English, BA
Program Description
Grounded in our academic tradition as an Hispanic Serving Institution, the undergraduate English Program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi invites students to engage with texts and employ language-related skills to connect with others both locally and globally. We encourage students to explore and integrate three disciplines of English Studies in their work, through the study of literature, applied linguistics, and writing. We challenge students to analyze, think critically about, and compose texts across genres, language varieties, and traditions for communities across cultural and geographic boundaries. In our courses and community events, students develop the advanced critical and creative literacies and language-related skills that prepare them for their future as active and ethical members of society.
English majors will choose an emphasis in Literary Studies or Writing Studies. The Literary Studies emphasis provides students with the skills to interpret and write about texts, including literary and filmic, within a range of historical and cultural contexts. The Writing Studies emphasis allows students to develop their abilities to use writing in a variety of contexts and for a variety of purposes, and to develop an understanding of how writing operates in the world, through studies in rhetoric, literacy, and writing. Both tracks give students skills as critical thinkers and communicators that will prepare them for a variety of different career paths, including law, business, teaching, and the sciences, as well as for graduate study.1
- 1
Students can also earn certificates in TESOL and Writing for Non-Profits. The coursework necessary for both can be found under the “Certificates” section of the catalog.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students earning the BA in English learn:
- Literacies: Apply discipline-specific concepts to explore and generate texts.
- Critical Thinking: Analyze and evaluate ideas to create new information for specific audiences and purposes.
- Research: Discover and synthesize information and knowledge to address problems using disciplinary conventions.
- Social and Cultural Competencies: Demonstrate knowledge of civic responsibilities and the ability to engage ethically with various communities.
- Professional Development: Create career-oriented materials that articulate skills and abilities developed in the course of study.
The undergraduate English program offers a major in English, curricula for secondary English certification, minors in Literary Studies and Creative Writing and certificates in Writing for Non-Profits and TESOL. It also participates in the interdisciplinary minors of Technical and Professional Writing and Women and Gender Studies (see descriptions under “Interdisciplinary Minors”). Upper-level courses in writing studies, linguistics, and literature may satisfy requirements for other disciplines and serve as electives for non-majors who wish to improve their analytic, writing, and technical skills and to broaden their experiences in the liberal arts.
General Requirements
Requirements | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Core Curriculum Program | 42 |
University Seminar (when applicable)1 | 0-2 |
English Major Requirements | 39 |
Electives | 33 |
Foreign Language Requirements | 6 |
Total Credit Hours | 120-122 |
- 1
Full-time, first time in college students are required to take university seminar.
- USSE 1201 University Seminar (2 sch)
Program Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Full-time, First-year Students | ||
University seminar | 0-2 | |
University Seminar | ||
Core Curriculum Program | ||
University Core Curriculum | 42 | |
English Major Requirements | ||
Select one Emphasis from the following: | 39 | |
Electives | ||
Select 33 hours of university electives. | 33 | |
Foreign Language Requirements | ||
See the College of Liberal Arts for the college language requirement. | 6 | |
Total Hours | 120-122 |
Literary Studies Emphasis
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
ENGL 2370 | Introduction to Literary Studies | 3 |
ENGL 4361 | Race and Ethnicity in Literature | 3 |
ENGL 4355 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
ENGL 4380 | Critical Approaches to Literature and Culture | 3 |
Literary History | ||
Select 3 hours of the following: | 3 | |
World Literatures | ||
British Literatures | ||
American Literatures | ||
Topics in Literary Studies | ||
2000 Level Course | ||
Select 3 hours of the following: | 3 | |
Black Writers | ||
Women Writers | ||
Language and Gender | ||
3000 Level Courses | ||
Select 6 hours of the following: | 6 | |
Film and Literature | ||
Young Adult Fiction | ||
Literary Connections | ||
World Literatures | ||
British Literatures | ||
Literary Genres | ||
American Literatures | ||
Additional 3000 or 4000 Level Course | ||
Select 3 hours from the following or an additional 3000 Level Literary Studies Course: | 3 | |
Technologies and Cultures of the Book | ||
Major Authors | ||
Topics in Literary Studies | ||
Linguistics | ||
ENGL 3339 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Grammar | ||
Second Language Acquisition | ||
Language in Society | ||
Topics in Linguistics | ||
Writing Studies | ||
Select 6 hours of any 3000- and 4000-level Writing Studies courses except capstone | 6 | |
Total Hours | 39 |
Writing Studies Emphasis
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
ENGL 2303 | Introduction to Writing Studies | 3 |
ENGL 3301 | Technical and Professional Writing | 3 |
ENGL 3302 | Techniques of Creative Writing | 3 |
ENGL 3363 | Foundations of Rhetoric | 3 |
ENGL 4355 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
Select 12 hours of the following (only 3 hours may be at the 2000 level): | 12 | |
Exploring Social Media | ||
Personal Writing | ||
Teaching Writing | ||
Advanced Writing | ||
Creative Writing Workshop: Survey and Practice of Genres | ||
Writing Creative Nonfiction | ||
Document Design and Publishing | ||
Writing for the Web | ||
Visual Rhetoric | ||
Professional Writing Workshop | ||
Grants and Proposals | ||
Writing in the Nonprofit Agencies | ||
Editing & Style | ||
Writing Popular Genres | ||
Creative Writing Studio: Development of Craft | ||
Writing Poetry | ||
Literary Publication | ||
Topics in Writing Studies | ||
Applied Experience | ||
Linguistics | ||
ENGL 3339 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Grammar | ||
Second Language Acquisition | ||
Language in Society | ||
Topics in Linguistics | ||
Literary Studies | ||
Select 6 hours of any 3000- and 4000-level Literary Studies courses | 6 | |
Total Hours | 39 |
Course Sequencing
Literary Studies Emphasis
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
USSE 1201 | University Seminar | 2 |
ENGL 1301 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
ENGL 2316 | Literature and Culture | 3 |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
Foreign Language Requirements | 3 | |
Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 1302 | Writing and Rhetoric II | 3 |
MATH 1332 or PHIL 2303 | Contemporary Mathematics or Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking | 3 |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
Foreign Language Requirements | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
2000-level Literary Studies OR ENGL 3335, 3345, or 3355 | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 2370 | Introduction to Literary Studies | 3 |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
2000-level Literary Studies OR ENGL 3335, 3345, or 3355 | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
ENGL 3339 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
Writing Studies Elective | 3 | |
3000 Level course or Literary History Course | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 3340 | Grammar | 3 |
ENGL 3361 | Advanced Writing | 3 |
Writing Studies Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
3000 level course or Literary History Course | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
ENGL 4380 | Critical Approaches to Literature and Culture | 3 |
3000 or 4000 level Literary Studies | 3 | |
3000 or 4000 level Literary Studies | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 4355 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
ENGL 4361 | Race and Ethnicity in Literature | 3 |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Total Hours | 122 |
Writing Studies Emphasis
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
USSE 1201 | University Seminar | 2 |
ENGL 1301 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
SPAN 1311 | Spanish I | 3 |
MATH 1332 or PHIL 2303 | Contemporary Mathematics or Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking | 3 |
BIOL 1308 | Science for Life I (Non-Majors Biology) | 3 |
ENGL 2316 | Literature and Culture | 3 |
Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 1302 | Writing and Rhetoric II | 3 |
SPAN 1312 | Spanish II | 3 |
HIST 1302 | U.S. History Since 1865 | 3 |
SOCI 1301 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Life and Physical Sciences Core Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
ENGL 2303 | Introduction to Writing Studies | 3 |
ENGL 3301 | Technical and Professional Writing | 3 |
HIST 1301 | U.S. History to 1865 | 3 |
POLS 2305 | U.S. Government and Politics | 3 |
COMM 1311 | Foundation of Communication | 3 |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 3363 | Foundations of Rhetoric | 3 |
POLS 2306 | State and Local Government | 3 |
COMM 1315 | Public Speaking | 3 |
Writing Studies Elective | 3 | |
Creative Arts Core Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
ENGL 3302 | Techniques of Creative Writing | 3 |
ENGL 3339 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
University Elective | 3 | |
University Elective | 3 | |
University Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
Writing Studies Elective | 3 | |
3000 or 4000-level Literary Studies Elective | 3 | |
University Elective | 3 | |
University Elective | 3 | |
University Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
Writing Studies Elective | 3 | |
University Elective | 3 | |
University Elective | 3 | |
University Elective OR ENGL 3365 OR ENGL 3369 | 3 | |
3000 or 4000-level Literary Studies Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 4355 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
University Elective OR ENGL 3366 OR ENGL 3340 | 3 | |
Writing Studies Elective | 3 | |
University Elective | 3 | |
University Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Total Hours | 122 |