English B.A. Degree
Courses in English improve the reading, writing, and analytical skills of students, offer insight into the structure of the English language, explore film as an art form, and develop an appreciation for great literature. English majors enjoy professional readiness in essential skills, such as writing, editing, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, team work, and research. As such, an English major is excellent preparation for the graduate study of literature and communication, for medical school, law school, and secondary education. It opens the way to many positions in government, NGOs, and private industry, including editing and technical writing. The English BA is an excellent choice as a double major with other degrees at JU and increases students’ marketability in advertising, public relations, communication, sales, marketing, personnel management, systems engineering and programming. Within the major, in order to provide a firm foundation for more advanced study later, students take four broad-range survey courses, preferably early in the program. Additionally, in order to acquire range and balance, majors take one course in the English language, chosen from Linguistics or Grammar. English majors are also required to take a varied selection from other English courses, including period surveys, literary genres, film, major authors figures, and writing courses.
Because of the wide diversity of offerings and the expectation that English majors should improve their intellectual background and flexibility, students are encouraged to broaden their experience with additional courses beyond the minimum required for the major. English majors are encouraged to pursue double majors and/or minors in other fields on campus.
The English major is offered as a Bachelor of Arts degree only.
Major Requirements
In addition to the University requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree, English majors must complete a minimum of 14 ENGL courses numbered above 189, of which at least six of these courses must be on the 300 and 400 level, totaling the following 42 ENGL credit hours.
ENGL 189, 202, 203, 204, and 206 count toward the core literature requirement, so the English BA requires 39 total hours of coursework beyond the core.
University Core
| Core | University Core Requirements | 37 |
English majors must complete the following courses:
| ENGL 202 | American Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 204 | British/Anglophone Literature 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 206 | British/Anglophone Literature 2 | 3 |
| ENGL 305 | Survey of Literary Theory | 3 |
| | | |
| ENGL 400 | Lingiustics | 3 |
| | Or | |
| ENGL 402 | Grammar | 3 |
| | | |
| ENGL 302WI | Writing: Exposition | 3 |
| ENGL xxxWI | Second ENGL Writing-intensive course required for major at the 300 level or above | 3 |
| ENGL 330 | 19th-Century British Literature:Revolution, Romanticism & Empire | 3 |
| ENGL 340 | American Literature Post-1700 | 3 |
| | Or | |
| ENGL 343 | Multiethnic Literature | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 42 |
Take 9 Hours from Electives
3 hours of Electives can be taken in Languages 300+, HUM (additional to University Core HUM class),
THEA 364: Shakespeare or
THEA 330: Playscript Analysis.
General Electives
| Requirement | General Electives 32 | |
Total Credit Hours: 120
Notes:
Additionally, one three credit hour speech-intensive (SI) course is required to satisfy the “General Requirements for all Bachelor Degrees."
English Major Important Notes:
- The English major is offered as a Bachelor of Arts degree only. English majors who choose to pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree (including those students matriculating to JU with the Associate of Arts degree) must satisfy the University Core Curriculum Global Studies requirement by completing a foreign language through the 202 level.
- Course ENGL 103 is a prerequisite for all English courses numbered above 189. Course ENGL 203 or ENGL 189 can count as elective credit within the major.
- AP Credits: Students who earn a 3 on either the AP Language and Composition or the AP Literature and Composition exams are placed into ENGL 103 Honors. Students who earn a 4 or 5 on the AP Language and Composition exam will earn credit for ENGL 103 and be placed into an honors section of an English/literature core requirement course. Students who earn a 4 or 5 on the AP Literature and Composition exam are awarded three hours of English elective credit and are placed into ENGL 103 Honors. No student may exempt the English/literature core requirement.
- Prior to graduation, English majors are required to complete a Senior Portfolio capstone project. This portfolio includes materials students have already written during the course of their studies within the major. Students will also write two brief reflections on what they have learned in the major.