About This Program
Discover your passion for literature with the English program offers a comprehensive education in literature, writing and critical thinking. With personalized attention from faculty and opportunities for creative expression, you'll cultivate your voice and become a versatile communicator. Read more...
Contact Information
- Program Coordinator: Ryan Hediger, Ph.D. | rhediger@kent.edu | 330-672-1741
Sheri McMahon | smcmaho7@kent.edu | 330-672-2676 - Speak with an Advisor
- Chat with an Admissions Counselor: Kent Campus | Regional Campuses
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Ashtabula Campus
- East Liverpool Campus
- Geauga Campus
- Kent Campus
- Salem Campus
- Stark Campus
- Trumbull Campus
- Tuscarawas Campus
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- 2.1% slower than the average
- 81,300 number of jobs
- $69,000 potential earnings
Proofreaders and copy markers
- -2.7% decline
- 10,300 number of jobs
- $41,140 potential earnings
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- 3.8% about as fast as the average
- 1,050,800 number of jobs
- $62,870 potential earnings
Additional Careers
- Content Writer/Developer
- Marketing and Social Media Material Developer
- Editors and Copy Writers
- Grant Writing Specialist
- Community Engagement Writer and Coordinator
- Project Manager – Marketing Division
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Admission Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| ENG 24001 | INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDY 1 | 3 |
| ENG 25001 | LITERATURE IN ENGLISH I 1 | 3 |
| or ENG 25004 | LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES I | |
| ENG 25002 | LITERATURE IN ENGLISH II 1 | 3 |
| or ENG 25005 | LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES II | |
| ENG 38001 | CRITICAL THEORY AND READING | 3 |
| or ENG 38002 | RHETORIC AND WRITING STUDIES | |
| ENG 49091 | SENIOR SEMINAR (ELR) (WIC) 2 | 3 |
| English (ENG) Electives (20000, 30000 and 40000 levels) 1,3 | 6 | |
| Additional Requirements (courses do not count in the major GPA) | ||
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below) | 14-16 | |
| Kent Core Composition | 6 | |
| Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning | 3 | |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 1 | 9 | |
| Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) | 6 | |
| Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 | |
| Kent Core Additional | 6 | |
| General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credits hour, including 39 upper-division credit hours) | 30 | |
| Concentrations | ||
| Choose from the following: | 18 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 | |
- 1
Maximum 15 credit hours of English (ENG) lower-division (10000 or 20000 level) courses will count toward the major. They may include the following Kent Core courses: ENG 21002, ENG 21003, ENG 21054, ENG 22071, ENG 22072, ENG 22073 (or ENG 21001).
- 2
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
- 3
The following courses will not fulfill the English Elective: ENG 21011, ENG 41092, ENG 41192, ENG 41292, ENG 41392 and any ENG 10000-level course.
General Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| Writing, Rhetoric and Linguistics Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITION THEORY | ||
| WRITING AND RHETORIC IN A DIGITAL AGE | ||
| WRITING, RHETORIC AND NEW MEDIA | ||
| WRITING FOR VIDEO GAMES | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF TECHNICAL WRITING | ||
| PROFESSIONAL WRITING | ||
| ARGUMENTATIVE PROSE WRITING | ||
| EXPOSITORY PROSE WRITING | ||
| WRITING IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE (ELR) | ||
| FICTION WRITING I | ||
| FICTION WRITING II | ||
| POETRY WRITING I | ||
| POETRY WRITING II | ||
| CREATIVE NONFICTION | ||
| GRAMMAR FOR EDITING | ||
| STARTING A NOVEL | ||
| FUNDAMENTAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR | ||
| HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE | ||
| LINGUISTICS | ||
| LEXICOLOGY/LEXICOGRAPHY | ||
| WORLD ENGLISHES (DIVG) (WIC) | ||
| GENDER AND LANGUAGE | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN LINGUISTICS | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN WRITING | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN RHETORIC, COMPOSITION AND WRITING | ||
| HOW TO EDIT PROFESSIONALLY | ||
| HOW TO PUBLISH: BOOKS AND BEYOND | ||
| TUTORING OF WRITING | ||
| WRITING INTERNSHIP (ELR) | ||
| SERVICE LEARNING IN ENGLISH STUDIES (ELR) | ||
| TEACHING POETRY IN THE SCHOOLS (ELR) | ||
| Historical Literature-Early Period Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| U.S. LITERATURE TO 1865 | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1900 | ||
| MEDIEVAL LITERATURE | ||
| BRITISH LITERATURE, 1500-1660 | ||
| SHAKESPEARE | ||
| CHAUCER | ||
| SHAKESPEARE IN PERFORMANCE (ELR) | ||
| CLASSICAL RHETORIC | ||
| Historical Literature-Modern Period Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1865 TO 1945 | ||
| U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1945 TO PRESENT | ||
| MODERN AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE | ||
| BRITISH LITERATURE, 1660-1800 | ||
| BRITISH LITERATURE, 1800-1900 | ||
| BRITISH AND IRISH LITERATURE, 1900-PRESENT | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS:MAJOR AUTHOR STUDIES | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERARY HISTORY | ||
| Genre Studies, Cultural Studies, Literary Theory Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC LITERATURE OF THE UNITED STATES (DIVD) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO LGBT LITERATURE (DIVD) | ||
| CHILDREN'S LITERATURE | ||
| LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS | ||
| NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE (DIVD) | ||
| AFRICANA WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVG) | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S LITERATURE | ||
| AFRICAN LITERATURES (DIVG) | ||
| WORLD LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (DIVG) | ||
| WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD) | ||
| SHORT STORY | ||
| FAIRY TALES | ||
| LITERATURE, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT | ||
| THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE | ||
| LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) | ||
| SCIENCE FICTION | ||
| FILM AND NARRATIVE | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERATURE | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS CULTURAL STUDIES | ||
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
Literature Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| Historical Literature-Early Period Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| U.S. LITERATURE TO 1865 | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1900 | ||
| MEDIEVAL LITERATURE | ||
| BRITISH LITERATURE, 1500-1660 | ||
| SHAKESPEARE | ||
| CHAUCER | ||
| SHAKESPEARE IN PERFORMANCE (ELR) | ||
| CLASSICAL RHETORIC | ||
| Historical Literature-Modern Period Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1865 TO 1945 | ||
| U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1945 TO PRESENT | ||
| MODERN AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE | ||
| BRITISH LITERATURE, 1660-1800 | ||
| BRITISH LITERATURE, 1800-1900 | ||
| BRITISH AND IRISH LITERATURE, 1900-PRESENT | ||
| Historical Literature-Topics Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| SPECIAL TOPICS:MAJOR AUTHOR STUDIES | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERARY HISTORY | ||
Course from Historical Literature-Early Period elective list | ||
Course from Historical Literature-Modern Period elective list | ||
| Genre Studies, Cultural Studies, Literary Theory Electives, choose from the following: | 9 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC LITERATURE OF THE UNITED STATES (DIVD) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO LGBT LITERATURE (DIVD) | ||
| CHILDREN'S LITERATURE | ||
| LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS | ||
| NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE (DIVD) | ||
| AFRICANA WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVG) | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S LITERATURE | ||
| AFRICAN LITERATURES (DIVG) | ||
| WORLD LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (DIVG) | ||
| WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD) | ||
| SHORT STORY | ||
| FAIRY TALES | ||
| LITERATURE, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT | ||
| THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE | ||
| LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) | ||
| SCIENCE FICTION | ||
| FILM AND NARRATIVE | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERATURE | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS CULTURAL STUDIES | ||
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
Professional Writing Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| ENG 30074 | GRAMMAR FOR EDITING | 3 |
| or ENG 40072 | HOW TO EDIT PROFESSIONALLY | |
| Writing Electives, choose from the following: | 9 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING | ||
| WRITING AND RHETORIC IN A DIGITAL AGE | ||
| WRITING, RHETORIC AND NEW MEDIA | ||
| WRITING FOR VIDEO GAMES | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF TECHNICAL WRITING | ||
| PROFESSIONAL WRITING | ||
| ARGUMENTATIVE PROSE WRITING | ||
| EXPOSITORY PROSE WRITING | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN WRITING | ||
| Professional Experience Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| WRITING IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE (ELR) | ||
| HOW TO PUBLISH: BOOKS AND BEYOND | ||
| TUTORING OF WRITING | ||
| WRITING INTERNSHIP (ELR) | ||
| SERVICE LEARNING IN ENGLISH STUDIES (ELR) | ||
| Rhetoric and Linguistics Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITION THEORY | ||
| FUNDAMENTAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR | ||
| LINGUISTICS | ||
| GENDER AND LANGUAGE | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN LINGUISTICS | ||
| CLASSICAL RHETORIC | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN RHETORIC, COMPOSITION AND WRITING | ||
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
Graduation Requirements
| Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
|---|---|
| 2.000 | 2.000 |
Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:
- Intermediate I and II of the same language
- Elementary I and II of a second language
- Any combination of two courses from the following list:
- Intermediate I of the same language
- ARAB 21401
- ASL 19401
- CHIN 25421
- MCLS 10001
- MCLS 20001
- MCLS 20091
- MCLS 21417
- MCLS 21420
- MCLS 22217
- MCLS 28403
- MCLS 28404
- 1
All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.
- 2
Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
| Semester One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 24001 | INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDY | 3 |
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| ENG 25001 or ENG 25004 | LITERATURE IN ENGLISH I or LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES I | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Semester Three | ||
| ENG 25002 or ENG 25005 | LITERATURE IN ENGLISH II or LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES II | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Five | ||
| ENG 38001 or ENG 38002 | CRITICAL THEORY AND READING or RHETORIC AND WRITING STUDIES | 3 |
| Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| Concentration Electives | 6 | |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Seven | ||
| ENG 49091 | SENIOR SEMINAR (ELR) (WIC) | 3 |
| English Electives | 6 | |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| Concentration Electives | 6 | |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 | |
University Requirements
All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.
NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.
| Requirement | Credits/Courses |
|---|---|
| Flashes 101 (UC 10001) | 1 credit hour |
Course is not required for students with 30+ transfer credits (excluding College Credit Plus) or age 21+ at time of admission. | |
| Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG) | 2 courses |
Students must successfully complete one domestic and one global course, of which one must be from the Kent Core. | |
| Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) | varies |
Students must successfully complete one course or approved experience. | |
| Kent Core (see table below) | 36-37 credit hours |
| Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) | 1 course |
Students must earn a minimum C grade in the course. | |
| Upper-Division Requirement | 39 credit hours |
Students must successfully complete 39 upper-division (numbered 30000 to 49999) credit hours to graduate. | |
| Total Credit Hour Requirement | 120 credit hours |
Kent Core Requirements
| Requirement | Credits/Courses |
|---|---|
| Kent Core Composition (KCMP) | 6 |
| Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) | 3 |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each) | 9 |
| Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines) | 6 |
| Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 |
| Kent Core Additional (KADL) | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36-37 |
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Exhibit specialized knowledge and skills in literary studies or professional writing.
- Employ research tools and methods appropriate for the academic study of literature, rhetoric or writing.
- Describe and apply a variety of critical theories to the study of literature, rhetoric or writing.
- Produce academic, creative or professional writing with attention to appropriate genre conventions, format and citation guidelines, stylistic expectations and grammatical rules.
- Complete a long written project with the application of appropriate critical, creative or professional approaches; mastery of research methods and resources; and awareness of audience, rhetorical context and discourse functions.
Full Description
The Bachelor of Arts degree in English prepares students to be insightful readers and innovative writers. Students are introduced to literary traditions and critical methods through core courses and encouraged to pursue personal interests in the selection of a concentration and elective courses. English classes challenge students to develop reading, research and writing skills that will equip them for a wide range of careers.
The English major comprises the following concentrations:
- The General concentration allows students to combine elective choices in creative writing, professional writing, rhetoric, historical literature, genre studies and literary theory based on personal interest.
- The Literature concentration emphasizes the interpretation of literary texts drawn from a variety of historical and cultural contexts. Students develop an understanding of genre conventions and different theoretical and critical methods of analysis.
- The Professional Writing concentration offers courses in professional writing, editing and rhetoric. The concentration requires a professional experience elective fulfilled by an internship, service-learning placement or an advanced course in editing.
Students have opportunities in extracurricular organizations, including the English Club, Sigma Tau Delta and the Writer’s Workshops; as well as such student publications as the literary arts magazine Luna Negra. Students are encouraged to study abroad, engage in undergraduate research, commit to service-learning and complete a writing internship.
English students may apply early to the M.A. degree in English and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.