Major and Minor Opportunities
B.A. in English
亚洲无码鈥檚 Bachelor of Arts in English degree is an intellectually challenging, academically flexible program that will help you achieve your goals of becoming a clear communicator, a critical thinker, and a culturally literate citizen. In addition to foundational courses introducing you to some of literature鈥檚 most central texts and modes of analysis, you鈥檒l choose from a wide range of electives that allow you to chart your own academic course, exploring the texts and questions that align best with your interests. Courses in journalism, creative writing, professional writing, and literary studies are regularly offered as well, so you鈥檒l have every opportunity to explore your specific passions.
The Bachelor of Arts in English is a 120-credit-hour program, including 39 general-education credits, 48 other required credits, and 33 English credits, 18 of which may be upper-level electives. To complete a concentration within the B.A. in English, students may earn 12 of the 18 elective credits in either journalism, professional writing, creative writing, or literary studies. More details about degree requirements can be found here.
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Minor in English
Students can minor in English by completing 18 credit hours of English or journalism courses and earning a C or better in each. At least nine hours of coursework must be completed at 亚洲无码 to qualify for the minor. 听More details about degree requirements can be found here.听
If you have questions about majoring or minoring in English, contact ajspengl@uno.edu.
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Honors in English
The Honors in English program is open to all qualified students at 亚洲无码: both majors and non-majors, and both those enrolled in University Honors and those not enrolled. To qualify for the honors program, you鈥檒l need to maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA while completing a minimum of nine credit hours in honors courses. Non-majors must also complete a minimum of 12 semester hours in English courses approved by the department, at least six of which are numbered 3000 or above.
The capstone of the honors experience is the honors thesis, which can include three hours of previous coursework. Once you successfully complete and give an oral defense of your English honors thesis, you鈥檒l be eligible to graduate with honors.
If you have questions about the Honors in English program, contact english@uno.edu.
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Accelerated MA Program
Corporate and Non-Profit Communication Certificate
The Department of Language and Literature offers an Undergraduate Certificate in Corporate and Non-Profit Communication!听Our certificate program guides students through the techniques of writing for corporate and nonprofit settings. Through a series of multidisciplinary writing courses, students strengthen the writing skills necessary for today鈥檚 workplace.听
Courses familiarize students with the basics of writing for digital media, document design, and editing.
Students also learn how to write various professional documents, including memos, proposals, reports, instructions, charts, tables, and figures.听
If you have questions about the Certificate, contact听english@uno.edu.
鈥淚 can honestly say that the teachers in the English Department at 亚洲无码 are the most dedicated, knowledgeable, caring, and encouraging teachers I have ever encountered in my life.鈥
鈥 Marly Robertson, B.A. in English 鈥05, M.A. 鈥07
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B.A. in English: Concentrations
Students may choose to apply their electives to an optional concentration in one of the following subjects.
Creative Writing
One introductory workshop in a genre:
- ENGL 2154 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing
- ENGL 2160 Introduction to Creative Writing
- ENGL 2161 Introduction to Fiction Writing
- ENGL 2163 Introduction to Poetry Writing
Two advanced workshops in the same or different genre as the introductory workshop:
- ENGL 4154 Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing (may be repeated once)
- ENGL 4161 Advanced Fiction Writing (may be repeated once)
- ENGL 4163 Advanced Poetry Writing (may be repeated once)
- ENGL 4200 Advanced Playwriting听 (may be repeated once)
One of the following literature courses:
- For nonfiction: ENGL 4918, 4030, 4031, 4701, 4702, 4807, 4808.听
- For fiction: ENGL 4715, 4815, 4915, 4917, 4031, 4032, 4033, 4034, 4043, 4045.听
- For poetry: ENGL 4401, 4421, 4521, 4522, 4601, 4621, 4701, 4702, 4801, 4802, 4807, 4808, 4913, 4914.
- Approved special topics courses (4091, 4092, 4093, and 4391) may also fulfill this requirement.
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Journalism and Professional Writing
- JOUR 2700: Introduction to Journalism
- Two 4000-level English writing or Journalism courses
- Three hour internship
Literary Studies
Choose one of the following that you did not take听as a core requirement:听
- ENGL 2031 Survey of American Literature before the Civil War
- ENGL 2032 Survey of American Literature after the Civil War
- ENGL 2341 A Survey of British Literature from the Anglo-Saxon Period through the Later Eighteenth Century
- ENGL 2342 A Survey of British Literature from the Romantic Period to the Present
Take all of the following:听
- One 3000-4000-level American Literature听
- One 3000-4000-level pre-1660 British Literature Course
- One 3000-4000-level post-1660 British Literature Course
What You鈥檒l Learn
A bachelor鈥檚 degree in English will teach you how to understand and appreciate the beauty of written text, but its utility goes beyond that. It鈥檚 the springboard that will elevate your skills in the humanities鈥攅xactly the kind of skills that today鈥檚 employers are looking for, and that will make you a more informed and thoughtful citizen of the world.
In 亚洲无码鈥檚 Bachelor of Arts in English program, you will:
- Develop a broad knowledge of British and American literary history.
- Understand the relations between texts and their literary trends and historical contexts.
- Learn how to find and integrate appropriate and credible sources into written assignments.
- Produce essays with a specific thesis based on analysis and research, effective use of support for the thesis, a clear plan of organization, and clear and correct writing.
- Analyze poetry, fiction, drama, and nonfiction with an understanding of the elements of each genre.
By the time you complete your B.A. in English, you鈥檒l have developed the skills in close reading, critical thinking, and persuasive communication that will set you up for success no matter where your future takes you.
Student Learning Outcomes
Student Learning Outcomes specify what students will know, be able to do, or be able to demonstrate when they have completed a program of study.
鈥淭he English majors at 亚洲无码 are completely and utterly willing to throw themselves into their craft, generating amazing conversations and discussions.鈥
鈥 Sam Kane, B.A. in English 鈥11
English Internships
You don鈥檛 need to wait until you finish your B.A. in English to start getting hands-on experience in your field. You can start right now, with a for-credit internship through the English department. Each English internship lasts the course of a semester and adds up to about eight hours of work per week. After completing your on-site work, you鈥檒l be responsible for a final portfolio that includes a work log, a final report, and work samples.
Internships can take place in any field that鈥檚 relevant to your English major and career interests: writing for print or digital media, publishing, editing, marketing, radio and TV broadcasting, event planning, teaching, and others.
Past English majors have interned with organizations including:
- 826 New Orleans (formerly Big Class)
- The Black Collegian magazine
- CNN
- Driftwood 亚洲无码 student newspaper
- The Ehrhardt Group
- A local homeschooling organization
- Lusher Charter Elementary School
- Pelican Publishing Company
- 亚洲无码 College of Liberal Arts Public Relations Office
- WDSU
- Where Y鈥檃t magazine
Sample Courses
- African and Caribbean Literature
- The Contemporary Novel
- Feature Writing
- New Orleans Literature
- The Nineteenth-Century English Novel
- Professional Writing
- Sports and Entertainment Reporting
鈥淢y employer instantly recognized my degree in English from 亚洲无码 and made the final decision to hire me based on it.鈥
鈥 Kelly Vest, B.A. in English 鈥03
Where Can You Work with a Bachelor of Arts in English?
- Advertising
- Communications
- Education
- Journalism
- Law
- Public Relations
- Publishing
- And More!
Faculty Spotlight
Oluwaniyi Osundare, Ph.D.
Specialization: African and Caribbean Literature
路 Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, and Critic
路 Author, City Without People: The Katrina Poems
路 Association of Nigerian Authors Poetry Prize
路 Cadbury/ANA Poetry Prize
路 Commonwealth Poetry Prize
路 Noma Award
路 Tchicaya U Tam鈥檚i Prize for African Poetry
路 Fonlon-Nichols Award
路 Nigerian National Order of Merit Award
Elizabeth Steeby, Ph.D.
Specialization: Twentieth-Century American Literatures
路 In-Progress Project on Legacies of Plantation Slavery
路 Research Interests: U.S. Southern Studies, Comparative Ethnic Studies, Critical Gender Studies, Queer Theory
路 Courses Taught: New Orleans Literature, U.S. Prison Literature, American Modernism, Contemporary American Literature
Nancy Easterlin, Ph.D.
Specialization: Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies
路 Author, A Biocultural Approach to Literary Theory and Interpretation
路 Guggenheim Fellow
路 Courses Taught: British Romanticism; The Contemporary Novel; Sex, Power, and the Short Story
鈥溠侵尬蘼脞檚 English Department truly challenged me, and it gave me an excellent foundation for my teaching career.鈥
鈥 Melanie Punch Lohfink, B.A. in English 鈥02
Ways to Get Involved
Creative Writing Club
New in Fall 2023! Students interested in creative writing will meet several times throughout the semester to build community and engage in the craft of writing creatively.
Midday Musings Discussion Series
These talks, sponsored by the English Department, focus on a different topic of interest in the literary life three times each semester. Speakers have included faculty members, internship supervisors, alumni, local writers, and other members of the literary community of New Orleans.
Sigma Tau Delta
Currently on hiatus, this international honor society for English majors is open to those who are within the top 30 percent of their class and have maintained a 3.50 GPA or better. In addition to boosting your resume, being a member of Sigma Tau Delta also makes you eligible for a number of scholarships and internships, and it gives you the opportunity to present your research at the society鈥檚 international convention. The 亚洲无码 chapter also participates in student leadership and community service projects throughout the year.