Undergraduate Programs

Minors

English

The English department offers minors in these areas:
  • Literature
  • Writing
  • Creative Writing
  • Business and Professional Writing
  • Linguistics
  • Film Studies
Students intending to pursue a minor should declare such an intention in a letter or e-mail to the associate chair for students and arrange for an initial conference with a departmental advisor to plan the program of study. As with the major, students need to earn at least a C in each course for certification of the minor by the English department.
Minor in Literature
The minor in literature introduces students to the skills of interpretation and critical thinking and provides some familiarity with British and American literature.

Prerequisite: ENG L115 with a grade of C or higher

Requirements: total of 15 credit hours (five courses), which include:
  • One course from the following: ENG L202, ENG L203, ENG L204, or ENG L205
  • One survey of British literature (ENG L301 or ENG L302) and one survey of American literature (ENG L351, ENG L352, or ENG L354)
  • Two elective courses in literature, at least one of which must be at the 300 or 400 level
Minor in Writing
The minor in writing is designed to help students develop their abilities to write for a range of purposes: personal, civic, professional, and academic. Students pursuing this minor should work with a faculty advisor in planning their courses and developing their writing portfolios.

The minor requires 16 credit hours. At least 9 hours must be at the 300-400 level, and at least 10 hours must be in the English department. Students must have a 2.5 or higher grade point average in the 16 hours of the minor and a minimum grade of C in each course for the minor.

Prerequisites: ENG W131 and a second writing course that counts in the student’s degree program, such as ENG W132, ENG W231, or ENG W320; TCM 220; or BUS X204 (both with a grade of C or higher)

Electives: Choose 15 credit hours from the following:
  • ENG W210, ENG W260, ENG W310, ENG W313, ENG W315, ENG W320 (if not used as second writing course), ENG W331, ENG W365, ENG W366, ENG W390, ENG W396, ENG W400, ENG W411, ENG W412, ENG W426, ENG E398, ENG G204
  • One creative writing course, chosen from ENG W206, ENG W207, ENG W208, ENG W301, ENG W302, ENG W303, ENG W305, ENG W401, ENG W403, and ENG W411 (when done with a creative writing focus). (A Creative Writing Minor is also available in the English department.)
  • Technical Communications TCM 320, TCM 350
  • Communication Studies COMM R310, COMM R350
Required: One-credit portfolio course, English W411.  Each student doing the minor will work with a faculty advisor to develop a writing portfolio. Students should sign up for this course in the semester they complete the minor, or the following semester; students may work with the faculty advisor informally before taking the portfolio course.
Minor in Creative Writing
The minor in creative writing will be of particular interest to students who are contemplating careers in writing or the teaching of writing. It is designed to serve, in addition, the needs of those who believe that one good way to study literature is to learn to produce it. Students choose 15 credit hours from the courses listed under “Creative Writing” in this bulletin and/or the Schedule of Classes.
Minor in Business and Professional Writing

A business and professional writing minor equips students to function effectively as writers in occupations ranging from business and industry to applied sciences, education, environmental affairs, government, health fields, and law.  This minor represents cooperation among the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Engineering and Technology, the Kelley School of Business, and the School of Journalism.

English courses must make up at least 10 credit hours of the minor; students are encouraged to take 3-6 credit hours outside English. At least 9 credit hours of the minor must be at the 300-400 level. Students must have a 2.5 or higher average in the 15 credit hours of the minor and a minimum grade of C in each course for the minor. Students pursuing this minor should work with a faculty advisor in planning their courses and developing their writing portfolios.

Prerequisite: ENG W131 with a grade of C or higher, and a second writing course, such as ENG W132, ENG W231, Technical Communication TCM 220, or Business X204


Five elective courses: ENG W313, ENG W315, ENG W320, ENG W331 or TCM 340, ENG W365, ENG W396, ENG W411, ENG W412, ENG E398, ENG Z204; TCM 320, TCM 350, TCM 425, TCM 450; JOUR J319, JOUR J320, JOUR J390, JOUR J415

One-credit portfolio course: ENG W411 (until a new course number is approved) Each student doing the minor will work with a faculty advisor to develop a writing portfolio. Students should sign up for this course the semester they complete the minor, or the following semester; students may work with the faculty advisor informally before taking the portfolio course.

Minor in Linguistics
The minor in linguistics is intended for students who wish to expand their knowledge of language structure and use. Courses provide a background in linguistic theory and practice.

Required: ENG Z205

Electives: 12 credit hours from the following courses:
  • ENG Z206, ENG Z301, ENG Z302, ENG Z310, ENG Z432, ENG Z434, ENG Z441, ENG W310
  • ANTH L300, ANTH L401
  • ASL L340, ASL L342
In consultation with an advisor, advanced students may request permission to take a graduate course in linguistics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the minor.
Film Studies
The minor in film studies provides the skills for understanding film in its aesthetic, popular, and ideological dimensions. Students with a minor in film studies will have a knowledge of film history, theory of film, genres and authorship, interpretive approaches to films, and film as a cultural artifact.

The minor in film studies requires 15 credit hours.

Required: FILM C292 Introduction to Film (3 cr.)

Electives: Twelve credit hours from the following courses:
FILM C390, FILM C391, FILM C392, FILM C393, FILM C394, FILM C491, FILM C493; ENG W260; COMM M373; GER G370, GER G371