BA Degree

Tim McAlpine, PhD, Chair, Humanities & Fine Arts Division
Center for Global Citizenship, Room 106 
(270) 384-8081  mcalpine@lindsey.edu

Tip H. Shanklin, PhD, Program Coordinator
W.W. Slider Humanities Center, Room 306
(270) 384-8085  shanklin@lindsey.edu 

Full-time Program Faculty: Sylvia Ahrens, MA; Mark Dunphy, PhD; Molly Ferguson, PhD; Tim McAlpine, PhD; Kara Mollis, PhD; Jared Odd, MA; Kerry Robertson, PhD; Tip H. Shanklin, PhD; Allison Smith, PhD; Paul Thifault, PhD; Erin Wais-Hennen, PhD

Mission Statement

Literature and Writing Studies:  The English faculty is committed to a program that stresses excellence in the study of language, literature, and writing. The program curriculum emphasizes intellectual development, critical analysis, cultural literacy, and global awareness. In addition to acquiring a deeper understanding of and appreciation for language, literature, and writing, the skills and knowledge students gain also fully prepare them for graduate and professional schools, teaching language arts at the middle grades and secondary levels, and careers that demand highly developed abilities in critical thinking, research, and writing.

Entrance Criteria

Each student must have completed ENGL 1013, ENGL 1023, and ENGL 2103 with a minimum grade of C.*        

*An ACT English sub-score of 25 or higher waives the ENGL 1013 requirement, allowing students an additional three hours of elective credit.

Degree Requirements

A.  General Education Requirements:  36-47 hours

• Writing Studies I (ENGL1013) is a prerequisite for ENGL 2003, ENGL 2103, and ENGL 2203 unless waiver requirements are met - 3 hours
• Writing Studies II (ENGL1023) is a prerequisite for ENGL 2703, ENGL 3503, ENGL 3523, and ENGL 3733 - 3 hours
• General education literature (ENGL 2003, ENGL 2103, ENGL 2203) is a prerequisite for the 3000-level literature courses - 3 hours*

*English majors are required to take ENGL 2103.

B.  Program Requirements - Core:  27 hours

• American Literature I (ENGL 3113) - 3 hours
• American Literature II (ENGL 3123) - 3 hours
• British Literature I (ENGL 3213) - 3 hours
• British Literature II (ENGL 3223) - 3 hours
• Women Writers (ENGL 3163), Shakespeare (ENGL 3603) or Major Authors Seminar (ENGL 3833) - 3 hours
• Modern Critical Theory (ENGL 3363) - 3 hours
• Advanced Writing (ENGL 3503) - 3 hours
• Writing and Culture (ENGL 3733) - 3hours
• English Majors Seminar (ENGL 4903) - 3 hours

C.    Program Requirements - Select either Program Electives or the Secondary Education Track:  18 hours

1 - Program Electives (choose from the following)*

• Introduction to Modern English Grammar (ENGL 2703) - 3 hours
• Creative Writing (ENGL 3103) - 3 hours
• Women Writers (ENGL 3163) - 3 hours
• Literary Cultures (ENGL 3373) - 3 hours
• Shakespeare (ENGL 3603) - 3 hours
• Writing & Technology (ENGL 3633) - 3 hours
• Greek Myth & Literature (ENGL 3643) - 3 hours
• Major Authors Seminar (ENGL 3833) - 3 hours
• Modern Rhetorical Theory (ENGL 4013) - 3 hours
• Ethnic Literature (ENGL 4063) - 3 hours
• Advanced Readings in Poetry & Drama (ENGL 4103) - 3 hours
• Advanced Creative Writing (ENGL 4203) - 3 hours
• Global Literature (ENGL 4343) - 3 hours
• Studies in Narrative (ENGL 4513) - 3 hours
• Critical Issues in Literature & Writing (ENGL 4553) - 3 hours
• Topics in Writing & Rhetoric (ENGL 4703) - 3 hours 

*Choose courses from among those not taken for the Core Requirements.

2 - Secondary Education Track

• Introduction to Modern English Grammar (ENGL 2703) - 3 hours
• The Teaching of Writing & Literature (ENGL 3523) - 3 hours
• Ethnic Literature (ENGL 4063) - 3 hours
• Choose three courses from the following:*
  • Women Writers (ENGL 3163) - 3 hours
  • Literary Cultures (ENGL 3373) - 3 hours
  • Shakespeare (ENGL 3603) - 3 hours
  • Greek Myth & Literature (ENGL 3643) - 3 hours
  • Major Authors Seminar (ENGL 3833) - 3 hours
  • Advanced Readings in Poetry & Drama (ENGL 4103) - 3 hours
  • Studies in Narrative (ENGL 4513) - 3 hours 

*Choose courses from among those not taken for the Core Requirements.

D.  General Electives:  36-47 hours

Note:   In addition to a major, a student may select a minor.  Courses taken for a minor reduce the number of general electives a student must take.  History and Women's Studies are good choices for English majors.

Note:   Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English have the option to concurrently complete the Emphasis in Secondary Education 8-12 Program through the Education Division. The program requires 39 hours of course work in Education that includes a semester of student teaching. Interested students should contact Dr. Linda Young, Secondary Education Coordinator, for Education program advising.

Exit Assessment

Students applying for graduation with a bachelor's degree in English must have a minimum GPA in their major courses of 2.50. In the fall semester of their senior year, students are required to take English Majors Seminar (ENGL 4903) during which a written exit examination, based on questions from the English Program Student Learning Outcomes, is administered. An exit interview, which will be conducted by two members of the English faculty, must be scheduled by all majors before the end of their final semester of study. The English faculty must certify to the Registrar that the student has achieved the Program's Student Learning Outcomes for graduation approval.

TOTAL:  128 credit hours