English, B.A.

The English major at Cal Poly Humboldt enables students to pursue careers across a wide range of areas: writing, editing and publishing, arts administration, digital content creation, research, librarianship, digital scholarship, education, and teaching English as a second or foreign language (TESL/TEFL), community organizing and service, and social justice advocacy.

High school students should take four years of English, including composition and literature to prepare for this major. We recommend the study of a language other than English.

Students who wish to have a specialization in English listed on their transcript are encouraged to complete one of the minors offered by the Department of English.

Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree requires a total of 120 units. Students must fulfill General Education & All-University Requirements , residency, unit, and GPA requirements as outlined in the Bachelor’s Degree Requirements . This major includes a Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) certified course.

Major Academic Plan, English, B.A.

Program MAPs represent recommended or possible pathways toward degree completion in four years (or two years for transfer students). Please see an advisor and use the DARS planner to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs.

English, B.A. MAP

English, B.A. Transfer MAP

Requirements for the Major (42-52 Units)

The English major consists of 28 units of core courses, 14-16 units of extended study electives, plus 0-8 units of a language other than English.

Core Courses (28 Units)

ENGL 218 - Conceptualizing English Studies Units: 4
ENGL 220 - Representation Matters: Literature and Identity Units: 4
ENGL 232 - U.S. Literature and Social Change Units: 4
ENGL 240 - Topics in World Literature Units: 4
ENGL 336 - U.S. Writers of Color Units: 4
ENGL 406W - Theories and Technologies of Writing Units: 4

Capstone Options

Complete one of the following courses, selected in consultation with a major advisor. Students in the English Education Concentration are required to take ENGL 426. ENGL 436 is recommended for students pursuing careers in teaching English as a second/foreign language. ENGL 461 is recommended for students pursuing careers in writing, editing and arts administration. Students pursuing other interests, including librarianship, literary/linguistic research or graduate study should select ENGL 422.

ENGL 422 - Professional Research Pathways: Research, Libraries, and Graduate School Planning Units: 4
ENGL 426 - Teaching Secondary Writing Units: 4 (required for English Education Concentration)
ENGL 436 - Career Preparation for Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language Units: 4
ENGL 461 - Professional Concerns in Writing and Editing Units: 4

E-Portfolio Requirement

Students build the shell of their e-portfolio in ENGL 218 . It is recommended that students take ENGL 218 when they enter the major. The e-portfolio is developed through the course of study and is completed and reviewed during the capstone course.

Extended Study Elective Courses (14-16 Units)

Complete four elective courses. Of the four courses:

at least two must be from one extended study area,
at least three must be upper division,
no more than one may be general education.

Note that some courses are options in more than one extended study area. However, each course completed may only be counted toward one area.

Language Requirement (0-8 Units)

One year of a language other than English taken at the college level, or equivalent competency. (4 units may count as GE Area C: Humanities)

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will:

Demonstrate the ability to draw connections between text and context (i.e., political, historical, linguistic and cultural contexts of race, class, gender and sexuality).
Understand how to use and apply information from public and scholarly sources in their writing.
Demonstrate understanding and application of rhetorical, literary, and linguistic theories, including accurate and appropriate use of disciplinary terminology.
Construct texts with attention to audience and purpose, effectively using public, literary, and/or scholarly sources and conventions of a selected genre.