Undergraduate Program - Bachelor of Arts in English
Course work for a Bachelor of Arts in English provides comprehensive instruction in the resources of English, its language and literatures. This instruction is central to a liberal education and fundamental preparation for graduate liberal arts and professional programs. Courses in English teach critical and original thinking and communication. Knowledge gained from majoring in English provides excellent preparation for a wide range of careers that depend on critical and creative thinking and the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively. Please click here for some of the many reasons you may wish to consider declaring a major in English.
Click here for information on our English minor options.
Bachelor of Arts in English
Literature
The literature curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad-based foundation in English and American literature as well as in-depth inquiry into focused areas of literary study. Within this curriculum students are encouraged to read creatively and to discover what others have not seen. Students are asked to present these discoveries in writing in a persuasive way that allows others to see their importance. The literature program is enhanced and supported by links to the National Poetry Foundation, an internationally recognized center for the study of modern poetry.
Writing Concentrations
Students must choose a writing concentration within the English major. The three specific concentrations from which students may choose are Creative Writing, Literary Critical Writing and Technical/Professional Writing. Each of these areas provides students with both introductory and advanced instruction in the field and prepares students for further education or for work in a large number of professional fields.
Outside the Major Requirement
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requires all English majors to complete at least seventy-two (72) credit hours outside the English department. Any course that does not have the ENG designator will satisfy this requirement. For General Education Requirements, please visit the Office of Student Records.
Language Requirement
By the time of graduation, students must demonstrate intermediate proficiency in a language other than English. To meet this requirement, students may pass an examination or pass courses at the 204 level in a selected language.
Core Requirements for all Majors
Students must take a minimum of thirty-six (36) credit hours beyond ENG 101: College Composition. These credit hours must include:
ENG 170
ENG 222
ENG 271 Five literature courses in the 300 to 400 level, including at least one British literature course and one course focused on literature from before 1800. One elective English course at the 200 level or higher. Three courses in the chosen writing concentration. Completion of the Senior Capstone Requirement*
Writing Concentrations
Three writing concentrations are available. These concentrations consist of nine (9) credit hour course sequences beginning at the 200 or 300 level and culminating in a directed writing or preprofessional writing experience.
Creative Writing
The creative writing concentration allows students to explore their worlds with carefully crafted language and to make the writing of imaginative literature a way of life. Course work usually includes:
ENG 205 or ENG 206
ENG 307, ENG 308, or ENG 309
ENG 405 or ENG 406
This concentration is completed by the submission and approval of a finished manuscript (e.g., a novella, or a collection of poems or stories).
Literary Critical Writing
The literary critical writing concentration is for students of language and literature interested in the crafting of essays, academic papers, feature pieces, and other forms of creative nonfiction; it is also useful for students planning to teach at the secondary or college level. Course work usually includes:
ENG 206 or ENG 212
ENG 301, ENG 309, ENG 310, or ENG 395
ENG 499: Capstone with an elective 400 level literature course in which a seminar-level research paper is crafted (note: this counts as a Capstone completion as well).
This concentration is completed by the submission and approval of the finished seminar-level research paper.
Technical/Professional Writing
The technical/professional writing concentration is useful for students planning careers in such diverse professions as law, public relations, management, arts administration, technical writing, and journalism. Course work usually includes:
ENG 317
ENG 417 or ENG 418
ENG 496
*Senior Capstone Requirement
The senior capstone requirement applies to all students in all concentrations. It may be satisfied in a number of ways appropriate to a student's interests and plans, and is normally a natural culmination to previous choices within the major. Most of the capstone options also satisfy other major requirements. Any one of the following courses or experiences may be used:
ENG 395** and one semester of tutoring in the Writing Center.
400 level literature course** in which a student writes a seminar-level research paper.
ENG 405** or ENG 406** and the approval of a finished manuscript.
ENG 496 (at least 3 credit hours of field experience).
Approval of an Honors thesis with a topic in an area of English studies.
** Students using ENG 395, a 400 level literature course, ENG 405, or ENG 406 as a Senior Capstone Requirement must also register for the zero (0) credit hour ENG 499. This is an accounting mechanism for Student Records to track the completion of the Senior Capstone Requirement.
View the official English major requirement checklist in Word format.
Minor in English
Students can minor either in English or in Professional Writing (this option was formerly called a minor in Rhetoric and Writing). 18 credits of work in English are required for either minor.
The minor in English has recently undergone some changes, so please pay close attention to these requirements:
For those declaring a Minor in English after September 1, 2008
18 credits of English courses are required, excluding ENG 001 and ENG 101. 12 of these credits must be University of Maine courses.
Required:
ENG 170: Foundations of Literary Analysis
and/ or
ENG 222: Reading Poems
3 credits of 400-level literature
A grade of at least C- in all English minor courses.
Up to 6 credits of 200- to 400-level writing courses may count toward the minor.
New Minor in English requirement checklist.
For those declaring a Minor in English before September 1, 2008
18 credits of English courses are required, excluding ENG 001 and ENG 101.
No more than 6 credits of writing courses will count toward a minor in English. Writing courses from which only 6 credits will count toward the minor include:
ENG 205: Creative Writing
ENG 206: Descriptive and Narrative Writing
ENG 212: Persuasive and Analytical Writing
ENG 301: Advanced Composition
ENG 309: Writing Creative Nonfiction
ENG 310: Writing and Careers in English
ENG 317: Business and Technical Writing
ENG 395: English Internship
ENG 405: Topics in Creative Writing
ENG 406: Advanced Creative Writing
ENG 417: Advanced Professional Writing
ENG 418: Topics in Professional Writing
ENG 496: Field Experience in Professional Writing
Old Minor in English requirement checklist.
For those declaring a Minor in Professional Writing (available after September 1, 2008)
18 credits of English courses are required.
Required (3):
ENG 212: Persuasive and Analytical Writing
ENG 317: Business & Technical Writing
or
PAA 390: Technical Writing and Communication in Public Service
ENG 415 / 515: Reports and Proposals
(a new course that replaces the discontinued 417)
Choice of Three Other Courses:
ENG 416 / 516: Technical Editing (new course)
ENG 309: Writing Creative Nonfiction
ENG 395: English Internship
ENG 418 / 5XX: Topics in Professional Writing (may be repeated)
ENG 496 / 5XX: Field Experience in Professional Writing
NMD 206: Project Design laboratory: 1
CMJ 236: Writing for the Mass Media
Minor in Professional Writing checklist.
For more information about our minor in Professional Writing, please visit our website (still under construction).
For those declaring a Minor in Rhetoric and Writing (must have declared before September 1, 2008)
18 credits of English are required.
Foundation Requirements:
ENG 212: Persuasive and Analytical Writing
ENG 317: Business and Technical Writing
ENG 417: Advanced Professional Writing
or
ENG 418: Topics in Professional Writing
Courses in Applied Writing:
ENG 395: English Internship
or
ENG 496: Field Experience in Professional Writing
or
NMD 206: Project Design Laboratory: 1
Elective Courses:
ENG 206: Descriptive/Narrative Writing
ENG 301: Advanced Composition
ENG 309: Writing Creative Nonfiction
Minor in Rhetoric and Writing checklist.
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