Overview

The Department of English offers the Bachelor of Arts in English, the minor in English, and the minor in Creative Writing.

Powerful, persuasive writing, sharp analytic skills, and creative, flexible thinking are essential abilities for tomorrow's leaders and professionals. The Bachelor of Arts in English program cultivates these abilities through the study of the literatures, language and cultures of the United States, Britain, the English-speaking world and beyond. Our classes prepare students to engage the world knowledgeably and effectively so that they may go on to lead rich lives as professionals, members of their communities and global citizens.

Literature, the practice of writing and the analysis of language develop attentiveness and mental agility by presenting us with complex perspectives on social and artistic movements, historical events, cultural phenomena and communication patterns. A focus on English can not only lead to advanced study in English literature and other academic fields, but can also prepare students to enter arts and public administration, business, law and politics, where their skills stand to make a difference. English majors become critical and reflective readers, aware of the history and development of writing in English.

Students in English are also strong, inventive writers; able to analyze problems, do careful and innovative research, argue and evaluate the arguments of others. The emphasis on writing prepares English majors and minors for careers in publishing and journalism, public relations, business, industry, management, marketing, social services and government. English is a strong pre-professional major for medicine, library science and teaching, from the elementary to the post-secondary level.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: LA-ENG-BA

Distinction in Major

Students need at least a 3.65 GPA in English courses to earn distinction in major.

Accelerated Programs

The +1 Accelerated BA in English/MA in English is open to Temple English majors and is designed to allow students to graduate with both a master's degree and a bachelor's degree in English within five years of matriculating at Temple University. The program is designed for high-achieving English majors who have excelled in the first three years of their undergraduate studies, and who seek out the credential of a master's degree as an aid in teaching, publishing or writing positions, or in acquiring a competitive edge in applying to PhD programs. Students apply during their junior year.

An additional opportunity is available to complete the Bachelor of Arts in English and either a Master of Education in Middle Grades Education or a Master of Education in Secondary Education with one year of study beyond the BA. Students take several graduate level courses while still an undergraduate student.

• BA in English/MEd in Middle Grades Education with a Concentration in Language Arts
• BA in English/MEd in Middle Grades Education with a Concentration in Science and Language Arts
• BA in English/MEd in Secondary Education with a Concentration in English Education

Contact Information

Department Office
10th Floor, Mazur Hall
215-204-7561

Roland Williams, Department Chair
1042 Mazur Hall
roland.williams@temple.edu

Gabriel Wettach, Undergraduate Advisor
1030 Mazur Hall
215-204-8510
gwettach@temple.edu

LaTasha Goodman, Administrator
1041 Mazur Hall
215-204-8516
latasha.goodman@temple.edu

Rosemarie Wint, Coordinator
1030 Mazur Hall
215-204-7563
rwint@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in English.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements

• MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. For the English major, these courses are ENG 2096 and a 4000 level Capstone Seminar.
• Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements

• Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
  • 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
  • 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
    • Distribution Requirement for Humanities majors: Six upper level credits must be earned in the Social Science, Science, and/or interdisciplinary subject areas. Select from the following CLA departments and programs: Africology & African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Human Behavior, Economics, Environmental Studies, Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, Geography and Urban Studies, Global Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Latin American Studies, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies, Liberal Arts, Neuroscience (CLA), Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in all CLA/CST coursework, and in the major department.
  • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
  • Professional Development Requirement
    • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors or ENG 1801 Professional Development for English Majors would be an appropriate choice for this major. Several of our larger departments have alternatives for their program, these alternative options may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
  • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:
    • All students must complete or test out of the first and second levels of a foreign language - these courses are numbered 1001 and 1002;
    • All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and
    • All Bachelor of Arts students must complete one of the following options:
      • Third semester of a foreign language;
      • Demonstrated proficiency beyond the third semester in a foreign language (placement exam or certification from the language department);
      • Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Requirements page;
      • Study Abroad at an approved program; or
      • Take a second General Education Global/World Society course.
    • Notes on Foreign Language Study
      • The third level of language is numbered 1003 in French, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects.
      • Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
      • See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.

General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Curriculum Overlap Policy: Students may combine the English major with the minor in Creative Writing but only two courses may be used for both programs of study.

Major Requirements (36 credits/12 courses)

¹

This total does not include the Pre-1900 course above.

²

Indicates writing capstone for the major.

Suggested Academic Plan

Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.

Bachelor of Arts in English

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

¹

CLA 1002 can substitute for ENG 1801.

²

Register with the English Department.

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The following accelerated programs may be of interest to students in the English BA:

College of Liberal Arts

• English MA

College of Education and Human Development

• Middle Grades Education MEd with Language Arts concentration
• Middle Grades Education MEd with Science and Language Arts concentration
• Secondary Education MEd with English Education concentration