College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of English
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Majors and Minors

Do you dream of being a poet or a teacher? Becoming a lawyer or an editor? Going to graduate school? A major in English can help you achieve these goals and more. As an English major you will learn to think critically, read carefully, and express your ideas effectively.

Combine courses in creative writing, rhetoric, literature, and even linguistics (which also has its own major) to design a degree program that best suits you. The English major at Iowa State allows you the flexibility to focus on your own areas of interest. For example, you could take a group of classes that explore film and scriptwriting or environmental literature and writing. If you like the idea of combining writing with science or technology, our major in technical communication may be for you.

If you are interested in English education, you can choose the English Education emphasis and earn your degree and also qualify for a secondary (grades 5-12) teaching license from the Iowa Department of Education, or earn an ESL endorsement.

Majors

  • english-major

    English

    Tailor an emphasis area to your specific interests, such as literature, creative writing, rhetoric, literary editing, etc.

    Choose the English Education Emphasis and earn a BA degree and qualify for a secondary (grades 5–12) teaching license from the Iowa Department of Education, positioning yourself to earn extra teaching endorsements in reading, English as a second language, or other disciplines.

  • major-linguistics

    Linguistics

    Study the structure, meaning, uses, and history of human languages with a degree in linguistic. Learn how language is processed by the human mind and by computer, and about cultural and linguistic diversity through the study of how language reflects meaning and worldviews.

    You will discover how linguistic analysis can be used in practice through the study of such areas as second language acquisition and assessment, language teaching, computer processing of human language, and communication disorders.

  • majors-technical-communication

    Technical Communication

    A major in technical communication prepares you to help those who create ideas to communicate better with those who use them. Learn to compose a wide range of print and electronic documents for use in business, industry, schools, other institutions, and communities. Coursework helps you to understand scientific and technical information and strategies for producing texts to communicate that information to others.

All of my advisors and professors have been very supportive and just really want me to succeed.

Taylor Heuthorst, ’24 English education

Minors

  • English

    Get a sampling of courses in English studies and tailor a minor to your own preferences. You could concentrate in literature, focusing on British or American literature, contemporary literature and culture, or women’s literature.

    Or maybe you are interested in rhetorical studies or technical communication. You could concentrate in linguistics, with courses ranging from syntax to Old English. Or focus on creative writing, taking workshops in various genres.

    A minor offers the opportunity to pursue your interests and to develop your reading and writing skills.

    Find out more

  • Speech Communication

    Add the communication skills and knowledge you’ll need to be a leader in your field by adding a speech communication minor. This minor is for students who are curious about communication, persuasion, and rhetoric. You will develop communication skills as a speaker, listener, reader, and writer while learning how to analyze and assess the messages you encounter in daily life.

    This minor also works well to add an oral communication emphasis to other communication majors, such as Communication Studies, Journalism and Mass Communication, and Technical Communication.

    Find out more

  • Technical Communication

    Develop basic skills in rhetorical analysis, textual editing, composing and collaborating in digital environments, as well as multimedia design and production that will help you in your career 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.

    Find out more

  • Linguistics

    Tailor your minor in Linguistics to your own personal interests with the help of an advisor, making the minor uniquely yours.

    Your minor in Linguistics will help you strengthen your analytical and communication skills, preparing you for future graduate studies or a variety of careers.

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  • Teaching English as a Second Language

    The Minor in TESL provides concentrated coursework preparing you to teach English to nonnative speakers of English, either in community programs in the United States or in an overseas location. Students from any program may complete the minor without further studies in linguistics.

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  • Associated Minor: World Film Studies

    In partnership with the Department of World Languages and Cultures, we participate in the cross-disciplinary World Film Studies minor. This minor involves coursework in the history, theory, and aesthetics of cinemas of the non–English-speaking world.

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