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Required Coursework

Requirements for the English Major (40 credits):

NOTE: These requirements apply to students who began the Fall of 2011 or after.

Required Coursework:

  • 8 credits of English 221-223
  • 4 credits English 243: Literary Theory & Criticism
  • 4 credits English 311: Writing Essays
  • 4 credits English 365: Capstone Seminar
  • 20 Credits of English Electives

NOTE: These requirements apply to students who began after the Fall of 2003 until Fall 2011.

  • 4 credits from courses numbered 130-134
  • 4 credits of English 243: Literary Theory and Criticism
  • 4 credits of English 311: Writing Essays-Requires Junior standing to enroll
  • 4 credits of coursework in each of the following clusters*: (only 1 course per cluster)

Literature and Literary History Theory and Culture
Capstone

  • At least 16 credits must be in upper-division courses
  • At least 16 credits must be in literature courses
  • At least 4 credits must be in a course in which a major subject of study is poetry
  • At least 4 credits in the major must be in literature before 1800
  • Students may apply only one course from 130-134 toward the major
  • Students must have sophomore standing to enroll in 300-level courses

Depending on the course, one course may count towards a cluster and 4 credits of an upper-division course, a literature course, a course with poetry, and a course in literature before 1800. In other words, some courses fulfill more than one requirement.

Requirements for the English Major with a Concentration in Creative Writitng (44 credits):

Required Coursework:

  • 8 credits of English 221-223
  • 4 credits of English243
  • 4 creduts if English 311
  • 4 credits of English 364 (capstone)
  • 4 credits of English 213
  • 4 credits of English  313 (any topics version)
  • 16 credits of electives in English - two of which must be at the 300 level.  One may be a non-departmental course from Comm 245, Comm 345, or Thea 311. 
  • Students may apply only one course from 120-124 toward the major as an elective.

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    Guidelines

    The Creative Writing concentration includes the requirements of the English major, plus the use of departmental electives for a minimum of four creative writing courses: English 213 (Introduction to Creative Writing) and three intermediate or advanced creative writing courses, one of which must be a capstone experience in Creative Writing.  Note that English majors on the Creative Writing path do not have to take a capstone experience in literature.

    English 213, Creative Writing Seminar, taken at CSBSJU, is the prerequisite for English 313 and English 364 - each required for the concentration.   Students pursuing the Creative Writing concentration may not use English 213 to satisfy the requirements for a gateway course, but must also take two courses numbered 220, 221, or 222, in addition to English 243, as foundational requirements for the major.  Note that English majors may declare an English with a Concentration in Creative Writing major, but switch to an English major, or vice versa, at any time before graduation as long as the relevant requirements are fulfilled.

    In addition to the array of course offerings in creative writing, additional creative writing electives may include independent study (projects which prepare students for post-undergraduate writing such as graduate study, professional writing, or other uses and engagements with writing in the world), tutorials; and internships.

     

    Requirements for the Minor (24 credits):

    English Minor:

    NOTE: For students who began Fall 2011 or after.

    • 20 credits of English courses, including 12 at the upper-division level.
    • The English Department strongly recommends that students take English 311.
    • Students may apply only one course from 120-124 toward the minor.

    NOTE: For students who began after the Fall 2003 until Fall 2011.

    • English 311-Requires Junior standing to enroll
    • 12 credits of additional writing courses which may include COMM 245: Introduction to Media and Writing and COMM 345: Advanced Media Writing

    Literary Studies Minor:

    • English 311-Requires Junior standing to enroll
    • 4 credits from courses numbered 130-134
    • 4 credits from each of the following clusters (8 credits total):

    Literature and Literary History

    Theory and Culture

    • 8 elective credits in English, 4 of which must be in a 300-level course

    * Please see here for a list of clusters

    Writing Minor:

    NOTE: For students who began Fall 2011 or after.

    I. Required coursework:

    • 12 credits of writing courses from:

    Engl 211: Writing the Experience
    Engl 213: Seminar in Creative Writing*
    Engl 220:  Investigative Writing 

    Engl 313: Advanced Seminar in Creative Writing*
    Engl 315: Writing Special Topics
    Students may substitute COMM 245: Introduction to Media Writing and
    COMM 345: Advanced Media Writing

    • may be repeated for credit when genres differ

    II. Electives:

    • 8 elective credits (above the 100-level) in English.
    • The English department strongly recommends that students take English 311.
    • Elective options include: 221, 222, 243, 286, 341, 342, 346, 347, 352, 355, 361, 362, 366, 367, 369, 381, 382, 383, 385, 386, 387, 388.

    The Communication Arts/Literature 5-12 licensure minor is under revision. Students should check with the English department for the current requirements.