English, Professional Writing Concentration, B.A. (CIP 23.1301)

The Professional Writing Concentration is designed for those English majors interested in applying their humanities education to non-academic careers. This concentration can be achieved while completing an English major and will prepare students with the writing skills needed to succeed in the professional world.

To fulfill the Major in English with a Professional Writing Concentration, a student must complete the “English Major Requirements” and the “Professional Writing Concentration.” Note that ENGL courses in the “Professional Writing Concentration” may also count toward “English Major Requirements.”

English Requirements in the General College Curriculum

All students must complete ENGL 100 - ENGL 102 (first-year writing courses) and a 200-level ENGL literature course.

For those students who took the SAT prior to March 2016:

English 100 may be waived with an SAT verbal score of 450 (or ACT- English score of 19) or higher. Successful completion (minimum of C) or above waiver of English 100 is the prerequisite for English 101.

English 101 may be waived with 1) an SAT verbal score of at least 700 or an ACT composite score of at least 32 and 2) a GPA of at least a “B” in high school English courses. Successful completion or above waiver of English 101 is the prerequisite for English 102.

For those students who took the SAT after February 2016:

English 100 may be waived with an SAT verbal score of 500 (or ACT- English score of 19) or higher. Successful completion (minimum of C) or above waiver of English 100 is the prerequisite for English 101.

English 101 may be waived with 1) an SAT verbal score of at least 730 or an ACT composite score of at least 31 and 2) a GPA of at least a “B” in high school English courses. Successful completion or above waiver of English 101 is the prerequisite for English 102.

ENGL 100-level courses are prerequisites for all English courses numbered 201 and above.

ENGL 300 (Literary Research and Criticism) is a pre-requisite to ENGL 400-level courses.

English Major Requirements

Foundation (typically 9 hrs)

— Academic Writing (typically 6 hours, depending on placement)
ENGL 100 - English Fundamentals (3)
ENGL 101 - Academic Writing (3)
ENGL 102 - Academic Writing and Literature (3)
— Literature Survey (3 hours)

Take one of the following:
ENGL 201 - British Literature I (3)
ENGL 202 - British Literature II (3)
ENGL 203 - American Literature I (3)
ENGL 204 - American Literature II (3)
ENGL 205 - World Literature I (3)
ENGL 206 - World Literature II (3)
Prerequisite for all ENGL 400-level courses (3 hrs)
ENGL 300 - Literary Research and Criticism (3)
Writing and Language (3 hrs)

Take one of the following:
ENGL 302 - Advanced Writing (3)
ENGL 303 - Modern Grammar (3)
ENGL 305 - Technical Writing and Presentations (3)
ENGL 424 - Argument and Persuasion (3)
Genre Studies (6 hrs)

Take two of the following:
ENGL 413 - History of British Drama (3)
ENGL 414 - History of the British Novel (3)
ENGL 415 - History of American Fiction (3)
ENGL 416 - Modern/Contemporary Fiction (3)
ENGL 417 - Modern/Contemporary Poetry (3)
Literary History (15 hrs)

Choose one course from five of the following periods (ENGL 419 Special Topics can substitute for applicable time period):

— Pre 1500
ENGL 401 - Medieval Literature (3)
ENGL 409 - Chaucer (3)
— Renaissance
ENGL 403 - English Renaissance (3)
ENGL 410 - Shakespeare (3)
— 17th Century
ENGL 411 - Milton (3)
— 18th Century
ENGL 404 - Eighteenth-Century Literature (3)
ENGL 405 - Romantic Literature (3)
— 19th Century
ENGL 406 - Victorian Literature (3)
ENGL 407 - Nineteenth-Century American Literature (3)
— 20th and 21st Century
ENGL 408 - Early Twentieth-Century Literature (3)
ENGL 418 - Southern American Literature (3)
ENGL 425 - Contemporary British/Postcolonial Literature (3)
Professional Development (3 hrs)

Take one of the following:
ENGL 301 - Creative Writing – Poetry (3)
ENGL 304 - Creative Writing – Prose (3)
ENGL 422 - History of Criticism (3)
ENGL 453 - Methods in Teaching English (3)
ENGL 490 - Internship (1-3)
Electives (9 hrs)

Take 9 hrs of ENGL 300-/400-level courses.
Note:

At least two courses taken as part of the major must have American Literature emphasis (i.e., come from ENGL 407 , ENGL 415 , ENGL 416 , ENGL 417 , ENGL 418 )

Professional Writing Concentration

ENGL 302 - Advanced Writing (3)
ENGL 303 - Modern Grammar (3)
ENGL 305 - Technical Writing and Presentations (3)
ENGL 419 - Seminar (3) - special topics in Editing and Copy Editing
ENGL 424 - Argument and Persuasion (3)
ENGL 490 - Internship (1-3)
Take two of the following courses:
BADM 236 - Business Communications and Critical Thinking (3)
COMM 170 - Writing for the Mass Media (3)
COMM 217 - Writing for Broadcasting and Electronic Media (3)
COMM 222 - Reporting (3)
COMM 251 - Public Relations Writing (3)
COMM 302 - Sports Reporting (3)