The new major in English...

The rumors are TRUE! This fall, 2009, the Department of English will launch a NEW undergraduate major.

The new major will include revised concentrations in American Literature, British Literature, and Language Studies (a refinement of the current "Writing and Linguistics" concentration). The new major also includes a brand new concentration: Creative Nonfiction. Under the new major, students will now choose one of four concentrations. The new major is a shorter program (37 to 39 hours depending on the concentration) and offers more options for electives.

Under the new major, a significant change will be the elimination of the "capstone" course requirement (ENGL-4990). This course, ENGL-4990, will become a one hour "senior experience" course required for the American, British, and Creative Nonfiction concentrations called "Senior Paper or Project," and it will be taken in conjunction with a 4000 level course within the student's concentration. For example, an American Literature concentration student in the new major would take a course like American Novel (ENGL-4060) and ENGL-4990 to satisfy this requirement during her or his senior year. Language Studies students will be required to take ENGL-4800, the English Internship, or ENGL-4880, Community Service Writing, as their senior experience course.

Students under the current major who will be attending fall 2009 can opt to stay with the current 42 hour program. These students can satisfy the existing capstone requirement by taking any additional 4000 level course. Likewise, students under the current major can opt to switch to the new major this coming fall. In some cases, switching to the new major may accelerate a student's path toward graduation.

The new major brochure addresses the specific requirements for each of the four concentrations.

Students should check with their advisors about specific requirements, particularly those planning to switch to the new major and graduate this fall.

This change only affects the undergraduate BA in English. There will be NO changes this fall to the minor in English, the BGS concentration in English, the TESOL certificate-in-course and graduate certificate, the Technical Communication and Advanced Writing graduate certificates, or the MA program in English.