Bachelor of Arts in English: Concentration in Literature

Program Scope: The Bachelor of Arts in English typically includes introductory course work in the study of language, the principles of critical investigation and critical writing, and the various methods of literary and/or language study. The requirements for each concentration are intended to make each student familiar with one of the principal areas of English studies, and to show how other areas of English studies can illuminate his or her area of concentration. Students considering teaching in the secondary schools should see a departmental credential advisor before planning their program. Specific courses and an assessment of competencies are required for admission to the Secondary Education Credential program. Students should also contact the Credential and Graduate Services Center, Burk Hall 244, 415-405-3594, regarding teaching credential information. English majors with concentrations in Literature, Linguistics, or Individual Major are required to complete a 45-unit program consisting of 6 units of lower-division prerequisites, 15 units of core requirements, 21 units in an area of concentration, and 3 units of culminating experience. English majors with a concentration in English Education must complete 6 units of lower-division prerequisites, 12 units of core requirements, between 23 and 26 units in the concentration (including 3 units of culminating experience), plus 12 to 22 units in an area of emphasis. A maximum of 9 units of work in lower-division literature courses may be accepted for credit in the major upon consent of an advisor. Advanced Placement (A.P.) credit in composition cannot be used to fulfill the lower-division literature requirement in the major or minor. Completion of ENG 480GW with a grade of C or higher fulfills the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) for all English majors. Culminating Experience must be completed during either the final semester, or one of the semesters of the student’s final (senior) year, depending on the English major concentration. For more information, please refer to the relevant major concentration section in this Bulletin. Career Outlook The English major can lead to a rewarding career in teaching as well as in professional fields such as law, publishing, information science, and business. Students completing the Master of Arts with Concentration in Composition typically either teach at community colleges or go on to doctoral work with a view to teaching at a college or university. At the university level, specialists in composition and rhetoric are in increasing demand as researchers and directors of undergraduate writing programs. Two-year colleges are increasingly recognizing the need for professional training in the teaching of composition and are hiring accordingly.