English

OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Miminum number of credits required to complete the major: 36

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: A “C-” or better in all courses counted toward the English Major.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in the courses in the major field that are credited toward the major

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: ENG 499 when taken with a variety of 400 level courses. ENG 490 and ENG 496 can only serve as capstone courses when they are accompanied by ENG 499. HON 498 and HON 499. Successful completion of ENG 395 followed by at least one semester of tutoring in the Writing Center.

Courses satisfying the writing intensive requirement within the major: ENG 301, ENG 307, ENG 309, ENG 309, ENG 315, ENG 317, ENG 395, ENG 402, ENG 405, ENG 415, ENG 416, ENG 418, ENG 440, ENG 445, ENG 459, ENG 460, ENG 470, ENG 471 and ENG 490

Residency Requirement: At least 18 credits in the major must be taken at UMaine

Contact Information: Steven Evans, Department Chair, 304 Neville Hall, (207) 581-3823, steven.evans@maine.edu

The requirements listed on this page are specific to this particular major. Students are also responsible for meeting any graduation requirements set out by their college. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) should make sure to review those requirements as stated on the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences page of the catalog.

For more information about our undergraduate and graduate programs, program learning outcomes, internships, special resources and programs, and career opportunities, see our web site at https://english.umaine.edu

Information about the English Major

Core Requirements for All Majors:

Majors take a minimum of 36 credits in English beyond ENG 101. At least 18 of these credits must be University of Maine courses. By the time of graduation, a student must also complete an additional field requirement, which may be satisfied in three ways: a minor, a second major, or intermediate proficiency in a language other than English (to the 204 level in college courses, or the equivalent by examination).

All majors must complete the following specific requirements:

ENG 170 - Foundations of Literary Analysis Credits: 3
ENG 222 - Reading Poems Credits: 3
ENG 271 - The Act of Interpretation Credits: 3
Five literature courses at the 300 or 400 level, with two of these courses being at the 400 level, including at least one British and one before 1800 Credits: 15
One additional English course at the 200 level or higher Credits: 3

Writing Requirement for All Majors

Majors are required to complete a minimum of three writing courses (9 credits) above the level of ENG 101. Two of those courses must be at the 300 or 400 level.

These three courses can be chosen from the analytical writing, creative writing, and/or professional and technical writing options listed under “Writing Concentration Options” below. Concentrations are strongly encouraged but not required for graduation.

200 level writing courses include: ENG 201 , ENG 205 , ENG 206

300 and 400 level writing courses include: ENG 301 ENG 307 ENG 308 ENG 309 ENG 315 ENG 317 ENG 395 ENG 402 ENG 407 ENG 408 ENG 415 ENG 416

Writing Concentration Options

Writing Concentrations offer students a structured progression through the fields of Creative Writing, Analytical Writing, or Technical/Professional Writing. Each concentration provides both introductory and advanced instruction and prepares students for further education or for work in many professions. Each writing concentration requires a sequence of courses beginning at the 200 or 300 level and culminating in advanced coursework or pre-professional experiences in the senior year

Creative Writing (9 credits):

This concentration allows students to explore their worlds with carefully crafted language and to make the writing of imaginative literature a way of life. Course work usually includes:

ENG 205 - An Introduction to Creative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 206 - Descriptive and Narrative Writing Credits: 3
ENG 307 - Writing Fiction Credits: 3
or
ENG 308 - Writing Poetry Credits: 3
or
ENG 309 - Writing Creative Nonfiction Credits: 3
ENG 405 - Topics in Creative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 407 - Advanced Fiction Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 408 - Advanced Poetry Writing Credits: 3
The Capstone Experience for this sequence is completed by the submission and approval of a creative manuscript, usually supervised by the instructor of the 400-level writing workshop. Students register for ENG 499, a non-credit Capstone designator, in the semester they plan to complete their Capstone.

Analytical Writing (9 credits):

This concentration is for students whose primary interest is in literature, literary theory, and in writing essays, literary criticism, and academic papers. It provides excellent preparation for law school or for graduate study in language and literature. It is also useful for students planning to teach at the secondary or college level. Course work includes:

ENG 201 - Strategies for Writing Across Contexts Credits: 3
or
ENG 206 - Descriptive and Narrative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 315 - Research Writing in the Disciplines Credits: 3
Two of the following:
ENG 301 - Seminar in Writing Studies Credits: 3
ENG 309 - Writing Creative Nonfiction Credits: 3
ENG 395 - English Internship Credits: 3
ENG 402 - Topics in Writing and Research Credits: 3
The Capstone Experience for this sequence is completed by tutoring for a semester in the Writing Center after the completion of ENG 395, by completing ENG 402, or by completing a thesis-level research paper in a 400-level literature course. Students register for ENG 499, a non-credit Capstone designator, in the semester they plan to complete their Capstone.

Technical/Professional Writing (12 credits):

This 12-credit concentration is useful for students planning careers in such diverse professions as law, public relations, management, arts administration, technical writing, and journalism. Course work usually includes:

ENG 317 - Business and Technical Writing Credits: 3
Two of the following:
ENG 415 - Advanced Report & Proposal Writing Credits: 3
ENG 416 - Technical Editing & Document Design Credits: 3
ENG 418 - Topics in Professional Writing Credits: 3
and
ENG 496 - Field Experience in Professional Writing Credits: 1-6
Students register for ENG 499, a non-credit Capstone designator, in the semester they plan to complete their Field Experience.

Senior Capstone Requirement:

The senior capstone requirement applies to all majors and all concentrations. It may be satisfied in a number of ways appropriate to a student’s interests and plans, and is normally a natural culmination to previous choices within the major. Most of the capstone options also satisfy other major requirements. Any one of the following courses or experiences may be used:

Any ENG 400 level literature course in which the student writes a substantial research paper; ENG 490 is optimized for the Capstone experience but all 400 level literature courses can fulfill the requirement by arrangement with the instructor.

ENG 395 - English Internship Credits: 3
and at least one semester tutoring in the Writing Center
ENG 400-level literature course in which the student writes a seminar-quality research paper
ENG 402 - Topics in Writing and Research Credits: 3
ENG 405 - Topics in Creative Writing Credits: 3
ENG 407 - Advanced Fiction Writing Credits: 3
ENG 408 - Advanced Poetry Writing Credits: 3
ENG 496 - Field Experience in Professional Writing Credits: 1-6
(at least 3 hrs.)

Approval of an Honors thesis with a topic in an area of English studies

Note: Students register for ENG 499 (zero credit, zero tuition) during the semester they will complete their capstone work. ENG 499 is open by permission only; contact the department to complete paperwork.

Suggested four-year plan for the BA in English

First Year - First Semester

ENG 101 - College Composition Credits: 3
or
ENG 129 - Topics in English Credits: 3 (not online)
or
ENG 170 - Foundations of Literary Analysis Credits: 3

First Year - Second Semester

ENG 101 - College Composition Credits: 3
or
ENG 129 - Topics in English Credits: 3 (not online)
or
ENG 170 - Foundations of Literary Analysis Credits: 3
ENG 205 - An Introduction to Creative Writing Credits: 3
Credits toward Additional Field Requirement (second language, minor or second major) General Education Credits: 8-9

Second Year - First Semester

ENG 201 - Strategies for Writing Across Contexts Credits: 3
or
ENG 205 - An Introduction to Creative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 206 - Descriptive and Narrative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 222 - Reading Poems Credits: 3
Credits toward Additional Field Requirement, BA Requirement, General Education Requirements and electives Credits: 4-6

Second Year - Second Semester

ENG 201 - Strategies for Writing Across Contexts Credits: 3
or
ENG 205 - An Introduction to Creative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 206 - Descriptive and Narrative Writing Credits: 3
or
ENG 317 - Business and Technical Writing Credits: 3
ENG 271 - The Act of Interpretation Credits: 3
ENG 200 or 400-level Credits: 3
200-level language if needed or credits chosen from remaining General Education and BA requirements and free electives Credits: 3-4

Third Year - First Semester

ENG 315 - Research Writing in the Disciplines Credits: 3
ENG 300 or 400-level writing course in concentration. Credits: 3
ENG 300 level literature courses. Credits: 3-6
General Education and B.A. Requirements. Credits: 6-9

Third Year - Second Semester

ENG 300 or 400 level writing course. Credits: 3
ENG 300 level literature course. Credits: 3-6
Electives, other program requirements remaining. Credits: 3-6

Fourth Year - First Semester

ENG 400 level literature and writing courses including capstone options Credits: 3-12
Electives Credits: 3-9

Fourth Year - Second Semester

Finish capstone and ENG 300/400-level courses if you haven’t already done so.