English (B.A.)
Building upon the cultural diversity and urban experience that distinguishes Wayne State University, the English Department's mission is to provide its students with the intellectual knowledge and practical tools to thrive in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world, by teaching them to understand the power and influence of literature and other forms of textual and media production, circulation, and interpretation; and by imparting skill and fluency in close reading, critical thinking, rhetorical analysis, and writing in multiple genres. The English major curriculum is designed to introduce students to these skills and to provide a challenging and flexible liberal arts education as well as a pre-professional program for students interested in careers in education, law, business, and other professions.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for this program are satisfied by the general requirements for undergraduate admission to the University.
Program Requirements
Candidates must complete 120 credits in course work including satisfaction of the University General Education Requirements and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Group Requirements, as well as the departmental major requirements cited below. All coursework must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the University and the College governing undergraduate scholarship and degrees.
Major Requirements
Students may satisfy the major in either of two ways: with a traditional concentration or with a concentration in editing, publishing, and writing.
In both concentrations, students must complete twelve English courses beyond the University General Education Competency Requirement and Liberal Arts and Sciences Group Requirements. Ten of these courses must be beyond the 2000-level.
Traditional Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations Courses | ||
| Select two courses from the following list: | 6 | |
| Shakespeare: Writing about Texts | ||
| British Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| American Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Introduction to African-American Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Stories of Detroit: Writing about Texts | ||
| Geopolitics and Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Environmental Writing: Writing about Texts | ||
| Rhetoric and Social Change: Writing about Texts | ||
| Digital Literacies: Writing about Texts | ||
| Introduction to Visual Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Comics and Graphic Novels: Writing about Texts | ||
| Television Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Literature and Religion: Writing about Texts | ||
| Popular Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Queer Literatures: Writing about Texts | ||
| Global Literatures: Writing about Texts | ||
| Children’s and Young Adults' Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Women Writers: Writing about Texts | ||
| Methodologies and Skills | ||
| Select two courses from the following list: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Rhetorical Theory | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Studies | ||
| Introduction to Race and Ethnic Studies | ||
| Introduction to Literary Studies | ||
| Introduction to Film and Media Theory | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Public Humanities | ||
| Professional Editing | ||
| Living Writers | ||
| Research Colloquium | ||
| ENG 4850 | Research Methods Colloquium | 3 |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| ENG 5992 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Select six additional courses in English. 1 | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
Three of these courses must be at the 4000 or 5000 level. No English course below the 2000-level may count toward the English B.A. program.
Editing, Publishing, and Writing Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations Courses | ||
| Select two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| Shakespeare: Writing about Texts | ||
| British Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| American Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Introduction to African-American Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Stories of Detroit: Writing about Texts | ||
| Geopolitics and Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Environmental Writing: Writing about Texts | ||
| Rhetoric and Social Change: Writing about Texts | ||
| Digital Literacies: Writing about Texts | ||
| Introduction to Visual Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Comics and Graphic Novels: Writing about Texts | ||
| Television Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Literature and Religion: Writing about Texts | ||
| Popular Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Queer Literatures: Writing about Texts | ||
| Global Literatures: Writing about Texts | ||
| Children’s and Young Adults' Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Women Writers: Writing about Texts | ||
| Professional Editing | ||
| ENG 3250 | Professional Editing | 3 |
| Publishing Practicum | ||
| ENG 5695 | Publishing Practicum | 3 |
| Internship Practicum | ||
| ENG 5820 | Internship Practicum | 3 |
| Course in Writing | ||
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Grant Writing | ||
| Living Writers | ||
| Digital Storytelling | ||
| Grant, Proposal, and Public Writing | ||
| Writing in the Workplace | ||
| Topics in Professional Writing | ||
| Topics in Environmental, Nature, and Science Writing | ||
| Elective in Editing, Publishing, and Writing | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Typography: Skills and Concepts | ||
| Introduction to Graphic Design: Skills and Concepts | ||
| Journalistic Grammar and Style | ||
| Media Writing and Storytelling | ||
| Introduction to Web Design | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Living Writers | ||
| Digital Storytelling | ||
| Topics in Editing | ||
| Topics in Book History | ||
| Grant, Proposal, and Public Writing | ||
| Writing in the Workplace | ||
| Topics in Professional Writing | ||
| Poetry Writing Workshop | ||
| Fiction Writing Workshop | ||
| Topics in Creative Non-Fiction Writing | ||
| Topics in Environmental, Nature, and Science Writing | ||
| Research Colloquium | ||
| ENG 4850 | Research Methods Colloquium | 3 |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| ENG 5992 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Select three additional courses in English. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
Students must take at least two courses at the 3000 level and at least three courses at the 5000 level in addition to the Senior Seminar. No English course below the 2000-level may count toward the English B.A. program.
Combined Curriculum for Secondary Teaching
An English major who wishes to prepare for a career in secondary school teaching can earn a bachelor's degree in English with a secondary teaching certificate. In close consultation with Department of English and College of Education advisors, the student will develop a plan of work that satisfies the requirements of the English B.A. program and includes the subject area and professional courses required for teacher certification.
Note: Students seeking Elementary Education Certification with a Language Arts Group Major should consult with an advisor in the School of Education.
English Honors (B.A. Program)
To graduate with honors in English an undergraduate student must have a minimum 3.5 g.p.a. in English courses and a minimum cumulative g.p.a of 3.3. Students must complete the English major with a minimum of thirty-six credits in English courses beyond the Liberal Arts and Sciences Group requirements and General Education requirements, three courses of which must be in Honors: ENG 4991, ENG 4992, and one 5000-level English course taken as an Honors-option course. Students must also complete at least one 4200-level interdepartmental Honors Seminar, HON 4200-HON 4280, to total four courses in Honors.
Required English Courses
Students may fulfill their required English courses for the English Honors B.A. through one of two concentrations in the major: the traditional concentration or the concentration in editing, publishing, and writing.
In both concentrations, students must complete twelve English courses beyond the University General Education Competency Requirement and Liberal Arts and Sciences Group Requirements. Ten of these courses must be beyond the 2000 level.
Traditional Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations Courses | ||
| Select two courses from the following list: | 6 | |
| Shakespeare: Writing about Texts | ||
| British Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| American Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Introduction to African-American Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Stories of Detroit: Writing about Texts | ||
| Geopolitics and Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Environmental Writing: Writing about Texts | ||
| Rhetoric and Social Change: Writing about Texts | ||
| Digital Literacies: Writing about Texts | ||
| Introduction to Visual Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Comics and Graphic Novels: Writing about Texts | ||
| Television Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Literature and Religion: Writing about Texts | ||
| Popular Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Queer Literatures: Writing about Texts | ||
| Global Literatures: Writing about Texts | ||
| Children’s and Young Adults' Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Women Writers: Writing about Texts | ||
| Methodologies and Skills | ||
| Select two courses from the following list: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Rhetorical Theory | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Studies | ||
| Introduction to Literary Studies | ||
| Introduction to Film and Media Theory | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Public Humanities | ||
| Professional Editing | ||
| Living Writers | ||
| Research Colloquium | ||
| ENG 4850 | Research Methods Colloquium | 3 |
| Honors Seminar | ||
| ENG 4991 | Honors Seminar (Max. 6) | 3 |
| Honors Project | ||
| ENG 4992 | Honors Project 1 | 3 |
| Other Requirements | ||
| Select at least five additional courses in English 2 | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
The Honors Project should be twenty to thirty pages long. Students pursuing both Department and University Honors may use the Departmental project (ENG 4992) to fulfill the University Honors thesis requirement.
- 2
Three of these courses must be at the 4000 or 5000 level. At least one of these courses must be taken as an Honors-option course. Candidates for Honors in English will arrange for an Honors-option by contracting with any professor teaching a 5000-level course to do honors-level work in that course, beyond the standard requirements set forth in the syllabus. Supplementary work required for the Honors-option might consist of an extra paper, a significantly longer term paper, evidence of additional readings (for example, through journal entries), an oral or written report, or a special examination. No English course below the 2000 level may count toward the English B.A. program.
Editing, Publishing, and Writing Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations Courses | ||
| Select two courses from the following list: | 6 | |
| Shakespeare: Writing about Texts | ||
| British Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| American Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Introduction to African-American Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Stories of Detroit: Writing about Texts | ||
| Geopolitics and Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Environmental Writing: Writing about Texts | ||
| Rhetoric and Social Change: Writing about Texts | ||
| Digital Literacies: Writing about Texts | ||
| Introduction to Visual Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Comics and Graphic Novels: Writing about Texts | ||
| Television Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Literature and Religion: Writing about Texts | ||
| Popular Culture: Writing about Texts | ||
| Queer Literatures: Writing about Texts | ||
| Global Literatures: Writing about Texts | ||
| Children’s and Young Adults' Literature: Writing about Texts | ||
| Women Writers: Writing about Texts | ||
| Professional Editing | ||
| ENG 3250 | Professional Editing | 3 |
| Publishing Practicum | ||
| ENG 5695 | Publishing Practicum (Internship Practicum) | 3 |
| Internship Practicum | ||
| ENG 5820 | Internship Practicum | 3 |
| Course in Writing | ||
| Select one course from the following list: | 3 | |
| Grant Writing | ||
| Living Writers | ||
| Digital Storytelling | ||
| Grant, Proposal, and Public Writing | ||
| Writing in the Workplace | ||
| Topics in Professional Writing | ||
| Topics in Environmental, Nature, and Science Writing | ||
| Elective in Editing, Publishing, and Writing | ||
| Select one from the following list: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Typography: Skills and Concepts | ||
| Introduction to Graphic Design: Skills and Concepts | ||
| Journalistic Grammar and Style | ||
| Media Writing and Storytelling | ||
| Introduction to Web Design | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Living Writers | ||
| Digital Storytelling | ||
| Topics in Editing | ||
| Topics in Book History | ||
| Grant, Proposal, and Public Writing | ||
| Writing in the Workplace | ||
| Topics in Professional Writing | ||
| Poetry Writing Workshop | ||
| Fiction Writing Workshop | ||
| Topics in Creative Non-Fiction Writing | ||
| Topics in Environmental, Nature, and Science Writing | ||
| Research Colloquium | ||
| ENG 4850 | Research Methods Colloquium | 3 |
| Honors Seminar | ||
| ENG 4991 | Honors Seminar | 3 |
| Honors Project | ||
| ENG 4992 | Honors Project 1 | 3 |
| Other Requirements | ||
| Select at least two additional courses in English 2 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
The Honors Project should be twenty to thirty pages long. Students pursuing both Department and University Honors may use the Departmental project (ENG 4992) to fulfill the University Honors thesis requirement.
- 2
-
Inclusive of the requirements for the "Course in Writing," "Elective in Editing, Publish, and Writing," and "Other Requirements," students must take at least two courses at the 3000 level and at least one course at the 4000 or 5000 level in addition to the Honors Seminar and Honors project. At least one of the 5000-level courses must be taken as an Honors-option course. Candidates for Honors in English will arrange for an Honors-option by contracting with any professor teaching a 5000-level course to do honors-level work in that course, beyond the standard requirements set forth in the syllabus. Supplementary work required for the Honors-option might consist of an extra paper, a significantly longer term paper, evidence of additional readings (for example, through journal entries), an oral or written report, or a special examination. No English course below the 2000 level may count toward the English B.A. program.
Students who wish to become candidates for degrees with honors in English are encouraged to consult early with the Undergraduate Advisor for the Department of English.
‘AGRADE’ Program (Accelerated Graduate Enrollment)
The English Department invites academically superior majors to apply for admission to the 'AGRADE' Program, which allows qualified seniors to enroll simultaneously in the undergraduate and graduate programs of the Department. Applications will be accepted no earlier than the semester in which ninety credits are completed. Applicants must have an overall grade point average of 3.5 and not less than a 3.6 g.p.a in the major courses already completed. A Plan of Work is required, and credit restrictions apply. Please see the departmental Undergraduate Advisor for more detail.