Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts in English
Three required English courses (9 hours):
- ENG 200
- ENG 301
- ENG 497A
Three survey courses (9 hours) from the following:
- ENG 205, 208, 209, 211, 212, 214, 215, 344*, 345*
*ENG 344 and ENG 345 may be taken up to six hours when no topic is repeated, but may only count one time each to fulfill survey requirement.
One major author course (3 hours) from the following:
- ENG 307, 404, 471, 473, 477, 479, 480
One language systems course (3 hours) from the following:
- ENG 369, 370, 400, 403, 416
One course in writing approaches (3 hours) from the following:
- ENG 201, 290, 334, 489, 490, 491
One additional upper-level literature elective (3 hours); may not include survey or major authors courses selected above
Two additional English electives (6 hours)
Minor requirements (18-21 hours)
Foreign Languages (all hours in the same language: 8 hours)
Additional electives (15-20 hours)
Notes:
- The complete program can include no more than 15 hours at the 200 level and must include at least 15 hours at the 400 level.
- ENG 499 may not count toward the 400-level course requirements.
- Only courses in which students receive a C or better will be applied toward English major or minor requirements.
- Students planning to attend graduate school in English or law school should take two years of a foreign language.
Bachelor of Arts in English, Major Concentration in Secondary English Language Arts (Professional Educator Licensure, Grades 9-12)
Six required English courses (18 hours):
- ENG 200, 301, 445, 475, 485, 497A
One British literature survey course (3 hours) from the following:
- ENG 208
- ENG 209
One American literature survey course (3 hours) from the following:
- ENG 205
- ENG 211
- ENG 212
One world literature survey course (3 hours) from the following:
- ENG 214
- ENG 215
One major author (Shakespeare) course (3 hours) from the following:
- ENG 307
- ENG 471
One course in language systems (3 hours) from the following:
- ENG 369
- ENG 400
One course in rhetoric and writing (3 hours) from the following:
- ENG 332, 333, 334, 410, 412, 488, 490, 491
One additional upper-level literature elective (3 hours) from the following:
- ENG 306, 309, 310, 315, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 404, 420, 446, 457, 463, 464, 473, 477, 478, 479, 480, 482
One elective (ACS 461 prerequisite) in Applied Communication Studies (3 hours) from the following:
- ACS 200, 201, 204, 210, 304, 305, 311, 331, 421, 426, 430, 433, or 434
One required course in speech communication education (3 hours):
- ACS 461
Foreign Languages (all hours in the same language, 8 hours)
Professional Education Courses (39 hours)
See requirements for Professional Educator Licensure (Grades 9-12) in the School of Education, Health, and Human Behavior section of this catalog.
Notes:
The complete program can include no more than 15 hours at the 200 level and must include at least 15 hours at the 400 level. Students must make one 400-level selection in language systems, rhetoric and writing, or literature to meet the minimum requirement.
ENG 499 may not count toward the 400-level course requirements.
Only courses in which students receive a C or better will be applied toward English major requirements.
English majors seeking Professional Educator Licensure (Grades 9-12) in Secondary English Language Arts must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA in English courses as well as an overall cumulative 2.5 GPA. GPAs will be calculated based on all college courses taken at all institutions.
English majors seeking professional educator licensure meet all requirements for the non-licensure English major excluding the minor requirement. Students seeking licensure will be mentored in the English Education program and will take 15 hours in specific courses in English and speech rather than the required 6 hours of English electives for the non-licensure English BA degree. If a student drops the Secondary English Language Arts major concentration, a minor program must be added and an additional writing approaches course may be required.
One calendar year before the semester in which teacher candidates plan to begin student teaching, English majors seeking professional educator licensure must apply for approval from the English Education Committee of the Department of English Language and Literature. Application is made through the Department’s student teacher screening process, described in detail at the English Education website.
The Bachelor of Arts in English with a major concentration in Secondary English Language Arts fulfills State of Illinois requirements for Professional Educator Licensure, Grades 9-12. Students interested in an endorsement to teach English as a second language should contact the ESL endorsement advisor (Prof. Joel Hardman).
See the English Department's website for program guides and semester-specific course descriptions. See the English Education website for current announcements and additional program information.
General Education Requirements for the Major
University general education requirements are outlined in the General Education section of the undergraduate academic catalog and included in the sample curriculum outline.
Retention
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.
- Maintain a term GPA above 1.0 in any term.
