UMUC

School of Undergraduate Studies

English

Students may seek either an academic major or minor in English.

Major in English

The major in English produces graduates with demonstrated skills in literary analysis, critical thinking, and writing. These skills prepare students majoring in English for careers in education, law, writing and publishing, journalism, public relations, business, and management.


Objectives

The student who graduates with a major in English will be able to:

  • Analyze significant literary works, primarily those written in English.
  • Critically examine intellectual, moral, and ethical issues as they are presented or implied in works of literature.
  • Apply techniques of literary research, including research that uses technology and fosters information literacy.
  • Analyze genre, style, stucture, and other textual features in a broad range of literary texts.
  • Evaluate and apply a variety of critical theories of literary interpretation.
  • Analyze the structure and development of the English language.
  • Examine the contributions of major authors, including minority and women writers, in the context of the cultures within which these authors lived and wrote.
  • Analyze literature from non-Western cultures.
  • Write effectively and demonstrate superior understanding of the writing process and writing techniques.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in English requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework, including 33 credits for the major; 41 credits in general education requirements; and 46 credits in the minor, electives, and other degree requirements. At least 17 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

English Major - Course Requirements

Coursework for a major in English includes the following:

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all the requirements for the BA in English. Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options.

Coursework for the major is indicated by ‡

First Courses (to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and writing courses.

  • EDCP 100 Principles and Strategies of Successful Learning (3) (strongly recommended as first course)
  • LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)
  • WRTG 101/101X Introduction to Writing (3)
  • MATH 106 Finite Mathematics (3) or higher-level math course

Introductory Courses (to be taken within the first 30 credits)

  • PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3) or a foreign language course or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, or literature course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement
  • Both BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3) and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1) or BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology or other course(s) to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture and laboratory requirement
  • WRTG 291 Expository and Research Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/writing requirement
  • GVPT 170 American Government (3) or other ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, SOCY, or eligible AASP, CCJS, GERO, or WMST course to fulfill the first behavioral and social sciences requirement
  • IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3) or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software

Foundation Courses (to be taken within the first 60 credits)

  • PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3) or SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology or other course to fulfill the second behavioral and social sciences requirement (discipline must differ from first)
  • NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3) or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy or other course to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture requirement
  • HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3) or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865 or other ARTH or HIST course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement in historical perspective (discipline must differ from other humanities course)
  • IFSM 304 Ethics in the Information Age (3) or other course to fulfill the interdisciplinary issues/computing requirement
  • SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3) or COMM 380 Language in Social Contexts or other course to fulfill the communications/writing or speech requirement
  • ‡ ENGL 240 Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (3) or other supplemental major course
  • ‡ ENGL 303 Critical Approaches to Literature (3)

Additional Required Courses (to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

  • WRTG 391/391X Advanced Expository and Research Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ upper-level intensive writing requirement
  • ‡ ENGL 345 Modern Poetry (3) or other poetry genre course for the major (Note: ENGL 240 may be applied to only one category)
    ‡ ENGL 441 The Novel in America Since 1914 (3) or other fiction genre course for the major
  • ‡ ENGL 311 17th- and 18th-Century British Literature (3) or other pre-1800 period course for the major
  • ‡ ENGL 433 American Literature: 1914 to the Present (3) or ENGL 425 Modern British Literature or other historical period course for the major
  • ‡ ENGL 364 African American Authors Since 1900 (3) or ENGL 354 American Women Writers Since 1900 or other American author course for the major
  • ‡ ENGL 406 Shakespeare: Power and Justice (3) or other British author course for the major
  • ‡ ENGL 454 Modern World Drama (3) or other drama genre course for the major
  • ‡ A supplemental major course (3)
  • ‡ A supplemental major course (3)

Minor and/or Elective Course (to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses) (43)

Recommended Elective

Total credits for BA in English: 120