English Focus Courses

After completing your core courses, you will select one of our nine focus areas to continue your studies. Each focus area consists of a selection of courses designed to work together to build a focused set of skills or knowledge you can apply to your career or life goals. You will choose four courses from this selection to complete your focus.

Spring 2026 Focus Courses

For a complete list of all courses for each focus, please consult the English Major's Handbook.

Note:
English B.A. Distributive Requirements: Diversity = (D); Geographical = (G); Historical/Genealogical = (H)

General Education Requirements: Diverse Communities = (J); Ethics = (E); Interdisciplinary = (I); Speaking Emphasis = (S)

Archives, Power, & Making the Present

  • CLS 371: Law & Disorder in Literature (H) (I)
  • LIT 342: Victorian Literature

Creativity, Aesthetics, & Design

  • CRW 201: Introduction to Creative Writing
  • CRW 202: Creative Writing I
  • CRW 203: Narrative and Lyric Forms
  • CRW 302: Poetry Workshop II
  • CRW 305: Creative Nonfiction Workshop I
  • CRW 400: Writing Seminar

Identity & Representation

  • CLS 203: African Studies (G) (J)
  • CLS 333: Latina Writing (D) (J)
  • LIT 200: American Literature I (H)
  • LIT 204: New Black Women Writers in America (D)
  • LIT 213: Asian American Literature (D) (J)
  • LIT 220: Children's Literature
  • LIT 342: Victorian Literature
  • LIT 398: Young Adult Literature

National & Transnational Cultures

  • CLS 203: African Studies (G) (J)
  • CLS 333: Latina Writing (D) (J)
  • ENG 339: Dialects of American English (D)
  • LIT 200: American Literature I (H)
  • LIT 204: New Black Women Writers in America (D)
  • LIT 213: Asian American Literature (D) (J)
  • LIT 370: Urbanism and the Modern Imagination (G) NOTE: This course will be taught as "Creating Space and Place in Literature" and will be a Writing Emphasis (NOT an Interdiscplinary) course.

Popular Culture & Cultural Studies

  • DHM 210: Introduction to Gaming
  • FLM 200: Introduction to Film
  • FLM 202: American Themes
  • LIT 398: Young Adult Literature
  • WRH 343: Visual Rhetoric in Comics and Graphic Novels

Public & Professional Writing

  • ENG 368: Business and Organizational Writing
  • ENG 371: Technical Writing
  • JRN 335: Ethical Issues in News Media (E)
  • WRH 201: Introduction to Rhetoric (H)
  • WRH 225: Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing

Social Justice and Activism

  • CLS 333: Latina Writing (D) (J)
  • DHM 210: Introduction to Gaming
  • ENG 339: Dialects of American English (D)
  • JRN 200: Introduction to Journalism
  • LIT 213: Asian American Literature (D) (J)

Sustainability & Environmental Humanities

  • LIT 370: Urbanism and the Modern Imagination (G) (I)

Visual and Digital Rhetoric

  • DHM 210: Introduction to Gaming
  • DHM 260: Digital Storytelling (J)
  • DHM 280: Introduction to Digital Humanities (I)
  • FLM 200: Introduction to Film
  • JRN 212: Digital Journalism
  • JRN 315: Magazine Article Writing
  • LIT 219: Literature for Young Children
  • WRH 342: Document Design
  • WRH 343: Visual Rhetoric in Comics and Graphic Novels