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English (Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy Studies), Bachelor of Arts

The English degrees at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, which include the BA in English, MA in English, MA in English as a Second Language, and MA in Interdisciplinary Studies, cultivate in students scholarly and creative achievement through graduate and undergraduate courses in literature, language, rhetoric and composition, creative writing, and secondary English language arts. We promote student literacy – specifically the abilities to read, write, and think critically – as well as an appreciation for the English language. We encourage faculty to pursue excellence in teaching, foster collegiality, contribute scholarly research, and engage in service to the university and Rio Grande Valley community. The English degrees, as a collaboration among the Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies, the Department of Writing and Language Studies, and the Creative Writing Program in the College of Fine Arts, support culturally responsive pedagogy and community engagement. A student with an English major possesses skills in critical thinking, writing, and reading. English majors can enter professions such as teaching, writing, editing, media production, the law, public service, and advocacy, and they are prepared for continued graduate or professional study.

Core Curriculum - 42 Hours

The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.

The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.

Major Requirements - 45 Hours

Required Courses - 12 hours

English Foundation - 6 hours

ENGL 3300Introduction to English Studies

3
ENGL 4390Senior English Capstone

3

Linguistics - 3 hours

ENGL 3362English Grammar

3

Creative Writing - 3 hours

ENGL 3351Creative Writing I

3

Prescribed Electives - 15 hours

This degree plan includes courses that appear in more than one section of the degree plan. Except for core curriculum courses, such courses can only be used to fulfill one requirement on the degree plan and credit hours will only applied once.

Literature - 9 hours

Literature Survey - Choose one from:
ENGL 3301Survey of British Literature I

3
ENGL 3302Survey of British Literature II

3
ENGL 3303Survey of American Literature I

3
ENGL 3304Survey of American Literature II

3
ENGL 3305Survey of World Literature

3
Genre /Theme - Choose one from:
ENGL 3307Introduction to Film Studies

3
ENGL 3308Literature and Film Adaptation

3
ENGL 3309Introduction to Cultural Studies

3
ENGL 3315The English Novel to 1850

3
ENGL 3316The English Novel from 1850 to Present

3
ENGL 3320Development of the American Novel

3
ENGL 3328The Short Story and the Novella

3
ENGL 3329Science Fiction

3
ENGL 3335Women's Literature

3
ENGL 4300Advanced Topics in Literature and Cultural Studies

3
ENGL 4308Topics in International Film

3
ENGL 4309Special Topics in Film

3
ENGL 4314Advanced Topics in Contemporary Poetry

3
ENGL 4315Advanced Topics in World Literature

3
ENGL 4316Beat Generation

3
ENGL 4318South Texas Literature

3
ENGL 4320Literature and Psychoanalysis

3
Period /Single Author - Choose one from:
ENGL 3310Medieval Literature

3
ENGL 3311English Renaissance Literature

3
ENGL 3312The Eighteenth Century

3
ENGL 3313The Romantic Period

3
ENGL 3314The Victorian Period

3
ENGL 332119th-Century American Literature

3
ENGL 3322Hemingway

3
ENGL 3326Modern Poetry

3
ENGL 4310Chaucer

3
ENGL 4311Shakespeare

3
ENGL 4312Milton

3
ENGL 4313Topics in Single Author

3

Linguistics - 3 hours

Choose one from:
ENGL 3360Introduction to Language Studies

3
ENGL 3361Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics

3
ENGL 3370Language and Culture

3
ENGL 4365History of the English Language

3

Rhetorical Writing - 3 hours

Choose from: 
ENGL 3340Survey Rhetorical Theory

3
ENGL 3345Studies in Literacy

3
ENGL 4343Composition Theory and Pedagogy

3

Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy Concentration - 18 hours

Certain courses below appear in more than one section of the degree plan. The courses and related credit hours can only be applied only once to the degree.

Requirements - 6 hours

Choose from:
ENGL 3340Survey Rhetorical Theory

3
ENGL 3345Studies in Literacy

3
ENGL 4343Composition Theory and Pedagogy

3

Professional Writing - 3 hours

Choose from:
ENGL 3342Technical Communication

3
ENGL 3343Business Communication

3
ENGL 3344Advanced Composition

3
ENGL 4344Writing for Lawyers

3

Prescribed Electives - 6 hours

Choose from:
ENGL 3341Alternative Rhetorics

3
ENGL 3346Writing and Culture

3
ENGL 3347Women's Rhetoric and Language

3
ENGL 4341Applied Discourse Studies

3
ENGL 4342Assessing and Responding to Writing

3

Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy Studies Special Topics - 3 hours

ENGL 4340Advanced Specialization in Rhetoric, Composition & Literacy Studies

3

Free Electives - 33 hours

Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.

Total Credit Hours: 42

Total Credit Hours: 120