Undergraduate Program

Primary Undergraduate English Advisors

Kathryn Conrad
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Associate Professor
3043 Wescoe
864-2572
kconrad@ku.edu

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Mary Klayder
Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, University Honors Lecturer
3019 Wescoe
864-2582
mklayder@ku.edu

Admission Course Requirements:

• Completion of the Freshman-Sophomore English Requirements:

English 101 (or exemption through ACT/SAT/AP/IB score, or equivalent course)
English 102 or 105(Honors) (or exemption through AP/IB score, or equivalent course)
English 203, 209, 210, 211, or 205 (Honors) (or exemption through AP or equivalent course)

• Completion of 300+-level English course

Admission GPA: 2.5 or better.

Admission GPA Calculation: English Admission GPA calculation will include English 101 (or equivalent), English 102 or 105 (or equivalent), and English 203, 205, 209, 210, or 211 (or equivalent), and the first 300+-level English. Grades earned in any additional English coursework will also be included in the GPA calculation. University course repeat policy will apply to GPA calculation.

Students interested in the Creative Writing track of the major must first be admitted into the major.  Students interested in Creative Writing must receive a 3.0 (B) or better in each of two 300+-level creative writing workshops before being admitted into the Creative Writing track. Consultation and portfolio review with creative writing faculty before choosing the Creative Writing track is highly recommended.

Admission Term:  Semester of completion of first 300+-level English course.

Late Admissions: Consult Director or Associate Director.

30 Hours total (33 for Honors); 2.0 GPA or higher in major required to graduate

Course descriptions for individual semesters, including equivalency information, can be found here.

18 Hours -- English Core Courses

ENGL 308* or equivalent

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. See*

ENGL 312 or equivalent

(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 or equivalent

(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).

Shakespeare

A course in Shakespeare (ENGL 332 or 525)—(3 hours)

ENGL 320 or equivalent

(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 or equivalent

(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)

12 Hours -- Electives

At least twelve (12) junior/senior hours in English. A single creative writing course 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.

Other Requirements

*ENGL 308 is only required of students entering KU after the spring of 2010. Students who entered KU before 2010 have the choice of following this degree or not taking ENGL 308 and taking 15 ENGL elective hours instead of 12.

At least two courses in the major must be Capstone Courses (courses taken at the 500-level or above and "LEC"). These can be core or elective courses but not creative writing courses. Honors in English requires 33 hours in the major including 498 (which can be counted as a 500-level course) and 499.

30 Hours total (33 for Honors); 2.0 GPA or higher in major required to graduate

Course descriptions for individual semesters, including equivalency information, can be found here.

15 Hours -- English Core Courses (Choose 5 out of 6)

ENGL 308 or equivalent

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 or equivalent

(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 or equivalent

(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).

Shakespeare

A course in Shakespeare (ENGL 332 or 525)—(3 hours)

ENGL 320 or equivalent

(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 or equivalent

(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).

15 Hours -- Creative Writing Electives

Fifteen (15) hours of creative writing courses, including work in at least two genres and at least one creative writing course at 500-level or higher. ENGL 495 (Directed Study) and ENGL 499 (Honors Essay), if done with a creative writing emphasis, may be applied toward these elective hours, as may ENGL 360 (when the topic is essay writing), English 355 (Nonfiction Writing I), ENGL 555 (Nonfiction Writing II) , FMS 373 (Intermediate Screenwriting), FMS 773 (Problems in Intermediate Screenwriting), and THR 709 (Advanced Dramatic Script Writing). For purposes of these requirements, all courses concerned with screenwriting, playwriting, and dramatic script writing will be considered work in a single genre. Any creative writing course numbered 500 or higher may be repeated once for credit.

Other Requirements

Students who entered KU in Spring 2010 or later and intend to pursue the creative writing track must apply for admission. Students interested in Creative Writing must receive a 3.0 (B) or better in each of two 300+-level creative writing workshops before being admitted into the Creative Writing track. Consultation and portfolio review with creative writing faculty before choosing the Creative Writing track is highly recommended.
Although students will not be prevented from enrolling in further creative writing courses if they have not been accepted into the track, they risk losing major credit for courses if they must switch to the traditional or language, rhetoric and writing tracks.

At least two courses in the major must be Capstone Courses (courses taken at the 500-level or above and "LEC"). One must be a creative writing course; one may be a core equivalent.

Honors in English requires 33 hours in the major including 498 (which can be counted as a 500-level course) and 499.

30 Hours total (33 for Honors); 2.0 GPA or higher in major required to graduate

Course descriptions for individual semesters, including equivalency and other course fulfillment information, can be found here.

Required: ENGL 308, plus 4 of the 5 remaining core courses

ENGL 308 or equivalent

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 or equivalent

(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 or equivalent

(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).

Shakespeare

A course in Shakespeare (ENGL 332 or 525)—(3 hours).

ENGL 320 or equivalent

(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 or equivalent

(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).

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 Director of Undergraduate Studies.

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 Director of Undergraduate Studies.

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)

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 Director 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 Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students may also consult the Director 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 Director of Undergraduate Studies.