English, B.A.

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Choose from two tracks in English: Literary Studies track or English Studies track. The former focuses on the study of literature and culture, while the latter balances literary study with courses in rhetoric and composition and professional writing.

University Studies Program

This degree requires that The University Studies Program 2015 requirements are met before graduation. Some of the courses required for this major fulfill USP requirements, but not all. Students should check their degree evaluations and consult with their assigned academic advisor to discuss their specific course plan.

C 1 - Communication 1 Credits: 3
C 2 - Communication 2 Credits: 3
C 3 - Communication 3 Credits: 3
Q - - Quantitative Reasoning Credits: 3
PN - - Physical and Natural World (1) Credits: 3
PN - - Physical and Natural World (2) Credits: 3
H - - Human Culture (1) Credits: 3
H - - Human Culture (2) Credits: 3
V - - U.S. & WY Constitution Credits: 3
FYS or USP Elective - - Any 3-credit hour of FYS or 3-credit hours of USP electives Credits: 3

Gateway to the English Major - 3 Hours

ENGL 2025 - Introduction to English Studies Credits: 3

Historical Period - 12 or 15 hours

English Studies Track: 12 hours

Literary Studies Track: 15 hours

English Studies Track students take one of the following seven courses.

Literary Studies Track students take two of the following seven courses. Credits / Units: 3 or 6
ENGL 2340 - Native American Culture and Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 2350 - Introduction to African American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 2360 - Mexican American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 2425 - Literatures in English I Credits: 3
ENGL 2430 - Literatures in English II Credits: 3
ENGL 2435 - Literatures in English III Credits: 3
ENGL 2440 - Rhetoric & Writing Credits: 3
Take three of the following five courses: Credits / Units: 12
ENGL 3200 - Topics in: Medieval Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 3300 - Topics in: Renaissance Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 3400 - Topics in: Eighteenth-Century Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 3500 - Topics in: Nineteenth-Century Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 3600 - Topics in: 20th Century Literature Credits: 3

Expanding the Canon - 6 Hours

A full list of courses that fulfill the Expanding the Canon requirements will be published each semester. Generally speaking, these courses will cover topics related to racial diversity, global literatures, gender, sexuality, or disability studies. ENGL 2340/2350/2360 can be taken either as an Expanding the Canon course OR as an Historical Period course. The Expanding the Canon options are always changing, but will always include the following:

Credits / Units: 6
ENGL 2340 - Native American Culture and Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 2345 - American Indians in Hollywood Film Credits: 3
ENGL 2350 - Introduction to African American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 2360 - Mexican American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 3330 - Global Shakespeare in Performance Credits: 3
ENGL 3610 - Non-Western Women Writers Credits: 3
ENGL 4455 - Slavery and Freedom Credits: 1-4
ENGL 3710 - Gender: Humanities Focus Credits: 3
ENGL 4460 - American Indian Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 4830 - Victorian Women’s Lives: Their Art, Literature, and Culture Credits: 3
ENGL 4450 - African American Novel Credits: 3
ENGL 4470 - Studies in Chicano Folklore Credits: 3
ENGL 4640 - Studies in Emerging Fields and Approaches Credits: 3
Please note that only ENGL 4640: Postcolonial Literature & Theory counts towards the Expanding the Canon Requirement unless otherwise specified in a given semester.

Methods - 3 Hours

Chose the methods course that corresponds with your track.

Literary Studies Track:
ENGL 3000 - Literary Theory Credits: 3
OR
English Studies Track:
ENGL 3010 - Approaches to Rhetoric, Composition Pedagogy, and Professional Writing Credits: 3

Foundations of Language - 3 Hours

This requirement is for the English Studies Track only.

ENGL 4780 - History of the English Language Credits: 3
OR
ENGL 4785 - Linguistics, Language Teaching and Social Context Credits: 3
OR
EDCI 4761 - Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, and Social Literacies for Teachers Credits: 3
OR
EDCI 4762 - Essential Sociolinguistics for English as a Second Langauge Learning and Teaching Credits: 3

Electives - 6 hours

Literary Studies: Students can select from any of our courses for credit in this category. One of the two electives must be in either Rhetoric & Composition or Creative Writing.

English Studies: Two courses from the list of Rhetoric/Composition/Professional Writing classes offered by English. See the examples below:

ENGL 2005 - Writing in Technology and the Sciences (3 Credits)
ENGL 2035 - Writing for Public Forums (3 Credits)
ENGL 2125 - Writing Tutor Pedagogy/Practicum (3 Credits)
ENGL 3020 - Culture, Communication, Work (3 Credits)
ENGL 4010 - Technical Writing in the Professions (3 Credits)
ENGL 4020 - Editing for Publication (3 Credits)
ENGL 4025 - Writing for the Web (3 Credits)
ENGL 4030 - Writing for Magazines (3 Credits)
ENGL 4040 - Rhetoric, Media, and Culture (3 Credits)
ENGL 4061 - Rhetorical Theory and Criticism (3 Credits)
ENGL 4075 - Writing for Non-Profits (3 Credits)

Capstone - 3 Hours

Advanced standing in English is required for all majors prior to taking the senior seminar. To be eligible for advanced standing in English, the student must have completed 24 hours of English coursework above COM1, including the required 2000-level Historical Period courses. Each course must have been passed with a grade C or better. Approved transfer courses from other institutions will satisfy the prerequisites for advanced standing. ENGL 4999 should be taken in the next to last semester before graduation.

ENGL 4999 - Senior Seminar Credits: 3

Additional Requirements

All English Education students are required to take the English Studies track. Students should consult with an advisor to declare a track in Literary Studies or English Studies before their junior year.

The English major requires 36 hours of work within the major and an additional 12 hours of a single foreign language. 21 of the hours within the major must be taken at the upper division. Only those courses in which a grade of C or better has been earned may count toward the 36 hours required for the B.A. and the foreign language requirement. No 1000-level courses count toward the B.A.

Prerequisites

Most 2000-level courses require the completion of the COM1 requirement. Normally, 3000-level courses have the COM1, ENGL 2025, and one 2000-level “broad historical sweep” course (one of ENGL 2425, ENGL 2430, ENGL 2435, ENGL 2340, ENGL 2350, ENGL 2360) as prerequisites, and 4000-level courses have 6 hours of 2000-level English courses as prerequisites. Students without certain prerequisites should consult the English department for permission to enroll.