Five Concentrations
Bachelor's Programs in English
Chapter One
As you pursue a BA in English, you'll be encouraged to tap into your curiosity and creativity, learn how to write purposely for a variety of audiences, and develop cultural understanding by exploring literature from a wide range of global perspectives and historical contexts.
English majors can choose from five concentrations, allowing you to focus and specialize according to your interests and future goals:
No matter which direction you choose, you’ll have the support and mentoring of faculty and staff committed to your success.
Along with courses specifically for a concentration, all English majors take the same core courses:
- E 240: Introduction to Poetry
- E 270: Introduction to American Literature
- E 276/277: Survey of British Literature I or II
- CO 300 or CO 301 A-D: Upper-Division Composition
- E 341: Principles of Literary Criticism
Why I Chose English
Recent grad Anaïs Markwood credits her love of writing and her family’s advice for helping her decide to study English.
“My dad really encouraged me. He said, ‘Good writers are always going to be needed. With an English major, you can do anything.’ Eventually, I decided to follow my heart and choose English. This choice was affirmed on my first day of college, when I went to all my English classes and felt absolutely at home there.
Getting to do what I loved every day for four years made me so excited for college. My decision to be an English major has been reaffirmed every day since...I now know that there are many more job options than being a teacher, and I’m interested in pursuing careers like editing, publishing, or technical writing in the future. Even if I don’t end up in any of those fields, I know that my writing skills will help me in any job I have.”
Named a 2024 Outstanding Grad for the College of Liberal Arts, Anaïs (she/her) majored in English with a double concentration in Writing, Rhetoric & Literacy and Creative Writing. She also minored in Interdisciplinary Arabic Studies and co-founded the Arabic Culture and Language Club on campus.
Composition
The University Composition Program is a vital part of the English Department at Colorado State University. We offer more than 250 sections of writing courses to about 6000 students each year, as well as serving between 2500 and 3000 students a year in our Writing Center.
In addition to offering lower and upper division courses that fulfill the All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) requirements, the English Department also offers an undergraduate concentration in Writing, Rhetoric, and Literacy and an MA focused on Writing, Rhetoric, and Social Change.
On the composition website you can find out about the University Composition Program including faculty, courses, and composition placement as well as access contact information and related resources.
gtPathways
gtPathways offers resources that address how and why writing can be effective catalysts for learning in any discipline.
Faculty, instructors, graduate teaching assistants, and anyone else involved in this initiative will find useful resources on this site related to assigning writing, grading and responding to student writing, the importance of critical thinking, the challenges associated with integrating writing into a course, and much more.
The Rambler
The Rambler is a newsletter that includes what you need to know about registration, such as course offerings for the upcoming semester(s), registration details, advising information, important dates, Composition Placement Challenge & Re-Evaluation Essay information, and details about awards and internships.
“It is a phenomenal program in which you can really find support for your passion, your voice, and your contribution to the world.”
~Jessica Patterson, BA English and MA English: Communication Development
“The Humanities are crucial in teaching empathy and understanding. They both force and allow you to explore different points of view and challenge your own beliefs.”
~Ashley Alfirevic, BA English: Literature
Declaring an English Major
To declare an English major, make an appointment with one of our English Academic Success Coordinators by calling 970.491.3117.