Explore the English Major

English

The English minor complements a variety of majors by enhancing your abilities in critical thinking, analysis, research, and writing. Coursework covers various areas: literature, film studies, creative writing, cultural studies, linguistics, professional & technical writing, and rhetoric & composition. This minor is designed to enhance your ability to analyze details, persuade others, solve problems, and express yourself. Coursework may be taken on-campus or online.

Writing

The Writing minor offers students extensive writing practice in a range of genres and media. You’ll take courses from across the discipline, including creative writing, technical and professional writing, and rhetoric and composition. Clear, thoughtful, and innovative writing broadens your career options. This minor is a great choice to enhance your chosen major and give you confidence in your ability to persuade others, solve problems, and express yourself. Coursework may be taken on-campus or online.

Creative Writing

Creative writers make art. The study and practice of creative writing teaches you to read and write like a writer. In this minor, you’ll learn the strategies and techniques that professional writers use to create stories, novels, poems, screenplays, and other media and creative forms. You will gain both a broad and deep understanding of creative writing craft for different genres. You’ll share your work in progress with your peers and to get coached by professors who are published, working writers during workshops. You’ll also learn how to submit your work for publication and contests–and how the skills you learn in your courses transfer to a range of professional settings and opportunities. Coursework may be taken on-campus or online.

Applied Linguistics

Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field that investigates language-related problems. Through core courses and a wide range of electives, the applied linguistics minor helps you develop highly valued skills to enhance your careers in language education, lexicography, translation/interpretation, advertising and marketing, and others. Coursework may be taken on-campus or online.

Professional and Technical Writing

Professional and technical writers solve problems and help people make effective decisions. As a PTW minor, you will produce, design, and manage information using a variety of methods and technologies. Through courses in specialized writing, editing, and storytelling, you’ll learn about in-demand practices like social media management, accessible writing, user experience design, and content strategy. You’ll be ready to adapt to evolving trends by crafting human-centered documentation, writing reports and proposals, and creating instructional videos, walkthroughs, and visualizations. You’ll be able to use these skills in industries like medicine, public health, game development, API and software documentation, corporate and government standards, user experience design, technical and scientific writing, and media creation. Coursework may be taken on-campus or online.

Teaching Writing

The Teaching Writing minor prepares you to teach writing or conduct research in writing studies. The coursework introduces you to a variety of methods for teaching writing, strategies for incorporating writing into classroom instruction, and ways to engage your own students in the learning process.

Literature

The Literature minor complements a variety of majors by enhancing your abilities in analysis, research, and communication. Coursework explores a range of historical and contemporary literature, along with film and media. You’ll engage in literary and cultural analysis, strengthening your understanding of culture, language, and humanity.