Majors

The Department of English offers undergraduate English degrees with a variety of focuses, allowing students to tailor their academic studies to their interests and future career goals.

The B.A. in English

English B.A. students focus on one of three concentrations as part of their advising and path to graduation. Each of the concentrations is designed to allow students to focus on particular subjects and skills they wish to specialize in during their time in the Department. The Creative Writing and Rhetoric and Writing Studies concentrations have standardized requirements, but the Topic Studies concentration allows students to tailor their area of study to a particular subject or period such as Medieval and Renaissance Literature, Gender and Sexuality, etc. 

  • Creative Writing
  • Rhetoric and Writing Studies
  • Topical Studies

Requirements for the B.A. in English

University and College Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in English: In addition to the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirements (see under Degree Completion Program Policy), the following course requirements must be met. Bolded courses from the course list below may be applied to portions of the state minimum core.

State minimum core 35
World language up to the Intermediate II level 12
ENGL 11103 World Literature: Beginnings to 1650 CE (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 2113) 3
ENGL 11203 World Literature: 1650CE to Present (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 2123) 3
or any 3000-level or higher literature course taught in the Department of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures.
 
A minimum of 45 credit hours in English courses from the requirements below.  
ENGL 11003 Reading Literature 3
ENGL 20403 Rethinking Literature 3
Transatlantic Literature Surveys 12
ENGL 20503
Transatlantic Literature from Beginnings to 1640  
ENGL 20603
Transatlantic Literature from 1640 to 1865  
ENGL 20703
Transatlantic Literature from 1865 to 1945  
ENGL 20803
Transatlantic Literature from 1945 to Present  
Below are the survey course equivalences. For example, if you are still needing ENGL 26703 to graduate, you will enroll in ENGL 20503.
ENGL 20503 Transatlantic Literature from Beginning to 1640 substitutes for ENGL 26703 English Literature from the Beginning through 17th Century;  
ENGL 20603 Transatlantic Literature from 1640 to 1865 substitutes for ENGL 26503 Survey of American Literature from Colonial the Period to Naturalism;  
ENGL 20603 Transatlantic Literature from 1640 to 1865 substitutes for ENGL 26803 English Literature from 1700 to 1900;   
ENGL 20703 Transatlantic Literature from 1865 to 1945 substitutes for ENGL 26603 Survey of Modern and Contemporary American Literature;  
ENGL 20803 Transatlantic Literature from 1945 to Present substitutes for ENGL 23203 Survey of Modern and Contemporary British, Irish and Post Colonial Literature.  
 
Diversity Requirement — choose one course from the following: 3
ENGL 35403
Topics in U.S. Latino/Latina Literature and Culture  
ENGL 35503
Topics in Native American Literature and Culture  
ENGL 35703
Special Topics in Diversity  
ENGL 35803
Topics in Arab American Literature and Culture  
ENGL 35903
Topics in Gender, Sexuality, and Literature  
ENGL 38503
Topics in African-American Literature and Culture  
ENGL 45203
Studies in U.S. Latino/Latina Literature and Culture  
ENGL 45503
Studies in Native American Literature and Culture  
ENGL 45803
Studies in Arab American Literature and Culture  
ENGL 45903
Studies in Gender, Sexuality, and Literature  
ENGL 48503
Studies in African American Literature and Culture  
12 credit hours in ENGL courses numbered 3000-level or higher, with at least 9 credit hours from these ENGL courses numbered 4000-level or higher. Students must complete a minimum of 6 credit hours covering periods of study before the year 1800 and 6 credit hours covering periods of study after the year 1800. 1 12
Concentration hours 21
General Electives 13
Students who are pursuing any concentration other than Creative Writing must complete 3 credit hours numbered 3000-level or higher within their General Electives towards the University Residency Requirement (see Degree Completion Program Policy).
 
Total Hours 120

Requirements for Creative Writing Concentration

ENGL 20103 Creative Writing I (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 2013) 3
ENGL 30103 Creative Writing II 3
ENGL 32003 Poetry 3
ENGL 32103 Fiction 3
ENGL 40103 Undergraduate Poetry Workshop 3
or ENGL 40203 Undergraduate Fiction Workshop
ENGL 43003 Introduction to Shakespeare 3
Any ENGL or WLIT course numbered 3000-level or higher. 1 3
Total Hours 21

Requirements for Rhetoric and Writing Studies Concentration

ENGL 31003 Approaches to Critical Thinking About Literature and Culture 3
Select three courses from the list below: 9
ENGL 20103
Essay Writing  
ENGL 30503
Technical and Professional Writing (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 2023)  
ENGL 36003
Topics in Rhetoric and Composition 1  
ENGL 40003
Style and Grammar for Professional Writers  
ENGL 49003
Studies in Rhetoric and Composition 1  
9 hours of general electives. Students should consult with a faculty mentor when choosing general electives in order to select courses (or a supplementary minor or degree) that best support their professional goals and concentration focus. 9
Total Hours 21

 

Requirements for Topical Concentration

 

ENGL 31003 Approaches to Critical Thinking About Literature and Culture 3
9 credit hours in courses from a Topical area of focus. 1 9
9 hours of general electives. Students should consult with a faculty mentor when choosing general electives in order to select courses (or a supplementary minor or degree) that best support their professional goals and concentration focus. 9
Total Hours 21

Need help? Contact the Fulbright Advising office.

For more information about applying to the University of Arkansas, please visit the admissions website at admissions.uark.edu. There you can find information about tuition, requirements, housing, etc. You can even fill out an application online.