Department of English

English Major (B.A.)

Program objectives for a B.A. in English are: (a) to develop skills in critical thinking, reading, and writing; (b) to have opportunities to consider the relationships among language, literature, culture, and writing; (c) to concentrate study of these interrelated areas in one of six endeavors, each with its own particular focus: African American literature, applied linguistics, creative writing, English as a second language, literature, and professional writing.

A. University General Education Program (41 hours)

See Graduation from the University for the University General Education Program requirements.

B. College and Degree (B.A.) Requirements (12-16 hours)

The College and Bachelor of Arts requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements.

C. The Major (42 hours)

1. Major Core: Completion of 21 semester hours in English courses (chosen with approval of departmental advisor), including ENGL 1010, 1020; 2201 or 2202 (these courses are included in the University General Education Program requirements), ENGL 3210, 3220, and 3327; one course from ENGL 3501, 3511, 3604, 3701, 4501, 4602, 4604, or 4605. Students in the Creative Writing Concentration must take either ENGL 4599, 4604 or 4605. Students in the Professional Writing Concentration must take either ENGL 3604 or 4602. (see note 2).

2. Concentration (12 hours)

a. African-American Literature: 12 semester hours including ENGL 3325, 3326, 4372, and 4373.

b. Creative Writing: 12 semester hours including: 1) 6 hours composed of ENGL 3606 and either 3607 or 3608; and 2) 6 hours of 4000-level workshop courses: 4600, 4601, or 4603. Students planning to apply for graduate school in Creative Writing should consult closely with a faculty advisor in Creative Writing and should plan on taking two or more of their 4000-level courses (workshops and forms courses) in a single genre (poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction).

c. English as a Second Language: 12 hours from ENGL 4101-4109 (only in ESL), 4530, 4531, 4532, 4533. With approval of advisor, a maximum of 6 hours in Language and Linguistics courses may be substituted for ESL courses.

d. Language and Linguistics: 12 hours from ENGL 3501, 3511, 3521, 4501-4521, 4540-4550.

e. Literature: 12 hours from ENGL 3100-3119 (only in literature), 3211-3215, 3221-3224, 3325-3401, 3404, 3701, 4001 (only in literature), 4230-4472, 4711. At least 6 of these hours must be in 4000-level courses. No more than 3 hours of ENGL 3325, 3326, 4372, and 4373 may be applied to the Literature concentration.

f. Professional Writing: 12 hours including ENGL 3601, 3602, one course from 4618 or 4619, and one course from 4101-4109 (only in professional writing), 4602, 4606-4615, 4616, 4618, 4619, 4630.

Note the following:

(1) Students should see the English advisor who will explain the advantages of the various concentrations and assist students in developing an appropriate program of study.

(2) Courses taken to satisfy the core requirements may not be used to satisfy concentration requirements.

(3) No more than a total of six (6) hours in ENGL 3100-3109, ENGL 4101-4109, and 3 hours in ENGL 4900 may be applied to the English major.

(4) Students who wish to satisfy the requirements for both the English major and the endorsement to teach English in high school should consult the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences for licensure requirements.

(5) ENGL 3500 and 3603 may not be used to satisfy any requirement for the English major.

(6) ENGL 4900 and 4996 may not be used to satisfy required hours in any concentration.

D. Electives

Nine hours of upper-division ENGL courses. 

E. Honors Program

Honors sections of the required English courses on the freshman and sophomore levels (ENGL 1010, 1020, 2201, 2202) are offered through the University Honors program and are open to qualified students regardless of their major. On the junior and senior level, the Department of English offers an honors track open only to English majors, who are eligible to apply for admission to the program if they have a grade point average of 3.25 in their overall studies and in English. Honors students take special courses during their junior and senior years and write a senior honors thesis. Those students who complete the program and the regular college requirements will be recognized at the commencement ceremony by having their degree conferred "With Honors in English." Moreover, the student's diploma and the record at the University of Memphis will reflect this distinction. Details of the program are available at the Department of English office.

English Minor

Completion of 12 upper division hours in English (excluding ENGL 3500 and 3603).

Department of Sociology

Sociology Major (B.A.)

Program objectives for a B.A. in Sociology are: (a) an understanding of and competence in the major theories, statistical techniques, and methodological approaches of sociology; (b) development of theoretical, substantive, and methodological knowledge to conduct research projects or participate in applied research projects; (c) participation in an internship or discipline related experiences; (d) preparation for employment in a sociology-related field or advanced study in sociology or other graduate field.

A. University General Education Program (41 hours)

See Graduation from the University for the University General Education Program requirements.

B. College and Degree (B.A.) Requirements (12-16 hours)

The College and Bachelor of Arts requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements.

C. The Major (30 hours)

Completion of 30 semester hours in sociology, SOCI 1010, 3311, 3322, 4210 or 4211, 4999 (or SOCI 4998 for Honors students), and 15 additional upper-division hours in SOCI.

D. Electives

Electives may be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120.

E. Honors Program

The Honors Program in Sociology requires 18 hours of honors work, at least 12 hours of which must be upper-division sociology courses. To complete the Honors Program, a student must have a minimum overall final grade point average of 3.00 in Sociology, and a 3.25 grade point average in honors course work.

Those students who complete the program and the regular college requirements will be recognized at the commencement ceremony by having their degree conferred "With Honors in Sociology." Moreover, the student's diploma and the record at the University of Memphis will reflect this distinction. Please see the department's Faculty Honors Advisor for more details on the program.

Sociology Minor

SOCI 1010 and 15 upper-division hours in SOCI.

Accelerated B.A./M.A. Program in English

This program allows outstanding undergraduates to begin the coursework for the Master of Arts in English during their senior year. Students are encouraged to begin planning to enter the Accelerated B.A./M.A. program early in their undergraduate career, in consultation with their advisor in the Department of English.

Working with the undergraduate and graduate academic coordinators, undergraduates selected into this program begin a carefully tailored course of study which will allow them to complete their B.A. degree while they also begin the coursework toward their M.A.

To apply, students must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, and must submit two reference letters and a copy of their transcript to the English department. Each applicant will complete an interview with the graduate academic coordinator in English.

Students must also apply to the Graduate School for the accelerated B.A./M.A. program, which allows them to take graduate courses in English. To continue in the program past the B.A., students must apply for full admission into the Graduate School and into the English department's M.A. program.

Only in ABM programs, up to 9 hours of graduate course work may be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate programs. However, any graduate coursework will not apply to undergraduate GPA.

Typical 4-Year English Sequence

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement