Undergraduate Bulletin > English > Major

English Major (ENGL)

The English Major provides a flexible program. Students who major in English participate in increasingly intensified study of language and literature that includes English, American, and foreign literature in translation. Upon graduation, English majors are well qualified to enter nearly all fields that do not require previous technical and professional training.

Although the English major is an excellent preparation for a variety of careers, many students will seek licensure to teach, and others will choose to enter graduate school. English has long been recognized as a desirable major for prelaw and premedical studies. It is also beneficial for students who enter such fields as journalism, editing, communications, diplomacy, advertising, and personnel work.

A “Guide for English Majors and Minors” is available upon request from the departmental office. It provides current advice on planning a major or minor. Additional guidance is available from the Director of Undergraduate Studies in English and from faculty advisors.

Requirements

I General Education Core Requirements (GEC)

See complete GEC requirements and approved course listings for all categories.

Core Category	S.H.
Students may select courses for:
Fine Arts (GFA)	3
Philosophical, Religious, Ethical Principles (GPR)	3
Historical Perspectives on Western Culture (GHP)	3
Mathematics (GMT)	3
Natural Sciences (GNS) one must be a laboratory course; each must have a different departmental prefix	6–7
Reasoning and Discourse (GRD) ENG 101 or FMS 115 or RCO 101, and one additional GRD course	6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSB)	6
Department specifies courses for:
Literature (GLT) suggested: ENG 211	3
One additional GLT course suggested: ENG 212	3

 

II General Education Marker Requirements

See details and courses. It is possible to meet all GE Marker Requirements while completing the GE Core requirements or courses required by the major/concentration.

 

III College of Arts and Sciences Additional Requirements (CAR)

See requirements and approved courses.

Category	S.H.
Historical Perspectives on Western Culture either a GHP/GPM or GMO course	3
Natural Sciences one additional GNS/GLS or GPS course	3–4
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSB) one additional GSB course	3
Foreign Language (GFL) intermediate-level proficiency in one language, demonstrated by placement test, or completion of course work through course number 204	0–12
Writing Intensive Courses (WI) a total of four WI courses

 

IV Major Requirements

The department offers two major programs leading to the B.A. degree: “English” and “English—High School Teaching.” Successful completion of the latter program qualifies the graduate to teach in high schools in North Carolina and other states with which North Carolina has reciprocal licensure agreements. A student may declare either major upon matriculation; to change one’s major to English, or to change from one degree program to the other, one must have permission of the department. (See the Director of Undergraduate Studies in English.)

For both concentrations, a minimum of 36 semester hours of English above the 100 level is required. No requirement for the major may be met by a grade lower than C-.

The courses must be distributed as follows in Section V.

V Concentration Requirements

English

1. Core Requirements (21 semester hours)
   1. Historical Perspectives
      • Medieval to Enlightenment, one (1) course from the following: ENG 211, 213, 251
      • Romantic to Postmodern, one (1) course from the following: ENG 212, 214, 252
   2. Perspectives on Literature
      • Two (2) courses in literature before 1800 (only one of which may be Shakespeare) from ENG 332, 336, 337, 338, 339 or 340 or 540, 342, 343, 360, 372, 381, 450, 510, 537, 541, 561
      • One (1) course in literature after 1800 from ENG 315, 316, 331, 333, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 358, 359, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 382, 451, 545, 550, 558, 559, 563, 564, 565, 582
   3. Contemporary Theoretical Approaches: ENG 303
   4. Approaches to Rhetoric: ENG 305
2. English Electives (15 semester hours)
   Five courses in English at or above the 200 level

English with High School Teaching Licensure

1. Core Requirements (21 semester hours)
   1. Historical Perspectives
      • Medieval to Enlightenment, one (1) course from the following: ENG 211, 213, 251
      • Romantic to Postmodern, one (1) course from the following: ENG 212, 214, 252
   2. Perspectives on Literature
      • Two (2) courses in literature before 1800 (only one of which may be Shakespeare) from ENG 332, 336, 337, 338, 339 or 340 or 540, 342, 360, 372, 381, 450, 510, 537, 541, 561
      • One (1) course in literature after 1800 from ENG 315, 316, 331, 333, 344, 345, 346, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 358, 359, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 382, 451, 545, 550, 558, 559, 563, 564, 565, 582
   3. Contemporary Theoretical Approaches: ENG 303
   4. Approaches to Rhetoric: ENG 305
2. Additional Requirements (15 semester hours)
   1. Teaching of Writing: ENG 322
   2. Linguistics for Teachers: ENG 321
   3. World Literature, one (1) course from the following: ENG 201, 202, 204, 209, 315, 316
   4. Two additional courses in English at or above the 200 level

Besides completing the above courses in English, candidates for teaching licensure must meet additional requirements, including admission to teacher education (end of sophomore year) and to student teaching (junior year), successful completion of Praxis, and course work outside the English Department. For full current information about all requirements see Teachers Academy and the UNCG Teacher Education Handbook. Note: admission to teacher education and student teaching in English requires a minimum grade point average of 2.75, overall and in the major.

VI Electives

Electives sufficient to complete the 122 semester hours required for degree.