English Major

The English major recently went through a curriculum change. English majors that entered BU during the 2012 Fall Semester will fall under the new curriculum (see below). English majors that entered BU PRIOR to 2012 Fall Semester will remain under the old curriculum (provided at the bottom of this page).

However, English majors that entered BU PRIOR to 2012 Fall Semester may elect to participate in the new curriculum.
 

Requirements
For Students Entering BU Beginning 2012 Fall

Introduction: 

English majors may earn either a B.A. or B.S. degree. English majors intending to pursue a graduate degree in English, however, are urged to fulfill the B.A. requirements. For more on the B.A. and B.S. requirements at Bradley, please consult the "All-University Degree Requirements" section of the catalog. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for a B.A. or B.S. degree, all English majors must complete a minimum of 36 hours in courses distributed according to the following requirements:

  1. Requirements at the 100-level: 1 Semester Hour
    • ENG 181 Introduction to English Studies
  2. Requirements at the 200-Level: 15 Semester Hours
    • ENG 233 American Literature to 1865
    • ENG 235 American Literature 1865 to Present
    • ENG 237 British Literature to 1800
    • ENG 239 British Literature 1800 to Present
    • ENG 270* Introduction to Literary Criticism and Theory 
      *ENG 270 is a prerequisite for all upper-level literature courses.
  3. Requirements at the 300-Level: 18 Semester Hours
    • ENG 347 Shakespeare - 3 Semester Hours
      • ONE course in American Literature: ENG 329, 330, 332, 334, 336 - 3 Semester Hours
      • ONE course in British Literature: ENG 341, 344, 358, 361, 363, 364, 365 - 3 Semester Hours
      • THREE elective courses from the following list: ENG 300*, 301*, 303, 304*, 305*, 306*, 307, 311, 312, 320, 329, 330, 331, 332, 334, 336, 341, 344, 358, 361, 363, 364, 365, 368, 370, 372, 373, 374, 378, 380, 381, 407, 503, 506, 507, 508, 560, 570 - 9 Semester Hours
        *ENG 300, 301, 304, 305, 306 count if taken in addition to General Education C2 Requirement. 
    • Requirements at the 400-Level: 2 Semester Hours
      • ENG 481 Senior Project

    LAS ENG CR (Creative Writing Concentration) - 12 Semester Hours

    1. Workshops - 12 Semester Hours

      • ENG 207 Introduction to Creative Writing (REQUIRED) - 3 Semester Hours
      • THREE Creative Writing Workshops from the following list: ENG 303, 307, 308, 403, 407, 408, 409, 495*, 503, 507, 508, 509 - 9 Semester Hours
        *ENG 495 for Creative Writing projects only with consent of Department Chair. 

    LAS ENG PR (Professional Writing Concentration) - 12 Semester Hours

    1. 3 Semester Hours - Choose from: ENG 305* or ENG 306*
      *ENG 305 or 306 taken in addition to General Education C2 Requirement.
    2. 9 Semester Hours - Choose from: ENG 300*, 301*, 304*, 305*, 306*, 311, 312, 492**, 495**, 506, 508, 550, 560
      *ENG 300, 301, 304, 305, 306 count if taken in addition to General Education C2 Requirement.
      **ENG 492 and 495 are available only by instructor's consent and must focus on a professional writing project (e.g. Grant Writing, Organizational Formal Reports, etc.)


    LAS ENG LS (Pre-Graduate Literary Studies Concentration) - 12 Semester Hours

    1. ONE Literary Criticism Course: Choose ENG 370 or 570 - 3 Semester Hours
    2. ONE Genre Course: Choose from ENG 320, 368, 372, 373, 374 - 3 Semester Hours
    3. ONE Cultural Literary Studies Course: Choose from ENG 329, 330, 331, 365, 381 - 3 Semester Hours
    4. ONE Addtional 300-Level Course: Choose from ENG 311-381 - 3 Semester Hours
      NOTE: Students in this concentration MUST complete the BA option and are urged to take ENG 304 as their General Education C2 option. 

    Below is a list of English Courses and Titles:

    ENG 181 introduction to English Studies
    ENG 207 Introduction to Creative Writing
    ENG 233 American Literature to 1865
    ENG 235 American Literature 1865 to Present
    ENG 237 British Literature to 1800
    ENG 239 British Literature 1800 to Present
    ENG 270 Introduction to Literary Criticism and Theory
    ENG 300 Exposition
    ENG 301 Argumentative Writing
    ENG 303 Intermediate Creative Nonfiction Workshop
    ENG 304 Research In Individual Disciplines
    ENG 305 Technical Writing
    ENG 306 Business Writing
    ENG 307 Intermediate Poetry Workshop
    ENG 308 Intermediate Fiction Workshop
    ENG 310 Readings for Creative Writers
    ENG 311 Introduction to Language
    ENG 312 English Grammar
    ENG 329 Studies In African American Literature
    ENG 330 Studies In Native American Literature
    ENG 331 Studies in Women Writers
    ENG 332 Early American Literature
    ENG 334 19th Century American Literature
    ENG 336 20th Century American Literature
    ENG 341 Medieval English Literature
    ENG 344 Renaissance English Literature
    ENG 347 Shakespeare 
    ENG 358 18th Century British Literature
    ENG 361 British Romantic Literature
    ENG 363 British Victorian Literature
    ENG 364 20th Century British Literature
    ENG 365 Irish Literatures
    ENG 368 Science Fiction and Fantasy     
    ENG 370 Literary Criticism and Theory
    ENG 372 Poetry As Genre
    ENG 373 Fiction As Genre
    ENG 374 Drama As Genre
    ENG 378 Individual Authors
    ENG 381 Literatures of Asia 
    ENG 403 Advanced Creative Nonfiction Workshop
    ENG 407 Advanced Poetry Workshop
    ENG 408 Advanced Fiction Workshop
    ENG 409 Advanced Screenwriting Workshop
    ENG 480 Senior Project     
    ENG 492 Practicum in English 
    ENG 495 Independent Study 
    ENG 503 Intensive Creative Nonfiction Workshop
    ENG 506 Writing in the Professions
    ENG 507 Intensive Poetry Workshop
    ENG 508 Intensive Fiction Workshop
    ENG 509 Intensive Screenwriting Workshop
    ENG 560 Writing Theory
    ENG 570 Contemporary Literary Criticism
     

    Requirements
    For Students Who Entered BU PRIOR to 2012 Fall

    1. Introduction

    • The English major must complete 33 hours in English.
    • The English major has no required courses at the 100-level.

    2. Requirements at the 200Level: 12 Semester Hours

    These survey courses are required for all English majors:

      • ENG 233 American Literature to 1865
      • ENG 235 American Literature 1865 to Present
      • ENG 237 British Literature to 1800
      • ENG 239 British Literature 1800 to Present

    3. Requirements at the 300-Level: 3 Semester Hours

    • ENG 347 Shakespeare

    4. Five different courses from at least four of the following groups: 15 Semester Hours

    • Group 1 British Periods - These courses are close examinations of select literature handled from any number of perspectives:
      • ENG 341 Medieval English Literature
      • ENG 344 Renaissance English Literature
      • ENG 358 18th Century British Literature
      • ENG 361 British Romantic Literature
      • ENG 363 British Victorian Literature
      • ENG 364 20th Century British Literature
    • Group 2 American Periods - These courses are close examinations of select literature handled from any number of perspectives:
      • ENG 332 Early American Literature
      • ENG 334 19th Century American Literature
      • ENG 336 20th Century American Literature
    • Group 3 Genres - The purpose of these courses is to introduce students to the formal study of literature as genre. All courses in this category present, compare, and critique several significant theories of the genre in question, closely examine significant texts in the genre, and emphasize the enabling and limiting aspects of approaching those texts as genre:
      • ENG 368 Science Fiction and Fantasy
      • ENG 372 Poetry As Genre
      • ENG 373 Fiction As Genre
      • ENG 374 Drama As Genre
    • Group 4 Individual Authors - In-depth study of author(s), emphasizing scope and diversity of the works and illustrating author's development or change as seen in representative works:
      • ENG 378 Individual Authors
    • Group 5 Cultural Literary Studies - This group provides intensive study of the history, theory, and representations of particular racial, ethnic, and minority literatures. The courses in this category assume that students need to be aware of the literary communities and texts of diverse cultures:
      • ENG 329 STudies in African American Literature
      • ENG 330 Studies in Native American Literature
      • ENG 331 Studies in Women Writers
      • ENG 381 Literatures of Asia
    • Group 6 Topics in Language and Composition - For students interested in linguistics or teaching English, these courses will provide intensive study of a topic of English language study:
      • ENG 311 Introduction to Language
      • ENG 312 English Grammar
      • ENG 580 Methods of Teaching Composition
    • Group 7 Criticism and Theory - This group includes those courses whose primary focus consists of the diverse critical and theoretical frameworks underlying literary studies. These classes will include the more general introductory overview of literary criticism and theory, as well as more specialized courses in different contemporary approaches to literary texts:
      • ENG 370 Literary Criticism and Theory
    • Group 8 Writing Courses - These courses are intended to help students develop their writing skills beyond the University's requirement of 6 hours. In conjunction with a senior project that emphasizes writing, one or two of these courses would enable a student to acquire a significant writing emphasis within the English major (ENG 300, 301, 304, 305, 306 only counted towards the major if taken in addition to the General Education C2 Requirement):
      • ENG 207 Creative Writing I
      • ENG 300 Exposition
      • ENG 301 Argumentative Writing
      • ENG 303 Autiobiography
      • ENG 304 Research in Individual Disciplines
      • ENG 305 Technical Writing
      • ENG 306 Business Writing
      • ENG 307 Creative Writing II
      • ENG 407 Creative Writing III
      • ENG 492 Practicum in English
      • ENG 503 Workshop for Writers
      • ENG 507 Workshop for Writers

     

    5. Senior Project: 3 Semester Hours - Every English major is required to complete a significant research writing project relating to interests/needs and including an audience, publishing or organizational context. This requirement can be satisfied by ENG 480 or ENG 495. Majors wanting special project work in Creative Writing will take ENG 495 Independent Study:

      • ENG 480 Senior Project
      • ENG 495 Independent Study 

     

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