English Major

Owned by Laura Lehman (Deactivated)
Last updated: Dec 08, 2021
3 min read

Advisors: Marti Eads and Kevin Seidel
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Semester Hours: 36

The English major centers on literary studies but provides the opportunity for coursework in creative writing, Spanish, theater, and other fields.

The 200-level "Global Literature" courses situate the history of British and American literature within the histories of literature from around the world. Generally taken in a student's first or second years, these classes are designed to improve close-reading and writing skills, as well as raise important questions about why we read literature.

HUM 200 Foundations in the Humanities is an interdisciplinary class designed to teach basic research skills and refine students' ability to interpret various forms of written and visual media, from poetry and scripture to fiction, non-fiction, photography, film, painting, and sculpture.

Other 200- and 300-level ENGL courses, all of which are open to non-majors, dive deeper into particular literary genres (fiction, poetry, and drama) and particular themes (such as conflict transformation, ecology, gender, and race). In addition to helping students learn to love great works of literary art, these courses explore how literature reconnects us to the world in which we live.

HUM 490 Seminar in the Humanities gives students an opportunity to write a long research paper by developing a paper written in a previous class, starting a new academic research project, or writing a research-based work of creative nonfiction.

Foundational Courses (14 SH)

  • ENGL 201 Global Literatures I-Beginnings - 2 
  • ENGL 202 Global Literatures II-1300-1650 - 2 
  • ENGL 203 Global Literatures III-1650-1800 - 2 
  • ENGL 204 Global Literatures IV-1800-present - 2 
  • HUM 200 Foundations of the Humanities - 2 
  • HUM 490 Seminar in the Humanities - 4 

Additional Literature Courses (12 SH)
Choose 12 SH of ENGL courses at the 200- or 300-level:

  • *ENGL 210 Reading Fiction - 2 
  • *ENGL 250 Reading Poetry - 2 
  • ENGL 290-295 Topics in Literature courses -  2-3 
  • ENGL 312 Ecology and Science Fiction - 3 
  • *ENGL 315 Global Conflicts, Global Novels - 3 
  • *ENGL 344 Ways of War and Peace - 3 
  • *ENGL 346 Rooms of Their Own - 3 
  • *ENGL 348 American Manhood - 3 
  • ENGL 350 Children's Literature - 3 
  • *ENGL 355 Young Adult Literature - 3 
  • ENGL 390-395 Topics in Literature courses - 2-3 

Additional Coursework (10 SH)
Choose 10 SH from the categories below. (Note that students pursuing 6-12 Education licensure fulfill the English practicum requirement through their student teaching and will fulfill these additional 10 hours through courses indicated in the licensure requirements.)

  • Writing course (1-3 SH): any WRIT course 200-level and above
  • English practicum (2-3 SH) selected from the following:
    • ENGL 470 English Internship - 1–3 
    • LARTS 390 Peer Tutoring Practicum I - 1-3 
    • LARTS 391 Peer Tutoring Practicum II - 1-3 
    • WRIT 390 Literary Arts Journal-Phoenix - 1-3 
    • WRIT 391 Editing and Publishing-Weather Vane - 1-3 
    • WRIT 470 Internship - 1-3 
  • Electives (4-7 SH) Note that the listed SPAN and VACA courses have prerequisites that do not count towards the English major.
    • Additional ENGL courses 200-level or above
    • Additional WRIT courses 200-level or above
    • Any LING course
    • LARTS 390 Peer Tutoring Practicum I - 1-3  
    • LARTS 391 Peer Tutoring Practicum II - 1-3 
    • *SPAN 301 The Art of Storytelling - 3 
    • *SPAN 325 The Latino Experience - 3 
    • *SPAN 395 Survey of Hispanic Literature - 3 
    • THR 360 Playwriting - 2 
    • *THR 361 Screenwriting - 2 
    • *VACA 367 Hybrid Storytelling - 4 
    • *VACA 465 Visual Storytelling-Nonfiction - 4 
    • *VACA 466 Visual Storytelling-Fiction - 4 

* indicates the course is offered in alternate years