Tom Strawman , Chair
Peck Hall 302

Overview

Courses in the Department of English meet the General Education needs of all students through the development of verbal and written communication skills and the appreciation of literature.  The department offers five undergraduate English major programs (the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Bachelor of Arts with a Concentration in Writing, the Bachelor of Arts with a Concentration in Literary Studies, the Bachelor of Arts with a Concentration in Cultural Studies, and the Bachelor of Arts with teacher licensure) and an English minor. Several interdisciplinary minors are also housed in the English Department.

The basic Bachelor of Arts in English program will give students a well-rounded background in the study of the English language and its literature. The three academic concentrations in Literary Studies, Writing and Cultural Studies are options for students who wish to focus on one aspect of the discipline.  Students in our program have gone on to careers in editing, public relations, management, public service and many other areas that value clarity of expression and logical thinking. Others have gone on to graduate programs, law school, or other professional education.  Students in the Bachelor of Arts with teacher licensure program are prepared to teach 7-12 grade English in the state of Tennessee. 

All students in the English department are assigned an advisor upon declaration of an English major. (To declare a major, contact the English Upper Division Office 898-2576, PH 323.)  Students should meet with their advisors for guidance in planning their schedule and fulfilling all requirements. Advisors can assist students with individualizing a program within one of the academic concentrations. Students intending to get a professional license to teach English must consult with their advisors early in their university careers in order to ensure completion of the degree in a timely fashion.  The University does not recommend anyone for licensure in English who has not satisfied requirements set by the College of Education for post-baccalaureate endorsement.

The English Department participates in interdisciplinary minors in African American Studies, American Culture, Classical Studies, Early Modern European Studies, Environment and Human Society, Film Studies, Great Books, Linguistics, Media Medieval Studies, Middle East Studies Native American Studies, Southern Studies, Twentieth-Century European Studies,  Russian Studies Women's and Gender Studies, and Writing .

Before beginning the junior year, students should fill out an upper-division form with an advisor and file it with the Graduation Coordinator for Liberal Arts.

For 3000- and 4000-level courses, there is normally a prerequisite of 9 semester hours of English.

General Requirements

A minimum of 9 semester hours in General Education composition and literature is required of all students for graduation. Students complete this requirement by taking ENGL 1010 and 1020 in sequence and ENGL 2020, ENGL 2030, or HUM 2610.

Students must pass ENGL 1010 and 1020 in sequence before taking ENGL 2020 or 2030 or HUM 2610. A minimum grade of C- in ENGL 1010 and 1020 is required to receive credit.

All first-time freshmen must take the ACT or SAT and have their scores reported to MTSU as part of the application procedure. On the basis of the ACT or SAT scores, MTSU will exempt students with credit from ENGL 1010 and 1020, place students in ENGL 1010, or require further testing as a basis for placement decisions. Placement decisions will be based on the following scores:

Enhanced ACT English score of 19-31: Placement in ENGL 1010

Enhanced ACT English score of 32 or greater: Exemption from ENGL 1010 and 1020 with credit

Enhanced ACT English score of 15-18: Placement in ENGL 1009 (For more information, see Undergraduate Catalog.)

SAT Verbal Score of 460-710: Placement in ENGL 1010 and 1020

SAT Verbal Score of 720 or greater: Exemption from ENGL 1010 and 1020 with credit

SAT Verbal Score of 450 or below: Placement in ENGL 1009 (For more information, see Undergraduate Catalog.)

Students also may be exempt from ENGL 1010 with credit by scoring 3 or better on the CEEB (For more information, see Undergraduate Catalog). Students may earn credit for ENGL 2030 by scoring satisfactorily on CLEP exams (For more information, see Undergraduate Catalog).

Students without ACT or SAT scores, students whose native language is not English and students who challenge their placementin in ENGL 1009 will need to take a placement test.

Based on placement test results, students whose first language is not English may need to enroll in English 1008 or English 1009 for ESL students before being allowed to enroll in ENGL 1010.  

All majors will complete the required 9 semester hours of English General Education by passing the following courses in the sequence in which they are listed.

1. ENGL 1010

2. ENGL 1020

3. ENGL 2020 or 2030

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories as outlined on pages 64-67 of the 2007-09 Catalog.

Types of Majors in English

List of Undergraduate Courses