Bachelor of Arts in English

Our B.A. in English is Just the Start of Your Story

The Bachelor of Arts in English is housed within the College of Arts and Sciences and offers small class sizes and a dedicated faculty who provide the highest quality instruction. The B.A. degree in English was made for students with an interest in reading, writing, philosophy, languages, media, and communication. Our faculty use “smart” classrooms, which allow subjects of study to come alive in video and audio. Upper-level courses provide the necessary subject matter concentration for students preparing for careers or graduate work in the humanities in one of three content area concentrations: literature, creative writing, and philosophy. Whether you want to write for our student-run newspaper, edit our literary journal, or tutor others in our student-only Writing Center, the Division of Languages and Literature provides students with the skills necessary to succeed in the classroom and the boardroom.

11:1

Student-Faculty Ratio

15

Program specific scholarships

100+

Years of combined faculty experience

Why Choose English at DSU?

Seven engaged students looking toward the front of the classroom.

The aim of the Division of Languages and Literature is to provide high-quality instruction in the study of literature, composition, English pedagogy, communication, philosophy, and foreign languages in order to develop critically literate scholars, writers, and educators prepared to engage a global society. Our faculty of active scholars and committed teachers support our students in and outside the classroom, while our internship program allows students to obtain real-world experience in their chosen field before they graduate.

  • Flexible and part-time course scheduling
  • Online and in-person student advisement
  • Publications workshop
  • English honors society

Concentrations in English

Student in class sitting at a desk, writing in tablet.

Creative Writing

A concentration in Creative Writing helps to prepare students for careers in editing, journalism, and teaching, as well as graduate programs in creative writing and literature. It is a program of study characterized by flexibility and a hands-on approach to writing genres, book layout and design, and newspaper production. A hallmark of the concentration is the close, mentoring engagement with creative writing faculty and guest writers, as well as the opportunity to publish in both The Delta Statement, our award-winning undergraduate newspaper, and DA: A Journal of Delta Arts, a literary magazine published every spring by students in the program.

Books open on a table, surrounded by other books stacked on the same table and in a bookshelf behind the table.

English Literature

The concentration of English Literature helps students to understand and evaluate English-language literature, assisting them to become critically literate scholars, writers, and educators prepared to engage a global society. The recently revised curriculum of seminar courses provides the necessary subject matter concentration for students preparing for careers or graduate work in the humanities in an environment that prioritizes student engagement.

Student speaking while sitting in desk during class with two other students listening, one on each side of her.

Philosophy

The Philosophy concentration offers students opportunities to pose and respond to fundamental questions about existence and human values. It is ideal for students interested in pursuing graduate study in the humanities, as well as professional programs such as law and medical school. Upper-level electives provide training in the composition of clear, rational argument, while maintaining a position sympathetic to varied perspectives and cultures.

What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in English?

An English degree is eminently versatile. The skills developed through our bachelor’s program in English will transfer confidently to any number of jobs, such as:

  • Copy editor
  • Publisher
  • Middle school teacher
  • High school teacher
  • Librarian
  • Archivist
  • Newspaper reporter/editor
  • Magazine reporter/editor

English Scholarships

The Division of Languages and Literature has one of the most robust scholarship programs at the university. Students may be eligible for more than 15 discipline-specific awards. Most scholarships are merit-based and some have residential requirements or preferences. Students may also be eligible for non-program specific scholarship opportunities.

Internships

The Division of Languages and Literature offers numerous internship opportunities for its students both on and off campus. Internships partner students with organizations such as the University Press of Mississippi, the Delta Center for Culture and Learning, the Charles W. Capps, Jr. Archive and Museum, and the Roberts-LaForge Library. The following are examples of possible internships:

  • Communications
  • Creative Publishing
  • Academic Publishing
  • Writing Center Administration
  • New Media
  • Creative Writing Pedagogy
  • Archival Management & Museum Curatorship
  • Library Science

Program Goals

Our goal is to train critically literate scholars, writers, and educators prepared to engage a global society no matter where their degree in English takes them. From the classroom to the boardroom, our graduates go on to careers in education, media, marketing, technology, publishing, and countless other fields, while others pursue graduate degrees in literature, creative writing, pedagogy – even law or business.

Admission Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts in English Program has no additional admissions requirements. Students only need to meet the admissions requirements set by Delta State University.

Curriculum

The following courses are required to complete the major in English plus one concentration.

English (Major)

Categories Course Number and Course Title Credits
General ENG 304: Advanced Composition
ENG 435: William Shakespeare
ENG 490: Senior Capstone Seminar
9
Internship ENG 491: Internship: Creative Publishing
ENG 493: Internship in Academic Publishing
ENG 494: Internship in Writing Center Administration
ENG 496: Internship in New Media
ENG 497: Internship in Creative Writing Pedagogy
ENG 498: Internship in Archival Management & Museum Curatorship
ENG 499: Internship: Library Science
COM 493: Internship: Communications
1
In addition, select one course from two of the four categories 6
Period Elective ENG 401: Early Moderate Literature
ENG 403: Postcolonial Literature
ENG 405: Modernist Literature
ENG 407: Postmodern Literature
ENG 411: Contemporary Literature
Genre Elective ENG 420: Popular Fiction
ENG 421: Seminar in Drama
ENG 422: The Epic Poem
ENG 424: New Journalism
ENG 425: The Rise of the Novel
Single Author Elective ENG 433: Mark Twain
ENG 438: William Faulker
ENG 440: John Milton
ENG 442: Jane Austen
ENG 445: Toni Morrison
Diversity Elective ENG 461: Blues Literature
ENG 462: Literature by Women
ENG 463: African American Literature
ENG 464: Native American Literature
ENG 465: LGBTQ Literature
ENG 466: Disability Studies in Literature and Film
TOTAL 16

Creative Writing (Concentration)

Categories Course Number and Course Title Credits
General ENG 202: Introduction to Creative Writing
Any two courses below
ENG 309: British Literature Seminar I, or
ENG 310: British Literature Seminar II, or
ENG 312: American Literature Seminar I, or
ENG 313: American Literature Seminar II
9
Workshop ENG 220: Student Publications Workshop
Any two courses below
ENG 320: Poetry Writing Workshop, or
ENG 321: Fiction Writing Workshop, or
ENG 322: Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop, or
ENG 324: Creative Writing Techniques
9
TOTAL 18

English Literature (Concentration)

Course Number Course Title Credits
ENG 309 British Literature Seminar I 3
ENG 310 British Literature Seminar II 3
ENG 312 American Literature Seminar I 3
ENG 313 American Literature Seminar II 3
Additional English electives (ENG 300-level or above) 6
TOTAL 18

Philosophy (Concentration)

Courses Credits
English electives (ENG 300-level or above) 6
Upper-level Philosophy electives beyond PHI 201 12
TOTAL 18

Degree Requirements

To earn this degree, you must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including your general education requirements and the major requirements below. You must also earn a grade point average of at least 2.0 in the major field overall and successfully complete the Senior Capstone project.

General Education 38-41
University Requirement 1
Special Degree Requirements 12-15
Major 34
Minor 15-24
Electives 5-20
TOTAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 120

For more information on degree requirements and specifics on courses needed to complete the degree, consult the Undergraduate Academic Catalog. For a semester-by-semester breakdown on how you can complete this degree in 4-years, visit academic maps.

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