English Major, B.A.

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements. 

• Degree and Certificate Requirements 
• General Studies Requirements 
• Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement 
• Senior Experience Graduation Requirements 

• A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation. 
• A grade of “C-” or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required. 
• To receive major or minor credit for any ENG or LING prefix course or courses in the teacher licensure program, the student must receive a grade of “C-” or better.

Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.  

• Written Communication (6 credits) 
• Oral Communication (3 credits) 
• Quantitative Literacy (3 credits) 
• Arts and Humanities (6 credits) 
• Historical (3 credits) 
• Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits) 
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits) 
• Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences. 

• Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.  
• Many programs include courses that meet this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to determine what program courses may fulfill this requirement.

Students in all concentrations, with the exception of the Secondary English Teacher Licensure Concentration, take the following courses. Note: The English Major, B.A. with Secondary English Teacher Licensure Concentration core is listed under that specific concentration.

The Creative Writing concentration is comprised of courses through which students develop advanced writing skills in genres such as fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, drama, and screenwriting. Our unique program is structured around choice; students work with faculty advisors to develop distinct pathways to graduation, taking specific writing and educational goals into account. Workshop is at the heart of the program; Creative Writing brings together individualized attention from professors and peer collaboration within our strong community. Students also may participate in the publication of The MSU Roadrunner Review, one of the few biannual undergraduate creative writing journals in the country. Required courses in the broader English department expose students to a variety of representative texts and approaches to critical reading. Coursework built around imaginative and purposeful thinking, writing, and reading leads students to deeper examinations of their lives and communities. Our program includes instruction on the marketing of finished manuscripts; students and alumni have an excellent publication record. Student accomplishments range from small press publications to recognition as a National Book Award finalist. A number of alumni have gone on to study in MFA and PhD programs. Many students use their transferable skills, including the ability to analyze and critique texts, communicate persuasively and effectively, understand other points of view, and build effective, often research based arguments, in a variety of fields beyond the arts, including education, business, medicine, and law.

With completion of the Creative Writing concentration in the English Major, students should be able to do the following:

• Produce effective, revised writing with consideration of audience and purpose.
• Analyze and critically respond to texts: creative, craft-based, or cultural.
• Demonstrate advanced writing skills in a specific genre, with attention to form, language, and devices.

In satisfying the requirements of the concentration, students may not count courses taken to fulfill the English BA Core requirements. Additionally, a course may be used to satisfy only one requirement.

Select one of the following courses:

Select two of the following courses:

Select two of the following courses:

Select one or more of the following, for a total of 3 credits:

• Select any 2000-level or above ENG course.

In satisfying the requirements of the concentration, students may not count courses taken to fulfill the English BA Core requirements. Additionally, a course may be used to satisfy only one requirement.

Students take 12 credit hours each in Literature and Film and Media Studies courses. Of these courses (24 credit hours total), students must take a minimum of 6 courses (18 credit hours) at 3000-level or above. Note: ENG 3120 courses, Literature and Film: Variable Topics, can be counted as either Literature or Film and Media Studies.

Select four courses from the following:

Select four courses from the following:

The Professional Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) concentration of the English B. A. provides a program of study that focuses on how language and writing are connected to identity and shape actions and attitudes. Students learn to analyze and understand others’ perspectives and acquire the skills to broaden and effectively articulate and defend their own perspectives. Students choose from classes that study professional writing; topics in current rhetoric, like disability rhetorics, environmental rhetorics or the language of race; contemporary and classical rhetorical and composition theory; and topics such as visual literacy, social media, or the history of authorship. This concentration provides students the opportunity to hone analysis and writing skills, as well as to conduct original, undergraduate research, to compose and interpret texts using multiple modes, to learn to tutor or teach writing, and to become effective, nuanced communicators.

With completion of the Professional Writing and Rhetoric concentration in the English Major, students should be able to do the following:

• Interpret and explain major theories of PWR as an intellectual field and the relationship of rhetoric to language and visual literacies.
• Analyze rhetorical situations, identify arguments, and read texts rhetorically.
• Generate persuasive written discourse with a proficiency in language and documentation style specific to the task with attention to audiences and genres.
• Conduct research with attention to ethical practices.
• Analyze the ways that identity - including but not limited to language, race, socio-economic class, religion, sex, and gender - both constructs and is constructed by rhetoric.

In satisfying the requirements of the concentration, students may not count courses taken to fulfill the English BA Core requirements. Additionally, a course may be used to satisfy only one requirement.

Select one of the following courses:

Select one or more of the following courses, for 3 credit hours total:

Select one of the following courses:

Select one or more of the following courses, for 3 credit hours total:

Select two or more of the following courses, for 6 credit hours total:

• Select any ENG or LING course, 2000-level or above, for a total of 6 credit hours.

Please visit the English Major, B.A. with Secondary English Teacher Licensure Concentration program page for the details of this concentration

Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.​​​​​​​