Overview

By majoring in English, students are involved simultaneously with two activities that are essentially and uniquely human: language and art. The mission of the Department of English in the College of Liberal Arts at UT Arlington is to educate students about the powers and pleasures of literary and other kinds of language.

The curriculum provides students with an understanding of theoretical and analytical processes that enable them to assimilate a variety of textual materials representing many cultures and historical periods. Students will learn to read closely, critically, and empathetically. In addition, students will learn to conduct scholarly research and to produce clear and cogent arguments in both written and oral form. These skills are widely applicable for English graduates who pursue careers in the arts, education, business, research and development, government, media, and publishing.

The Department of English offers two degree options: a BA in English and a BA in English with Teacher Certification (BATCH). The distribution requirements for both degree plans include courses in literature, rhetoric, theory, and writing. In addition to the majors, the Department of English offers minors in English, Creative Writing, Technical Writing and Professional Design, and Sound Studies, as well as a Certificate in Technical Writing and Professional Design for non-degree-seeking students. Furthermore, the Department of English frequently cross-lists courses with African American Studies; Disability Studies; Environmental and Sustainability Studies; Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies; and Mexican American Studies.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English

Pre-Professional Courses
General Core Requirements		42
HIST 2311, HIST 2312, HIST 2313, HIST 2314, HIST 2321, HIST 2322, or Brit/World History electives		6
ENGL 1200 (true first-year students)		2
Modern and Classical Languages: 1441, 1442, 2313, and 2314 or equivalent 1		14
Electives sufficient to complete the 120 credit hours required for the degree 2		2-4
Professional Courses
Major. To count toward the major, all English courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
ENGL 1301	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I (or waiver for advanced standing) 3	3
ENGL 1302	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II (or waiver for advanced standing) 3	3
Sophomore Literature 3		3
ENGL 3333	DYNAMIC TRADITIONS IN LITERATURE	3
ENGL 3350	ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 4	3
ENGL 3384	STRUCTURE OF MODERN ENGLISH	3
Early English Language and Literature		3
Rhetoric / Theory		6
Writing / Digital Authoring		3
3000/4000-level Literature elective		3
3000/4000-level English electives		9
ENGL 4399	SENIOR SEMINAR (capstone course)	3
Total Hours		111-113

¹

In line with the College of Liberal Art's foreign language requirement, students are required to take a minimum of 6 hours of foreign language courses, even if they transfer in with a completed Core Curriculum and a completed Field of Study in English Language and Literature (but without 6 hours of foreign language courses) and even if they will, as a result, need more than 120 hours to graduate.

²

Students who take ENGL 1200 will need 2 credit hours; students who do not will need 4 credit hours.

³

Please keep in mind that the credit hours for ENGL 1301, ENGL 1302, and our sophomore literature requirement (ENGL 2303, ENGL 2309, ENGL 2319, or ENGL 2329), are also counted under the "General Core Requirements" category, giving the misleading impression that our degree plan requires 129 hours (111 + 18 hours for a minor) when, in fact, it requires only 120 hours (102 + 18 hours for minor).

⁴

This course is a pre- or co-requisite for all upper-level English courses. English majors must pass this course with a grade of C or better in order to receive credit toward the major for any 3000/4000-level English courses.

Teacher Certification

Students wishing to take a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with Secondary Teacher Certification (BATCH) must complete LIST 4343 CONTENT AREA READING AND WRITING and 36 hours in English. To count toward the major, each English course must be completed with a grade of C or better. The required English courses are:

ENGL 1301	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I (or waiver for advanced standing)	3
ENGL 1302	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II (or waiver for advanced standing)	3
Sophomore Literature		3
ENGL 3333	DYNAMIC TRADITIONS IN LITERATURE	3
ENGL 3350	ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 1	3
ENGL 3384	STRUCTURE OF MODERN ENGLISH	3
ENGL 4326	SHAKESPEARE	3
Rhetoric / Theory		3
Writing / Digital Authoring		3
3000/4000-level Literature electives		6
3000/4000-level English elective		3
ENGL 4370	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS	3
Total Hours		39

¹

BATCH majors must pass this course with a C or better in order to receive credit toward the major for any 3000/4000-level English courses.

The requirement of six hours of English or world history does not pertain to students obtaining teacher certification. Students will still need to take the required core curriculum courses, ENGL 1200 (for true first-year students), fourteen hours of foreign language courses, the required secondary certification courses, and the required elective hours necessary to complete the 120 credit hours required for the degree.

Competence in Oral Presentations

Students obtaining a BA in English can demonstrate oral proficiency by:

1. passing ENGL 4399 SENIOR SEMINAR; or

2. passing COMS 1301 FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING, COMS 1302 VOICE AND DICTION, COMS 2305 BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION, or COMS 3315 COMMUNICATION FOR EDUCATORS (or equivalent).

Competence in Computer Use

Students obtaining a BA in English can demonstrate computer proficiency by:

1. passing ENGL 3350 ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION, ENGL 3372 COMPUTERS AND WRITING, or ENGL 3374 WRITING, RHETORIC, AND MULTIMODAL AUTHORING; or

2. passing ENGL 2350 INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION prior to Fall 2020; or

3. passing CSE 1301 COMPUTER LITERACY (or equivalent); or

4. passing the University computer literacy examination.

Minors and Certificate Program

The Department of English currently offers minors in English, Creative Writing, Technical Writing and Professional Design, and Sound Studies. We also offer a Certificate in Technical Writing and Professional Design.

Minor in English

The minor in English may be achieved by completing 18 hours in English with a grade of C or better. At least six of the hours must be at the 3000- or 4000-level. 

Minor in Creative Writing

The minor in Creative Writing is offered for students who wish to pursue advanced work in creative writing as a part of their undergraduate curriculum. Students selecting the Creative Writing minor should consult first with the undergraduate advisor in their department or program for approval of the minor and then with the undergraduate advisor in the Department of English. Working with advisors, students will select a sequence of advanced courses to fulfill their minor requirements. To count toward the minor, all English courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. This minor requires 18 hours.

Required Courses
ENGL 1301	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I	3
ENGL 3375	CREATIVE WRITING	3
Select four of the following:		12
ENGL 4330	TOPICS IN CREATIVE WRITING
ENGL 4347	ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: FICTION
ENGL 4348	ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY
ENGL 4349	ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: CREATIVE NON-FICTION
ENGL 4351	THE BUSINESS OF WRITING
ENGL 4352	ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: SCREENWRITING
Total Hours		18

Minor in Technical Writing and Professional Design

The minor in Technical Writing and Professional Design (TWPD) provides students with training in technical and professional writing, document design, visual communication, editing, and usability, and it helps students become more effective communicators in both traditional and new media environments. Students selecting the TWPD minor should consult first with the undergraduate advisor in their department or program for approval of the minor and then with an undergraduate advisor in the Department of English. Working with advisors, students will select a sequence of courses to fulfill the requirements of the minor. To count toward the minor, all courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. This minor requires 18 hours.

Required Courses
ENGL 1301	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I	3
ENGL 1302	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II	3
ENGL 2338	TECHNICAL WRITING	3
Select three of the following:		9
ENGL 3369 TOPICS IN TECHNICAL WRITING AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGN
ENGL 3373	TECHNICAL WRITING AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGN
ENGL 3376	BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING
ENGL 3377	TECHNICAL EDITING
ENGL 3378	TECHNICAL PROCEDURES AND MANUALS
ENGL 3379	GRANT AND PROPOSAL WRITING
ENGL 3383	INFORMATION DESIGN
ENGL 4372	PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION
ENGL 4376	DESIGNING TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS
ENGL 4390	INTERNSHIP IN ENGLISH
Total Hours		18

Minor in Sound Studies

The minor in Sound Studies is offered for students who wish to focus on sound and culture as a part of their undergraduate curriculum. To count toward the minor, all courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. This minor requires 18 hours, at least six of which must be from the Department of English.

Required Courses
ENGL 3380	RHETORIC AND WRITING WITH SOUND	3
ENGL 3382	LISTENING TO LITERATURE	3
Select four of the following:		12
BCMN 2357	RADIO PRODUCTION I
BCMN 4393	SPECIAL TOPICS (when offered as PODCASTING)
COMS 1302	VOICE AND DICTION
ENGL 3386	WRITING ABOUT MUSIC
HIST/AAST 4325	HISTORY OF HIP HOP
LING 3330	PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY
LING 4301	PHONOLOGICAL THEORY I
MUSI 1301	ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
MUSI 1324	EXPLORATIONS IN MUSIC THEORY
THEA 3303	SOUND DESIGN
THEA 3316	LIGHTING AND SOUND TECHNOLOGY
THEA/DS 3355	UNIVERSAL DESIGN & ACCESSIBILITY IN THE PERFORMING ARTS
Total Hours		18

Certificate in Technical Writing and Professional Design

The Certificate in Technical Writing and Professional Design (TWPD) is designed to provide working professionals and other non-degree-seeking students with the same benefits as the minor in TWPD. To receive the certificate, all courses must be completed at UT Arlington with a grade of C or higher. The certificate requires 12 hours. 

Required Courses
ENGL 2338	TECHNICAL WRITING	3
Select three of the following:		9
ENGL 3369 TOPICS IN TECHNICAL WRITING AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGN
ENGL 3373	TECHNICAL WRITING AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGN (ENGL 3369 TOPICS IN TECHNICAL WRITING AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGN)
ENGL 3376	BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING
ENGL 3377	TECHNICAL EDITING
ENGL 3378	TECHNICAL PROCEDURES AND MANUALS
ENGL 3379	GRANT AND PROPOSAL WRITING
ENGL 3383	INFORMATION DESIGN
ENGL 4372	PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION
ENGL 4376	DESIGNING TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS
ENGL 4390	INTERNSHIP IN ENGLISH
Total Hours		12