Pictured | Aubren Kubicki | English | South Bend, Indiana (hometown)

Bachelor of Arts in English

Students completing the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English take advantage of small class sizes to develop skills in literary analysis, creative writing, film studies, professional and business writing, and more. The English major prepares students for a variety of careers that demand expertise in thinking critically, communicating effectively, analyzing texts, and writing for a diverse audience—skills highly prized by employers. Potential careers include, among others, print and electronic journalism, teaching, law, public relations, marketing, technical writing, librarianship, and information management.

Academic Advising

College policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors at least once each year, and in some departments, prior to each semester’s enrollment. Advising holds are placed on all College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) students prior to advance registration and are released following advising appointments. Students with a declared major are advised in their academic units. To determine who the advisor is and how to contact him or her, see One.IU.

Degree Requirements (120 cr.)

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Students receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree must complete 120 total credit hours including:

• IU South Bend Campuswide General Education Curriculum (33-39 cr.)
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts Additional Requirements (14-23 cr.)
• Major Requirements (18 cr.)
• Elective Requirements (12 cr.)
• Required Minor taken from any campus, school or interdisciplinary program (15-18 cr.)
• Free Electives (balance of credits needed to equal 120 cr. requirement)

• A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
• ENG-W 130, ENG-W 131, and General Education Common Core courses do not count toward the English major.
• All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise noted

Major Requirements (18 cr.)

The English major consists of three core courses, three courses to be chosen from the distribution categories below, and four elective courses. Each student chooses a concentration in literature or writing, which determines the kinds of courses needed as electives.

Core Requirements (9 cr.)

• ENG-L 202 Literary Interpretation
• ENG-L 371 Critical Practices (must be taken before or concurrently with senior seminar)
• ENG-L 450 Seminar: British and American Authors; OR ENG-L 460 Seminar: Literary Form, Mode, and Theme (not to be taken until almost/all major courses have been completed)

Distribution Requirements (9 cr.)

Select one course from each of the following three distribution categories:

Category I: American Literature

• ENG-L 350 Early American Writing and Culture to 1800
• ENG-L 351 American Literature 1800-1865
• ENG-L 352 American Literature 1865-1914
• ENG-L 354 American Literature Since 1914
• ENG-L 355 American Fiction to 1900
• ENG-L 358 American Literature, 1914-1960
• ENG-L 370 Recent Black American Writing
• ENG-L 379 American Ethnic and Minority Literature

Category II: British Literature before 1800

ENG-E 301 Literatures in English to 1600
• ENG-E 302 Literatures in English 1600-1800
• ENG-L 220 Introduction to Shakespeare
• ENG-L 306 Middle English Literature
• ENG-L 313 Early Plays of Shakespeare
• ENG-L 314 Late Plays of Shakespeare
• ENG-L 315 Major Plays of Shakespeare
• ENG-L 327 Later Eighteenth Century Literature
• ENG-L 347 British Fiction to 1800

Category III: British and World Literature after 1800

• ENG-E 303 Literatures in English 1800-1900
• ENG-E 304 Literatures in English 1900-Present
• ENG-L 329 Romantic Literature
• ENG-L 335 Victorian Literature
• ENG-L 348 Nineteenth Century British Fiction
• ENG-L 365 Modern Drama Continental
• ENG-L 382 Fiction of Non-Western World
• ENG-L 388 Studies in Irish Literature and Culture

Elective Requirements (12 cr.)

Concentration in Literature

• 200-level (or higher) English major course (3 cr.)
• 300-level (or higher) literature courses (9 cr.)

Concentration in Writing

• 300-level (or higher) writing courses (6 cr.)
• 200-level (or higher) writing course (3 cr.)
• 200-level (or higher) English major course (3 cr.)