Undergraduate
Bachelor's Degree Programs
English
Major in English
The Department of English offers introductory and advanced instruction in the methods and traditions of literary analysis, writing, and language study. Its programs are in: literature, creative writing, public and professional writing, and general English.
Through its courses and other activities in linguistics, writing, creative writing, film, and literature, the department works to create and sustain evolving communities of learners interested in the contributions of language to what has been called the examined life—a thoughtful, morally aware, and civically and personally responsible existence. Faculty and students aim for excellence in analyzing, understanding, and communicating about language and its beauties.
Students completing the English B.A. program will achieve the following:
- Develop reading, writing, and research processes and reflect on them to assess learning and identify areas for improvement.
- Create innovative written works that respond to community needs.
- Read, analyze, and interpret language and texts critically.
- Write a reasoned argument integrating public/expert and personal voices.
- Listen to different perspectives in order to inform and articulate ethical beliefs.
- Analyze and evaluate how cultural differences impact language use.
- Describe and discuss the interdisciplinary context of English as a field of study and its connection to other disciplines.
- Investigate and explain how language influences intellectual and emotional responses.
- Collaborate with others to create a shared and productive outcome.
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English (ENG) requires satisfactory completion of the following:
- A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for a B.A. degree from the IU School of Liberal Arts.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) is required for graduation.
- A minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed after formal admission to IU Indianapolis.
- A minimum of 21 credit hours of major coursework must be completed in residence in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IU Indianapolis. Course work completed on an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program counts as residential credit.
- A minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in each major course.
- Once a course has been applied toward one requirement, it cannot be used to satisfy a second requirement, except where explicitly stated otherwise. In addition, except in cases of variable title courses, internships, and other special courses, no course will be counted more than once toward graduation.
- Completion of one of the following four concentrations: Creative Writing, Literature, Professional and Public Writing, or Individualized Studies.
- 18 credit hours in English (ENG) at the 300-400 level.
IU Indianapolis General Education Core
A list of accepted courses in the IU Indianapolis General Education Core can be found here.
Core Communication (6 credits)
- ENG-W 131: Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I (3 credits) or ENG-W 140: Reading, Writing, and Inquiry: Honors (3 credits) completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) sections of ENG-G 131 have been designated for students whose first language is not English.
- COMM-R 110: Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3 credits)
Analytical Reasoning (6 credits)
- College math from List A (3 credits)
- List A or List B (3 credits)
Cultural Understanding (3 credits)
- A world language course is recommended
Life and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
- A laboratory science component is required
Arts/Humanities and Social Sciences (9 credits)
- Arts & Humanities (3 credits)
- Social Science (3 credits)
- Additional Arts & Humanities or Social Science (3 credits)
Transfer students entering IU Indianapolis from another public university in Indiana who have completed the transferable general education core at their home campus will not need to complete the IU Indianapolis General Education Core.
Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Competencies
First-Year Experience (1-3 credits)
- SLA-S 100: First Year Success Seminar
- Other: First Year Seminar from another school at IU Indianapolis
Transfer students with 18 or more credit hours are not required to take this course.
Writing Proficiency (3 credits), completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, chosen from the following:
- ENG-W 230: Writing in the Sciences
- ENG-W 231: Professional Writing Skills
- ENG-W 270: Argumentative Writing
Transfer students may satisfy the writing proficiency by completing course work equivalent to ENG-W 231, ENG-W 230, ENG-W 270, or GEWR-UN 200 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher at another campus or institution.
Transfer students with 80 or more transfer credits may petition for exemption from the Writing Proficiency requirement. Petition available in the Miriam Z. Langsam Office of Student Affairs, Cavanaugh Hall room 401.
Analytical Proficiency (3 credits), chosen from the following:
- ECON-E 270: Introduction to Statistical Theory in Economics and Business
- PHIL-P 208: Causality and Evidence
- PHIL-P 262: Practical Logic
- PHIL-P 265: Introduction to Symbolic Logic
- POLS-Y 205: Analyzing Politics
- SOC-R 359: Introduction to Sociological Stats
Analytical Proficiency is in addition to the Analytical Reasoning area in the IU Indianapolis General Education Core. Analytical Proficiency courses may be shared with major requirements if applicable.
Life and Physical Sciences Laboratory
One laboratory science course is required, but may be part of the coursework taken in the IU Indianapolis General Education Core.
Arts and Humanities (3 credits) - Courses in one’s first major field of study cannot be used to fulfill this requirement
100 or 200 level course chosen from the following disciplines
- Africana Studies (AFRO)
- American Studies (AMST)
- American Sign Language (ASL) excluding World Languages courses
- Classics (CLAS) excluding World Languages courses
- Communication Studies (COMM-R, excluding COMM R-110, and COMM-T only)
- East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) excluding World Language courses
- Folklore (FOLK) excluding FOLK-F 101
- German (GER) excluding World Language courses
- History (HIST) excluding HIST H105, HIST H106, HIST H108, HIST H109, HIST H113, HIST H114
- Latino Studies (LATS)
- Medical Humanities and Health Studies (MHHS)
- Museum Studies (MSTD)
- Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS)
- Philosophy (PHIL)
- Religious Studies (REL)
- Spanish (SPAN) excluding World Language courses
- Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) excluding WGSS-W 105
- World Languages and Cultures (WLAC)
Social Sciences (3 credits) - Courses in one’s first major field of study cannot be used to fulfill this requirement
100 or 200 level course chosen from the following disciplines
- Africana Studies (AFRO)
- Anthropology (ANTH)
- Communication Studies (COMM-C and COMM-M only)
- Economics (ECON)
- Folklore (FOLK)
- Geography (GEOG)
- Global and International Studies (INTL)
- History (HIST) only HIST-H 105, HIST-H 106, HIST-H 108, HIST-H 109, HIST-H 113, HIST-H 114
- Journalism and Public Relations (JOUR)
- Latino Studies (LATS)
- Medical Humanities and Health Studies (MHHS) excluding MHHS-M 201
- Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS)
- Political Science (POLS)
- Psychology (PSY)
- Sociology (SOC)
- Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)
World Language and Perspectives (0-14 credits) - This requirement may be satisfied in one of the following ways:
- Completion of second-year proficiency in a single world language.
- Second-year proficiency is demonstrated by:
- passing the full second-year sequence of courses in a single language or
- completing a third or fourth-year course1
- Second-year proficiency is demonstrated by:
- Completion of third-semester proficiency in a single world language and one course in History selected from HIST-H 108, HIST-H 109, HIST-H 113, or HIST-H 114.
- Completion of first-year proficiency in a single world language; one history course selected from HIST-H 108, HIST-H 109, HIST-H 113, or HIST-H 114; and one course selected from the Global History and Perspectives list:
- ANTH-A 104, Intro to Cultural Anthropology
- CLAS-C 213, Sport and Competition in the Ancient World
- EALC-E 232, China Past and Present: Culture in Continuing Evolution
- GEOG-G 130, World Geography
- HIST-H 108, Perspectives on the World to 1800
- HIST-H 109, Perspectives on the World since 1800
- HIST-H 113, History of Western Civilization I
- HIST-H 114, History of Western Civilization II
- INTL-I 100, Intro to International Studies
- LATS-L 228, An Interdisciplinary Look at U.S. Latino/a Identities
- POLS-Y 217, Introduction to Comparative Politics
- POLS-Y 219, Introduction to International Relations
- REL-R 212, Comparative Religions
- Non-English native speaker with approved waiver.
Courses in World Language and Perspectives may also satisfy General Education Core Cultural Understanding.
1 Students interested in receiving credit for lower-division language courses, see the section ‘‘Special Credit for Foreign Language Study.’’
Advanced Courses
Students are required to have 42 credit hours in 300-400 level coursework including courses in their major. Of the 42 advanced credits, 9 credit hours must be 300-400 level coursework outside the first Liberal Arts major field of study and from the School of Liberal Arts. Students seeking dual degrees are exempt from completing 9 credits hours in 300-400 level coursework outside their major and from the School of Liberal Arts.
English Major (33 credits)
English Common Core (12 credits)
Careers in English (3 credits)- ENG-W 280: Literary Editing and Publishing
- ENG-W 365: Theory and Practice of Editing
- ENG-W 397: Writing Center Theory and Practice
- ENG-W 398: Internship in Writing
- ENG-Z 434: Introduction to TESOL Methods
Language and Linguistics (3 credits)
- ENG-Z 206: Introduction to Language Use
- ENG-Z 301: History of the English Language
- ENG-Z 310: Language in Context: Sociolinguistics
Literary Interpretation (3 credits)
- ENG-L 202: Literary Interpretation
English Capstone (3 credits)
- ENG-E 398: Internship in English
- ENG-E 450: Capstone in English
- ENG-L 440: Senior Seminar in Literature
- ENG-W 426: Writing for Popular and Professional Publication
Creative Writing Concentration (21 credits)
Gateway Course (6 credits):
- ENG-W 206: Introduction to Creative Writing
- ENG-W 207: Introduction to Fiction Writing
- ENG-W 208: Introduction to Poetry Writing
Creative Writing Core (12 credits)
Four courses in at least two genres, including at least one at the 400 level. One course may be repeated for credit. Students should take courses in sequence: first the 200-level gateway courses, then 300-level courses followed by 400-level courses. Choose from the following:
- ENG-W 301: Writing Fiction
- ENG-W 302: Screenwriting
- ENG-W 303: Writing Poetry
- ENG-W 305: Writing Creative Nonfiction
- ENG-W 401: Advanced Fiction Writing
- ENG-W 403: Advanced Poetry Writing
- ENG-W 407: Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing
- ENG-W 411: Directed Writing (only with permission)
Literature Elective (3 credits)
Three credits at the 200-level or above; cannot be ENG-L 202.
Literature Concentration (21 credits)
Critical and Historical Foundations (9 credits):
- ENG-L 315: Major Plays of Shakespeare
- ENG-L 301: English Literature Survey I
- ENG-L 302: English Literature Survey II
- ENG-L 348: Nineteenth Century British Fiction
- ENG-L 351: American Literature 1800-1865
- ENG-L 352: American Literature 1865-1914
- ENG-L 354: American Literature since 1914
- ENG-L 433: Conversations with Shakespeare
Cultural Studies (9 credits):
- ENG-L 364: Native American Literature
- ENG-L 370: Recent Black American Writing
- ENG-L 372: Contemporary American Fiction
- ENG-L 373: Interdisciplinary Approaches to English and American Literature
- ENG-L 376: Literature for Adolescents
- ENG-L 378: Studies in Women and Literature
- ENG-L 379: American Ethnic and Minority Literature
- ENG-L 382: Literature of the Non-Western World
- ENG-L 384: Studies in American Culture
- ENG-L 385: Science Fiction
- ENG-L 387: Queer Literary Studies
- ENG-L 390: Children’s Literature
- ENG-L 394: Film as Literature
English Elective (3 credits)
- Choose an elective course (3 credits) in Film, Creative Writing, Linguistics, or Professional and Public Writing.
Professional and Public Writing Concentration (21 credits)
Gateway Course (3 credits)
- ENG-W 210: Literacy and Public Life
Culture and Rhetoric (3 credits)
- ENG-W 310: Language and the Study of Writing
- ENG-W 366: Written Englishes: Living Cultural Realities
- ENG-W 390: Topics in Writing & Literacy*
- ENG-W 412: Technology and Literacy
- ENG-Z 204: Rhetorical Issues in Grammar and Usage
- ENG-W 262: Style and Voice for Writers
- ENG-W 315: Writing for the Web
- ENG-W 318: Finding Your E-Voice
- ENG-W 331: Business and Administrative Writing
- ENG-Z 370: Second Language Writing
- ENG-W 377: Writing for Social Change
- ENG-W 390: Topics in Writing & Literacy
- ENG-W 397: Writing Center Theory and Practice
- ENG-E 398: Internship in English
- ENG-W 400: Issues in Teaching Writing
- ENG-W 426: Writing for Popular and Professional Publication
-
Choose one additional course (3 credits) from area above OR ENG-W 230, ENG-W 231, or ENG-W 270 unless taken to fulfill the School of Liberal Arts Writing Proficiency requirement.
Professional and Public Writing Courses
Individualized Studies Concentration (21 credits)
Gateway Course (3 credits):
- ENG-W 206: Introduction to Creative Writing
- ENG-W 207: Introduction to Fiction Writing
- ENG-W 208: Introduction to Poetry Writing
- ENG-W 210: Literacy and Public Life
Individualized Studies Core (18 credits)
In consultation with an English faculty mentor, choose 18 credits of English department classes at the 300-level or above.
Open electives
Candidates for a degree in the IU School of Liberal Arts must complete the IU Indianapolis General Education Core requirements, the baccalaureate competencies, and the requirements of their major department. Usually, students will still need to complete additional hours in order to reach the graduation requirement of 120 credit hours. These remaining credit hours are known as open electives.
Dual Degree Advantage
The Liberal Arts baccalaureate competencies are waived for IU Indianapolis undergraduate students whose first major is outside the School of Liberal Arts and whose second major is a Bachelor of Arts degree from the IU School of Liberal Arts at IU Indianapolis. Students are only required to complete the courses in their major of choice in Liberal Arts. The IU Indianapolis General Education Core or the Indiana transferable general education core must be successfully completed. Students must complete the degree outside Liberal Arts in order to have the Liberal Arts baccalaureate competencies waived for degree completion. The Liberal Arts baccalaureate competencies are only waived for students who actively pursue and complete another degree program outside of Liberal Arts. Both degrees must be completed at the same time.
