The undergraduate programs of study for the English major are designed so that majors can experience the broad, diverse scope of English studies at the same time that they focus in one of the three options within the major. As an English major, you take, in addition to first-year composition, at least 39 credits in English. English education students take 48 credits in English in addition to required teaching-related courses for state licensure. You need to earn at least a C in each of the courses taken to fulfill your program of study to receive your degree in English.

Core Requirements

The Core Requirements, which apply to all English majors, introduce students to the range of concerns in English and allow students to understand better the interrelationships of various aspects of the discipline. These requirements include four courses which introduce the discipline and its components (199, 220, 260, 310); a course in advanced writing; and five courses in which students explore the range of creative literature. To ensure the diversity of their experience in studying literature, majors are also asked to include work in various historical periods. All students cap their work in English studies with at least nine hours of advanced study at the 400 level.

All English majors take nine core courses, 27 credits, of common requirements:

• Engl 199 Introduction to the Study of English (R cr.)
• Engl 220 Descriptive English Grammar (3 cr.)
• Engl 260 Introduction to Literary Study (3 cr.)
• Engl 310 Rhetorical Analysis (3 cr.)
• Advanced Writing (Engl 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 309, 313, 314, 315, or 316) (3 cr.)
• Women's and/or Multicultural Literature (Engl 340s series) (3 cr.)
• American Literature (Engl 360s series) (6 cr.)
• British Literature (Engl 370s series, excluding Engl 370) (6 cr.)

Advanced Study Requirements

When you reach the advanced level, you select one of three advanced study requirement options:

Literary Studies
Advanced study includes

• Literary Theory
• English Electives
• Literature Seminars

Rhetorical Studies
Advanced study includes

• Rhetoric and the History of Ideas
• Argumentative Writing
• Rhetorial Studies 300- and 400-level Electives

English Education
Advanced study includes

• Introduction to Linguistics
• Literary Theory Practice and Theory of Teaching Writing
• Young Adult Literature
• History of English Literature
• Practice and Theory of Teaching Literature
• For teacher licensure, you need to meet additional requirements outside the Department of English.

You should also consider choosing a minor or second major to complement your study of English. All English majors have the option to minor in technical communication, another program offered through the English Department. If you are and English education student, you should consider adding teaching minor, not to be confused with a university minor. The teaching minor is an endorsement to teach in an additional subject area; only certain areas are available and the requirements are prescribed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Licensure and the Iowa Department of Education.

Visit the Undergraduate Advising Webpages for more information on majors and minors available through the English Department.