Apr 16, 2024

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

English B.A., with Creative Writing Concentration

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English B.A.

TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
Plans of Study

A bachelor’s degree in English prepares students for any field that values critical thinking, high reading comprehension, clear and effective writing, and the ability to interpret and analyze language. It provides two concentrations from which students must choose one: Creative Writing and Literary Studies.

University Admissions - College of Arts & Sciences

Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:

Freshman: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/freshmen/admission-information/requirements-deadlines.aspx
Transfer: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/transfer/admission-information/index.aspx
International: https://www.usf.edu/admissions/international/admission-information/index.aspx

For Admission information specific to the College of Arts & Sciences, see the information at College of Arts and Sciences .

Graduation Requirements - College of Arts and Sciences

Satisfactory completion of the following requirements:

Students must complete all State and University level graduation requirements.
Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in USF coursework. Note: Some Departments/program/major require a higher GPA. Students should refer to Department/program/major specific catalog requirements.
- The College may approve an exception when a student has successfully earned the minimum grade required for all courses applied in the major but does not have a major GPA of 2.0.
Physical Education coursework is limited to two (2) semester hours.
ROTC courses that are primarily physical training and field experiences will not be applied to College of Arts and Sciences degree programs. All other military Science coursework will apply, in particular, coursework utilized toward completing an established ROTC minor will be applied to the total hours toward degree.
When earning a second degree, double major or concurrent degree, the Major Core and Major Elective/Concentration areas of the degree audit must not overlap for both degrees. All other areas of the degree audit may have overlapping credit hours applied.
Maximum of 20 hours of S/U option. S/U contracts must be negotiated in writing within the first three (3) weeks of the term. None of the 20 credits may be taken in the student’s major unless S/U is the only grading option. Coursework fulfilling the General Education Core Curriculum Requirements and the State Communication Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Writing) and State Computation Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Math) may not be taken S/U.
The Audit option is available only during the first 5 days of classes.
Complete all major course requirements.
College of Arts and Sciences students are expected to complete a minimum of 50% of their major and/or minor coursework in residence at USF. Some College of Arts and Sciences Departments/programs/majors have established additional major course hours to be taken in residency at USF. See the major or program section of the catalog for these credit-hour requirements.

State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - English B.A.

Following Florida BOG Regulation 8.010, state mandated common course prerequisites are lower-division courses that are required for progression into the upper division of a particular baccalaureate degree program.

Transfer students should complete the State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at a Florida College System institution, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Successful completion of the common prerequisites alone does not guarantee a student admission into the degree program.

Unless stated otherwise, a grade of C is the minimum acceptable grade in prerequisite courses.

ENC X101 or ENC X000-X999* - 3 credit hours
ENC X102 or ENC X000-X999* - 3 credit hours

* Six semester hours of English coursework in which the student is required to demonstrate college-level English skills through multiple assignments.

English Major Core (39 Hours)

English Major Core Courses: 2 courses: 6 credit hours

LIT 2000 - Introduction to Literature Credit(s): 3
ENC 3310 - Expository Writing Credit(s): 3

English Major (Restricted) Electives: 11 courses; 33 credit hours

Students complete an English program of study, including 15 credit hours of electives and one of two concentrations in: Creative Writing or Literary Studies.

English Major (Restricted) Electives: 5 courses; 15 credit hours

Choose 15 credit hours of coursework from the following list of courses:

AML 3031 - American Literature From the Beginnings to 1860 Credit(s): 3
AML 3032 - American Literature From 1860 to 1912 Credit(s): 3
AML 3051 - American Literature From 1912-1945 Credit(s): 3
AML 3243 - American Literature 1945 to the Present Credit(s): 3
AML 3604 - African American Literature Credit(s): 3
AML 3630 - U.S. Latino/Latina Literature in English Credit(s): 3
AML 3641 - Native American Literature and Film Credit(s): 3
AML 3674 - Asian American Literature and Film Credit(s): 3
AML 4111 - Nineteenth-Century American Novel Credit(s): 3
AML 4121 - Twentieth-Century American Novel Credit(s): 3
AML 4261 - Literature of the South Credit(s): 3
AML 4300 - Selected American Authors Credit(s): 3
AML 4931 - American Literary Movements and Genres Credit(s): 3
AML 4933 - Studies in American Literature and Culture Credit(s): 3
CRW 3111 - Form and Technique of Fiction Credit(s): 3
CRW 3211 - Form and Technique of Nonfiction Credit(s): 3
CRW 3112 - Fiction I Credit(s): 3
CRW 3121 - Fiction II Credit(s): 3
CRW 3212 - Nonfiction I Credit(s): 3
CRW 3221 - Nonfiction II Credit(s): 3
CRW 3311 - Form and Technique of Poetry Credit(s): 3
CRW 3312 - Poetry I Credit(s): 3
CRW 3321 - Poetry II Credit(s): 3
CRW 4930 - Selected Topics in Creative Writing Credit(s): 1-3
ENC 3241 - Scientific Writing and Presentation Credit(s): 3
ENC 3242 - Technical Communication for Majors Credit(s): 3
ENC 3250 - Professional Writing Credit(s): 3
ENC 3330 - Rhetorical Traditions Credit(s): 3
ENC 3331 - Client and Civic Communication Credit(s): 3
ENC 3371 - Rhetorical Theory for Technical Communication Credit(s): 3
ENC 3373 - Rhetoric of Marginalized Communities Credit(s): 3
ENC 3376 - Multimodal Composition Credit(s): 3
ENC 3416 - New Media for Technical Communication Credit(s): 3
ENC 3435 - Rhetoric and Gaming Credit(s): 3
ENC 4212 - Professional & Technical Editing Credit(s): 3
ENC 4218 - Visual Rhetoric for Technical Communication Credit(s): 3
ENC 4260 - Technical and Professional Communication Capstone Credit(s): 3
ENC 4311 - Advanced Composition Credit(s): 3
ENC 4351 - Writing for Publication Credit(s): 3
ENC 4353 - Public Rhetorics Credit(s): 3
ENC 4377 - Advanced Rhetoric Credit(s): 3
ENC 4431 - Writing and New Media Credit(s): 3
ENC 4931 - Selected Topics in Professional and Technical Writing Credit(s): 3
ENC 4940 - Technical and Professional Communication Internship Credit(s): 3
ENG 3113 - Film as Narrative Art Credit(s): 3
ENG 3674 - Film and Culture Credit(s): 3
ENG 4042 - Studies in Theory and Criticism Credit(s): 3
ENG 4060 - History of the English Language Credit(s): 3
ENG 4818 - Feminist Digital Humanities Credit(s): 3
ENG 4906 - Individual Research Credit(s): 1-4
ENG 4907 - Directed Reading Credit(s): 3
ENG 4935 - Honors Seminar I Credit(s): 3
ENG 4936 - Honors Seminar II Credit(s): 3
ENG 4940 - Internship in English Credit(s): 1-4
ENG 4955 - English Studies Abroad Credit(s): 1-6
ENG 4970 - Honors Thesis Credit(s): 3
ENL 3015 - British Literature to 1616 Credit(s): 3
ENL 3016 - Studies in 17th and 18th Century British Literature Credit(s): 3
ENL 3017 - Studies in 19th Century British Literature Credit(s): 3
ENL 3230 - British Literature 1616-1780 Credit(s): 3
ENL 3251 - British Literature 1780-1900 Credit(s): 3
ENL 3270 - British Literature, 1900 to the Present Credit(s): 3
ENL 3273 - British Literature 1900-1945 Credit(s): 3
ENL 3331 - Early Shakespeare Credit(s): 3
ENL 3332 - Late Shakespeare Credit(s): 3
ENL 4112 - Eighteenth-Century British Novel Credit(s): 3
ENL 4122 - 19th Century British Novel Credit(s): 3
ENL 4132 - British Novel: Conrad to the Present Credit(s): 3
ENL 4203 - Introduction to Old English Credit(s): 3
ENL 4303 - Selected British Authors Credit(s): 3
ENL 4311 - Chaucer Credit(s): 3
ENL 4341 - Milton Credit(s): 3
ENL 4501 - Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Literature Credit(s): 3
ENL 4930 - Selected Topics Credit(s): 3
ENL 4931 - Studies In British Literature And Culture Credit(s): 3
LIN 4671 - Traditional English Grammar Credit(s): 3
LIN 4680 - Structure of American English Credit(s): 3
LIT 3022 - Modern Short Prose Credit(s): 3
LIT 3031 - Survey of Poetry Credit(s): 3
LIT 3043 - Modern Drama Credit(s): 3
LIT 3093 - Contemporary Literature Credit(s): 3
LIT 3101 - Literature of the Western World Through the Renaissance Credit(s): 3
LIT 3102 - Literature of the Western World Since the Renaissance Credit(s): 3
LIT 3103 - Great Literature of the World Credit(s): 3
LIT 3144 - Modern European Novel Credit(s): 3
LIT 3155 - Twentieth-Century Literature Credit(s): 3
LIT 3301 - Cultural Studies and the Popular Arts Credit(s): 3
LIT 3353 - Literature, Race, and Ethnicity Credit(s): 3
LIT 3374 - The Bible As Literature Credit(s): 3
LIT 3410 - Religious and Philosophical Themes Credit(s): 3
LIT 3451 - Literature and the Occult Credit(s): 3
LIT 3513 - Literature, Gender, and Sexuality Credit(s): 3
LIT 3621 - Literature of Climate Change: Climate Fiction Credit(s): 3
LIT 3930 - Special Topics in English Studies Credit(s): 3
LIT 4233 - Postcolonial Literature Credit(s): 3
LIT 4386 - British and American Literature by Women Credit(s): 3
LIT 4804 - Literature as Cultural Study Credit(s): 3
LIT 4930 - Selected Topics in English Studies Credit(s): 1-3
LIT 4932 - Selected World Authors Credit(s): 3
LIT 4933 - World Literary Movements And Genres Credit(s): 3

Creative Writing Concentration: (18 credit hours)

Courses used to satisfy concentration requirements cannot be used to satisfy in the English Major Elective Courses. Any course appearing in both English Major Elective Courses and a Concentration will be manually removed by your advisor.

Concentration Core: 2 courses; 6 credit hours

CRW 3111 - Form and Technique of Fiction Credit(s): 3
OR
CRW 3211 - Form and Technique of Nonfiction Credit(s): 3
CRW 3311 - Form and Technique of Poetry Credit(s): 3

Concentration Restricted Electives: 4 courses; 12 credit hours

Choose four courses from the following list:

CRW 3112 - Fiction I Credit(s): 3
CRW 3121 - Fiction II Credit(s): 3
CRW 3212 - Nonfiction I Credit(s): 3
CRW 3221 - Nonfiction II Credit(s): 3
CRW 3312 - Poetry I Credit(s): 3
CRW 3321 - Poetry II Credit(s): 3
CRW 4930 - Selected Topics in Creative Writing Credit(s): 1-3

Additional Information - English B.A.

Other Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 6 credit hours at the 4000 level.

Students declaring English as a second major need to complete 30 credit hours. To do so, they must make a written request to the Undergraduate Director at the time they declare English as a second major. Courses taken in the first major may not count toward the 30 hours in English as a second major.

GPA Requirements

Major GPA (All USF courses which are applied to major requirements): 2.5
General Education GPA (All USF courses which are applied to General Education requirements): 2.0
USF GPA: 2.0
Overall GPA: 2.0

Grading Requirements

C- or better to meet major course requirements unless specified elsewhere. Will vary by area.

Note: Some USF courses have higher grade criteria to meet prerequisite knowledge necessary for progression into higher level courses.

Residency Requirement

Department and College of Arts & Sciences Major Academic Residency Requirement - 50% of major must be completed at USF

USF Academic Residency Requirement - 30 of the last 60 hours earned must be from USF

Optional Honors Program

The Department of English Honors Program provides a carefully selected group of seniors with opportunities for advanced scholarship:

Closer contact with faculty tutors than students in the regular major program;
An opportunity to work and exchange ideas in the stimulating environment of a small group of fellow students with similar aims and abilities;
An opportunity to develop individual initiative and sophisticated critical skills.

The English Honors Program will benefit those interested in graduate work, advanced professional study, or greater intellectual challenges.

Admissions Criteria

Students may apply for the program after completing 60 hours of coursework. Applicants should have a GPA of 3.30 in the major and an overall GPA of 3.00 and should submit signatures of recommendation from two English faculty supporting their applications.

After screening all applications, the Department’s Honors Committee will select participants for each year’s program.

Requirements for Completion of Departmental Honors

The Honors student will complete the requirements of his/her chosen English Department major as described in the current catalog.
The Honors program requires 9 hours of Honors-level work.
- All Honors students are required to complete at least one (three-hour) Honors seminar (ENG 4935 or ENG 4936 ).
- Students may select from the following options to fulfill the remaining six hours of credit in Honors:
  - Up to two more (three-hour) Honors seminars (ENG 4935 or ENG 4936 ).
  - A three-hour independent study. The independent study should be connected to an eligible upper-level course in the major being taught in that semester.**
    - A list of courses available for this option will be made available prior to registration each semester. Students will attend some or all of the scheduled course meetings but will be enrolled in an independent study with the instructor. The independent study will be considered a special “Honors section” of the course and will require additional work that may include extra reading, class presentations, and advanced research-based writing. To enroll in an independent study, students will need written permission of the instructor, who will determine an Honors-appropriate workload for the course. The proposed plan for independent study must be approved by the Honors Committee and filed with the Undergraduate Director prior to registration. Students may count a maximum of one independent study in fulfillment of their degree requirements.
  - A three-hour Honors thesis, supervised by a member of the English faculty. The Director of the English Honors Program will serve as instructor of record for the thesis hours. Under the direction of the instructors of the Honors seminars and/or the Director of the English Honors Program, the student will choose a member of the English Department faculty to serve as director of his/her thesis and one or two additional faculty members to serve as readers of the thesis. The completed thesis must be at least 25-pages in length, not including bibliography.
  - A three-hour graduate-level course. Enrollment in a graduate course is limited to Honors students in their final semester and requires written permission of the Undergraduate Director, Graduate Director, and the instructor of the course. To be eligible, students must have completed at least one Honors seminar with a grade of A- or higher.
To graduate with Departmental Honors, the student must satisfy the following requirements:
- Complete 9 hours of English Honors courses as described above with a 3.30 GPA;
- Complete all major requirements with a 3.30 GPA and academic coursework with an overall GPA of 3.0.
The student who completes all requirements above will graduate with Honors in English.

**Faculty who are willing to accommodate the extra needs of Honors students will notify the Undergraduate Director before registration to have their course put on the list of eligible courses. The Honors student will enroll in an independent study but will attend the scheduled course and complete the bulk of the reading and written requirements for the course in addition to a special Honors project for the course (this could include a formal presentation of research, an independent research project, a longer research paper, a long annotated bibliography, a larger collection of creative work, etc. The independent study represents 3 hours of coursework.

Research Opportunities - College of Arts and Sciences

Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914 course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of High Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research is able to assist with further inquiries.

Advising Information - College of Arts and Sciences

Undergraduate Advising Information

The College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) Advising Team provides students with support to create timely graduation plans that will integrate both their academic and professional goals. Each of our undergraduate programs has dedicated professional advisors with specialized knowledge and understanding of the major requirements, course offerings, undergraduate research, and career opportunities in their field. Additionally, we have dedicated pre-health and prelaw advisors to help students prepare for admission to professional graduate programs.

CAS Academic Advisor Contact information can be found here: CAS Advisors

To schedule an advising appointment: Advising Appointments

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