Major Curriculum

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About the B.A. in English

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in English is designated to be flexible enough to provide the student with a strong background for graduate studies in English or education or preparation for such professions as law, business, journalism, publishing, religion, library science, medicine, advertising, communications, and technical writing.

The English faculty recommends that students planning to attend graduate school take the second year of foreign language. It is also advisable that the student take, as electives, as many upper-level English courses as possible.

Students seeking the bachelor’s degree in English must earn a grade of “C” or better in all required English courses at the 200 level and above in order for those courses to count toward their major program. English majors are limited to no more than 6 hours of ENGL 399 credit.

A grade of “C” or better in English 102, or its equivalent, is a prerequisite for all English courses at the 200 level or higher.

An exit survey is required of all graduating seniors.

Courses to Complete
To earn the B.A. in English, you'll need to complete 120 credit hours in the following areas:

I. General Education Requirements (43-47)

English: ENGL 101, 101L, and 102 (each with a grade of “C” or higher)1 (6-7)

Numerical and Analytical Reasoning: MATH 101 or a higher level mathematics course, plus an additional course in mathematics, logic, statistics, or computer science. (6)

Speech: COMM 140, 201 or 230 (3)

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts Electives2 (6)
HIST 101, 102, 111, 112 115, or 116 (3)
Fine Arts3 (3)
Social/Behavioral Sciences4 (3)

Natural Sciences5: Two courses, at least one with associated laboratory (7)

Foreign Languages (6): Students shall demonstrate in one foreign language the ability to comprehend the topic and main ideas in written and, with the exception of Latin and Ancient Greek, spoken texts on familiar subjects. For foreign languages taught at USCB only, this requirement may be satisfied and credit earned by proficiency. For all other foreign languages, the requirement is waived but no credit is earned by demonstrating an equivalent proficiency.

Non-Western Studies6 (0-3). A distribution requirement that may be satisfied by one of the above mentioned courses or by additional coursework.

II. Program Requirements (27-30)

Foreign Language (0-3). Students shall demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language by achieving a score of four or better on a USC foreign language proficiency test or achieving a passing grade in a 122 course.

History: An additional selection from HIST 101, 102, 111, 112, 115 or 116 (3)

Philosophy: A course from PHIL (excluding 110 & 111) (3)

Humanities: A course from African American studies, English, fine arts, foreign languages and literatures, history, philosophy (except 110 & 111) or religious studies (3)

Social/Behavioral Sciences: A course selected from anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, or sociology (3)

Major Prerequisites7

ENGL 287: American Literature (3)
ENGL 288: British Literature I (3)
ENGL 289: British Literature II (3)
ENGL 290: Great Books of the West (3)

III. Major Requirements (27-30)

Option 1: General Major (30)

Two courses in pre-1800 literature at the 300 level or higher8 (6)
Three courses in post-1800 literature at the 300 level or higher9 (9)
One course in Literary Theory -- ENGL 441 or 442 (3)
Four additional courses at the 300 level or higher (12)

Option 2: Writing Concentration (30)

Two courses in pre-1800 literature at the 300 level or higher8 (6)
Three courses in post-1800 literature at the 300 level or higher9 (9)
One course in Literary Theory -- ENGL 441 or 442 (3)
Three courses from ENGL 460, 462, 463, 464, and 46510 (9)
ENGL 499: Senior Thesis or ENGL 498: Senior Seminar: Writing (3)

IV. Electives (13-23)

Total Hours Required (120)

 

Notes

1 Students may place out of ENGL 101L with an appropriate score on the Freshman English Placement Exam.

2 Courses from the following disciplines: BAFR, BANT, BARH, BATS, BECO, BENG, BFRE, BGEO, BGER, BHIS, BJOU, BLIN, BMUS, BPHI, BPOL, BPSY, BRLG, BSOC, BSPA, BSPC, BTHE. English majors may use 3 hours of their major prerequisites toward this requirement.

3 Courses from: BARH, BATS, BMUS, or BTHE.

4 Courses from: BANT, BECO, BGEO, BGST, BLIN, BPOL, BPSY, BSOC, and BSST.

5 Courses from: BAST, BBIO, BCHM, BGEL, BMAR, BSME, and BPHY.

6 The following courses have been approved for this requirement: BANT 102, BANT 301, BANT 312, BANT 317, BANT 351, BANT 352, BANT 552, BARH 349, BENG 291, BGEO 121, BGST 301, BGST 398, BHIS 109, BHIS 115, BHIS 116, BRLG 203, BSOC 315, and BSPA 380B. Non-equivalent transfer credits may be evaluated for approval on a case by case basis by the Department Chair for General Education.

7 At least one course from 287, 288, 289, or 290 should be completed before the student takes any courses at the 300 or 400 level. Students are encouraged to complete all four of the foundational 200-level English prerequisites as early in the major as possible.

8 BENG 380, 381, 382, 395, 401, 402, 403, 405, 406, or 407. Also BENG 419, 429, or 439 when the topic is appropriate.

9 BENG 384, 385, 386, 397, 411, 412, 413, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425A, 425B, 426, 427, 428, or 437. Also BENG 419, 429, or 439 when the topic is appropriate.

10 With consent of the instructor, students can take BENG 464 and BENG 465 twice each for credit.

English