English, B.A.

Department of English  
615-898-2595
Ron Kates, program coordinator
Ron.Kates@mtsu.edu

A major in English without a specific concentration (the “traditional” or general major) consists of 36 upper-division semester hours no more than six of which may be lower-division hours.

1. Students should take the required ENGL 3000  no later than the first semester of the junior year. The other core courses should be distributed throughout the student’s remaining time at the University. It is not recommended to take all three in one semester.
2. In addition to the required four core courses (ENGL 3000 , ENGL 3010 , ENGL 3020 , and ENGL 3030 ), one course must be completed from each of the following areas: I, II, III, IV, VII, and VIII. Also, one course must be completed from Area V or Area VI.
   1. British Literature I: Courses numbered 3100 or 4100 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on British literature before the Restoration)
   2. British Literature II: Courses numbered 3200 or 4200 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on British literature after the Restoration)
   3. American Literature: Courses numbered 3300 or 4300 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on American literature)
   4. International Literature and Intellectual Backgrounds: Courses numbered 3400 or 4400 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on world literature, or out-of-the-department upper-division courses such as HUM 3950  and WGST 4209  may count for this area with permission of advisor.)
   5. Grammar and Language: Courses numbered 3500 or 4500 (Areas V and VI are one group.)
   6. Writing: Courses numbered 3600 or 4600
   7. Gender and Cultural Studies: Courses numbered 3700 or 4700 (or a 3900/4900 special topics courses focusing on gender or cultural studies, or out-of-department, upper-division courses such as FREN 3130  and upper-division WGST courses focusing on literature may be substituted for this area with permission of advisor)
   8. Film and Popular Literature: Courses numbered 3800 or 4800 (or a 3900/4900 special topics course focusing on popular literature or with a substantial film component)
3. Courses from the Special Topics 3900/4900 number sequence will apply to the category(ies) appropriate to the topic. Each special topics course will be substituted into the appropriate category by the student’s advisor.
4. When taught by an English faculty member, certain interdisciplinary Honors seminars (UH 3500  and UH 4600 ) may be substituted, with approval of advisor, in one of the above groups. No out-of-department lower-division courses will be accepted.
5. Students who wish to pursue the concentrations in Cultural Studies , Literary Studies , or Writing  will have most of the same requirements as the majors without a concentration, but they will take six additional hours and will only be required to take courses from six out of the seven areas of English studies above.
6. Students who wish to pursue a license to teach English in grades 7-12 should carefully follow the major requirements outlined in English, Secondary English Teacher Licensure Concentration, B.A.  .
7. Students may not apply more than twelve (12) hours of upper-division distance learning (web-based, correspondence, videoconferencing, or other format) without special permission. No more than three (3) of these hours may be taken outside MTSU.
8. A maximum of six (6) hours of lower-division literature coursework (not counting the General Education requirement) may be taken towards the major. These hours will be assigned to the appropriate area by the student’s departmental advisor. No more than 3 hours (one course) may be taken to satisfy the core course requirement.
9. ENGL 1010 , ENGL 1020 , and ENGL 2030  may not be counted as part of the hours required for an English major. ENGL 2020  may be counted towards the major only if it is not also counted toward the General Education literature requirement..
10. The same course may not be counted for both General Education and major requirements.

Majors are expected to consult a member of the English faculty each semester regarding the selection and arrangement of electives. Recommended minors for English majors include a foreign language minor, Film Studies, History, Linguistic Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Theatre, Writing, and Women’s and Gender Studies, but students may choose a minor from those listed under the B.A. requirements (see Academic Policies and Procedures ) or from the interdisciplinary minors (see Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors ).

Beginning with Fall 2012, English majors are instructed to keep the English 3000 essay and two other essays from different upper-division classes for submission in the senior writing portfolio.  ENGL 4999  (senior writing portfolio) will be required of all English majors graduating under the 2012-13 or later catalogs.