English Focus Courses

For students who started BEFORE Fall 2026: 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.

For students who are starting Fall 2026: After completing your core courses, you will select one of our three 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 2027 Focus Courses: 3 Focus Areas (majors before Fall 2026):

Identity and Representation

  • CLS 260: World Literature I (G) (J)
  • CRW 305: Creative Nonfiction Workshop I
  • JRN 335: Ethical Issues in News Media (E)
  • LIT 303: Intro to Multi-Ethnic American Literature (D) (J)
  • LIT 339: 18th Century British Novel (H)
  • WRH 201: Introduction to Rhetoric (H)
  • WRH 225: Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing

Advocacy and Social Justice

  • CLS 333: Latina Writing (D) (J)
  • CLS 334 - Earth Words/Sustaining Stories (new course title)
  • CLS 365: African American Film (D)
  • CRW 301: Poetry Workshop I
  • JRN 200: Introduction to Journalism
  • LIT 204: New Black Women Writers in America (D)
  • WRH 315: Propaganda, Power, and Politics

Pop Culture

  • CRW 303: Short Story Workshop I
  • JRN 212: Digital Journalism
  • LIN 300: Language and the Internet
  • LIT 274: Feminist Poetry

Spring 2027 Focus Courses: 9 Focus Areas (majors starting before Fall 2026):

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 334: Earth Words/Sustaining Stories (new course title) 
  • LIT 339: 18th Century British Novel (H)

Creativity, Aesthetics, & Design

  • CRW 201: Introduction to Creative Writing
  • CRW 202: Creative Writing I
  • CRW 203: Narrative and Lyric Forms
  • CRW 301: Poetry Workshop I
  • CRW 303: Short Story Workshop I
  • CRW 305: Creative Nonfiction Workshop I
  • CRW 306: Creative Nonfiction Workshop
  • CRW 491: Creative Writing Workshop in the Long Form

Identity & Representation

  • CLS 333: Latina Writing (D) (J)
  • CLS 365: African American Film (D)
  • ENG 240: Language, Gender, and Sexuality (D) (J)
  • LIT 204: New Black Women Writers in America (D)
  • LIT 220: Children's Literature
  • LIT 274: Feminist Poetry
  • LIT 303: Intro to Multi-Ethnic American Literature (D) (J)
  • LIT 339: 18th Century British Novel (H)

National & Transnational Cultures

  • CLS 260: World Literature I (G) (J)
  • CLS 333: Latina Writing (D) (J)
  • LIT 204: New Black Women Writers in America (D)

Popular Culture & Cultural Studies

  • DHM 210: Introduction to Gaming
  • FLM 200: Introduction to Film

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 315: Propaganda, Power, and Politics
  • WRH 225: Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing
  • WRH 365: Writing for the Health Professions

Social Justice and Activism

  • CLS 333: Latina Writing (D) (J)
  • DHM 210: Introduction to Gaming
  • ENG 240: Language, Gender, and Sexuality (D) (J)
  • JRN 200: Introduction to Journalism
  • LIT 303: Intro to Multi-Ethnic American Literature (D) (J)
  • WRH 315: Propaganda, Power, and Politics

Sustainability & Environmental Humanities

  • CLS 334 - Earth Words/Sustaining Stories (new course title)

Visual and Digital Rhetoric

  • DHM 210: Introduction to Gaming
  • DHM 220: Foundations of Game Design & Development
  • 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