English, BA | University of Alabama

The English major is a flexible field of study that focuses on reading, writing, and interpreting texts. English majors develop their skills in critical thinking, analytical and creative writing, public speaking, historical analysis, persuasive communication, and research. Through reading widely and deeply and learning to write and think carefully and accurately, English majors develop skills that help them find fulfillment in their personal and intellectual lives and success in a wide variety of careers.

Admission into the Major

Students may declare a major in English online under the Student tab of MyBama. Students are expected to formally declare a major no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 semester hours for transfer students). If students want, they can also add a concentration (a package of specific 4 upper-level electives) in Digital, Public, and Professional Writing.

Special Opportunities

Opportunities available in the Department of English include a senior honors thesis, the Sigma Tau Delta International Honors Society, internships in law, publishing, media, politics, and nonprofits, and the undergraduate Writers Guild. The department also offers a concentration and a minor in Digital, Public, and Professional Writing, as well as minors in English, Creative Writing, Interdisciplinary Linguistics, Shakespeare Studies, and World Literature. In addition, the department offers courses and resources for students interested in writing and editing, including the department's own in-house publishing house, Red Rook Press and the journals Dew Point, Call Me [Brackets], and Space: A Student Journal for Public Audiences. The Department of English offers 31 competitive awards and prizes and sponsors six study abroad programs. Contact the department for more information.

Senior Honors Thesis Option

The English Department offers students an independent thesis option in all four of its subfields: literary studies, linguistics, rhetoric and composition, and creative writing. Students with an interest in research and research-based writing and who have completed EN 396 with a minimum grade of a B can apply to enroll in EN 499, the independent-study thesis class. Students who complete EN 499 with a grade of an A or A- and who meet GPA standards will be awarded departmental honors for their research-based thesis. Students who wish to write a creative thesis and be eligible through this path for departmental honors can enroll in EN 398 and subsequently, apply to enroll in EN 498. Students should see the English Department website or contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies or the Director of Undergraduate Creative Writing for additional information.

Sigma Tau Delta

Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society, aims to promote a mastery of written expression, to encourage worthwhile reading, and to foster a spirit of fellowship among its members. Students who enjoy literary study, have twelve semester hours of English, and hold a 3.3 GPA or higher are eligible to apply. The society, along with the department, annually makes an award to the English major with the highest overall GPA. UA chapter members can also submit analytical and critical works to present at the annual Sigma Tau Delta conference held each spring.

Students earning the bachelor of arts (BA) degree with a major in English must complete all University, College and departmental degree requirements. These include the general education requirements, the following major requirements, all requirements for an approved minor and other sufficient credits to total a minimum of 120 applicable semester hours.

Code and Title		Hours
Major Courses
Select three of the following 200 level courses: ¹		9
EN 200	Intro Creative Writing
EN 201	How Language Works
EN 205 or	English Literature I
EN 215	Honors English Literature I
EN 206 or	English Literature II
EN 216	Honors English Literature II
EN 207 or	World Literature I
EN 217	Honors World Literature 1
EN 208 or	World Literature II
EN 218	Honors World Literature II
EN 209 or	American Literature
EN 219	Honors American Literature
EN 210 or	American Literature II
EN 220	Honors American Literature II
EN 233	Introduction to Shakespeare
EN 249 or	African American Literature I
EN 251	Honors African American Lit I
EN 250 or	African American Literature II
EN 252	Honors African American Lit II
EN 253	Literature and Genre
EN 254	Lit, Work, and the Professions
EN 255	Literature and Social Change
EN 256	Literature and Popular Culture
EN 280	Data and Society
Select one of the following pre-1700 courses:		3
EN 330	Chaucer And Medieval Literatur
EN 332	Sixteenth Century Literature
EN 333	Shakespeare
EN 334	Seventeenth Century Literature
EN 335	Milton
Select one of the following 1700-1900 courses:		3
EN 340	American Literature To 1900
EN 343	British Fiction To 1900
EN 344	Major Authors 1660-1900
EN 347	English Lit During Enlightenmt
EN 348	Romantic Literature
EN 349	Victorian Literature
Select one of the following Rhetoric and Composition, Linguistics, Methodology, or Writing courses:		3
EN 300	Intro To English Studies
EN 301	Fiction Writing
EN 303	Poetry Writing
EN 305	Creative Nonfiction Writing
EN 307	Special Topics in Applied CW
EN 308	Forms Of Creative Writing
EN 309	Advanced Expository Writing
EN 310	Special Topics Writing
EN 313	Writing Across Media
EN 317	Writing Center Practicum
EN 319	Technical Writing
EN 320	Intro To Linguistics
EN 321	Essential Grammar
EN 380	Legal Writing
EN 381	Science Writing
EN 382	Business Writing
EN 383	Book and Print Design
EN 396	Research and Writing Seminar
Credit Hours Subtotal:		18
Electives ²
Select four EN elective courses at the 400 level		12
Select two EN elective courses at the 300 or 400 level		6
Credit Hours Subtotal:		18
Total Hours		36

At least one (1) of the three (3) required 200 level EN courses must be from EN 205 English Literature I, (or EN 215 Honors English Literature I), EN 206 English Literature II, (or EN 216 Honors English Literature II), EN 207 World Literature I, (or EN 217 Honors World Literature 1), EN 208 World Literature II, (or EN 218 Honors World Literature II), EN 209 American Literature, (or EN 219 Honors American Literature), EN 210 American Literature II (or EN 220 Honors American Literature II), EN 249 African American Literature I, (or EN 251 Honors African American Lit I), EN 250 African American Literature II, (or EN 252 Honors African American Lit II).

No course may be taken for elective credit more than twice.
No more than 3 of the 18 elective hours may be fulfilled by EN 301 Fiction Writing or EN 303 Poetry Writing or EN 305 Creative Nonfiction Writing or EN 307 Special Topics in Applied CW or EN 308 Forms Of Creative Writing.
No more than 3 of the 18 elective hours may be fulfilled by EN 380 Legal Writing
No more than 3 of the 18 elective hours may be fulfilled by EN 408 Advanced Creative Writing.
A section of EN 301 Fiction Writing or EN 303 Poetry Writing or EN 305 Creative Nonfiction Writing or EN 307 Special Topics in Applied CW or EN 308 Forms of Creative Writing or EN 313 or EN 317 Writing Center Practicum or EN 408 Advanced Creative Writing used as credit toward the English Major cannot also count toward the Creative Writing Minor.
See the Department's web site for suggested paths to guide you through the English major.

Grade Point Average

A 2.0 grade point average in the major is required for completion of the degree. The major GPA is calculated based on all courses applicable to the major that the student has attempted at UA. Please see the Grades and Grade Points section of this catalog for an explanation of grade point average calculations.

Upper-level Residency

A minimum of 12 hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be earned on this campus.

Required Minor

This major requires the completion of a minor.

Additional Major Requirements

EN 430 English Internship can be applied to the major in English. Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all University and College major and minor requirements. However, each student must meet with an advisor in the major department for academic planning and to be cleared for registration each semester. College advisers are also available for additional assistance with College and University minor requirements.

Digital, Public, and Professional Writing Concentration

Code and Title		Hours
Select 6 hours:		6
Rhetoric and Composition
EN 309	Advanced Expository Writing
EN 310	Special Topics Writing
EN 313	Writing Across Media
EN 317	Writing Center Practicum
EN 319	Technical Writing
EN 380	Legal Writing
EN 381	Science Writing
EN 382	Business Writing
EN 383	Book and Print Design
EN 384	Grant Writing
Linguistics (unless being used toward a Linguistics Minor)
EN 320	Intro To Linguistics
EN 321	Essential Grammar
Methodology
EN 300	Intro To English Studies
EN 396	Research and Writing Seminar
Creative Writing (unless being used toward a Creative Writing Minor)
EN 305	Creative Nonfiction Writing
EN 307	Special Topics in Applied CW
EN 398	Sustained Practice in CW
Select 12 hours of 400 level elective courses:		12
EN 408	Advanced Creative Writing ¹
EN 423	History of the Eng Lang
EN 430	English Internship
EN 432	Capstone Course: Composition-R
EN 455	Capstone Course: Adv St Writin
EN 498	Senior Thesis: Creative
Total Hours		18

Only 1 EN 408 Advanced Creative Writing will apply to the concentration, although exceptions will be considered for additional EN 408 Advanced Creative Writing courses pertaining to non-fiction, non-poetry, public or digital writing; no more than 6 hours may be filled by the same course number.

Courses counted towards the Major and Professional Writing Concentration cannot also count towards the English, Creative Writing, Linguistics, or Professional Writing Minors.

The career opportunities for those majoring in English are numerous. English majors use their critical thinking, writing, research, and communication skills in the fields of law, library science, publishing, business, industry, public relations, and advertising, as well as in government and nonprofit work and teaching at all levels. English majors often seek graduate degrees in medicine, higher education, law, public policy, social work, and business, to name just a few potential pathways.

Types of Jobs Accepted

The advanced reading, writing, research, and communication skills of UA English majors have led to their employment in a wide variety of fields. Recent UA English majors have pursued graduate work in English at Penn, UCLA, Virginia, Georgetown, Cornell, North Carolina (Chapel Hill), Florida, Texas (Austin), and Toronto among other institutions. Recent graduates have pursued law degrees at institutions such as Yale, Harvard, Duke, Michigan, Virginia, and Alabama. Others have gone on to receive medical degrees from such respected institutions as UAB, University of Virginia and USA. Alumni include Rhodes scholars, Mellon fellows, Fulbright scholars, and published writers of considerable distinction and achievement.

Jobs of Experienced Alumni

Alumni include countless teachers, instructors, and professors, as well as numerous writers of distinction. Alumni also include doctors, lawyers, business and nonprofit executives, and people of accomplishment in all walks of life.

Learn more about opportunities in this field at the Career Center