English, B.A.

English majors concentrate in one of four areas: Literature, Rhetoric and Composition, Creative Writing, or Pre-education. Before choosing a concentration, all English majors have the opportunity to gain a broad foundation in British literature, American literature, and world languages and cultures in introductory coursework. Then, with the help of their advisors, majors choose upper-division courses that explore their interests in more depth. Finally, all majors take a capstone seminar designed to facilitate their transition to a professional career path or graduate degree.

In addition, the department’s joint studies program with the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, England, offers Georgia State University English and History majors the opportunity to complete their degrees with a concentration in British and American Cultures.

In each concentration, English majors acquire a sensitivity to the written word and an appreciation for the creative process. At graduation, they will have developed skills in organization, writing, and interpretation. English courses also offer students diverse opportunities to discover their own insights and to articulate those insights with precision.

Majors who concentrate in Literature take a range of courses that afford them opportunities to read poetry, prose, and drama from a variety of historical periods and cultural groups. These literature courses promote students’ verbal acuity and critical thinking.

The department’s Creative Writing program enhances many of the same skills while emphasizing the development of students’ own writing practices and artistic points of view. Faculty in this program guide students as they refine their creative work in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.

Students who concentrate in Rhetoric and Composition learn about the history, theory, and practice of writing to specific audiences for particular purposes. Students may focus on historical rhetoric, the teaching of composition, and writing within business and technical environments. Courses in this area allow students to explore the history and theory of writing as applied to the teaching of composition and to writing practices in the workplace.

For English majors who wish to teach English in secondary schools, coursework in the Pre-education concentration integrates studies of literature, language, and composition with a senior seminar that combines these areas with pedagogy.

The Department of English also offers courses in the related field of Folklore. Georgia State University is the only institution in the state offering a wide selection of folklore courses.

A number of courses in the Department of English have an interdisciplinary approach, and several are crosslisted with other units within the university, such as the Department of Africana Studies, Department of History, and the Institute for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Because of the dynamic and varied nature of our discipline, many of the courses offered (especially at the 4000 level) focus on specific topics not indicated in detail here. Students should inquire in the department for further information about courses.

Program Degree Requirements

All English majors should begin with introductory coursework in at the 2000-level. The department requires a minimum of 30 semester hours in upper-division English, with no more than 11 transferred credits.

All English minors who plan to take British literature courses at the 3000-level should first complete ENGL 2120 with a grade of C or higher.
All English minors planning to take American literature courses at the 3000-level should first complete ENGL 2130 with a grade of C or higher.
All students must pass at least 6 hours in 3000-level English courses with a grade of C or higher in order to enroll in any 4000-level English course.

In addition to the Degree Requirements, students must fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements (see 3000 College of Arts and Sciences ) and the University Degree Requirements (see 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation ).

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in the Major and Additional Courses areas to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See 1460 GPA Requirement for additional information.)

Degree Requirements (120 Hours)

Field of Study Area (18 Hours)

Required Courses (9 Hours)

ENGL 2120 - British Literature 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2130 - American Literature 3 Credit Hours
World Language at the 1002 level or higher 3 Credit Hours

Field Electives

Select additional elective courses from the Arts, Humanities & Ethics Area or from following list to complete 18 hours in the Field of Study Area:

AAS 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
or
HIST 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 1142 - Introduction to African American History Since 1865 3 Credit Hours
or
HIST 1142 - Introduction to African American History Since 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 2010 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2105 - Workplace-Based Research and Writing 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2110 - World Literature 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2140 - African American Literature 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2160 - Studies in Popular Culture 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1111 - Survey of World History to 1500 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1112 - Survey of World History since 1500 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 2010 - Introduction to Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies 3 Credit Hours
World language 2001 level or higher 3 Hours

Major Area (30 Hours)

The English major requires ten upper-division courses (30 semester hours) distributed as described below. The same course may not be used to satisfy more than one of the listed requirements.

Each of the four concentrations within the major has specific requirements as outlined here. Students should consult the department for specific information about which courses offered in each two-year sequence will fit the requirements for each concentration. All students are encouraged to pursue internships (ENGL 4500 ).

Concentration Areas

Additional Courses Area

English majors can complete the 120 hour degree requirement in a variety of ways: a minor, a double major, additional courses in the major, and/or additional courses in other disciplines. Each student should discuss these options with their academic advisor and choose the one that will best serve the student’s long-term goals.

Minor: at least 15 semester hours, 9 hours of which must be taken at the 3000 level or above, either in Folklore, Editing and Publishing, or from one department, school, or institute other than the English department. The requirements for a minor must be fulfilled in a department, school, or institute that offers a baccalaureate degree. Students interested in an interdisciplinary minor should consult their advisors. The College of Arts and Sciences requires a grade of C or higher in each course counted toward the minor.
Double major: course work to satisfy requirements for a second major in addition to English; all college and departmental requirements apply to this second major to the first major.
Further course work in the major: three courses (9 hours) in English beyond the ten courses (30 hours) required for the major.
Additional elective courses from departments, schools, or institutes other than English.

Departmental Student Assessment: Senior Exit Portfolio

To graduate, English majors must submit an exit portfolio designed for their concentration. All portfolios include a statement of self-assessment and four to six substantial pieces of writing that demonstrate skills appropriate to their concentration. Specific information about the exit portfolio for each concentration is available from the department. Portfolios are due at the mid-point of the semester of graduation.

Graduation with Distinction in the Major

All students who are majoring in English may earn Graduation with Distinction in the Department of English if they have a GPA higher than 3.75. This honor will appear on the students’ transcripts and is separate from the Honors Thesis.