Bachelor of Arts in English

The major in English provides students with broad knowledge of British and American literary traditions, history of the English language, and culture from the Old English period to the present.  The major in English also encourages students to pursue specialized interests through courses in British, American, European or World literature, poetry, fiction, drama, and other genres, creative writing, literary criticism / theory, ethnic literatures (Appalachian, African American, Asian American), women writers, film, writing and rhetoric, linguistics, and special topics or problems in literature.

The major in English enjoys small classes and direct contact with the faculty.  It prepares students for secondary teaching, graduate studies, and other professional pursuits, including law, medicine, journalism, theology, and business.

1. Those who wish to major in English must complete the formal application process.

2. Those majoring in English must achieve and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.25 in all courses in the major.

3. Students must complete 12 hours of the same foreign language.

The English literature major is particularly appropriate for students who wish to pursue studies in literature at the graduate level, teach English at the secondary level, attend law school or prepare for theological studies. Combined with other appropriate studies, the major in literature is excellent preparation for the fields of medicine and business.

Students will complete the following course of studies:

Core Requirements Semester

A student will normally take the majority of these courses to satisfy general education requirements: 
ENGL 101-102 or their equivalents: 6 semester hours 
An appropriate introductory literature course or courses: 3 hours 
Foreign Language: 12 total hours, including:

At least 7 hours selected from:

LBS 2020, SPCH 1010, and ENG 3400
(Students seeking licensure to teach must take SPCH 201 and ENGL 340; students not seeking certification may not select ENGL 340 to fulfill general education or major requirements)

Total Core Requirements: 28

Students who major in English must take 42 hours of English courses numbered 3000 or above, including:

Major Core Requirements

English elective numbered 3010 and above

ENG 3270, 3280 Survey of British Literature I and II: 6 hours

Three hours of linguistics courses selected from the following:

ENGL 3410 An Introduction to the Study of the English Language 
ENGL 3420 History of the English Language

ENG 3450 An Introduction to Literary Criticism: 3 hours 
ENG 4910, 4920 Senior Seminar 1&2: 3 hours

Total for Major Core Requirements: 15 hours

Area Requirements

Six hours of American literature from the following:

ENG 3810 Survey of American Poetry and Prose, I 
ENG 3820 Survey of American Poetry and Prose, II

Three hours of ethnic literature from the following:

ENG 3010 Appalachian Prose and Poetry
ENG 3030 African American Literature
ENG 3090 Asian American Literature 

Three hours of English literature from the following:

ENG 4000 Chaucer 
ENG 4010 Studies in Medieval British Literature

Three hours from the following:

ENG 3690 16th Century British Literature
ENG 3700 17th Century British Literature 
ENG 3710 18th Century British Literature

Three hours from the following:

           ENG 4020 Shakespeare: The Early Plays
           ENG 4030: Shakespeare: The Late Plays

Three hours from the following:

ENG 3720 19th Century British Literature 
ENG 3730 The Early British Novel

Three hours from the following:

           ENG 3839 Southern Literature
           ENG 4060 19th Century American Novel

Three hours from the following:

ENG 4030 Modern and Contemporary Poetry 
ENG 4040 Modern and Contemporary Prose