English (Literature), Bachelor of Arts
Program Overview
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 – 48 Hours
Required Courses - 12 hours
English Foundation - 6 hours
Linguistics - 3 hours
Creative Writing - 3 hours
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 be applied once.
Literature - 9 hours
Literature Survey - Choose one from:
Genre /Theme - Choose one from:
Period /Single Author - Choose one from:
Linguistics - 3 hours
Choose one from:
Rhetorical Writing - 3 hours
Choose from:
Literature Concentration – 21 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.
Literary Theory - 3 hours
Survey - 3 hours
Choose from:
British before 1800 Period/Genre/Single Author/Theme - 3 hours
Choose from:
American in Period/Genre/Single Author/Theme - 3 hours
Choose from:
World/Multicultural - 3 hours
Choose from:
Advanced Thematic or Topical Focus - 3 hours
Choose from:
English Electives - 3 hours
Choose from additional English (ENGL) courses.
Free Electives - 30 hours
Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.
Advanced Minimum Credit Hours: 42
Total Credit Hours: 120