BA in English
BA in English
The English degrees at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, which include the BA in English, MA in English, MA in English as a Second Language, and MA in Interdisciplinary Studies, cultivate in students scholarly and creative achievement through graduate and undergraduate courses in literature, language, rhetoric and composition, creative writing, and secondary English language arts. We promote student literacy – specifically the abilities to read, write, and think critically – as well as an appreciation for the English language. We encourage faculty to pursue excellence in teaching, foster collegiality, contribute scholarly research, and engage in service to the university and Rio Grande Valley community. The English degrees, as a collaboration among the Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies, the Department of Writing and Language Studies, and the Creative Writing Program in the College of Fine Arts, support culturally responsive pedagogy and community engagement. A student with an English major possesses skills in critical thinking, writing, and reading. English majors can enter professions such as teaching, writing, editing, media production, the law, public service, and advocacy, and they are prepared for continued graduate or professional study.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Students will analyze and interpret a variety of texts and patterns of language, using a range of theoretical approaches and disciplinary modes of inquiry.
- Students will demonstrate a broad and foundational knowledge of the traditions of American, British, Ethnic, and/or World literatures by critically situating specific works of literature within these traditions.
- Students will write coherently and demonstrate a consistent use of the conventions of a variety of genres, including, but not limited to, the academic essay.
- Students will apply appropriate research methodologies, including appropriate use of electronic media, to understand and/or illuminate specific questions about language and literature.
- Students in certification tracks will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the areas of writing, literature, reading, oral communication, media literacy, and English language arts pedagogy.
2017-2018 Catalog - Bachelor of Arts in English
A – GENERAL EDUCATION CORE – 42 HOURS
Students must fulfill the General Education Core requirements. The courses listed below satisfy both degree requirements and General Education core requirements.
Recommended 040 - Language, Philosophy, and Culture – 3 hours
ENGL 23XX level courses will count as in English electives in degree plan.
B – MAJOR REQUIREMENTS – 48 HOURS
1 – English Core – 27 hours (27 advanced)
a – English Foundation – 6 hours (6 advanced)
- ENGL 3300 Introduction to English Studies
- ENGL 4390 Senior English Capstone
b – Literature – 9 hours (9 advanced)
i – Survey – 3 hours (3 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 3301 Survey of British Literature I
- ENGL 3302 Survey of British Literature II
- ENGL 3303 Survey of American Literature I
- ENGL 3304 Survey of American Literature II
- ENGL 3305 Survey of World Literature
ii – Genre/Theme – 3 hours (3 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 3307 Introduction to Film Studies
- ENGL 3308 Literature and Film Adaptation
- ENGL 3309 Introduction to Cultural Studies
- ENGL 3315 The English Novel to 1850
- ENGL 3316 The English Novel from 1850 to Present
- ENGL 3320 Development of the American Novel
- ENGL 3323 Contemporary American Fiction
- ENGL 3324 Poetry
- ENGL 3327 Contemporary Drama
- ENGL 3328 The Short Story and the Novella
- ENGL 3329 Science Fiction
- ENGL 3330 Dystopian Literature
- ENGL 3335 Women’s Literature
- ENGL 4300 Advanced Topics in Literature and Cultural Studies
- ENGL 4301 Topics in Literary Theory
- ENGL 4308 Topics in International Film
- ENGL 4309 Special Topics in Film
- ENGL 4314 Advanced Topics in Contemporary Poetry
- ENGL 4315 Advanced Topics in World Literature
- ENGL 4316 Beat Generation
- ENGL 4318 South Texas Literature
- ENGL 4319 American Literature of the South
- ENGL 4320 Literature and Psychoanalysis
iii – Period/Single Author – 3 hours (3 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 3310 Medieval Literature
- ENGL 3311 English Renaissance Literature
- ENGL 3312 The Eighteenth Century
- ENGL 3313 The Romantic Period
- ENGL 3314 The Victorian Period
- ENGL 3321 19th-Century American Literature
- ENGL 3322 Hemingway
- ENGL 3326 Modern Poetry
- ENGL 4310 Chaucer
- ENGL 4311 Shakespeare
- ENGL 4312 Milton
- ENGL 4313 Topics in Single Author
i – Linguistics – 3 hours (3 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 3360 Introduction to Language Studies
- ENGL 3361 Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics
- ENGL 3370 Language and Culture
- ENGL 4365 History of the English Language
ii – English Grammar – 3 hours (3 advanced)
- ENGL 3362 English Grammar
Choose from:
- ENGL 3340 Survey Rhetorical Theory
- ENGL 3344 Advanced Composition
- ENGL 3347 Women’s Rhetoric and Language
- ENGL 4343 Composition Theory and Pedagogy
- ENGL 3351 Creative Writing I
2 – Concentrations – 21 hours (15 advanced minimum)
a – Literature – 21 hours (21 advanced)
i – Literary Theory – 3 hours (3 advanced)
- ENGL 3306 Survey of Literary Theory
ii – Survey – 6 hours (6 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 3301 Survey of British Literature I
- ENGL 3302 Survey of British Literature II
- ENGL 3303 Survey of American Literature I
- ENGL 3304 Survey of American Literature II
- ENGL 3305 Survey of World Literature
iii – British before 1800 Period/Genre/Single Author/Theme – 3 hours (3 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 3310 Medieval Literature
- ENGL 3311 English Renaissance Literature
- ENGL 3312 The Eighteenth Century
- ENGL 3313 The Romantic Period
- ENGL 4310 Chaucer
- ENGL 4311 Shakespeare
- ENGL 4312 Milton
iv - American in Period/Genre/Single Author/Theme – 3 hours (3 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 3320 Development of the American Novel
- ENGL 3321 19th-Century American Literature
- ENGL 3322 Hemingway
- ENGL 3323 Contemporary American Fiction
- ENGL 3324 Poetry
- ENGL 4313 Topics In Single Author
- ENGL 4316 Beat Generation
- ENGL 4318 South Texas Literature
- ENGL 4319 American Literature of the South
v - World/Multicultural – 3 hours (3 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 3325 Literature of the Americas
- ENGL 3332 World Drama
- ENGL 3333 Multi-Cultural Autobiography
- ENGL 3334 Ethnic Women Writers
- ENGL 3336 Latin American Women Writers
- ENGL 4302 Postcolonial Literature and Theory
- ENGL 4317 Mexican American Literature
vi - Advanced Thematic or Topical Focus – 3 hours (3 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 4300 Advanced Topics in Literature and Cultural Studies
- ENGL 4301 Topics in Literary Theory
- ENGL 4307 Topics in Film Theory
- ENGL 4308 Topics in International Film
- ENGL 4309 Special Topics in Film
- ENGL 4314 Advanced Topics in Contemporary Poetry
- ENGL 4315 Advanced Topics in World Literature
- ENGL 4316 Beat Generation
- ENGL 4318 South Texas Literature
- ENGL 4319 American Literature of the South
- ENGL 4320 Literature and Psychoanalysis
b – Linguistics – 21 hours (15 advanced)
i – Linguistics Core – 3 hours (3 advanced)
- ENGL 3361 Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics
ii – Restricted Electives – 12 hours (12 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 3347 Women’s Rhetoric and Language
- ENGL 3370 Language and Culture
- ENGL 3375 Introduction to English as a Second Language
- ENGL 4317 Mexican American Literature
- ENGL 4361 Modern English Syntax
- ENGL 4362 Contrastive Grammar
- ENGL 4365 History of the English Language
- ENGL 4370 Introduction to Border Language
- ENGL 4375 Language Acquisition
The following courses are only allowable when topic is linguistic or language:
- ENGL 4385 Topics in Border Studies
- ENGL 4395 Advanced Topics in English
iii – English Electives – 6 hours
- Choose 6 hours of English courses.
c – Creative Writing – 21 hours (15 advanced)
i – Creative Writing Theory Core– 3 hours (3 advanced) Choose from:
- ENGL 4353 Forms and Techniques in Creative Writing
- ENGL 4356 Advanced Creative Writing: Children's Literature
ii – Advanced Creative Writing Electives – 12 hours (12 advanced)
- ENGL 3350 Gallery
- ENGL 3352 Creative Non-Fiction
- ENGL 4350 Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry
- ENGL 4351 Advanced Creative Writing: Workshop In Playwriting
- ENGL 4352 Advanced Creative Writing: Workshop In Fiction
- ENGL 4354 Advanced Creative Writing: Graphic Literature
- ENGL 4355 Advanced Creative Writing: Screenwriting
- ENGL 4357 Advanced Creative Writing: Creative Writing and Social Action
- ENGL 4358 Advanced Creative Writing: Writing for Performance
- ENGL 4359 Special Topics in Creative Writing
iii – English Electives – 6 hours
- Choose 6 hours of English courses.
d – Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy – 21 hours (15 advanced)
i – Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy Core – 15 hours (15 advanced)
- ENGL 3340 Survey Rhetorical Theory
- ENGL 3344 Advanced Composition
- ENGL 3345 Studies in Literacy
- ENGL 3346 Writing and Culture
- ENGL 4343 Composition Theory and Pedagogy
ii – English Electives – 6 hours
- Choose 6 hours of English courses.
e – English Language Arts – 21 hours (15 advanced)
i – English Language Arts Core – 6 hours (6 advanced)
- ENGL 3337 Children's and Adolescent Literature
- ENGL 4338 Teaching Secondary School Literature
ii – Language Elective – 3 hours (3 advanced)
- ENGL 3370 Language and Culture
- ENGL 3375 Introduction to English as a Second Language
- ENGL 4360 Fundamentals of Language Development
- ENGL 4362 Contrastive Grammar
- ENGL 4370 Introduction to Border Language
- ENGL 4375 Language Acquisition
iii – Writing – 3 hours (3 advanced)
- ENGL 3345 Studies in Literacy
- ENGL 4342 Assessing and Responding to Writing
iv – Literature Survey – 3 hours (3 advanced)
- ENGL 3301 Survey of British Literature I
- ENGL 3302 Survey of British Literature II
- ENGL 3303 Survey of American Literature I
- ENGL 3304 Survey of American Literature II
- ENGL 3305 Survey of World Literature
v – English or Education Electives – 6 hours
- Choose 6 hours of ENGL, READ, or EDUC.
C – MINOR OR RESTRICTED ELECTIVES – 18 HOURS (6 advanced)
Students may choose between the completion of a minor or additional English coursework.
D – FREE ELECTIVES – 12 HOURS
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS FOR GRADUATION – 120 HOURS
TOTAL ADVANCED HOURS – 60 HOURS
ADMISSION, PROGRESSION, AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, if applicable:
Graduation requirements
In addition to the graduation requirements listed in the UTRGV 2017-2019 Undergraduate Catalog, demonstration of proficiency in a language other than English is required at the undergraduate level equivalent to a minimum of six credit hours. Proficiency can be demonstrated by a college credit exam, a placement test approved through the UTRGV Department of Writing and Language Studies, and/or up to six credit hours of college-level language coursework.