Union Commonwealth University's English majors and minors find careers in a variety of fields, including teaching, business and industry, public relations, and journalism. Courses taken as electives also enhance students’ analytical and forensic abilities, complementing their coursework in programs such as nursing and criminal justice as they push towards professional careers. 

Median Pay: $56,000 per year 

Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's

Number of Jobs: 1,815,820

Job Outlook: 62% of jobs in this field require at least a bachelor's degree

Above information sourced from 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

A minimum 2.0 GPA is the requirement for admission at Union Commonwealth University. 

English Major Requirements (39 Credit Hours)

Requires 39 semester hours including:

ENGL 310 Major Author*** (3 Credit Hours)

This course closely examines a single canonical author or a small number of closely connected canonical authors through a variety of critical methods, with the aim of understanding texts in their historical, social, and cultural contexts. English majors should take this course in the fall of their junior year.

Six (6) credits from among the following courses:

ENGL 315 *Creative Writing (3 Credit Hours)

This course introduces students to the craft of writing in a specified genre: fiction, poetry, or literary nonfiction. Genres rotate from semester to semester. May be repeated twice for credit.

ENGL 327 Theories of Composition & Rhetoric (3 Credit Hours)

A practical and historical study of theories of rhetoric and composition, emphasizing their application to writing and the teaching of writing. Even years only.

ENGL 334 Small Group Writing Instruction (1 Credit Hour)

The theory and practice of writing, workshops and tutorials.

ENGL 340 Writing in the Disciplines (3 Credit Hours)

This course develops students’ skills in the preparation of writing proposals, case studies, literature reviews, and other common genres in scientific and technical fields. Even years only.

ENGL 410 Writing and the Environment (3 Credit Hours)

We examine the growing field of environmental communication, including the conversations and controversies surrounding ecological issues ranging from Appalachia to distant parts of the planet. Odd years only.

ENGL 427 Directed Writing (3 Credit Hours)

A tutorial in the production of public writing for an academic audience. Requires participation in an approved conference (undergraduate or academic) or other academic showcase; submission to an academic journal (undergraduate or professional); or submission to a literary magazine.

ENGL 485 Internship: Editing and Publishing (1 Credit Hour)

Under the supervision of the editor of an MLAindexed academic journal, students observe and participate in every stage of publication: calling for papers; preliminary editing; securing and directing peer reviewers; steering revise-and-resubmit; line editing; and production. Students will also practice publication on the journal’s blog. Successful completion of the course includes recognition as an editorial assistant in the masthead of the journal. May be retaken once for credit.

ENGL 421 History of the English Language (3 Credit Hours)

A study of the origins and development of the English language and its grammar from Anglo-Saxon times to the present. Odd years only.

ENGL 471 Shakespeare (3 Credit Hours)

A critical approach to selected histories, comedies, and tragedies, focusing on historical context, the plays as cultural phenomena, and human, literary and dramatic qualities. Odd years only.

Choose 1 cultural studies course from the following:

ENGL 235 Southern Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of the fiction, poetry, and drama of the American South, including such canonical figures as Poe, Faulkner, Toomer, Warren. O’Connor, Dickey, Welty, Williams, McCarthy, and others, as well as emerging or disputed writers. The course may be arranged by period, theme, or genre. Prerequisites: ENGL 111 and ENGL 112, or equivalent courses. Even years only.

ENGL 252 Appalachian Literature (3 Credit Hours)

An interdisciplinary study of the literature(s) of Appalachia, focusing on the region’s cultural richness and diversity, exploring such texts as novels, poems, films, and recorded song from the perspectives of literary critics and cultural historians. Odd years only.

ENGL 262 African American Literature (3 Credit Hours)

An introduction to the oral and written literature of African Americans, from the colonial period through the 20th century. Multiple genres such as the novel, essay, short story, autobiography/slave narrative, poetry, drama, speech/sermon, and songs are studied from the perspectives of literary critic and cultural historian. Even years only.

Choose 2 survey courses** from the following:

ENGL 211 Western Literature in Translation (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of non-Anglophone Western literary works and forms from antiquity to the present. May focus on a form, region, or theme.

ENGL 212 Non-Western Literature in Translation (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of non-Western literary works and forms from antiquity to the present. May focus on a form, region, or theme.

ENGL 221 Survey of English Literature I (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of literature written in English, in Great Britain. Includes the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Restoration, and the Eighteenth Century.

ENGL 222 Survey of English Literature II (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of literature written in English in Great Britain. Includes the Romantic, Victorian, Modern, and Contemporary periods.

ENGL 231 Survey of American Literature I (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of literature from the Colonial period to the American Civil War.

ENGL 232 Survey of American Literature II (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of literature from the Civil War to the present.

Choose 2 period courses**** from the following:

ENGL 320 Medieval English Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A study of major texts of the Middle Ages in England, with special emphasis on generic diversity and development. Even years only.

ENGL 321 Early Modern Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A study of major texts in the Early Modern Period, including Spenser, Marlowe, Jonson, the Metaphysical Poets, and early Milton, with special emphasis on generic diversity and development. Even years only.

ENGL 322 Restoration/Eighteenth Century Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A study of major poetry and prose of 1660-1798, covering Milton, Dryden, Behn, Pope, Swift, Johnson, and their contemporaries. Odd years only.

ENGL 323 Nineteenth Century Literature (3 Credit Hours)

Major poetry, fiction, drama, and non-fiction prose of the nineteenth century. Even years only.

ENGL 431 Contemporary American Literature Fiction (3 Credit Hours)

A critical and historical study of novels and short fiction, from the nineteen-fifties to the present. Even years only.

Choose 2 genre courses**** from the following:

ENGL 320 Medieval English Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A study of major texts of the Middle Ages in England, with special emphasis on generic diversity and development. Even years only.

ENGL 321 Early Modern Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A study of major texts in the Early Modern Period, including Spenser, Marlowe, Jonson, the Metaphysical Poets, and early Milton, with special emphasis on generic diversity and development. Even years only.

ENGL 351 The English Novel I (3 Credit Hours)

This course offers a study of the early novel in England from 1700-1850. In addition to examining representative works from this period, the class will also trace the historical and cultural contexts which contributed to the emergence and development of this new literary form.

ENGL 352 The English Novel II (3 Credit Hours)

The English novel from Dickens through the present. Even years only.

ENGL 451 Modern Poetry (3 Credit Hours)

A critical and historical study of poetry in English from Whitman and Dickinson, to the present. Even years only.

ENGL 452 American Novel (3 Credit Hours)

A critical and historical study of American fiction from its beginnings to the present. Odd years only.

ENGL 472 Capstone Project***** (3 Credit Hours)

Intensive study of a topic arising out of study in the major. Includes senior research project. Prerequisite: senior status.

*While ENGL 315, Creative Writing, may be repeated for credit in different genres, only 3 credit hours may count towards the completion of this requirement.

**Students in the English program must also fulfill the College’s Core requirement for Literature by taking an additional 200-level ENGL course.

***ENGL 310 (Major Author) is the English foundational course and should, except under special circumstances, be completed in fall of the student’s junior year.

****ENGL 320 (Medieval English Literature) and ENGL 321 (Early Modern Literature) may be taken for either period or genre credit, but not for both.

*****ENGL 472 (Capstone Project) should be taken during the student’s last year.

English Major Requirements (24 Credit Hours)

Requires 24 semester hours including:

ENGL 310 Major Author*** (3 Credit Hours)

This course closely examines a single canonical author or a small number of closely connected canonical authors through a variety of critical methods, with the aim of understanding texts in their historical, social, and cultural contexts. English majors should take this course in the fall of their junior year.

ENGL 471 Shakespeare (3 Credit Hours)

A critical approach to selected histories, comedies, and tragedies, focusing on historical context, the plays as cultural phenomena, and human, literary and dramatic qualities. Odd years only.

ENGL 472 Capstone Project***** (3 Credit Hours)

Intensive study of a topic arising out of study in the major. Includes senior research project. Prerequisite: senior status.

Choose 3 courses** from the following:

ENGL 211 Western Literature in Translation (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of non-Anglophone Western literary works and forms from antiquity to the present. May focus on a form, region, or theme.

ENGL 212 Non-Western Literature in Translation (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of non-Western literary works and forms from antiquity to the present. May focus on a form, region, or theme.

ENGL 221 Survey of English Literature I (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of literature written in English, in Great Britain. Includes the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Restoration, and the Eighteenth Century.

ENGL 222 Survey of English Literature II (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of literature written in English in Great Britain. Includes the Romantic, Victorian, Modern, and Contemporary periods.

ENGL 231 Survey of American Literature I (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of literature from the Colonial period to the American Civil War.

ENGL 232 Survey of American Literature II (3 Credit Hours)

A survey of literature from the Civil War to the present.

Choose 1 period course**** from the following:

ENGL 320 Medieval English Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A study of major texts of the Middle Ages in England, with special emphasis on generic diversity and development. Even years only.

ENGL 321 Early Modern Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A study of major texts in the Early Modern Period, including Spenser, Marlowe, Jonson, the Metaphysical Poets, and early Milton, with special emphasis on generic diversity and development. Even years only.

ENGL 322 Restoration/Eighteenth Century Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A study of major poetry and prose of 1660-1798, covering Milton, Dryden, Behn, Pope, Swift, Johnson, and their contemporaries. Odd years only.

ENGL 323 Nineteenth Century Literature (3 Credit Hours)

Major poetry, fiction, drama, and non-fiction prose of the nineteenth century. Even years only.

ENGL 431 Contemporary American Literature Fiction (3 Credit Hours)

A critical and historical study of novels and short fiction, from the nineteen-fifties to the present. Even years only.

Choose 1 genre course from the following:

ENGL 320 Medieval English Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A study of major texts of the Middle Ages in England, with special emphasis on generic diversity and development. Even years only.

ENGL 321 Early Modern Literature (3 Credit Hours)

A study of major texts in the Early Modern Period, including Spenser, Marlowe, Jonson, the Metaphysical Poets, and early Milton, with special emphasis on generic diversity and development. Even years only.

ENGL 351 The English Novel I (3 Credit Hours)

This course offers a study of the early novel in England from 1700-1850. In addition to examining representative works from this period, the class will also trace the historical and cultural contexts which contributed to the emergence and development of this new literary form.

ENGL 352 The English Novel II (3 Credit Hours)

The English novel from Dickens through the present. Even years only.

ENGL 452 American Novel (3 Credit Hours)

A critical and historical study of American fiction from its beginnings to the present. Odd years only.

*While ENGL 315, Creative Writing, may be repeated for credit in different genres, only 3 credit hours may count towards the completion of this requirement.

**Students in the English program must also fulfill the College’s Core requirement for Literature by taking an additional 200-level ENGL course.

***ENGL 310 (Major Author) is the English foundational course and should, except under special circumstances, be completed in fall of the student’s junior year.

****ENGL 320 (Medieval English Literature) and ENGL 321 (Early Modern Literature) may be taken for either period or genre credit, but not for both.

*****ENGL 472 (Capstone Project) should be taken during the student’s last year.