English, B.A.

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 , ENGL 2391  and 3 hours from ENGL 2305 , ENGL 2306 , ENGL 2307 , ENGL 2308 , ENGL 2371 , or ENGL 2388 ; are required for an English major with a concentration in literature and language. Majors must complete 15 hours at the 3000-level and 12 hours at the 4000-level in the following courses:

1. 3000-Level
   1. Period Courses
      Take three of the following: ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3309 , ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3324 , ENGL 3325 , ENGL 3335 , ENGL 3336 , ENGL 3337 , ENGL 3385 .
      • One course must be Early: ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3303 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3335  
      • One must be American: ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3324 , ENGL 3325  
      • One must be British: ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3309 , ENGL 3311 , ENGL 3385 
        Note that some courses fulfill more than one category (e.g., ENGL 3302  is both Early and British; ENGL 3323  is both Early and American). However, three courses are required from this group.
   2. Two additional 3000-level courses.
2. 4000-Level
   1. Four 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 (CL) Plan. 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 3304 , ENGL 3305 , ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3309 , 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 3371 , ENGL 3372 , ENGL 3373 , ENGL 4342 )
• Intercultural Communication (ENGL 3338 , ENGL 3384 , ENGL 3387 , ENGL 3388 , ENGL 3389  , 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.

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  (preferably in the same genre), and permission of the instructor.

The creative writing specialization requires ENGL 1301  and ENGL 1302  and 6 hours of 2000-level courses: 3 hours from ENGL 2305 , ENGL 2306 , ENGL 2307 , ENGL 2308 , ENGL 2371 , or ENGL 2388 ; and 3 hours from ENGL 2351  or ENGL 2391 .

Advanced courses include 15 hours at the 3000 level and 12 hours at the 4000 level.

1. 3000-Level
   1. One early literature period course: ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3303 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , or ENGL 3335  
   2. One British literature period course: ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3311 , or ENGL 3309  
   3. One American literature period course: ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3324 , or ENGL 3325  
   4. Six hours of ENGL 3351  under two separate genres (fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction)
2. 4000-Level
   1. ENGL 4351  
   2. 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  or ENGL 4390  

Communication Literacy (CL) Plan. 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 .

Certification for Teaching

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 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 two courses in 2000-level English (ENGL 2305 , or ENGL 2306 , ENGL 2307 , ENGL 2308 , ENGL 2311 , ENGL 2351 , ENGL 2371 , 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.

I. 3000-Level

A. One world literature and diversity course: ENGL 3335 , ENGL 3336 , ENGL 3337 , ENGL 3338 , ENGL 3382 , ENGL 2383 , ENGL 3384 , ENGL 3386 , ENGL 3387 ,  ENGL 3389 , ENGL 3390 , or ENGL 3391  
B. One British literature before 1700 course: ENGL 3302 , ENGL 3303 , ENGL 3304 , ENGL 3305 , or ENGL 3385  
C. One British literature after 1700 course: ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3309 , or ENGL 3311 
D. One American literature course: ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3324 , ENGL 3325 , ENGL 3387 , or ENGL 3390  
E. 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.]

II. 3000 or 4000-Level

A. One language course: ENGL 3371 , ENGL 3372 , ENGL 3373 , ENGL 4371 , or ENGL 4373  
B. One composition course: ENGL 3360  or ENGL 4360  
C. One additional 3000 or 4000-level ENGL course

III. 4000-Level

A. 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 a full year of student teaching 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 certification plan.

Communication Literacy (CL) Plan. 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 3304 , ENGL 3305 , ENGL 3307 , ENGL 3308 , ENGL 3309 , ENGL 3323 , ENGL 3324 , ENGL 3325 , ENGL 3385 )
• Critical Communication (ENGL 3371 , ENGL 3372 , ENGL 3373 , ENGL 4342 )
• Intercultural Communication (ENGL 3338 , ENGL 3384 , ENGL 3387 , ENGL 3389 ).

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.

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Total Hours: 120

For those who wish to pursue teacher certification, the university is implementing a new teacher education program that includes a full year of student teaching (two semesters of the senior year) for students beginning their teacher education program in spring 2013 or later.