English Major

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The English major provides excellent pre-professional preparation to pursue careers in writing and journalism and for graduate study. The major offers students an opportunity to explore the various genres and rich heritage of English literature, to develop advanced skills in creative and expository writing, interpretation and literary criticism, listening, and oral communication, and to understand the history and structure of the English language.

Students interested in teaching English may earn an endorsement for Secondary Education Licensure Program: English by completing the English major and the appropriate requirements of the School of Education.

The Bachelor of Arts in English requires completion of the following 128 credits:
General Education Core (57 credit hours)
Major Core (42 credit hours)
Electives (29 credit hours)

Please note: ENG 201 - Introduction to Literature is not an option for English majors within the General Education Requirements.

General Education Requirements (57 credit hours)

Biblical Studies (12 credit hours)

Take the following four courses (some courses are cross-listed and only one prefix needs to be taken):

Communication (12 credit hours)

Take each of the following four courses:

COM 103 - Public Speaking (CUS) (3)
COM 212 - Persuasion (3)
ENG 102 - English Composition (3)
ENG 104 - Research Writing (3)
ENG 105 - Honors English
may be taken by invitation of the English faculty to fulfill requirements for both ENG 102 and ENG 104.

Arts and Humanities (9 credit hours)

Take one course from each of the following three academic disciplines:

Philosophy (3 credit hours)

PHL 202 - Philosophical Inquiry (3)

Fine Arts (3 credit hours)

Choose one course from the following:

Literature (3 credit hours)

Choose one course from the following:

Social Sciences (15 credit hours)

Take each of the following five courses:

Integrative Studies (3 credit hours)

* Please see the First- Year Integration (FYI) page for specific information about this required course.

INT 101 - First-Year Integration (3)

Mathematics (3 credit hours)

MAT 111 - College Algebra (3) (or higher)

Science (3 credit hours)

SCI 230 - Great Ideas in Science (3)

English Major Core (42 credit hours)

Required Core (33 credit hours)

Choose three of the following four courses:
ENG 202 - American Literature I (3)
ENG 203 - American Literature II (3)
ENG 204 - British Literature I (3)
ENG 205 - British Literature II (3)
ENG 230 - Introduction to Creative Writing (3)
ENG 310 - The Novel (3)
ENG 340 - Ethnic Literature (3)
ENG 405 - Poetry Seminar (3)
ENG 410 - History and Structure of the English Language (3)
ENG 440 - Literary Criticism (3)
ENG 497 - Special Topics (3)
Choose one of the following courses:
ENG 420 - Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry (3) OR
ENG 430 - Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction (3) OR
ENG 470 - Senior Thesis (3)

Core Electives (9 credit hours)

Choose 9 credit hours from the following courses:

ENG 307 - Christian Writers Since 1950 (3)
ENG 320 - Short Story (3)
ENG 330 - Shakespeare (3)
ENG 360 - World Literature (3)
ENG 380 - Classic Christian Writers (3)
ENG 420 - Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry (3)
ENG 430 - Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction (3)
ENG 435 - Advanced Creative Writing: Special Topics (3)
Foreign Language: Language courses identified as “conversational” do not meet this requirement.

Creative Writing Emphasis (optional within electives)- (12 credit hours)

The Creative Writing Emphasis is a unique opportunity for gifted students to develop writing skills in a flexible program of poetry and fiction.

Secondary Licensure in English

See the Secondary Education Licensure Program: English section of this catalog for details on this program.