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English - B.A.

The English B.A. program offers a comprehensive education in literature, writing and critical thinking. With personalized attention from faculty and opportunities for creative expression, you will cultivate your voice and become a versatile communicator. 

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Sarah Motts, Assistant Director EMSS
Phone: 330-337-4202
Email: smotts@kent.edu


EAST LIVERPOOL

Ashley Dunlope, Academic Advisor I
Phone: 330-382-7567
Email: adilling@kent.edu

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English - B.A.

Kent State University's 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.

Program Information for English - B.A.

Program Description

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.

Admissions for English - B.A.

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) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. 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's Academic Policies.

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 program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Exhibit specialized knowledge and skills in literary studies or professional writing.
  2. Employ research tools and methods appropriate for the academic study of literature, rhetoric or writing.
  3. Describe and apply a variety of critical theories to the study of literature, rhetoric or writing.
  4. Produce academic, creative or professional writing with attention to appropriate genre conventions, format and citation guidelines, stylistic expectations and grammatical rules.
  5. 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.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ENG 24001INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDY 13
ENG 25001LITERATURE IN ENGLISH I 13
or ENG 25004 LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES I
ENG 25002LITERATURE IN ENGLISH II 13
or ENG 25005 LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES II
ENG 38001CRITICAL THEORY AND READING 3
or ENG 38002 RHETORIC AND WRITING STUDIES
ENG 49091SENIOR SEMINAR (ELR) (WIC) 23
English (ENG) Electives (20000, 30000 or 40000 level) 1,36
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in the major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)14-16
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 19
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, 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 English (ENG) Electives: ENG 21011, ENG 41092, ENG 41192, ENG 41292, ENG 41392 and any ENG 10000-level course.

General Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
Writing, Rhetoric and Linguistics Electives, choose from the following:6
ENG 20002
INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING
ENG 20021
INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING
ENG 24002
INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITION THEORY
ENG 30050
WRITING AND RHETORIC IN A DIGITAL AGE
ENG 30051
WRITING, RHETORIC AND NEW MEDIA
ENG 30053
WRITING FOR VIDEO GAMES
ENG 30062
PRINCIPLES OF TECHNICAL WRITING
ENG 30063
PROFESSIONAL WRITING
ENG 30064
ARGUMENTATIVE PROSE WRITING
ENG 30065
EXPOSITORY PROSE WRITING
ENG 30066
WRITING IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE (ELR)
ENG 30067
FICTION WRITING I
ENG 30068
FICTION WRITING II
ENG 30069
POETRY WRITING I
ENG 30070
POETRY WRITING II
ENG 30071
CREATIVE NONFICTION
ENG 30074
GRAMMAR FOR EDITING
ENG 30075
STARTING A NOVEL
ENG 31001
FUNDAMENTAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR
ENG 31002
HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
ENG 31003
LINGUISTICS
ENG 31004
LEXICOLOGY/LEXICOGRAPHY
ENG 31006
WORLD ENGLISHES (DIVG) (WIC)
ENG 31012
GENDER AND LANGUAGE
ENG 31095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN LINGUISTICS
ENG 38895
SPECIAL TOPICS IN WRITING
ENG 39895
SPECIAL TOPICS IN RHETORIC, COMPOSITION AND WRITING
ENG 40072
HOW TO EDIT PROFESSIONALLY
ENG 40073
HOW TO PUBLISH: BOOKS AND BEYOND
ENG 41194
TUTORING OF WRITING
ENG 42092
WRITING INTERNSHIP (ELR)
ENG 42192
SERVICE LEARNING IN ENGLISH STUDIES (ELR)
ENG 43092
TEACHING POETRY IN THE SCHOOLS (ELR)
Historical Literature-Early Period Elective, choose from the following:3
ENG 33001
U.S. LITERATURE TO 1865
ENG 33010
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1900
ENG 34001
MEDIEVAL LITERATURE
ENG 34002
BRITISH LITERATURE, 1500-1660
ENG 34055
SHAKESPEARE
ENG 34065
CHAUCER
ENG 34070
KNIGHTS AND OUTLAWS IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE
ENG 34090
SHAKESPEARE IN PERFORMANCE (ELR)
ENG 37001
CLASSICAL RHETORIC
Historical Literature-Modern Period Elective, choose from the following:3
ENG 33002
U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1865 TO 1945
ENG 33003
U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1945 TO PRESENT
ENG 33012
MODERN AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENG 34003
BRITISH LITERATURE, 1660-1800
ENG 34004
BRITISH LITERATURE, 1800-1900
ENG 34005
BRITISH AND IRISH LITERATURE, 1900-PRESENT
ENG 34095
SPECIAL TOPICS:MAJOR AUTHOR STUDIES
ENG 39095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERARY HISTORY
Genre Studies, Cultural Studies, Literary Theory Electives, choose from the following:6
ENG 21001
INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC LITERATURE OF THE UNITED STATES (DIVD)
ENG 21002
INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD)
ENG 21003
INTRODUCTION TO LGBT LITERATURE (DIVD)
ENG 32001
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
ENG 32002
LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS
ENG 33005
NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE (DIVD)
ENG 33013
AFRICANA WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVG)
ENG 33014
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S LITERATURE
ENG 33015
AFRICAN LITERATURES (DIVG)
ENG 34011
WORLD LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (DIVG)
ENG 34021
WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD)
ENG 34031
SHORT STORY
ENG 34041
FAIRY TALES
ENG 35105
LITERATURE, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
ENG 35201
THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE
ENG 35301
LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD)
ENG 35401
SCIENCE FICTION
ENG 36005
FILM AND NARRATIVE
ENG 39495
SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERATURE
ENG 39995
SPECIAL TOPICS CULTURAL STUDIES
ENG 40089
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE: THEMES IN STUDY ABROAD (DIVG) (ELR)
ENG 49095
SENIOR AND GRADUATE SPECIAL TOPICS
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18

Literature Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
Historical Literature-Early Period Elective, choose from the following:3
ENG 33001
U.S. LITERATURE TO 1865
ENG 33010
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1900
ENG 34001
MEDIEVAL LITERATURE
ENG 34002
BRITISH LITERATURE, 1500-1660
ENG 34055
SHAKESPEARE
ENG 34065
CHAUCER
ENG 34070
KNIGHTS AND OUTLAWS IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE
ENG 34090
SHAKESPEARE IN PERFORMANCE (ELR)
ENG 37001
CLASSICAL RHETORIC
Historical Literature-Modern Period Elective, choose from the following:3
ENG 33002
U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1865 TO 1945
ENG 33003
U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1945 TO PRESENT
ENG 33012
MODERN AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENG 34003
BRITISH LITERATURE, 1660-1800
ENG 34004
BRITISH LITERATURE, 1800-1900
ENG 34005
BRITISH AND IRISH LITERATURE, 1900-PRESENT
Historical Literature-Topics Elective, choose from the following:3
ENG 34095
SPECIAL TOPICS:MAJOR AUTHOR STUDIES
ENG 39095
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
ENG 21001
INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC LITERATURE OF THE UNITED STATES (DIVD)
ENG 21002
INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD)
ENG 21003
INTRODUCTION TO LGBT LITERATURE (DIVD)
ENG 32001
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
ENG 32002
LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS
ENG 33005
NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE (DIVD)
ENG 33013
AFRICANA WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVG)
ENG 33014
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S LITERATURE
ENG 33015
AFRICAN LITERATURES (DIVG)
ENG 34011
WORLD LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (DIVG)
ENG 34021
WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD)
ENG 34031
SHORT STORY
ENG 34041
FAIRY TALES
ENG 35105
LITERATURE, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
ENG 35201
THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE
ENG 35301
LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD)
ENG 35401
SCIENCE FICTION
ENG 36005
FILM AND NARRATIVE
ENG 39495
SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERATURE
ENG 39995
SPECIAL TOPICS CULTURAL STUDIES
ENG 40089
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE: THEMES IN STUDY ABROAD (DIVG) (ELR)
ENG 49095
SENIOR AND GRADUATE SPECIAL TOPICS
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18

Professional Writing Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ENG 30074GRAMMAR FOR EDITING 3
or ENG 40072 HOW TO EDIT PROFESSIONALLY
Writing Electives, choose from the following:9
ENG 20002
INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING
ENG 30050
WRITING AND RHETORIC IN A DIGITAL AGE
ENG 30051
WRITING, RHETORIC AND NEW MEDIA
ENG 30053
WRITING FOR VIDEO GAMES
ENG 30062
PRINCIPLES OF TECHNICAL WRITING
ENG 30063
PROFESSIONAL WRITING
ENG 30064
ARGUMENTATIVE PROSE WRITING
ENG 30065
EXPOSITORY PROSE WRITING
ENG 38895
SPECIAL TOPICS IN WRITING
Professional Experience Elective, choose from the following:3
ENG 30066
WRITING IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE (ELR)
ENG 40073
HOW TO PUBLISH: BOOKS AND BEYOND
ENG 41194
TUTORING OF WRITING
ENG 42092
WRITING INTERNSHIP (ELR)
ENG 42192
SERVICE LEARNING IN ENGLISH STUDIES (ELR)
Rhetoric and Linguistics Elective, choose from the following:3
ENG 24002
INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITION THEORY
ENG 31001
FUNDAMENTAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR
ENG 31003
LINGUISTICS
ENG 31012
GENDER AND LANGUAGE
ENG 31095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN LINGUISTICS
ENG 37001
CLASSICAL RHETORIC
ENG 39895
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:

  1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
  2. Elementary I and II of a second language
  3. 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

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.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
ENG 24001 INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDY 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
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 Hours16
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 Hours15
Semester Four
Concentration Elective 3
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
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 Hours15
Semester Six
Concentration Electives 6
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
ENG 49091 SENIOR SEMINAR (ELR) (WIC) 3
English Electives 6
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Concentration Electives 6
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
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 for English - B.A.

Those who complete the Bachelor of Arts in English at Kent State University can benefit from specialized career opportunities in the English industry.

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
  • Editor and copy writer
  • Grant writing specialist
  • Community engagement writer and coordinator
  • Project manager – marketing division
Notice: Career Information Source
* 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.