Discover your passion for literature with the English program offers a comprehensive education in literature, writing and critical thinking. With personalized attention from faculty and opportunities for creative expression, you'll cultivate your voice and become a versatile communicator.
English - B.A.
Contact Us
- Ryan Hediger, Ph.D. | rhediger@kent.edu | 330-672-1741
- Sheri McMahon | smcmaho7@kent.edu | 330-672-2676
- Speak with an Advisor
- Chat with an Admissions Counselor: Kent Campus | Regional Campuses
Bachelor's Degree in English
Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Bachelor of Arts in English provides students with a deep understanding of literature, language, and writing. The program explores a wide range of literary genres, historical periods, and critical theories, allowing students to develop strong analytical and communication skills. With a focus on both reading and writing, the B.A. in English equips graduates for diverse careers in education, publishing, communications, and other fields where strong language skills are essential, while also preparing them for advanced academic studies.
Program Information for English - B.A.
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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 and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the policy in the University Catalog for more information.
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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 .
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Â鶹ÊÓƵ’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 Â鶹ÊÓƵ students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Â鶹ÊÓƵ 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 .
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.
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Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Exhibit specialized knowledge and skills in literary studies or professional writing.
- Employ research tools and methods appropriate for the academic study of literature, rhetoric or writing.
- Describe and apply a variety of critical theories to the study of literature, rhetoric or writing.
- Produce academic, creative or professional writing with attention to appropriate genre conventions, format and citation guidelines, stylistic expectations and grammatical rules.
- 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.
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Coursework
On This Page
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) ENG 24001 INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDY 1 3 ENG 25001 LITERATURE IN ENGLISH I 1 3 or ENG 25004 LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES I ENG 25002 LITERATURE IN ENGLISH II 1 3 or ENG 25005 LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES II ENG 38001 CRITICAL THEORY AND READING 3 or ENG 38002 RHETORIC AND WRITING STUDIES ENG 49091 SENIOR SEMINAR (ELR) (WIC) 2 3 English (ENG) Electives (20000, 30000 or 40000 level) 1,3 6 Additional Requirements (courses do not count in the major GPA) UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1 Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below) 14-16 6 3 1 9 6 6-7 6 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).
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A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
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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
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) Writing, Rhetoric and Linguistics Electives, choose from the following: 6 ENG 20002INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING ENG 20021INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING ENG 24002INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITION THEORY ENG 30050WRITING AND RHETORIC IN A DIGITAL AGE ENG 30051WRITING, RHETORIC AND NEW MEDIA ENG 30053WRITING FOR VIDEO GAMES ENG 30062PRINCIPLES OF TECHNICAL WRITING ENG 30063PROFESSIONAL WRITING ENG 30064ARGUMENTATIVE PROSE WRITING ENG 30065EXPOSITORY PROSE WRITING ENG 30066WRITING IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE (ELR) ENG 30067FICTION WRITING I ENG 30068FICTION WRITING II ENG 30069POETRY WRITING I ENG 30070POETRY WRITING II ENG 30071CREATIVE NONFICTION ENG 30074GRAMMAR FOR EDITING ENG 30075STARTING A NOVEL ENG 31001FUNDAMENTAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR ENG 31002HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENG 31003LINGUISTICS ENG 31004LEXICOLOGY/LEXICOGRAPHY ENG 31006WORLD ENGLISHES (DIVG) (WIC) ENG 31012GENDER AND LANGUAGE ENG 31095SPECIAL TOPICS IN LINGUISTICS ENG 38895SPECIAL TOPICS IN WRITING ENG 39895SPECIAL TOPICS IN RHETORIC, COMPOSITION AND WRITING ENG 40072HOW TO EDIT PROFESSIONALLY ENG 40073HOW TO PUBLISH: BOOKS AND BEYOND ENG 41194TUTORING OF WRITING ENG 42092WRITING INTERNSHIP (ELR) ENG 42192SERVICE LEARNING IN ENGLISH STUDIES (ELR) ENG 43092TEACHING POETRY IN THE SCHOOLS (ELR) Historical Literature-Early Period Elective, choose from the following: 3 ENG 33001U.S. LITERATURE TO 1865 ENG 33010AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1900 ENG 34001MEDIEVAL LITERATURE ENG 34002BRITISH LITERATURE, 1500-1660 ENG 34055SHAKESPEARE ENG 34065CHAUCER ENG 34070KNIGHTS AND OUTLAWS IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE ENG 34090SHAKESPEARE IN PERFORMANCE (ELR) ENG 37001CLASSICAL RHETORIC Historical Literature-Modern Period Elective, choose from the following: 3 ENG 33002U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1865 TO 1945 ENG 33003U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1945 TO PRESENT ENG 33012MODERN AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE ENG 34003BRITISH LITERATURE, 1660-1800 ENG 34004BRITISH LITERATURE, 1800-1900 ENG 34005BRITISH AND IRISH LITERATURE, 1900-PRESENT ENG 34095SPECIAL TOPICS:MAJOR AUTHOR STUDIES ENG 39095SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERARY HISTORY Genre Studies, Cultural Studies, Literary Theory Electives, choose from the following: 6 ENG 21001INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC LITERATURE OF THE UNITED STATES (DIVD) ENG 21002INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD) ENG 21003INTRODUCTION TO LGBT LITERATURE (DIVD) ENG 32001CHILDREN'S LITERATURE ENG 32002LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS ENG 33005NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE (DIVD) ENG 33013AFRICANA WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVG) ENG 33014AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S LITERATURE ENG 33015AFRICAN LITERATURES (DIVG) ENG 34011WORLD LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (DIVG) ENG 34021WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD) ENG 34031SHORT STORY ENG 34041FAIRY TALES ENG 35105LITERATURE, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ENG 35201THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE ENG 35301LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) ENG 35401SCIENCE FICTION ENG 36005FILM AND NARRATIVE ENG 39495SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERATURE ENG 39995SPECIAL TOPICS CULTURAL STUDIES ENG 40089INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE: THEMES IN STUDY ABROAD (DIVG) (ELR) ENG 49095SENIOR AND GRADUATE SPECIAL TOPICS Minimum Total Credit Hours: 18 Literature Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) Historical Literature-Early Period Elective, choose from the following: 3 ENG 33001U.S. LITERATURE TO 1865 ENG 33010AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1900 ENG 34001MEDIEVAL LITERATURE ENG 34002BRITISH LITERATURE, 1500-1660 ENG 34055SHAKESPEARE ENG 34065CHAUCER ENG 34070KNIGHTS AND OUTLAWS IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE ENG 34090SHAKESPEARE IN PERFORMANCE (ELR) ENG 37001CLASSICAL RHETORIC Historical Literature-Modern Period Elective, choose from the following: 3 ENG 33002U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1865 TO 1945 ENG 33003U.S. LITERATURE FROM 1945 TO PRESENT ENG 33012MODERN AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE ENG 34003BRITISH LITERATURE, 1660-1800 ENG 34004BRITISH LITERATURE, 1800-1900 ENG 34005BRITISH AND IRISH LITERATURE, 1900-PRESENT Historical Literature-Topics Elective, choose from the following: 3 ENG 34095SPECIAL TOPICS:MAJOR AUTHOR STUDIES ENG 39095SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERARY HISTORY Course from Historical Literature-Early Period elective listCourse from Historical Literature-Modern Period elective listGenre Studies, Cultural Studies, Literary Theory Electives, choose from the following: 9 ENG 21001INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC LITERATURE OF THE UNITED STATES (DIVD) ENG 21002INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD) ENG 21003INTRODUCTION TO LGBT LITERATURE (DIVD) ENG 32001CHILDREN'S LITERATURE ENG 32002LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS ENG 33005NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE (DIVD) ENG 33013AFRICANA WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVG) ENG 33014AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S LITERATURE ENG 33015AFRICAN LITERATURES (DIVG) ENG 34011WORLD LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (DIVG) ENG 34021WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD) ENG 34031SHORT STORY ENG 34041FAIRY TALES ENG 35105LITERATURE, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ENG 35201THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE ENG 35301LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) ENG 35401SCIENCE FICTION ENG 36005FILM AND NARRATIVE ENG 39495SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERATURE ENG 39995SPECIAL TOPICS CULTURAL STUDIES ENG 40089INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE: THEMES IN STUDY ABROAD (DIVG) (ELR) ENG 49095SENIOR AND GRADUATE SPECIAL TOPICS Minimum Total Credit Hours: 18 Professional Writing Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) ENG 30074 GRAMMAR FOR EDITING 3 or ENG 40072 HOW TO EDIT PROFESSIONALLY Writing Electives, choose from the following: 9 ENG 20002INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING ENG 30050WRITING AND RHETORIC IN A DIGITAL AGE ENG 30051WRITING, RHETORIC AND NEW MEDIA ENG 30053WRITING FOR VIDEO GAMES ENG 30062PRINCIPLES OF TECHNICAL WRITING ENG 30063PROFESSIONAL WRITING ENG 30064ARGUMENTATIVE PROSE WRITING ENG 30065EXPOSITORY PROSE WRITING ENG 38895SPECIAL TOPICS IN WRITING Professional Experience Elective, choose from the following: 3 ENG 30066WRITING IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE (ELR) ENG 40073HOW TO PUBLISH: BOOKS AND BEYOND ENG 41194TUTORING OF WRITING ENG 42092WRITING INTERNSHIP (ELR) ENG 42192SERVICE LEARNING IN ENGLISH STUDIES (ELR) Rhetoric and Linguistics Elective, choose from the following: 3 ENG 24002INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITION THEORY ENG 31001FUNDAMENTAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR ENG 31003LINGUISTICS ENG 31012GENDER AND LANGUAGE ENG 31095SPECIAL TOPICS IN LINGUISTICS ENG 37001CLASSICAL RHETORIC ENG 39895SPECIAL TOPICS IN RHETORIC, COMPOSITION AND WRITING Minimum Total Credit Hours: 18 Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements Summary 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:- Intermediate I and II of the same language
- Elementary I and II of a second language
- 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
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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 programs offered by Â鶹ÊÓƵ; or (3) demonstrating 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.
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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.
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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 One Credits ENG 24001 INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDY 3 UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1 Foreign Language 4 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 14 Semester Two ENG 25001 or ENG 25004LITERATURE IN ENGLISH I or LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES I3 Foreign Language 4 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 16 Semester Three ENG 25002 or ENG 25005LITERATURE IN ENGLISH II or LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES II3 Foreign Language 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 15 Semester Four Concentration Elective 3 Foreign Language 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 Credit Hours 15 Semester Five ENG 38001 or ENG 38002CRITICAL THEORY AND READING or RHETORIC AND WRITING STUDIES3 Concentration Elective 3 Kent Core Requirement 3 General Electives 6 Credit Hours 15 Semester Six Concentration Electives 6 General Electives 9 Credit Hours 15 Semester Seven ENG 49091 SENIOR SEMINAR (ELR) (WIC) 3 English Electives 6 General Electives 6 Credit Hours 15 Semester Eight Concentration Electives 6 General Electives 9 Credit Hours 15 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
- Delivery:
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for English - B.A.
Graduates of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s B.A. Degree in English are well-prepared for diverse careers in writing, education, publishing, and communications. The program’s comprehensive curriculum, which emphasizes literary analysis, critical thinking, and effective communication, equips students with valuable skills applicable in a variety of fields. Graduates often pursue roles such as editors, technical writers, educators, and content strategists, contributing to industries like media, education, and public relations.
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English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
2.1%
slower than the average
81,300
number of jobs
$69,000
potential earnings
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Proofreaders and copy markers
-2.7%
decline
10,300
number of jobs
$41,140
potential earnings
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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
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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
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Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . 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.