Apr 02, 2025  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

English, B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts is conferred upon students completing a major in English. The English major consists of a minimum of 51 credit hours, including 27 credit hours from the core courses plus 24 credit hours in one of the four program tracks: creative writing, English education, literary and cultural studies, and writing studies.

See Special Requirements, including Foreign Language requirement (see Department of English )

Special graduation requirements: To graduate, a student must earn a grade of C or higher in every course used to fulfill the major or minor requirements in English, including courses used to fulfill the foreign language requirement. All English majors are required to demonstrate (1) intermediate-level proficiency in a foreign language previously spoken or used to satisfy the NKU entrance requirement or (2) novice-level proficiency in a second foreign language. Students can demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency by either completing the appropriate 200-level course in the language studied in high school or by attaining an acceptable score on the CLEP test in that language. Students can demonstrate novice-level proficiency by completing two semesters of a language not previously studied or spoken.

♦  Indicates prerequisite.

Degree Requirements (51 credits)

Core Courses for ALL Majors (27 credits)

Select one survey sequence from the following (6 hours)

British
American

Select one of the following (3 credits)

Select one of the following (3 credits)

Select one of the following (3 credits)

ALL Majors must follow one of the following five tracks:

Creative Writing Track (24 credits)

The creative writing track gives students background in the three major areas of creative writing studies. Students in this track receive workshop experience in specific fields.

Four-Year Plan: Click here  to view the Four-Year Plan for this specific program. To find out more about Four-Year Plans, visit the Policies and Procedures  page.

Creative Writing - Group A (9 credits)

Students must take three courses (9 credits) from this group.

Creative Writing - Group B (6 credits)

Students must choose two courses (6 credits) from this group.

Creative Writing - Group C (6 credits)

Students must choose two courses (6 credits) from this group.

Creative Writing - Capstone (3 credits)

Students must take ENG 450 (3 credits).

Total Credits 51

English Education Track (24 credits)

The English with Secondary Education Certification degree is a double major.  Students who plan to teach high school English must declare a major in English with the Department of English and a major in Secondary Education with the Department of Teacher Education. Students pursuing this degree should review the portions of this catalog relating to both major programs. Upon deciding to pursue this program, students must schedule appointments with an advisor in the Department of English and an advisor in the College of Education and Human Services. There are specific Foundation of Knowledge requirements for this degree. Students pursuing this degree do not need to declare a minor or area of focus.

Four-Year Plan: Click here  to view the Four-Year Plan for this specific program. To find out more about Four-Year Plans, visit the Policies and Procedures  page.

♦  Indicates prerequisite.

English Education Track - Group A (6 credits)

English Education students must take ENG 202 and ENG 203 in the core of the major to fulfill certification requirements.

Students must select two survey courses (6 credits) they did not use to fulfill core requirements, either ENG 208 or ENG 217 and either ENG 209 or ENG 218.

English Education Track - Group B (6 credits)

Students must select two survey courses (6 credits): Either ENG 206 or ENG 207 and either ENG 308 or ENG 309.

English Education Track - Group C (9 credits)

Students must select one of two courses (3 credits) and then complete two additional courses (6 credits) for a total of three courses (9 credits).

Students must select either ENG 381 or ENG 382, and they must complete ENG 535 and ENG 537.

Total Credits 51

Literary and Cultural Studies Track (24 credits)

The Literature and Cultural Studies track assures that all students will take twelve hours of survey courses between the core and the track, enhancing their historical foundation in literary and cultural studies. With three distribution requirements plus a capstone, students can meet requirements in the track while at the same time preserving an emphasis on historical breadth in students’ literature and cultural studies educations. This track includes a senior seminar option as well as an internship option to the capstone with an eye toward preparing students for post-graduation endeavors such as graduate school or employment.

Four-Year Plan: Click here  to view the Four-Year Plan for this specific program. To find out more about Four-Year Plans, visit the Policies and Procedures  page.

Literary and Cultural Studies Track - Group A (6 credits)

Students must select two survey courses (6 credits) they did not use to fulfill core requirements.

Literary and Cultural Studies Track - Group B (6 credits)

Students must choose two courses (6 credits) from this group.

Literary and Cultural Studies Track - Group C (9 credits)

Students must choose three courses (9 credits) from this group.

Literary and Cultural Studies Track - Capstone (3 credits)

Students must choose one course (3 credits) from this group.

Total Credits 51

Writing Studies Track (24 credits)

The Writing Studies track includes a technology requirement for Writing Studies students as well as a transdisciplinary component, both of which are intended to prepare Writing Studies students for career opportunities they might seek after graduation.  Additionally, the Writing Studies track has an internship option for its students’ capstone experience.

Four-Year Plan: Click here  to view the Four-Year Plan for this specific program. To find out more about Four-Year Plans, visit the Policies and Procedures  page.

Writing Studies - Group A (12 credits)

Students must choose four courses (12 credits) from this group. All courses must be different from those taken in core or in group C; ENG 394 topic must be approved by department chair as a Writing Studies course.

Writing Studies - Group B (3 credits)

Students must choose one course (3 credits) from this group.

Writing Studies - Group C (6 credits)

Writing Studies inherently involves connections to other fields; therefore, the courses in this group are intended to enable students to enhance these transdisciplinary connections.

  • The courses taken to fulfill this requirement must be in addition to those taken to fulfill the core, Group A, the capstone, an area of focus, or a minor.
  • ENG courses counted towards general education requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
  • Courses on the lists below taken as part of a double major outside of ENG can be counted towards both majors

Select 6 credit hours from any combination of courses from any of the following. (The categories are for organizational purposes only.)

  • English courses

Any additional 300, 400, or 500-level ENG course not used to fulfill any other requirement, including general education requirements.

Writing Studies - Capstone (3 credits)

Students must choose one course (3 credits) from this group.

Open Focus Track (24 credits)

The Open Focus track provides choice and flexibility for students who wish to combine courses from across the range of English studies to meet their unique needs and interests.

Capstone Experience (3 credits)

Students take one of the following two classes.

Electives (21 credits)

Students choose 21 credit hours of English courses at the 300-, 400- and 500-level from courses not used to fulfill any other requirements, including general education requirements.