English (B.A.)
At-a-Glance
Admission to major: Completion of ENG 240, 241 (or equivalent)
Minimum hours required for major: 38
Minimum hours required for minor: 21
Special tracks: The English major emphasizes the study of British and American literature. Tracks or concentrations are available in the liberal arts, pre-law and pre-literary graduate studies, creative writing, multicultural studies, linguistics, and secondary English licensure.
Advising: Contact Dr.Jeff Karem, Director of Undergraduate Studies, at (216) 687-3990.
Student activities: Student organization: Whiskey Island (creative writing magazine). Poetry Center activities include workshops and readings by students, writers in the Cleveland community, and distinguished visiting writers.
Scholarship information: Each year, the department offers Plain Dealer awards to recognize excellence in expository writing, tuition scholarships as prizes in creative writing, and English Alumni Association contests, as well as the Gulbenkian award as a cash prize to honor a distinguished graduating senior.
Career information: Students preparing to teach English in high school must meet the State of Ohio licensure requirements. Please contact the College of Education and Human Services for further information on licensure. For students preparing for careers in writing, editing and publishing, the department offers a creative writing concentration. The linguistics concentration includes courses in linguistics as well as literature. The English major is an ideal liberal arts major for students desiring to develop capabilities in research, writing, critical thinking, and textual analysis combined with the study of literature and language.
Freshman English Placement
Consult the course description section of this catalog under English for information about placement examinations and placement of students into basic writing and freshman English courses.
Major-Field Requirements
Courses required for the major are as follows (38 credits minimum):
- Introductory courses (8 credits): ENG 240, 241
- The completion of one of the English Department's concentrations or tracks
- Senior seminar: ENG 495 (4 credits minimum)
English majors are advised to take ENG 240 and ENG 241 before taking courses numbered ENG 300 and above.
All students should initially consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Transfer students must see the Director of Undergraduate Studies for a transfer credit evaluation.
Concentrations
Liberal Arts Concentration
- Introductory courses (8 credits): ENG 240, 241
- Three courses (12 credits): ENG 321 British Literature I, ENG 322 British Literature II, ENG 342 American Literature Survey
- Electives: 14 credits in courses numbered ENG 300 and above
- Senior seminar: ENG 495 (4 credits minimum)
Creative Writing Concentration
- Introductory courses (8 credits): ENG 240, 241 (or equivalent)
- ENG 303 Creative Writing (4 credits; prerequisite for ENG 305)
- Two courses in creative writing (8 credits): ENG 305 Creative Writing Workshop (fiction, poetry, playwriting, special topics). ENG 305 may be repeated with a change of topic.
- Electives: 14 credits in courses numbered ENG 300 and above
- Senior seminar: ENG 495 (4 credits)
Note: No more than three English 305's may be counted towards the major.
Pre-Literary Graduate Studies Concentration
- Introductory courses (8 credits): ENG 240, 241
- Three courses (12 credits): ENG 321 British Literature I, ENG 322 British Literature II, ENG 342 American Literature Survey
- One course (4 credits): ENG 360 Studies in Literary Criticism or ENG 382 Canonicity
- Electives: 10 credits in courses numbered ENG 300 and above
- Senior seminar: ENG 495 (4 credits)
Pre-Law Concentration
- Introductory courses (8 credits): ENG 240, 241
- Grammar or Linguistics course (4 credits): ENG 310 or ENG 311
- Critical Theory or Rhetoric course (4 credits): ENG 302 Rhetoric of theLaw or ENG 360 Studies in Literary Criticism or ENG 361 Classical Rhetoric or ENG 382 Canonicity
- Electives: 14 credits in courses numbered ENG 300 and above
- Senior seminar: ENG 495 (4 credits)
Linguistics Concentration
- Introductory courses (8 credits): ENG 240, 241
- ENG 311 Elements of Linguistics (4 credits)
- Two courses in linguistics (8 credits): ENG 313 (topics include American dialects, history of the English language, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, semantics; may be repeated with change of topic)
- Electives: 14 credits in courses numbered ENG 300 and above
- Senior seminar: ENG 495 (4 credits minimum)
Multicultural/Multiethnic Literature Concentration
- Introductory courses (8 credits): ENG 240, 241
- English electives: at least 10 credits of ENG 300-400 level courses
- Multicultural literature electives: 16 credits from the following list. (At least 8 credits must be taken in the English Department; ENG 347 and ENG 348 may be repeated with a change of topic):
ENG 347 Studies in African-American Literature, ENG 348 Studies in Multicultural Literature
Other 300-400 level ENG courses may be counted when they have a multicultural/multiethnic topic. Students desiring to apply such courses to their concentration should write to the English Department's Committee on Instruction for permission to count those courses toward the concentration.
In special cases, students may count a baccalaureate level (300-400) non-departmental course as an elective toward the concentration if the course is clearly literary and multicultural in focus. Students desiring to pursue this option should write to the English Department's Committee on Instruction for permission to count such non-departmental courses towards the concentration. No more than 8 credit hours of electives may be completed outside the department.
- ENG 495 Senior Seminar (4 credits)
Tracks
English Honors Track
Only for students accepted to the University Honors Program
- Introductory courses (8 credits): ENG 240, 241
- Three survey courses (12 credits): ENG 321 British Literature I, ENG 322 British Literature II, ENG 342 American Literature Survey. These courses must contain Honors component.*
- ENG 396 Independent Study (4 credits). See Director of Undergraduate Studies for requirements for Independent Study.
- Electives: 10 credits in courses numbered ENG 300 and above
- ENG 495 Senior seminar (4 credits)
*Must contain Honors component. Student must discuss Honors contract component with instructor. Honors component may not be taken as part of a Six-Week Summer session course.
Secondary English Licensure Track
(Integrated
Language Arts Education, Grades 7-12)
General Education Requirement: ENG 207 African-American Literature
Sophomore Prerequisites (8 credits): ENG 240, ENG 241
Major-Field Requirements:
300-level English Requirements (26 credits):
- ENG 308 Composition for Teachers
- ENG 310 Traditional Grammar (requirement can be fulfilled by passing a departmental exam)
- ENG 315 The English Language
- ENG 321 British Literature Survey I
- ENG 322 British Literature Survey II
- ENG 342 American Literature Survey
- ENG 382 Canonicity
400-level English Requirements:
- ENG 495 Senior Seminar (Capstone Course)
Other Subject Requirements (8 credits):
Students desiring to teach English in high school must consult an adviser in the College of Education and Human Services, RT 1401 (216-687-4625), as well as an adviser in the English Department. Students must also minor in Education.
Professional Writing Certificate
The Professional Writing Certificate program is designed to enhance the credentials of students who are preparing for careers in corporate, professional, or technical writing, public relations, advertising, or for other careers in which writing plays an important role. The curriculum includes courses in graphics and design, editing, and other aspects of textual production, as well as in various genres of writing. While the Professional Writing Certificate is offered as an all-elective program, students are advised to select a curriculum that represents more than one aspect of textual production.
Students may earn the Professional Writing Certificate as part of their baccalaureate degree program, or they may add it to their credentials if they already have a baccalaureate degree. The Professional Writing Certificate is not awarded to persons who do not have a baccalaureate degree.
Admission to the Professional Writing Certificate Program
The Professional Writing Certificate program is open to all Cleveland State University undergraduates and graduate students, as well as Cleveland State alumni and students and alumni at other colleges and universities. Students must be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program, or already have a baccalaureate degree, in order to be eligible for a Professional Writing Certificate.
Prerequisites for Completing a Certificate
Some of the courses in the Professional Writing Certificate program have specific course requirements. Students desiring to take these courses as part of the certificate program must, therefore, take the prerequisites, in addition to the 20 credits required for the certificate. See the English Department office staff for the complete description of this certificate program.
Information on the certificate program is available on the English Department Web page or students can stop by the English Department, Rhodes Tower 1815; or see details in the certificates section of this catalog.
Minor in English
Courses required for the minor in English (21 credits) are as follows:
- Introductory courses (8 credits): ENG 240, 241 (or equivalent)
- Electives: 13 credits in courses numbered ENG 300 and above
Evening and Weekend Program
Students may obtain a major or minor in English by taking courses on evenings and weekends. Course selection is restricted, and each required course generally is offered once every other year.