COURSE CURRICULUM

The general English major requires students to complete a minimum of 40 credits with at least a C- grade in each course and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0, while following specific academic rules such as counting only one online course toward the major, not allowing double-counting of ENGL courses across requirements, and completing the capstone seminar with at least a C grade, ensuring both academic rigor and structured progression; the curriculum begins with a required foundational course, ENGL 419, which develops critical reading and analytical skills, followed by survey courses that build historical understanding through one early literature course and one modern literature course, exposing students to key literary periods and traditions; beyond this, the program is organized into thematic categories that allow students to explore different aspects of English studies, including linguistics and writing, where students can choose courses in creative writing, journalism, grammar, or the history of the English language, and genres or theory, where options include film studies, science fiction, environmental theory, or literary criticism; students must also engage with community and cultural perspectives by selecting courses focused on race, identity, and diverse voices, while further strengthening historical depth by choosing one course each in literature before 1800 and after 1800; in addition, students complete two advanced electives at the 600 or 700 level to deepen specialization and analytical skills, culminating in the capstone course, ENGL 787, where they integrate knowledge through advanced research and discussion; overall, the program combines structured requirements with flexible choices, allowing students to develop strong critical thinking, writing, and interpretive abilities while exploring literature, language, and culture from multiple perspectives.