Five Concentrations
Earn your B.A. in English
Chapter One
As you pursue your Bachelor's degree in English at CSU, 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
Anaïs Markwood, a recent graduate, 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 College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Grad, Anaïs (she/her) earned a B.A. 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.
Minors allow students to focus on an area that complements their major, enhances their knowledge and skills, or allows them to pursue a particular interest. The Department of English offers three minors: English, Creative Writing, and an Interdisciplinary Minor in Linguistics & Culture. To view a complete list of minors available at CSU, click here.
English
The minor in English offers opportunities for students to create a unique path through English and Composition classes.
This freedom allows students to pursue what they love most in language, literature, composition, and writing. Students will gain a set of skills, critical and creative both, that will complement both their major and future career.
Creative Writing
This seven-course sequence combines small, discussion-based writing workshops with classes in composition or literature. The Creative Writing minor is open to majors in all disciplines except English and offers a unique opportunity to balance work in the sciences, business, engineering, or the humanities with the imaginative freedom and cultural engagement of an education in the arts.
Students will gain experience in two genres (poetry, fiction, and/or creative nonfiction) as they study with published authors, interact with visiting writers, and gain familiarity with today’s literary landscape.
Linguistics & Culture
The Linguistics and Culture Interdisciplinary Minor is designed for students with a particular interest in language and its cultural interfaces. Its core is a pair of linguistics and anthropological linguistics courses, which are supported by courses in specific languages, and supplemented by elective courses in English; Anthropology; Languages, Literatures, and Cultures; Philosophy; and Communication Studies.
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.