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English Majors

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Sample 4-Year Plan: English Major - Creative Writing B.A.

Sample 4-Year Plan: English Major - Literature B.A.

Sample 4-Year Plan: English Major - Writing Studies B.A.

Sample 4-Year Plan: English and Secondary Certification B.A.

Bachelor of Arts with a major in English

The degree of Bachelor of Arts is conferred upon students completing a major in English. The English major consists of a minimum of 42 semester hours, including 18 credits from the core courses plus 24 credits in one of the three program options: literature, writing studies, or creative writing.


Core Courses in English		Credits
ENG 250	Introduction to English Studies		3
Select Two Survey Sequences selected from these three options: ENG 202 & ENG 203 British (ENG 208 & ENG 209) or (ENG 217 & ENG 208) American
ENG 204 & (ENG 205 or ENG 231) Writing
200-level elective in English		3
TOTAL CORE CREDITS		18

The major in English with emphasis on literature introduces students to texts from all periods of English and American literary history and prepares students to understand the relation of these works to the time in which they were written and to the present day.

Students in the literature option may achieve an optional area of focus by allocating 9 hours of their 300/400/500-level courses in the English major according to one of the following options: (1) American literature; (2) British literature; (3) multicultural literature and gender studies.

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.

Degree Requirements: B.A. English - Literature Option


Courses		Credits
ENG 350	Literary Criticism			3
Pre-1800	Traditions*			3
Pre-1900	Traditions*			3
Post 1900	Traditions*			3
Genres**			3
Identities***			3
300/400/500-level electives in English			6
TOTAL OPTION CREDITS			24
Total Core Credits			18
TOTAL CREDITS			42

*Traditions courses are designated in course descriptions in the catalog with the word TRADITIONS. This category focuses on periods, texts, and approaches that are central to the conventional canon of literature in English, and it emphasizes the centrality of historical periods of literature to English studies today. Students are encouraged to use these courses to familiarize themselves with advanced study of national traditions in literature, including British and American.

**Genres courses are designated in course descriptions in the catalog with the word GENRES. This category focuses on approaches to literature through an analysis of genre (including the novel, poetry, drama, film, etc.).

***Identities courses are designated in course descriptions in the catalog with the word IDENTITIES. This category focuses on literary and theoretical texts that examine regional, immigrant, cultural, postcolonial, gender, sexual, class, or disabled identities.

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.

Degree Requirements: B.A. English - Writing Studies Option


Courses	Credits

Writing Studies Courses*
ENG 331 Persuasive Writing
Eng 338 Writing for Social Change
ENG 340 Business Writing
ENG 347 Technical Writing
ENG 348 Professional Editing in the Workplace
ENG 349 Web Writing for the Professions
ENG 359 Writing in Workplace Genres
ENG 371 Traditional Grammar
ENG 381 Introduction to Linguistics
ENG 396 Internship: Editing I
ENG 496 Internship: Editing II
ENG 497 Internship: Writing Pedagogy
ENG 544 Research Methods for Professional Writing
ENG 546 Grant Writing	18
300/400/500-level English electives	6
TOTAL OPTION CREDITS	24
Total Core Credits	18
TOTAL CREDITS	42

*Writing Studies courses are designated in course descriptions in the catalog with the words WRITING STUDIES. Students choosing this option will choose 18 hours of writing studies courses, which emphasize content areas such as rhetorical techniques in writing, professional writing, and editing.

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.

Degree Requirements: B.A. English - Creative Writing Option


Courses		Credits
Any Genres, Identities or Post-1900 Traditions courses		3
Creative Writing courses in at least two genres* at the 300-400 level (15 hours)
Fiction Writing
ENG 332	Fiction Writing
ENG 432 & ENG 433	Novel Writing I and Novel Writing II
Poetry Writing
ENG 334	Poetry Writing
ENG 430	Advanced Poetry Writing
Nonfiction Writing			15
ENG 336	Creative Nonfiction
ENG 357	Biography Writing
Dramatic Writing
ENG 358	Playwriting
ENG 431	Screenwriting
ENG 358	Writing in Creative Genres
300/400/500-level English electives		6
TOTAL OPTION CREDITS		24
Total Core Credits		18
TOTAL CREDITS		42

*Creative writing courses are designated in the catalog with the words CREATIVE WRITING. Students choosing this option will complete 15 hours in 300-level and above creative writing courses across at least two of the following genres: fiction writing, poetry writing, nonfiction writing, and dramatic writing. "ENG 231, Introduction to Creative Writing," is a prerequisite to upper-level creative writing courses.

Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and Secondary Certification

The major in English with secondary certification is offered for students who wish to be certified for teaching at the high school or middle school level. The major consists of 45 semester hours, plus completion of the foreign language requirement. Students pursuing a major in English with secondary education certification should review the portion of this catalog relating to education and health/physical education. Upon deciding to pursue the teacher education program, students must schedule an appointment with the certification specialist in the College of Education and Human Services and with an advisor in English in the Department of English. Students seeking certification to teach English must also take "EDU 530: Reading in the Junior and Senior High School" and requirements for English, education, and general education. They do not need a minor or an area of concentration.


Courses		Credits
ENG 200	Understanding Literature			3
ENG 202 and ENG 203	Survey of British Literature I and II			6
ENG 308	Shakespeare I
	OR
ENG 309	Shakespeare II			3
ENG 381	Introduction to Linguistics
	OR
ENG 382	History of English Language			3
ENG 385	Teaching of English I			3
ENG 387	Teaching of English II			3
British literature designated as pre-1800			3
British literature designated as post-1800			3
Two courses in American literature			6
World literature (ENG 206 or ENG 207 or a course in literature of a non-English speaking country)			3
Electives in English			9
TOTAL CREDITS			45

Northern Kentucky University

English Majors