Pictured | Tyler Fryar | English | Michigan City, 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. 

Our English majors have gone on to pursue careers in K-12 and college teaching, public relations, marketing, advertising, technical writing, non-profit, and paralegal, among other fields. They have also published books, edited journals and newspapers, attended law school and Ph.D. programs, and have become community leaders who make a difference. 

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.)

Degree Map >>

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

• IU South Bend Campuswide General Education Curriculum (33 cr.)
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts Requirements (16-26 cr.)
• Required Minor taken from any campus, school or interdisciplinary program (15-18 cr.)
• Major Requirements (30 cr.)
• English Major Elective (3 cr.)
• Critical Theory (3 cr.)
• Senior Seminar (3 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 (30 cr.)

Introductory Major Course (3 cr.)

• ENG-L 202 Literary Interpretation

American Literature (3 cr.)

Select one from the following:

• 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

British Literature before 1800 (3 cr.)

Select one from the following:

• 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

British and World Literature after 1800 (3 cr.)

Select one from the following:

• 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

Concentration (9 cr.)

Each student may choose a concentration in literature or writing.

Concentration in Literature

• 9 credits of 300–level literature courses listed in the categories above

Concentration in Writing

• 3 credits of 200–level (or higher) writing course (ENG-W)
• 6 credits of 300–level (or higher) writing courses (ENG-W)

English Major Elective (3 cr.)

• 200–level (or higher) English major course (3 cr.)
  Can be an ENG-E or ENG-L course from the categories listed above; or a course in writing (ENG-W), linguistics (ENG-G), film studies (CMLT-C), an internship (ENG-W 398); or one of these specific Journalism classes (JOUR-J 200 or JOUR-J 341)

Critical Theory (3 cr.)

• ENG-L 371 Critical Practices (must be taken before or concurrently with senior seminar)

Senior Seminar (3 cr.)

• 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)