English, B.A. – Online +

About the English, B.A.

The English, B.A. program can be taken onsite or online.

The program in English requires 120 semester credit hours, including the core curriculum, the major, and a minor. English majors must choose a concentration in literature and language, creative writing, or the certificate program for teaching in the secondary schools. A maximum of 9 advanced hours of transfer credit in English will be accepted for the major.

Literature and Language Concentration

Students majoring in English with a concentration in literature and language study literary works from a wide variety of periods and genres. They learn to think critically and analytically about literature and about language itself. This concentration prepares students for many careers—including teaching, government service, and business—and for graduate and professional study in fields requiring extensive reading and writing, such as law, medicine, and business. ENGL 1301 , ENGL 1302 ; 6 hours from ENGL 2321 , ENGL 2322 , ENGL 2323 , ENGL 2324 , ENGL 2325 , ENGL 2326 ; and 3 hours from ENGL 2307 , ENGL 2310 , ENGL 2371 , ENGL 2381 , ENGL 2382 , ENGL 2383 , ENGL 2388 , ENGL 2391  are required for an English major with a concentration in literature and language. Majors must complete 18 hours at the 3000-level and 9 hours at the 4000-level in the following courses:

1. 3000-Level
   1. Theory or Linguistics
      Take one of the following: ENGL 3301 , ENGL 3328 , ENGL 3339 , ENGL 3371 , ENGL 3372 , ENGL 3373  
   2. Diversity
      Take one of the following: ENGL 3338 , ENGL 3339 , ENGL 3341 , ENGL 3342 , ENGL 3384 , ENGL 3387 , ENGL 3389 , ENGL 3392 , ENGL 3393 , ENGL 3394 , ENGL 3395  
      Note: A course cannot count for both the Diversity and the Theory/Linguistics Categories
   3. Distribution Courses
      Take one course each from two of the following lists. Note that students must choose from categories not fulfilled at the 2000-level. For example, a student who has taken ENGL 2323  and ENGL 2326   must choose from Early Global, Later Global, Later British, and Early American for their distribution courses. See below for a visual explanation of this example (note that many other combinations are possible).

• Early Global: ENGL 3335 , ENGL 3336 , ENGL 3338  
• Later Global: ENGL 3337 , ENGL 3338 , ENGL 3341 , ENGL 3342   
• Early British: ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3303 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , ENGL 3385  
• Later British: ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3309 , ENGL 3311  
• Early American: ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3392 , ENGL 3393 , ENGL 3394 , ENGL 3395  
• Later American: ENGL 3324 , ENGL 3325 , ENGL 3392 , ENGL 3393 , ENGL 3394 , ENGL 3395  

Note: If students count a distribution course also as a diversity course, they must make up 3 hours with a 3000-level English elective to meet the 18 hours required at the 3000-level.

4. Two additional 3000-level courses

2. 4000-Level
   1. Three additional 4000-level courses from the following: ENGL 4300 , ENGL 4301 , ENGL 4311 , ENGL 4312 , ENGL 4313 , ENGL 4314 , ENGL 4315 , ENGL 4321 , ENGL 4342 , ENGL 4351 , ENGL 4371 , ENGL 4373 , ENGL 4390  

Communication Literacy (CL) Requirement. To accommodate English majors while emphasizing the communication skills they will need to graduate and succeed, the department focuses on developing students’ abilities to articulate and integrate ideas and information specific to three areas. Students will choose one course from each area. Courses that partially fulfill the Communication Literacy requirement for English majors with a language and literacy concentration and their associated areas are as follows:

• Situating in Cultural/Historical Context (ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3303 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3309 , ENGL 3311 , ENGL 3312 , ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3324 , ENGL 3325 , ENGL 3335 , ENGL 3336 , ENGL 3337 , ENGL 3385 , ENGL 3392 , ENGL 3393 , ENGL 3394 , ENGL 3395 )
• Critical Communication (ENGL 3301 , ENGL 3328 , ENGL 3339 , ENGL 3371 , ENGL 3372 , ENGL 3373 , ENGL 4342 ) 
• Intercultural Communication (ENGL 3338 , ENGL 3339 , ENGL 3341 , ENGL 3342 , ENGL 3382 , ENGL 3384 , ENGL 3387 , ENGL 3388 , ENGL 3389 , ENGL 3392 , ENGL 3393 , ENGL 3394 , ENGL 3395 )

Not all courses above will be required to fulfill the Communication Literacy requirement. After completing the CL courses, students will be able to articulate and synthesize key components of each area, using writing and other communication strategies.

Creative Writing Concentration

The major in English with a concentration in creative writing is designed for students wishing to write fiction, nonfiction, and/or poetry with the guidance of teachers who write. This plan allows maximum concentration in literature courses so that, as they write, students may further understand and appreciate the aspects and techniques of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In addition to the opportunities for writing and literary study, this concentration is especially appropriate for students interested in teaching creative writing and literature at the college level, studying creative writing and literature in graduate school, and preparing for professional graduate schools, such as law and business. Permission to take ENGL 4351  requires submission of a writing sample, the prerequisite of at least one ENGL 3351  (in the same genre), and permission of the instructor.

The creative writing concentration requires ENGL 1301  and ENGL 1302  and 9 hours of 2000-level courses, at least 6 hours of which should be drawn from ENGL 2321 , ENGL 2322 , ENGL 2323 , ENGL 2324 , ENGL 2325 , ENGL 2326 , or ENGL 2351 ; and 3 hours from ENGL 2305 , ENGL 2306 , ENGL 2307 , ENGL 2308 , ENGL 2381 , ENGL 2382 , ENGL 2383 , or ENGL 2388 .

Advanced courses include 18 hours at the 3000-level and 9 hours at the 4000-level.

1. 3000-Level
   1. One British literature period course: ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3303 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3309 , or ENGL 3311  
   2. One Global or American literature period course: ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3324 , ENGL 3325 , ENGL 3335 , ENGL 3336 , ENGL 3337 , ENGL 3338 , ENGL 3341 , ENGL 3342 , ENGL 3387 , ENGL 3389 , ENGL 3390 , ENGL 3392 , ENGL 3393 , ENGL 3394 , or ENGL 3395  
   3. Six hours of ENGL 3351  under two separate genres (fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction)
   4. Six hours of other ENGL courses at the 3000 level
2. 4000-Level
   1. ENGL 4351  (must be in the same genre as one of the two ENGL 3351  courses the student has taken)
   2. Two additional 4000-level courses from the following: ENGL 4300 , ENGL 4301 , ENGL 4311 , ENGL 4312 , ENGL 4313 , ENGL 4314 , ENGL 4315 , ENGL 4321 , ENGL 4342 , ENGL 4351 , ENGL 4371 , ENGL 4373 , or ENGL 4390  

Communication Literacy Requirement. Effective leaders, workers, and citizens—whether in the arts, government, health care, information services, industry, education, or anything else—must possess the ability to communicate effectively. That is, they must possess communication literacy. To that end, the department offers a concentration in creative writing that will help students: 1.) foster a critical understanding of how communication functions in different contexts, 2.) gain an appreciation of literature’s uniquely transactional nature, and 3.) teach the acquisition of language skills toward adapting messages to situations and audiences, communicating in ways that are ethically and socially responsible in a diverse global society. To complete the concentration in creative writing, students need two sections of ENGL 3351  in different genres and one section of ENGL 4351 .

English Teaching Concentration

Students seeking a provisional certificate with English Language Arts as a teaching field may satisfy the requirement in English through the Bachelor of Arts degree. Certification requirements are determined by the State Board for Education Certification and are subject to change. A grade of C or better in all English courses is required. In addition, the certification program through the College of Education requires a 2.75 GPA in the teaching field. Before beginning to take advanced courses, students should successfully complete ENGL 1301  and ENGL 1302  and 9 hours in 2000-level English (ENGL 2305 , or ENGL 2306 , ENGL 2307 , ENGL 2308 , ENGL 2310 , ENGL 2311 , ENGL 2321 , ENGL 2322 , ENGL 2323 , ENGL 2324 , ENGL 2325 , ENGL 2326 , ENGL 2351 , ENGL 2370 , ENGL 2371 , ENGL 2381 , ENGL 2382 , ENGL 2383 , ENGL 2388 , or ENGL 2391 ).

Advanced courses include 15 hours at the 3000-level, 9 hours at the 3000- or 4000-level, and 3 hours at the 4000-level.

1. 3000-Level
   1. One world literature and diversity course: ENGL 3335 , ENGL 3336 , ENGL 3337 , ENGL 3338 , ENGL 3339 , ENGL 3341 , ENGL 3342 , ENGL 3382 , ENGL 3384 , ENGL 3386 , ENGL 3387 , ENGL 3389 , ENGL 3390 , or ENGL 3391  
   2. One British literature before 1700 course: ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3303 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , or ENGL 3385  
   3. One British literature after 1700 course: ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3309 , or ENGL 3311  
   4. One American literature course: ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3324 , ENGL 3325 , ENGL 3387 , or ENGL 3390 , ENGL 3392 , ENGL 3393 , ENGL 3394 , ENGL 3395   
   5. ENGL 3365   

[Note that some courses fulfill more than one category (e.g., ENGL 3387  is both world literature and American literature). However, each category must have its own course to fulfill it.]

2. 3000- or 4000-Level
   1. One language course: ENGL 3371 , ENGL 3372 , ENGL 3373 , ENGL 4371 , or ENGL 4373  
   2. One composition course: ENGL 3360  or ENGL 4360   
   3. One additional 3000- or 4000-level ENGL course
3. 4000-Level
   1. One additional 4000-level literature or language course

Students planning to become high school teachers should minor in secondary education, which includes student teaching (EDSE 4000 ). They will be required to take EDSE 4000  for their student teaching experience. The university has implemented a teacher education program that includes one semester of student teaching in the senior year. Students wishing to obtain teacher certification should consult with the department’s undergraduate advisor and see a College of Education  advisor to complete a secondary education minor degree plan.

Communication Literacy (CL) Requirement. To accommodate English majors while emphasizing the communication skills they will need to graduate and succeed, the department focuses on developing students’ abilities to articulate and integrate ideas and information specific to three areas. Students will choose one course from each area. Courses that partially fulfill the Communication Literacy requirement for English majors with a language and literacy concentration and their associated areas are as follows:

• Situating in Cultural/Historical Context (ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3303 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3309 , ENGL 3311 , ENGL 3312 , ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3324 , ENGL 3325 , ENGL 3335 , ENGL 3336 , ENGL 3337 , ENGL 3385 , ENGL 3392 , ENGL 3393 , ENGL 3394 , ENGL 3395 )
• Critical Communication (ENGL 3301 , ENGL 3328 , ENGL 3339 , ENGL 3371 , ENGL 3372 , ENGL 3373 , ENGL 4342 )
• Intercultural Communication (ENGL 3338 , ENGL 3339 , ENGL 3341 , ENGL 3342 , ENGL 3382 , ENGL 3384 , ENGL 3387 , ENGL 3339 , ENGL 3392 , ENGL 3393 , ENGL 3394 , ENGL 3395 )

Not all courses will be required to fulfill the Communication Literacy requirement. After completing the CL courses, students will be able to articulate and synthesize key components of each area, using writing and other communication strategies.

About the Online + English, B.A. Curriculum

Disclaimer: This curriculum serves as a recommended course sequence and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not guaranteed to reflect each student’s unique academic needs and is subject to change based on course availability, institutional updates, and individual advising. Students should consult with an academic advisor to confirm their personalized degree plan.