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English

Bachelor of Arts

English Major

The English major affords students essential insights into human nature and thought as well as an appreciation of the written word as a mode of expression. English majors are prepared for responsible careers in business, law, education, public service, information services, and other professional areas, as well as for graduate study in English.

Upon graduation, students majoring in English will be able to demonstrate coherent historical knowledge of literature, analyze, interpret, evaluate and appreciate well-crafted literature and be able to share that appreciation with others, write clearly and persuasively, research, organize and communicate information effectively, help others with their writing, communicate effectively to a live audience, use their English skills to serve others in their communities, and explore career options and implement job search strategies.

Career Emphasis

The English major provides an excellent preparation for a number of careers as well as for continued graduate study in various areas. Students wishing to prepare themselves for specific careers other than teaching or graduate study in English are encouraged to take an emphasis, such as one of the following.

  • Library Science Emphasis: Students seeking careers in public, corporate or academic libraries can prepare themselves for graduate work in library science with courses emphasizing organization, management and information.
  • Public Service Emphasis: Students seeking careers in government, nonprofit institutions or service organizations will take supporting coursework emphasizing the history and character of institutions.
  • Law Emphasis: Students seeking careers in law are advised to take supporting coursework in philosophy, political science, and history.
  • Public Relations Emphasis: Students preparing for careers in public relations may supplement the major with additional coursework in mass communications and graphic design.

Detailed course recommendations for these emphases are available from the major's academic advisor.

Heather Stehr

“I’ve always wanted to do something more with my nursing career,” says Heather Stehr, who works in the cardiothoracic surgery department at Mercy Medical Center, Sioux City.

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Requirements

ENGL 01 IS - Interpreting Poetry
ENGL 02 IS - Careers for Humanities Majors
ENGL 05 IS - History of Literary Criticism
ENGL 06 IS - Evaluating Contemporary Literature
ENGL 110 - Introduction to Literature
ENGL 210 - Modern Fiction
ENGL 243 - Shakespeare
ENGL 275 - Independent English Study II
ENGL 340 - Nineteenth Century American Literature
ENGL 360 - British Romanticism
ENGL 460 - Senior Seminar
WRTG 159 - Contemporary Argument and Research
WRTG 420 - Composition Seminar/Practicum

In addition, completion of the English major requires one class from ENGL 114, 140, 150 or 260; two classes from ENGL 305, 310, 320 or 330; and six credit hours of other ENGL courses, one of which is numbered above 300.

NOTE: ENGL 211 is interchangeable with ENGL 210; ENGL 345 is interchangeable with ENGL 340; and ENGL 365 is interchangeable with ENGL 360.

 

 

 

What can I do with this major?

Writer