Jun 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

English, English Language Linguistics Concentration, B.S.


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

The concentration in English Language Linguistics will engage students in the formal study of the English language and introduce them to theoretical and practical applications of the scientific study of language. Pursuing this concentration will be beneficial to students wishing to pursue careers in English language instruction, speech language pathology, lexicography, and communications, in addition to students moving on to graduate studies in theoretical or applied linguistics, computational linguistics, or TEFL/ESL.  

A major in English with a concentration in English Language Linguistics consists of 36 hours of which no more than six (6) may be lower-division hours.

  1. English major core: Majors will take the following: ENGL 3000 , ENGL 3030 ; ENGL 3010  or ENGL 3020 ; ENGL 3570 , ENGL 4520 , ENGL 4530 , ENGL 4605 , or ENGL 4670  (approved topics); and ENGL 4999 .
  2. When taught by an English faculty member, WGST, AAS, JHS, and certain interdisciplinary Honors seminars (UH 3500 ) may be substituted with approval of advisor. No non-departmental lower division courses will be accepted.
  3. A maximum of six (6) hours of lower-division literature coursework (not counting the True Blue Core requirements) may be taken toward the major. These hours will be appropriately assigned by the student’s departmental advisor. No more than 3 hours (one course) may be taken to satisfy the core course requirement.
  4. Majors are expected to consult a member of the English faculty each semester regarding the selection and arrangement of courses.
  5. Recommended minors for English majors include a foreign language minor, Communication Studies, Film Studies, History, Linguistic Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Theatre, Writing, Southern Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies, but students may choose any minor.

Academic Map


Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

English, English Language Linguistics, B.S., Academic Map   

Degree Requirements


True Blue Core (TBC) 41 hours
Major Requirements 36 hours*
     Major Core    (9 hours)
     ELL Concentration Courses    (21 hours)
     Elective Courses    (6 hours)
Minor 15-18 hours
Electives 25-28 hours
TOTAL 120 hours

 *This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements for the True Blue Core curriculum. If program requirements are also used to fulfill True Blue Core requirements, the number of elective hours may increase.

True Blue Core (41 hours)


True Blue Core (TBC)  requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in the Foundational Skills areas of Written Communication (WC), Information Literacy (Info Lit), Non-Written Communication (NWC), and Quantitative Literacy (Quant Lit). Knowledge Domains include Human Society and Social Relationships (HSSR), Scientific Literacy (Sci Lit), Creativity and Cultural Expression (CCE), and History and Civic Learning (HCL), which include Discovery and Explorations categories. Students must choose at least one course from each Discovery category.

The following courses required by the program meet True Blue Core requirements:

Major Requirements (36 hours)


English Language Linguistics Courses (18 hours)


Choose four courses not applied to the core (12 hours):

Guided Electives (6 hours)

  • Upper-division ENGL electives selected in consultation with faculty advisor

Minor 15-18 hours


Electives (25-28 hours)


Curriculum: English, English Language Linguistics


All students pursuing a major in English must complete the True Blue Core requirements and requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree. Students may not begin upper-division English studies until they have completed ENGL 1010 , ENGL 1020 , and ENGL 2020  or ENGL 2030 . Typically, students will begin upper-division English studies in the second semester of their sophomore year with ENGL 3000  and one other English course.

The Academic Maps provide examples of a recommended plan of studies for students who wish to complete their academic requirements within a four-year period. However, there is no single way to complete the program. The department is generally flexible about the order in which courses are taken so long as prerequisites are met. Each English major has an assigned academic advisor. Consulting with this advisor regularly will help the student to individualize the program to his or her own needs and interests.

Freshman Fall


  • 3 credit hours (WC)
  • Quantitative Literacy 3 credit hours
  • Elective 3 credit hours
  • Creativity and Cultural Expression 3 credit hours
  • History and Civic Learning 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours


Freshman Spring


Subtotal: 16 Hours


Sophomore Fall


Subtotal: 16 Hours


Sophomore Spring


Subtotal: 15 Hours


Junior Fall


Subtotal: 15 Hours


Junior Spring


Subtotal: 15 Hours


Senior Fall


  • ENGL guided elective 3 credit hours
  • Linguistics course 3 credit hours
  • Electives 6 credit hours
  • Minor course or elective 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours


Senior Spring


Subtotal: 13 Hours


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