Department of English
TTU Home Department of English Undergraduate Degree Information

B.A. in English

Mission

The Department of English develops the reading and writing skills of students, increases their understanding of contemporary discourse and literary heritage, and strengthens their creative and analytical abilities.  Using a variety of theories and methodologies, faculty members contribute to research and creative activity in the humanities to advance knowledge and serve the public good.

Vision

Through its commitment to excellence, the Department of English will become a national leader in scholarly research, classroom pedagogy, and service to the profession and the community.  We will prepare students to think critically and creatively about literature, language, culture, and technology.  We will embrace the interpretation and production of texts as well as the opportunities and challenges brought to the humanities by innovative study and teaching at the intersections of literature, linguistics, creative writing, composition and rhetoric, and technical communication.

Values

In the Department of English, we value

English BA Programs and Certificates

The Department of English cooperates in interdepartmental programs in linguistics and comparative literature at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department also sponsors both the local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta (the national English honorary society) and a chapter of the Society for Technical Communication and supports the publication of six journals: 32 Poems, Conradiana, The Eighteenth Century: Theory and Interpretation, The Iron Horse Literary Review, Technical Communication Quarterly, and William Carlos Williams Review.

Bachelor of Arts in English

The program in English requires 120 semester credit hours, including the Core Curriculum, the major, and a minor. English majors must specialize in:

Course Descriptions

Degree Worksheets

Literature and Language

Students majoring in English with a concentration in literature and language study literary works from a wide variety of periods and genres. They learn to think critically and analytically about literature and about language itself. This concentration prepares students for many careers—including teaching, government service, and business—and for graduate and professional study in fields requiring extensive reading and writing, such as law, medicine, and business. ENGL 1301, 1302, 2391 and 3 hours from ENGL 2305, 2306, 2307, 2308, 2371, and 2388 are required for an English major with a concentration in literature and language. Majors must complete 15 hours at the 3000-level and 12 hours at the 4000-level in the following courses:

  1. 3000-level courses
    1. Period Course: Take three of the following: ENGL 3302, 3304, 3305, 3307, 3308, 3309, 3323, 3324, 3325, 3335, 3336, 333
      • One course must be Early: ENGL 3302, 3304, 3305, 3323, 3335
      • One must be American: ENGL 3323, 3324, 3325
      • One must be British: ENGL 3302, 3304, 3305, 3307, 3308, 3309

      Note that some courses fulfill more than one category (e.g., ENGL 3302 is both Early and British; ENGL 3323 is both Early and American). However, three courses are required from this group.

    2. Two additional 3000-level courses.
  2. 4000-level courses
    1. ENGL 4374
    2. Three additional 4000-level courses from the following: ENGL 4300, 4301, 4311, 4312, 4313, 4314, 4315, 4321, 4342, 4351, 4371, or 4373

Creative Writing

The major in English with a concentration in creative writing is designed for students wishing to write fiction, nonfiction, and/or poetry with the guidance of teachers who write. This plan allows maximum concentration in literature courses so that, as they write, students may further understand and appreciate the aspects and techniques of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In addition to the opportunities for writing and literary study, this concentration is especially appropriate for students interested in teaching creative writing and literature at the college level, studying creative writing and literature in graduate school, and preparing for professional graduate schools, such as law and business. Permission to take 4351 requires submission of a writing sample, the prerequisite of ENGL 3351 in the same genre, and permission of the instructor.

The creative writing specialization requires ENGL 1301 and 1302 and 6 hours of 2000-level courses: 3 hours from ENGL 2305, 2306, 2307, 2308, 2371, or 2388; and 3 hours from ENGL 2351 or 2391.

Advanced courses include 15 hours at the 3000 level and 12 hours at the 4000 level.

  1. 3000-level courses
    1. One early literature period course: ENGL 3302, 3304, 3305, or 3335
    2. One British literature period course: ENGL 3302, 3304, 3305, 3307, 3308, or 3309
    3. One American literature period course: ENGL 3323, 3324, or 3325
    4. Six hours of ENGL 3351 under two separate genres (fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction)
  2. 4000-level courses
    1. ENGL 4351
    2. Three additional 4000-level courses from the following: ENGL 4300, 4301, 4311, 4312, 4313, 4314, 4315, 4321, 4342, 4351, 4371, 4373, or 4374

Certification for Teaching

Students seeking a provisional certificate with English Language Arts as a teaching field may satisfy the requirement in English through the Bachelor of Arts degree. Certification requirements are determined by the State Board for Education Certification and are subject to change. A grade of C or better in all English courses is required. In addition, the certification program requires a 2.5 GPA in the teaching field. Before beginning to take advanced courses, students should successfully complete ENGL 1301 and 1302 and two courses in 2000-level English (2305, 2306, 2307, 2308, 2311, 2351, 2371, 2388, or 2391). Students wishing to follow any of the degree programs leading to certification should consult with the department’s undergraduate advisor.

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Minor in English

An English minor consists of 18 hours: ENGL 1302, two 2000-level English courses, and 9 hours of advanced English courses (3000 or 4000 level). To receive credit toward graduation, a student who is an English major or minor must receive at least a C in courses in English. A maximum of 9 advanced hours of transfer credit in English will be accepted for the major, and a maximum of 3 advanced hours of transfer credit will be accepted for the minor.

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Written Communication Requirements | 1301 and 1302

ENGL 1301 and 1302 are required of all undergraduate students. Some colleges require additional hours in English; students should consult their advisors concerning required English courses.

Students who score 360 or below (verbal) on the SAT examination or 15 or below (English) on the ACT examination are required to pass ENGL 0301 or any approved assessment instrument approved by the Coordinating Board (Asset, Compass, Accuplacer, or THEA) before they can take ENGL 1301. Although ENGL 0301 appears on the transcript, the hours do not count as part of the minimum number of hours required for graduation in any degree program of the university. A grade is awarded for the semester but is not recorded on the transcript; therefore, it will not be computed in the student’s grade point average. This course counts for meeting the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements for writing skills development. Students who must fulfill this requirement should visit the TSI Office located in 78 Holden Hall.

ENGL 1301 and 1302 are prerequisites for all 2000-level English courses. Two 2000-level English courses are prerequisites for all 3000- and 4000-level English courses (except ENGL 3365 and 3366).

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Faculty

Alphabetical listing of all TTU faculty and their academic credentials

Bruce Clarke, Chairperson

Horn Professor
Clarke
Professors
 Aycock, Bailey, Covington, Dragga, Hawkins, Hurst, Kimball, Lang, Patterson, Poch, Purinton, Rickly, Wenthe, Whitlark
Associate Professors
Baake, Baehr, Baugh, Borshuk,  Cargile Cook, Carter, Couch, Crowell, Daghistany, Desens, Eaton, Kim, Koerber, Kolosov-Wenthe, McFadden, Rice, Samson, Schoenecke, Shelton, Shu, Snead, Spurgeon, Still,  Zdenek
Assistant Professors
 Barrera, Bauer, Batra, Booher, Kvande, Navakas, Moore, Whitney

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Contact

Advising

English
Suzi Duffy

Mailing Address

212 English/Philosophy Building
Box 43091, Lubbock, TX 79409-3091
T 806.742.2501 | F 806.742.0989