Objectives and Career Opportunities
A student majoring in English studies literary history, literary forms and theory, and the wide variety of texts from English and American literature, as well as masterpieces from other literatures in English translation. One of the most intellectually rewarding of studies, an English curriculum will develop critical thinking skills, critical reading abilities and writing skills, and research skills which will prepare the graduate for success in a variety of fields. A degree in English is an excellent pre-professional major for fields such as law and medicine and provides the necessary platform for the MA and PhD in English for students who wish to enter secondary or university teaching. It can lead to careers in publishing, editing, advertising, public relations, or government service. Students choosing the technical writing concentration will find rewarding career opportunities in business, industry, and the professions. With many electives in the curriculum, English is one of the most flexible and useful of degrees.
Credit Examination
All students with an ACT English score greater than or equal to 26 or a SAT Verbal score greater than or equal to 590, who have not had any college-level English courses, can take a credit exam for ENGL 101 offered through the Department of English at the beginning of each quarter.
Requirements for a Major in English
Students in the Department of English are required to follow the curriculum for the major in English leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English. A major in English consists of 40 semester hours in English and an approved minor of 21 hours or 21 hours of electives primarily taken in liberal arts courses for a minimum total of 120 semester hours. Electives should be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor and approved by the Director of the School of Literature and Language. English majors must have a 2.0 earned grade point average for graduation and no grade lower than a “C” in any required English class.