English

The English major prepares you to be a reasoned communicator in whatever career you choose.

Preparing You for Success

You explore authors from the past to sharpen your analysis of the present and future. Small class sizes foster intellectually challenging conversations with faculty mentors and classmates. The standalone major, available as a B.A. or B.S., allows flexibility to tailor electives to your career interest. You also can choose a concentration in creative writing, literary studies or professional writing. Additionally, you can add another major or minor of your choice.

By the time you graduate, your experiences include:

  • Internships to explore grant writing or corporate communications at organizations such as United Way, Caterpillar Inc. and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
  • Research opportunities with faculty
  • On-campus and national writing competitions
  • A senior career exploration project
  • Opportunities to write for the student newspaper, literary magazine and National Novel Writing Month
  • Networking and career development through the English club and Sigma Tau Delta honor society

Making Your Mark

English graduates are in demand as copywriters, editors, publishers, journalists, medical writers, nonprofit organization leaders and public relations professionals. Recent graduates are working for organizations such McGraw-Hill Education, United Way, Department of Homeland Security and State Farm. Other students have pursued graduate degrees at the University of Chicago, Georgetown University, Harvard Law School and the University of Illinois library science program.

Major Requirements

Required Courses - 36 hrs.

  • ENG 181: Introduction to English Studies - 1 hr.
  • ENG 233: American Literature to 1865 - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 235: American Literature 1865 to Present - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 237: British Literature to 1800 - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 239: British Literature 1800 to Present - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 270: Introduction to Literary Criticism and Theory - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 347: Shakespeare - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 481: Senior Project - 2 hrs.

American Literature Elective (choose one) - 3 hrs.

  • ENG 329: Studies African American Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 330: Studies Native American Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 332: Early American Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 334: 19th-Century American Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 336: 20th-Century American Literature - 3 hrs.

British Literature Elective (choose one) - 3 hrs.

  • ENG 341: Medieval English Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 344: Renaissance English Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 358: 18th-Century British Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 361: British Romantic Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 363: British Victorian Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 364: 20th-Century British Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 365: Irish Literatures - 3 hrs.

Elective Courses (choose three) - 9 hrs.

  • ENG 207: Introduction to Creative Writing - 3 hrs.
  • *ENG 300: Exposition - 3 hrs.
  • *ENG 301: Argumentative Writing - 3 hrs.
  • *ENG 304: Research Individual Disciplines - 3 hrs.
  • *ENG 305: Technical Writing - 3 hrs.
  • *ENG 306: Business Writing - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 307: Intermediate Poetry Workshop - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 308: Intermediate Fiction Workshop - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 310: Readings for Creative Writers - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 311: Introduction to Language - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 312: Grammar for Teaching - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 313: Grammar for Writing and Speaking - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 320: Young Adult Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 329: Studies African American Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 330: Studies Native American Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 331: Studies in Women Writers - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 332: Early American Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 334: 19th-Century American Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 336: 20th-Century American Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 341: Medieval English Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 344: Renaissance English Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 358: 18th-Century British Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 361: British Romantic Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 363: British Victorian Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 364: 20th-Century British Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 365: Irish Literatures - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 368: Science Fiction and Fantasy - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 370: Literary Criticism and Theory - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 372: Poetry as Genre - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 373: Fiction as Genre - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 374: Drama as Genre - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 378: Individual Authors - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 380: Topics in Language and Literature - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 381: Literatures of Asia - 3 hrs.
  • **ENG 385: Literatures of Europe - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 403: Advanced Creative Nonfiction Workshop - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 407: Advanced Poetry Workshop - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 408: Advanced Fiction Workshop - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 409: Advanced Screenwriting Workshop - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 492: Practicum in English - 1-3 hrs.
  • ENG 495: Independent Study - 1-6 hrs.
  • ENG 503: Intensive Creative Nonfiction Workshop - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 506: Writing in the Professions - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 507: Intensive Poetry Workshop - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 509: Intensive Screenwriting Workshop - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 510: Intensive Fiction Workshop - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 550: Language Theory - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 560: Writing Theory - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 570: Contemporary Literature Criticism - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 580: Methods Teaching Composition - 3 hrs.

*only if taken in addition to Core Curr. CM W2 requirement
**only if taken in addition to Core Curr. GP WC, HU requirement