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 five areas: linguistics, literature, writing, creative writing, and film studies.
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 26 credit hours must be completed after formal admission to IUPUI.
- A minimum of 21 credit hours of major coursework must be completed in residence in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI. 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 five concentrations: Creative Writing, Language and Linguistics, Literature, Professional and Public Writing, or English Studies.
- 15 hours in English (ENG) at the 300-400 level.
IUPUI General Education Core
A list of accepted courses in the IUPUI General Education Core can be found at http://go.iupui.edu/gened.
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 IUPUI from another public university in Indiana who have completed the transferable general education core at their home campus will not need to complete the IUPUI 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 IUPUI
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 265: Introduction to Symbolic Logic
- PHIL-P 365: Intermediate 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 IUPUI 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 IUPUI 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 (WOST) excluding WOST-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 (WOST)
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.
CONCENTRATION IN CREATIVE WRITING (33 credits)
Gateway Course (6 credits) Choose two:
- ENG-W 206: Introduction to Creative Writing
- ENG-W 207: Introduction to Fiction Writing
- ENG-W 208: Introduction to Poetry Writing
Concentration 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)
English Experience (12 credits)
Literature (9 credits): Three courses at the 200-level or above; one at the 300-level or above.
Language, Pedagogy, and Editing (3 credits) Choose from:
- ENG-W 280: Literary Editing and Publishing
- ENG-W 310: Language and the Study of Writing
- ENG-W 365: Theory and Practice of Editing
- ENG-W 426: Writing Nonfiction: Popular and Professional Publication
- ENG-W 408: Creative Writing for Teachers
- ENG-Z 206: Introduction to Language Use
- ENG-Z 301: History of the English Language
- ENG-Z 302: Understanding Language Structure: Syntax
- ENG-Z 310: Language in Context: Sociolinguistics
Other courses may also satisfy this requirement. Please see your advisor to have your program of study approved.
- Capstone (3 credits): Scroll to the bottom of page for list of options.
CONCENTRATION IN LINGUISTICS (33 credits)
Gateway Courses (6 credits)
- ENG-Z 205: Introduction to the English Language
- ENG-Z 206: Introduction to Language Use
Concentration Core (12 credits) Choose from these courses:
- ENG-Z 301: History of the English Language
- ENG-Z 302: Understanding Language Structure: Syntax
- ENG-Z 303: Understanding Language Meaning: Semantics
- ENG-Z 310: Language in Context: Sociolinguistics
- ENG-Z 432: Second Language Acquisition
- ENG-Z 434: Introduction to Teaching English as a Second Language
- ENG-Z 441: Materials Preparation for ESL Instruction
- ENG-W 310: Language and the Study of Writing
- ASL-L 340: Discourse Analysis: English
- ANTH-L 401: Language, Power & Gender
- ANTH-L 300: Language and Culture
English Experience (12 credits)
In consultation with your advisor, choose four English courses at the 200-level or above, with at least two at the 300- or 400-level. At least three courses must be outside of the language and linguistics concentration and at least one course must be a literature course.
Other courses may also satisfy this requirement. Please see your advisor to have your program of study approved.
- Capstone (3 credits): Scroll to the bottom of page for list of options.
CONCENTRATION IN LITERATURE (33 credits)
Gateway Course (3 credits):
- ENG-L 202: Literary Interpretation
Concentration Core (18 credits)
Critical and Historical Foundations—Britain (6 credits)
- ENG-L 301: English Literature I
and either:
- ENG-L 302: English Literature II or
- ENG-L 348: Nineteenth-Century British Fiction
Critical and Historical Foundations—US (6 credits) Choose two:
- ENG-L 351: American Literature I
- ENG-L 352: American Literature II
- ENG-L 354: American Literature III
- (ENG-L 357: Twentieth Century American Poetry or ENG-L 358: Twentieth-Century American Fiction may be substituted for ENG-L 354)
Shakespeare (3 credits) Choose one:
- ENG-L 220: Introduction to Shakespeare
- ENG-L 315: Major Plays of Shakespeare
- ENG-L 433: Conversations with Shakespeare (if not capstone)
Diversity (3 credits) Choose one:
- ENG-L 207: Women and Literature
- ENG-L 364: Native American Literature
- ENG-L 370: Black American Writing
- ENG-L 378: Studies in Women and Literature
- ENG-L 379: American Ethnic and Minority Literature
- ENG-L 382: Fiction of the Non-Western World
- ENG-L 387: Queer Literary Studies
- ENG-L 406: Topics in African American Literature
- ENG-L 411: Literature and Society: South African Literature
English Experience (9 credits)
Language & Linguistics (3 credits) Choose one:
- ENG-Z 205: Introduction to the English Language
- ENG-Z 206: Introduction to Language Use
- ENG-Z 301: History of the English Language
- ENG-Z 302: Understanding Language Structure: Syntax
- ENG-Z 310: Language in Context: Sociolinguistics
Editing (3 credits) Choose one:
- ENG-W 280: Literary Editing and Publishing
- ENG-W 365: Theory and Practice of Editing
English Elective (3 credits): In consultation with your advisor, choose one English course at the 200-level or above from classes outside of Literature.
Other courses may also satisfy this requirement. Please see your advisor to have your program of study approved.
- Capstone (3 credits): Scroll to the bottom of page for list of options.
CONCENTRATION IN PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC WRITING (33 credits)
Gateway Course (3 credits)
- ENG-W 210: Literacy and Public Life
Concentration Core (15 credits)
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 365 Theories and Practice of Editing
- ENG-W 313 The Art of Fact Writing Nonfiction Prose
- 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 (unless taken as capstone)
- Choose one additional course from “Culture and Rhetoric,” “Style and Editing,” or “Writing Experience” OR ENG-W 230 Writing in the Sciences, ENG-W 231 Professional Writing, or ENG-W 270 Argumentative Writing unless taken to fulfill the School of Liberal Arts Writing Proficiency requirement.
- Choose one from each category below.
- Film Studies or Literature (3 credits) 200-400 level
- Linguistics (3 credits) 200-400 level
- Creative writing or any elective outside of concentration core (3 credits) 200-400 level
- Capstone (3 credits) (Must be taken as a senior)
- ENG-W 426: Writing Nonfiction: Popular and Professional Publication (recommended)
- ENG-E 398: Internships in English (with permission from director)
- ENG-E 450: Capstone Seminar
- ENG-L 440: Senior Seminar in English and American Literature
- ENG-L 433: Conversations with Shakespeare
*Depending on topic, ENG-W 390 course might count towards the “Culture and Rhetoric” category or the “Writing Experience” category.
Professional and Public Writing Courses
CONCENTRATION IN ENGLISH STUDIES (33 credits)
Gateway Courses (6 credits) Choose ONE course from TWO of the following areas:
- ENG-L 202: Literary Interpretation
- ENG-Z 205: Introduction to English Language, or Z206 Introduction to Language Use
- ENG-W 206: Introduction to Creative Writing, or ENG-W 207: Introduction to Fiction Writing, or
ENG-W 208: Introduction to Poetry Writing - ENG-W 210: Literacy and Public Life
- FILM-C 292: Introduction to Film
English Studies Core (24 credits)
In consultation with an English faculty mentor, choose 24 credits of English department classes at the 200-level or above, including:
- at least three credit hours in at least four of the five different areas of English: creative writing, film studies, language & linguistics, literature, writing & literacy
- UPPER LEVEL COURSES: at least 15 credit hours at the 300-level or above
- Capstone (3 credits): Scroll to the bottom of page for list of options.
ENGLISH CAPSTONE COURSE OPTIONS (3 credits):
- ENG-E 398: Internships in English
- ENG-E 450: Capstone Seminar
- ENG-W 426: Writing Nonfiction: Popular and Professional Publication
- ENG-W 496: Writing Tutor Training Seminar
- ENG-L 440: Senior Seminar in English and American Literature
- ENG-L 433: Conversations with Shakespeare
- Concentration in Linguistics may also use ENG-Z 405: Topics in the Study of Language as a capstone option (recommended).
- Concentration in Literature: ENG-L 440 and ENG-L 433 (recommended).
- Concentration in Writing and Literacy: ENG-E 398, ENG-E 450, and ENG-W 426 (recommended options).
CAPSTONE SHOULD BE TAKEN IN SENIOR YEAR-Capstone Courses
Open electives
Candidates for a degree in the IU School of Liberal Arts must complete the IUPUI 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 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 IUPUI. Students are only required to complete the courses in their major of choice in Liberal Arts. The IUPUI 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.
