Undergraduate Program

As of 18 August 1999, all students wishing to major in English must satisfy the following requirements before filling out a major declaration form:

• 2.5 GPA or better in the second and third Freshman-Sophomore English courses (ENGL 102/105 and 203/205, 209, 210, or 211, or equivalent).
• 2.0 Overall GPA or better.
• At least 30 hours of college credit completed at the time of admission to the major.

In addition, all students seeking entry to the creative-writing emphasis must have:

• Successfully completed the first creative-writing course (ENGL 351, 352, 353, or 354).
• Permission of instructor to enroll in upper-level creative writing classes.

Students with questions about these requirements should meet with the Undergraduate Coordinator in 3001 Wescoe, who can also furnish information about appealing an initial refusal or making up academic deficiencies. Students who declared a major in English prior to August 1999 are not affected by these requirements.

All English majors, whether taking the traditional, creative-writing, or language, rhetoric, and writing emphasis, must complete 30 hours of junior/senior level courses, including at least two courses (6 hours) numbered at 500 or above.

• TRADITIONAL majors must take English 308 Introduction to Literary Criticism and Theory (or equivalent), English 312, 314, 320 and 322 (or equivalents), and a course on Shakespeare for a total of 18 hours of core requirements.
• CREATIVE WRITING majors must take any 15 of the above core required hours (any combination)
• LANGUAGE, RHETORIC, AND WRITING majors must take English 308 Introduction to Literary Criticism and any 12 of the remaining core required hours (any combination)
• Each emphasis has its own hours of electives : 12 hours for traditional and 15 hours for creative writing or language, rhetoric, and writing.

Core courses (traditional majors must take all of these; creative writing majors must take five of these six required courses; language, rhetoric, and writing majors must take 308 and four of the remaining five):

• ENGL 308 Introduction to Literary Criticism and Theory (or an equivalent course that emphasizes literary-critical methodology). Students are urged to take English 308 before they enroll in a 500-level literature class.
• ENGL 312 (Major British Writers to 1800) OR any other English course numbered 300 and above which focuses on British literature of at least one of the literary periods from the Middle Ages to 1800, excluding Shakespeare—(3 hours).
• ENGL 314 (Major British Writers after 1800) OR any other English course numbered 300 and above which focuses on British literature of at least one of the literary periods from the Romantic Period to the present—(3 hours).
• A course in Shakespeare (ENGL 332, 626, or 627)—(3 hours)
• ENGL 320 (American Literature I) OR any other English course numbered 300 and above which focuses on American Literature of at least one of the literary periods from Colonial times to 1865—(3 hours).
• ENGL 322 (American Literature II) OR any other English course numbered 300 and above which focuses on American Literature of at least one of the literary periods from 1865 to the present—(3 hours)

Additional requirements for traditional majors (interest code 185 or 186, for the BA and BGS respectively) for a total of 30 hours:

• At least twelve (12) junior/senior hours in English. A single creative writing course at the 300 level can be applied to this requirement. One course in the HWC 304/308/312 sequence may be applied as an elective. English 495 (Directed Study) or 496 (Internship) may be applied only to these additional requirements.

Additional requirements for the creative-writing major (interest code 270 or 271, for the BA and BGS respectively) for a total of 30 hours:

• Fifteen (15) hours of creative-writing courses, including work in at least two genres and at least one creative writing course at 500-level. ENGL 495 (Directed Study), and ENGL 499 (Honors Essay), if done with a creative-writing emphasis, may be applied, as may ENGL 360 (when the topic is essay-writing), ENGL 555 (Writing Non-Fiction) and TH&F 708 (Dramatic Script Writing) and 709 (Advanced Dramatic Script Writing). For purposes of these requirements, all courses concerned with screenwriting, playwriting, and dramatic scriptwriting will be considered work in a single genre. Any creative-writing course numbered 500 and above may be repeated once for credit.

Students intending to pursue the creative writing concentration must apply for admission. Students should do so before enrolling in their third creative writing course at 300-level or above. In order to be accepted into the track, they must submit a portfolio of their work the semester before the student wishes to enroll in a third creative writing course. In the fall semester, the due date for portfolio submission will be September 15. In the spring semester, the due date will be February 15. Although students will not be prevented from enrolling in these courses if they have not been accepted into the creative writing track, they risk losing major credit for the courses if they are not accepted and must therefore switch to the traditional track. Only one creative writing class may be applied towards the traditional major.

Students will be notified of the Committee's decision before enrollment period begins.

Traditional, language, rhetoric, and writing, and undeclared creative writing majors who wish to enroll in a 500-level creative writing class must seek instructor permission before they can enroll in the course.

Additional requirements for the language, rhetoric, and writing major for a total of 30 hours:

Fifteen (15) hours of language, rhetoric, and writing courses, including either English 380 (Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition) or English 387 (Introduction to the English Language), and at least 6 additional hours of language and rhetoric courses (English 359, 380, 385, 387, 400, 580, 587, 590 with appropriate topic, or their equivalents). Students may take all 15 hours in language and rhetoric, or they may include writing courses. Appropriate writing courses include English 360, 361, 362, 562, 563, 564, and no more than 3 hours in creative writing courses. ENGL 495 (Directed Study), 496 (Internship), 498 (Honors Proseminar), and ENGL 499 (Honors Essay), if done with a language rhetoric, and writing emphasis, may be applied.

The Departmental Honors option adds one additional course (3 hours) to the overall major, bringing the total to 33 hours for both the traditional and creative-writing emphases. Students intending to work for departmental honors must have at least junior standing and the following qualifications:

• 3.25 overall GPA.
• 3.5 GPA in English major courses.
• Declaration of the traditional major or creative-writing emphasis, as indicated on the ARTS form, and completion of at least 21 hours of major course work.

Students working for Departmental Honors in English must take ENGL 498 (Honors Proseminar). This course can be applied toward either the British or American literature requirement, if appropriate, or toward the traditional-major requirement for a course numbered 500 or above. Enrollment in ENGL 498 requires departmental approval, which can be given by the Undergraduate Coordinator.

Upon successful completion of ENGL 498 with the grade of "A" or "B", candidates must next enroll in ENGL 499 (Honors Essay). The essay may be in an area of literary scholarship or criticism for the traditional major, or original fiction, poetry, drama, or creative non-fiction for the creative-writing emphasis. A copy of "Guidelines and Suggestions for the Honors Essay" may be obtained from the Undergraduate Coordinator.

In order to graduate with departmental Honors in English, students must have:

• 3.25 overall GPA.
• 3.5 GPA in English major courses, including an "A" in ENGL 499.

The English Minor requires at least 18 hours of junior/senior level English courses numbered 300 or above, distributed as follows:

• Minimum of 6 hours of British literature, including at least one survey course (ENGL 312 or ENGL 314)
• Minimum of 6 hours of American literature, including at least one survey course (ENGL 316, ENGL 320, or ENGL 322)
• Additional 6 hours of English courses (excluding ENGL 496)

Please Note: You must seek the approval of the Undergraduate Director if you wish to take KUCE courses for English major or minor credit.

Students may apply up to six (6) hours of junior/senior level English courses taken at other fully accredited colleges and universities if (1) the student has received a grade of "C" or higher, and (2) with departmental approval secured through the Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies.

Specific course information for ENGL 495, ENGL 496, and Independent Study:

• ENGL 495: Directed Study—The purpose of this course is to allow English majors to pursue studies in subject areas not regularly offered by the department, to focus on specific areas of inquiry within a given field, or to work on particular creative-writing projects. Enrollment in ENGL 495 requires permision of the instructor and may be taken for up to 3 hours of credit in any given semester and for up to 6 hours total for the major.
• ENGL 496: Internship—The purpose of ENGL 496 is to give English majors up to 3 hours credit for employment related in some way to the major. Eligibility to enroll in ENGL 496 includes the prior completion of at least 9 junior/senior hours in English and departmental permission secured through the Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies. Students may also consult the Coordinator about internship opportunities available to English majors through the department and through the Office of Career and Employment Services.
• Independent Study courses taken through Continuing Education cannot be taken for majors credit in the last 30 hours of coursework except under exigent circumstances and with departmental permission secured through the Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies.