English Studies (BA)

Summary

The major provides students with a foundation in English as an academic subject area from across all subfields represented in the department. Electives are chosen from courses in at least three of those areas. The program prepares students for the flexible thinking, creativity, and empathy that the current job market demands and global citizenship requires. Our classes cultivate the adaptable skills of reading and writing, creative and literary thinking, analysis, research, and presentation skills. Depending on the areas of concentration, this degree can prepare students for careers education, publishing, marketing, law, and administration. 

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Arts

Major Credits

36

Total Credits

120

Locations

Mankato

Career Cluster

Languages and Literature

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Program Requirements

Major Common Core

Course in which English Studies majors will synthesize, evaluate, and reflect upon coursework and prepare portfolios connecting their work to program outcomes. Must be taken during the last year in the major.

Prerequisites: none

* ENG 496 should be taken in the final year.

Major Restricted Electives

Choose 8 Credit(s).

Introduction to learning the written and oral communication of technical information. Assignments include writing and presenting proposals, reports, and documentation. Emphasis on use of rhetorical analysis, computer applications, collaborative writing, and usability testing to complete technical communication tasks in the workplace.

Prerequisites: ENG 101

Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-13

An introduction to literary genres and to the techniques of writing about literature.

Prerequisites: ENG 101

This course introduces students to sociolinguistics with some specific focus on the role of culture and language in education. Topics of study focus on diverse student populations in American schools, particularly language learners. The course examines the interaction between language(s) and culture and helps students explore how individuals are members of many communities and are influenced by a host of different cultural markers, such as language, race, ethnicity, regionalism, social class, gender, and other differences.

Prerequisites: none

Major Unrestricted Electives

Choose 16 Credit(s).

Other Graduation Requirements

Choose 8 credit(s): take one series Language

Minor

Required minor: Yes. Any.

Policies

Grade Policy. Students must earn a "C-" or better for a course to apply to their major.

P/N Grading Policy. Courses leading to a major in English may not be taken on a P/N basis, except where P/N is mandatory.

English Majors. Students majoring in English may elect one of the following minors: Film Studies, Linguistics, and Technical Communication. However, a course used to meet the requirements of an English major, minor, or certificate cannot also be used to meet the requirements of another English major, minor, or certificate. Consequently, because Technical Communication shares required courses, students may elect only one of them: BA English Studies Technical Communication Emphasis, BS English Technical Communication Option, the certificate in Technical Communication, or the Technical Communication minor.

Residency Requirements. Students pursuing a major and/or minor in the Department of English must complete at least 50% (half) of the required credits for the major and/or minor at Minnesota State Mankato.

Limits to Independent Work. Students pursuing a major or minor in the Department of English may earn no more than 33% (one-third) of the required credits through supervised independent work such as independent studies or internships, not including capstone experiences.