Minoring in English

The English minor can give you a sampling of course offerings in English studies. You may tailor the minor to your own preferences. For example, you could concentrate in literature, focusing perhaps on British or American literature, contemporary literature and culture, or women's literature. Maybe you would like to study rhetoric, focusing on academic writing, oral communication, or technical communication. A minor emphasizing language might focus on linguistics, syntax, and Old English. You could even blend your interest in science and the environment with an English minor that incorporates course in creative writing, science fiction, biological writing, and literature and the environment. Or you could sample courses across the broad range of English studies, from film to writing for the World Wide Web. While a minor does not entail the in-depth study and training of the English major, it offers the opportunity to pursue your interests and to develop your reading and writing skills.

You can earn a minor by completing at least 15 credits in English courses beyond the 100 level (does not include English 150 or English 250; 12 credits must be completed at ISU).

Nine of the credits must be at the 300 level or above, with a minimum grade of C (not C-) in each course taken in the minor.

Minoring in Technical Communication

The technical communication minor can help you develop basic skills in rhetorical analysis, textual editing, composing and collaborating in digital environments, and multimedia design and production that will help you to work as a technical communicator. The minor also provides essential communication skills for majors in business, technical, and scientific fields and complements majors in other communication fields. You may earn a minor in technical communication by enrolling in 15 credits distributed as follows:

• Engl 314

And 12 credits chosen from the following 3-credit classes:

• ENGL 302 Business Communication
• ENGL 309 Report and Proposal Writing
• ENGL 310 Rhetorical Analysis
• ENGL 312 Biological Communication
• ENGL 313 Rhetorical Website Design
• ENGL/STAT 332 Visual Communication of Quantitative Information
• ENGL 350 Rhetorical Traditions
• ENGL 411 Technology, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication

• ENGL 415 Business and Technical Editing
• ENGL 416 Visual Aspects of Business and Technical Communication
• ENGL 418 Seminar in Argumentation

Or, with appropriate prerequisites,

• ENGL 529 Multimedia Content Management Systems
• ENGL 542 Production Processes for Technical Documents
• ENGL 549 Multimedia Design in Professional Communication

Students should check the ISU catalog to be sure that they meet prerequisites if they intend to register for 400- or 500-level courses. Up to 6 of the 15 credits taken for the minor may be used elsewhere in a degree program. Coursework must be completed with a grade of C (not C-) in each course taken in the minor.

Adding the Minor

If you are interested in adding a minor in English or technical communication, you should meet with your Academic Advisor to complete the Request for Minor form. Once the form has been completed and signed by your Academic Advisor, bring it to an English Department Academic Advisor or the Techncial Communication Program Coordinator for a departmental signature.