Please note that these requirements pertain to the current catalog year.* Bachelor’s degree candidates must complete 36 semester hours of English courses and 25 hours of UIS Requirements and general electives, for a total of 61 credit hours:
*If you were admitted to UIS prior to Fall 2007, you may have different degree requirements. For the most accurate review of your progress, you should consult with your English faculty adviser.
Course |
Hours |
ENG 301 Introduction to the Discipline |
4 |
ENG 311 Introduction to Literary Criticism and Theory |
4 |
At least one American Literature course |
4 |
At least one British Literature course |
4 |
At least one ENG course ending in 50-89 (writing and other courses) |
4 |
ENG electives |
12 |
General Electives (8 hours of which must be non-English courses) |
12 |
13 |
|
ENG 489 Capstone to Literary Study** |
4 |
Total: |
61 |
**Because this course is no longer offered, students need to take an additional 400-level literature course to replace ENG 489. Students should contact their adviser to discuss their options in this regard.
PLEASE NOTE: These 61 credit hours assume that the student has already completed the lower-level coursework required for Capital Scholars and transfer students. For more information about these course requirements, please visit one of the following websites:
As part of the program's assessment procedures, students must take ENG 301 as soon as possible after becoming an English major. They should take ENG 311 the semester following ENG 301. Students can only proceed on to ENG 311 if they have earned a "C" grade or better in ENG 301. Students may take one 400-level course when they are taking ENG 311, with the stipulation that they do not drop ENG 311. If ENG 311 is dropped, the 400-level course must also be dropped. ENG 489 should be taken late in their course of study. All three of these core courses must be passed with a "C" grade or better in order to fulfill graduation requirements of the program.
While juniors are normally expected to enroll in courses at the 300- or 400-level, seniors may petition individual instructors for admission into select 500-level English courses.
In addition to satisfying general UIS requirements for the B.A. degree, candidates in English are expected to develop research, writing, analytical, and interpretive skills. All English courses provide opportunities for acquiring and refining these skills.
Students judged deficient in written communication skills will be required to complete certain designated writing courses, such as ENG 375 Expository Writing. Completion of ENG 301 satisfies the campus's communication skills requirement.
Students entering prior to Fall 2007 must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of UIS requirements in the areas of liberal studies colloquia, public affairs colloquia, and applied study. These hours must include at least four hours in each of at least two of these areas.
English majors may select from a variety of challenging Applied Study Term (AST) experiences. Students who wish to become English teachers at the elementary, middle-school, or secondary level should enroll in the teacher education sequence and take student teaching as an AST.
Students interested in writing and editing careers may work with local agencies and publications and gain first-hand experience with various phases of production.
Students who wish to engage in an extended creative writing project may offer evidence of such writing in satisfaction of AST requirements. You can also complete an AST online. For more information, please visit the Applied Study Program website.
Because the English Department offers a wide range of courses with relative freedom from requirements and prerequisites, undergraduate majors are encouraged to select program advisors as soon as possible. Advisors assist students in developing appropriate and individualized courses of study; for this reason, if an advisor is not chosen, one will be assigned. Students should consult with advisors regularly and especially before enrolling for their first and last semesters of study.
