The English is a Bachelor degree offered by The Ohio State University on the Columbus campus in United States of America. The program is delivered on campus as a Full Time course in English and requires approximately 4 years to complete. Students study at the Columbus campus while gaining the knowledge and practical experience expected for this area of study. The next intake is available from August 24, 2027.

About Bachelor of English

Learn how to think and write critically and persuasively and understand the historical and cultural contexts in which texts are produced, disseminated and received.

English

Degree: BA

Campus: Columbus, Lima, Marion, Mansfield, Newark

College: Arts and Sciences

English students explore the worlds of Octavia Butler, interpret and perform Shakespeareâ€™s plays, study the impact of colonialism in literature and culture, and track the cultural reception of Jane Austen.

They analyze Halo and other video games; they consider comic series and their fandoms; they study digital media and the rhetorical structure of protests.

They craft short stories, sonnets and creative non-fiction essays. They publish blog posts and produce videos. They write research papers, grant proposals and technical reports, and they organize social media campaigns.

They become persuasive speakers, empathetic listeners, critical readers and sophisticated writers.

Most importantly, they are prepared to thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing professional environments.

Get started

On admission to the university, students can declare a major in English within the College of Arts and Sciences. Interested students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with an English undergraduate advisor as early as possible to discuss course requirements, study abroad opportunities and post-graduation career plans.

Curriculum

All students pursuing an English major at Ohio State take three courses to understand the development of American and British Literature.

Specializations

Students choose one of five concentrations based on their interests and their career goals:

Literature, Film and Popular Culture Studies
Professional Writing, Rhetoric and Literacy
Creative Writing: Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry
Folklore Studies
English Pre-Education (for students interested in teaching middle and high school English)

Students have the option to begin their English major course work without declaring a specialization, and they may switch specializations without delaying their progress towards a degree should their interests and goals change over the course of their academic career.

Career preparation

The English department offers a course focused on career planning for English majors. During this course, students meet with alumni, examine the value of attending graduate or professional school, organize internship and job searches, and prepare job application and interview materials.

Study abroad

Short-term and summer study abroad programs are available through the Department of English.

Students enrolled in the departmentâ€™s Literary Locations course spend a semester studying a site of literary importance (e.g., the Caribbean, Ireland, London, Rome or Venice) before embarking on a ten-day class trip to that location. For their participation in the course and the subsequent trip abroad, students earn four hours of upper-level English credit. Students can also repeat the course, provided the second version focuses on a different location, for a total of eight credit hours.

Students interested in living abroad for a longer period can spend four weeks studying and exploring London with members of the English faculty and earn three hours of upper-level credit toward their major through the department's Literature and Culture of London Summer Program.

Internship

Students are encouraged to pursue internships that will better prepare them for entry-level jobs in a wide variety of career fields or graduate school. Students can also earn academic credit for internships and other real-world experiences.

Students can speak with English undergraduate advisors about career interests and receive assistance with locating internship opportunities related to their career goals.

Honors and Scholars

Members of the Honors Program in the Arts and Sciences complete an Honors version of the English major. As part of the 13-course major, these students take at least three upper-level Honors seminars.

For detailed information about Honors and Scholars opportunities, visit honors-scholars.osu.edu.

Research

Our students regularly pursue independent research and creative projects under the direction of English faculty. These projects allow students to explore issues of personal, scholarly and creative importance; to solve complex problems using skills they have honed in the classroom; and to produce new knowledge and solutions that reflect their unique perspectives, talents and abilities.

In recent years, students have completed research projects focused on translations of Beowulf, pirates in 18th- and 19th-century British literature, postmodern conceptions of time and space in the work of Cormac McCarthy, rhetoric and 21st-century U.S. politics, the role of poetry in the education of lawyers, dystopian fiction and womenâ€™s reproductive rights, and gender-inclusive housing at Ohio State.

Students also have had the opportunity to produce television scripts, screenplays, literary novels, science fiction trilogies, books of poetry and collections of short stories.

Student organizations

English majors may be interested in joining any of the student-run undergraduate organizations affiliated with the Department of English, including:

English Undergraduate Organization
Mosaic Undergraduate Art and Literature Magazine
The Grove: A Creative Writing Community

Students are also invited to join Lord Denneyâ€™s Players, the department's theatrical group. Each year, the group provides an opportunity for undergraduates, graduate students and faculty to engage in intensive experiential learning and research around the annual production of a play or series of plays.

Possible careers

Having honed their writing and critical thinking skills and their ability to construct persuasive arguments based on evidence, English majors are prepared for entry-level jobs in a wide variety of fields including business, communications, finance, human resources, journalism, marketing, publishing, sales and technology. In addition, they often find employment with non-profit organizations or government agencies, and many go on to attend law school, medical school or business school.

There are thousands of Ohio State English alumni living and working around the world. They are writers, editors, entrepreneurs, marketers, lawyers, doctors, bloggers, photographers, publicists, professors, financial advisors, human resource managers, business owners, IT specialists, CEOs, and more.

Exploring careers

Each fall, the department hosts an Undergraduate, Faculty and Alumni Dinner designed to connect students with alumni working in a diverse array of career fields. This and other, smaller events offer students the opportunity to learn about careers otherwise unknown to them and to begin building relationships that can contribute to their success for years to come.

Students can explore career options through Career Connection and the College of Arts and Sciences Career Services Office. Providing complimentary services, Career Connection focuses on helping students establish a career direction, while Career Services assists students with finding internshipsâ€”experiences that are essential to exploring the suitability of potential career fields. Career Services also assists seniors and recent graduates with their search for entry-level career employment.

Salary estimates

Graduates of the English program earn salaries that vary based on their chosen career fields and the length of time working in those fields.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of English at The Ohio State University

Entry Requirements

Criteria of our holistic review, in no particular order.

Successful completion of university preparatory courses
High school performance (class rank or GPA), including participation in accelerated programs like Honors, AP and IB; Ohio State does not have minimum requirements for class rank or GPA
Standardized test score (ACT or SAT); Ohio State does not have minimum requirements for ACT or SAT scores
Ohio State has adopted a TEST-OPTIONAL policy for 2022 applicants. Learn more.
Ability and desire to contribute to and engage with a diverse campus community
Experiences that demonstrate leadership or engaged involvement (e.g., co-curricular activities, work experiences or military service)
Status as a first-generation university student
Demonstration of outstanding talent in a particular area
High school performance if adversely affected by physical, mental or learning environment factors
Eligibility for and likelihood of benefiting from organized support services at Ohio State

Enrollment in your intended major

Once it is determined that you are admissible, you will be considered for enrollment in the college of your intended major. Read about

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 79

English Program Requirements

we require evidence of English language proficiency, unless you have completed three full years of school at a U.S. regionally accredited high school or if you are a citizen of, or have received a bachelor’s degree from, Australia, Belize, British Caribbean, British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, the United States or Wales.

Tuition and Fee Information for Bachelor of English at The Ohio State University

How to Apply for Bachelor of English at The Ohio State University

How do I submit scores?

Ohio State has adopted a TEST-OPTIONAL policy for 2022 applicants. Learn more.

Tips for sending scores to Ohio State

Scores must come directly from the testing agency. When you register for the ACT or SAT, indicate that you want your scores sent to Ohio State.
If you already took the test but didn't send your scores to Ohio State, you can order them for a fee. Order in advance to be sure scores reach us by the application deadline.
We must receive standardized test scores by your application deadline (either November 1 or February 1 for autumn semester applicants).
October 2 (SAT) and October 23 (ACT) are your last 2021 test dates if you want your scores to be considered for our November 1 early action deadline. Important! If you plan to test on those dates, you must request that Ohio State receive scores when you register for the test. And please note: If you choose to have your scores considered, you won’t be able to review scores from these dates prior to submitting your application by the November 1 deadline.
Applicants who will have been out of high school for two or more years by their term of enrollment are not required to submit scores.

Is the essay required?

The essay is not required for either the ACT or SAT.

Should I take a standardized test more than once?

Ohio State looks at the highest composite score from a single test date. Taking the test (and having scores sent to us) more than once, while not required, may work to your advantage.

How does Ohio State look at scores?

When considering students for admission or Honors and Scholars selection, we consider the best official composite / combined score from a single test administration. Ohio State does not mix sub-scores from multiple tests.

These items plus the Common Application (STEP 3) make up a complete application. We must receive all items by the deadline to consider your application on time.

Official transcripts

High school transcripts

Request that your high school or secondary school send transcripts / documents / official copies of examination certificates for coursework from the final four years (grades 9-12) to Ohio State.

How to send your transcripts to Ohio State:

Your high school counselor can upload the transcripts / documents / official copies of examination certificates using Common App, Naviance or other secure electronic delivery service.
Your high school counselor can email the transcripts to [email protected].
If electronic submission is not possible, please mail your official transcripts to our express mail address.
Faxed transcripts will not be accepted.

Foreign language documents must be translated into English by the issuing institution, an authorized translator or a teacher of the language. Any additional requirements will be posted to your Applicant Center, so be sure to check your application status regularly after you've applied.

Official ACT or SAT scores

Ohio State has adopted a TEST-OPTIONAL policy for 2022 applicants. Learn more.

How do I submit my scores?

We must receive your official ACT or SAT score sent electronically directly from the testing agency. Scores from transcripts will not be considered. Read more about score requirements in STEP 1.

Optional: Recommendation from a teacher or counselor

While not required, your counselor may send a maximum of two letters of recommendation electronically through the Common Application.

If an electronic option isn’t available, your counselor may email your letter(s) to [email protected]; the letter must include your first and last name and OSU ID number, found on the email we send acknowledging receipt of your application. Letters sent via email are subject to sender verification.

Official proof of English language skills

You must request that your testing agency send official scores electronically to Ohio State demonstrating the English proficiency level outlined below:

TOEFL (internet-based test or internet-based test Home Edition*): 79 or higher
IELTS or IELTS Indicator*: 6.5 or higher
ACT: 21 or higher on the English section
SAT: 27 or higher on the Reading Test
Duolingo*: 105 or higher

You are exempt from this requirement if you have completed three full years of school at a U.S. regionally accredited high school or if you are a citizen of, or have received a bachelor’s degree from, Australia, Belize, British Caribbean, British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, the United States or Wales.

Ohio State has an intensive English program for students who wish to improve their language skills called the American Language Program. A separate application is required for this program. Ohio State does not offer conditional admission to students who enroll in the American Language Program.

*To accommodate applicants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Ohio State University will accept Duolingo, the IELTS Indicator and the TOEFL internet-based test Home Edition from any international student applying for spring 2022 or autumn 2022 admission. All Duolingo test takers are required to take an English placement exam upon arrival to campus. TOEFL Home Edition and IELTS Indicator test takers are required to take an English placement exam upon arrival unless they qualify for a TOEFL or IELTS score exemption.