English Minors
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Creative Writing
- Rhetoric and Writing
See specific requirements for English minors below.
Linguistics Minor Requirements
A minor in linguistics may be combined with a major in English. However, courses may not be counted for both programs. English majors who satisfy the linguistics minor requirements may substitute any English elective for the three-hour language systems requirement.
The linguistics minor requires a minimum of six courses (18 hours), each earned with a grade of C or higher, with the following structure:
- Three required courses
- ENG 400 - Principles of Linguistics
- ENG 408 - Phonological Analysis
- ENG 409 - Syntactic Analysis
- And three electives, with the following structure:
- At least one elective must be selected from the following courses:
- ENG 207 - Language Awareness
- ENG 318 - Language Endangerment and Death
- ENG 416 - Language and Society
- ENG 417 - Language and Ethnicity
- At least one elective must be selected from the following courses:
- ENG 369 - Grammatical Analysis
- ENG 370 - Morphological Analysis
- ENG 403 - History of the English Language
- ENG 405 - Pragmatics
- ENG 468 - Second Language Acquisition
- ENG 474 - Bilingualism and Bilingual Education
- At least one elective must be selected from the following courses:
Electives should be chosen in consultation with the department mentor for the linguistics minor. See the advising and mentoring website for the current mentor.
Literature Minor Requirements
The literature minor requires a minimum of 18 hours of English courses numbered 200 or above, with a grade of C or higher in each course. English 200 should be taken at the first possible opportunity. Six of the remaining 15 hours must be taken in English courses numbered 400 or higher. Appropriate courses in creative writing, expository writing, and linguistics may be included as supplements to the literature courses. All courses should be selected with the approval of the department mentor for the literature minor. See the advising and mentoring website for the current mentor. The literature minor may not be combined with an English major.
Creative Writing Minor Requirements
The creative writing minor may be combined with an English major. However, courses may not be counted for both programs. Minors are encouraged to take courses in more than one genre. A focus of poetry or fiction is required to fulfill the core requirements. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in each course counted toward the Creative Writing minor.
Core requirements (9 hours):
- ENG 290 (Introduction to Creative Writing)
- ENG 392 (Fiction Writing) or ENG 393 (Poetry Writing) (prerequisite: 290)
- ENG 492 (Advanced Fiction Writing) or ENG 493 (Advanced Poetry Writing) (prerequisite: 392 or 393)
Electives (9 hours) - choose three from the following options; at least one course must be a designated creative writing elective (marked with an asterisk):
- MC 202 (Writing for the Media) [non-MC majors only]
- Any 400-level literature course (particularly contemporary literature)
- ENG 494 (Literary Editing) [offered fall semester only]
- An off-genre poetry/fiction class* (393 and/or 493 if you’re a fiction writer; 392 and/or 492 if you’re a poet)
- ENG 394* (Playwriting)
- ENG 444* (Creative Nonfiction)
- ENG 465* (Special Topics; variable topic course; see CW mentor to verify applicability to minor requirements)
- ENG 490* (Advanced Composition)
- ENG 498* (Creative Writing with Research) (prerequisite: 392 or 393 or consent of instructor)
Electives should be selected in consultation with Dr. Joshua Kryah, the department mentor for the creative writing minor.
Rhetoric and Writing Minor Requirements
The minor in rhetoric and writing requires a minimum of 18 hours. Students must complete ENG 101 and 102 with a grade of C or better before beginning the minor. Students are required to take ENG 201 (Intermediate Composition); ENG 490 (Advanced Composition); and either ENG 334 (Scientific Writing) or ENG 491 (Technical and Business Writing). In addition, students must select three electives from the following courses: ENG 332, 333, 410, 411, 412, 444, 488, or 489. With advisor approval, ENG 465 may also be used as an elective when an appropriate topic is offered. At least six of the 18 hours must be taken at the 400-level. A minor in rhetoric and writing may be combined with an English major. However, courses may not be counted for both programs. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in each course counted toward the Rhetoric and Writing minor. Electives should be selected in consultation the department mentor for the rhetoric and writing minor. See the advising and mentoring website for the current mentor.
Core Requirements (9 hours):
- ENG 201 - Intermediate Composition
- ENG 490 - Advanced Composition
- Either ENG 334 - Scientific Writing or ENG 491- Technical and Business Writing
Electives (9 hours) from the following:
- ENG 332 - Argument
- ENG 333 - The Rhetoric of Videogames
- ENG 410 - Rhetoric, Writing, and Citizenship
- ENG 411 - Internship in Writing
- ENG 412 - Digital Literacies
- ENG 444 - Creative Nonfiction
- ENG 465 - Special Topics (with advisor approval)
- ENG 488 - Rhetoric, Politics, and the Law
