Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in English

s for the BA Degree with a Major in English

Upon completing the BA degree with a major in English, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. Competence in literary analysis.
2. Understanding of literature in relation to its historical and socio-cultural contexts. 
3. Disciplinary-specific methodological, critical, and theoretical training. 
4. Critical writing skills in papers of varying length. 
5. Disciplinary-specific research knowledge.

BA Degree with a Major in English

For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing BA degree with a major in English must complete:

• A minimum of 55 courses (33-36 credit hours, depending on course selection) to satisfy major requirements.
• A minimum of 520 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
• A minimum of 7 courses (25 credit hours) taken at 300-level or above.
• one area of specialization (see below for areas of specialization). When students declare major in English, students must additionally identify and declare one of four areas of specialization, either in:
  • Culture and Social Change, or
  • Literature and Literary History, or 
  • Science, Medicine, and Environment, or
  • Visual and Comparative Media. 

Because of common core requirements, it is possible for students to change their area of specialization at any time, even after initially declaring major. To do so, please contact the Office of Registrar.

AP course credit is not permitted to count towards major. department recommends that all English majors take courses in British and American history and, if they plan to do graduate work, at least 6 credit hours of upper-level coursework in a foreign language.  

courses listed below satisfy this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of major’s academic advisor, or where applicable, department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document courses to be taken.

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate English proficiency in one of two ways:

1. Completing at least two years of full-time study in an English language curriculum prior to submitting an application.

2. Submitting one of the following official test scores.

• The Coalition Application or the Common Application and Rice writing supplement
• $75 nonrefundable application fee (must be paid online)
• Official high school transcript in English (or a certified English translation)
• Recommendation Letters
  • School Counselor
  • Teacher 5
  • Teacher 2
• Demonstration of English proficiency
• International Student Financial Statement
• Architecture portfolio (Architecture applicants only)