GERs); and 46 credits in the minor, electives, and other degree requirements. At least 15 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Coursework for a major in English includes the following:

• Required foundation course (3 credits): ENGL 303
• Fiction genre course (3 credits): ENGL 240, 246, 441, or 457
• Poetry genre course (3 credits): ENGL 240, 345, or 446
• Drama genre course (3 credits): ENGL 240, 434, or 454
• Pre-1800 historical period course (3 credits): ENGL 201, 211, 221, 310, or 311
• Historical period course (3 credits): Chosen from pre-1800 period courses above or ENGL 201, 211, 221, 222, 310, 311, 312, 425, 433, or 437
• American author course (3 credits): ENGL 354, 363, 364, or 439
• British author course (3 credits): ENGL 205, 304, 358, 406, or 419
• Supplemental major courses (9 credits): Any ENGL courses and WRTG 288, 289, 387, 388, 393, or 394

The following course sequence will fulfill all the requirements for the Major in English. Since some recommended courses fill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options. Information on alternate courses (where allowable) to fulfill general education requirements (in communications, arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, biological and physical sciences, mathematics, and interdisciplinary issues) may be found on the GER page.

First Courses (to be taken within the first 18 credits)
Note: Placement tests are required for MATH and WRTG courses.

LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)

WRTG 101 Introduction to Writing (3)

MATH 107 College Algebra (3)
or MATH 106 or a higher-level math course

Introductory Courses (to be taken within the first 30 credits)

PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3)
or a foreign language course
or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, or literature course to satisfy the arts and humanities requirement

Both BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3)
and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1)
or BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology
or other course(s) to satisfy the biological and physical sciences lecture and laboratory requirement

WRTG 291 Expository and Research Writing (3)
or other course to satisfy the communications/writing requirement

GVPT 170 American Government (3)
or other ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, SOCY, or eligible AASP, CCJS, GERO, or WMST course to satisfy the first behavioral and social sciences requirement

IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3)
or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software

Foundation Courses (to be taken within the first 60 credits)

PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3)
or SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
or other course to satisfy the second behavioral and social sciences requirement (discipline must differ from first)

NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3)
or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy
or other course to satisfy the biological and physical sciences lecture requirement

HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3)
or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865
or other ARTH or HIST course to satisfy the arts and humanities requirement in historical perspective (discipline must differ from other humanities course)

IFSM 304 Ethics in the Information Age (3)
or other course to satisfy the interdisciplinary issues/computing requirement

SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3)
or COMM 380 Language in Social Contexts
or other course to satisfy the communications/writing or speech requirement

Δ ENGL 240 Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (3)
or other supplemental course for the major

Δ ENGL 303 Critical Approaches to Literature (3)

Additional Required Courses (to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

WRTG 391 Advanced Expository and Research Writing (3)
or other course to satisfy the communications/upper-level intensive writing requirement

Δ ENGL 345 Modern Poetry (3)
or other poetry genre course for the major (Note: ENGL 240 may be applied to only one genre requirement)

Δ ENGL 441 The Novel in America Since 1914 (3)
or other fiction genre course for the major

Δ ENGL 311 17th- and 18th-Century British Literature (3)
or other pre-1800 period course for the major

Δ ENGL 433 American Literature: 1914 to the Present (3)
or ENGL 425 Modern British Literature
or other historical period course for the major

Δ ENGL 364 African American Authors Since 1900 (3)
or ENGL 354 American Women Writers since 1900
or other American author course for the major

Δ ENGL 406 Shakespeare: Power and Justice (3)
or other British author course for the major

Δ ENGL 454 Modern World Drama (3)
or other drama genre course for the major

Δ WRTG 388 Advanced Grammar (3)
or WRTG 387 Issues and Methods of Tutoring Writing
or other supplemental major course

Δ ENGL 481 The Art of Narration (3)
or ENGL 485 Creative Writing: Poetry
or other supplemental major course

Minor and/or Elective Courses (to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses) (46)

Total credits for BA in English: 120