Department of English
Important Note: This is the archived version of the 2013–2015 Undergraduate Catalog. The information on these pages was archived on August 6, 2013 and will not be updated as requirement and/or program changes are approved. Please see www.uic.edu/ucat for the most up-to-date requirements.
Minor in English
Writing Internship Program
BA in the Teaching of English
Minor in the Teaching of English
Distinction
2027 University Hall (UH)
(312) 413–2200
http://www.uic.edu/depts/engl
Administration: Head, John Huntington
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Christopher Grimes, cgrimes@uic.edu
The Department of English offers a Major in English and Minor in English, and a Major in Teacher Education and Minor in Teacher Education.
The field of English focuses on the study and practice of various forms of writing in English. It includes:
- the study of written works in English—whether by writers from the United States, Britain, former colonies, the Commonwealth nations, or elsewhere—whose aesthetic achievement and cultural significance qualifies them as literature;
- the study of literary criticism and theory, of the relationship between literature and popular culture, and of allied narrative forms such as film, performance, electronic communications, and other new media;
- the study of the English language, its historical development, and its rhetorical dimensions;
- the theory and practice of writing, whether of poetry, fiction, nonfiction prose, or other expository forms;
- the theory and practice of teaching English language and literature, particularly at the secondary level.
Students who major in English develop broad reading and writing skills that make possible both an analytical engagement with, and a critical understanding of, diverse fields of cultural and aesthetic production. The English major offers excellent preparation for careers in writing, editing, publishing, teaching, government, law, and advertising.
Degree Requirements—Major in English
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of English degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies. Students are encouraged to seek advising each semester in both LAS and the English department.
| BA with a Major in English Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Core Requirements | 12 |
| Selected Concentration Requirements | 9 |
| English Electives | 15 |
| General Education and Electives to reach Minimum Total Hours | 84 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BA with a Major in English | 120 |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Core Requirements
All English majors must complete the following courses with a grade of C or better.
| Courses | Hours |
| ENGL 240—Introduction to Literary Study and Critical Methodsa | 3 |
| ENGL 241—English Literature I: Beginnings to 1660 | 3 |
| ENGL 242—English Literature II: 1660–1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 243—American Literature: Beginnings to 1900 | 3 |
| Total Hours—Core Requirements | 12 |
a English 240 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement
Upper-Level Courses
Students must take at least two courses at the 300-level or above.
Courses from Other Departments
Students may count one course from another department toward the English major. Upper-level courses in other departments may require prerequisites. For approved courses, see those listed in the concentrations.
Selected Concentration Requirements
Within the English major, students must select and complete one of the following concentrations. A concentration consists of three courses, no more than one of which may be taken at the 100-level and one of which must be taken at the 400-level. For the creative writing concentration, two of the courses must be at the 400-level.
Below are the courses that qualify for each concentration. Note that for the writing concentration, the required course sequence has been specified. Any course not listed under a concentration may only count as an elective. In certain cases, students may petition the Office of Undergraduate Studies to have courses counted toward a concentration or toward one other than those indicated below. For more information, see the catalog Course Descriptions or the departmental website http://www.uic.edu/depts/engl.
| Courses | Hours |
| Three courses from one of the following concentrations:a | 9 |
| British and Anglophone Literature: | |
| ENGL 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 114, 260, 303, 304, 305, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 333, 351, 358, 403, 405, 408, 413, 416, 417, 419, 421, 422 (Courses from other departments that count toward this concentration: CL 208, 250, 251, 252, 253; FR 191; GER 122, 123, 316, 422, 438; POL 241, 321; RUSS 241, 242, 321) | |
| American Literature: | |
| ENGL 103, 104, 105, 106, 109, 112, 113, 118, 119, 123, 260, 261, 262, 265, 303, 304, 305, 321, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 351, 359, 426, 427, 441, 462, 470, 471, 473 (Courses from other departments that count toward this concentration: FR 191; JST 116; LALS 192, 295, 427; SPAN 224, 226) | |
| Media, Rhetorical, and Cultural Studies: | |
| ENGL 102, 110, 111, 113, 115, 117, 120, 121, 122, 200, 202, 232, 233, 234, 262, 265, 302, 341, 342, 343, 351, 361, 362, 363, 364, 370, 372, 374, 375, 400, 401, 402, 403, 428, 429, 438, 440, 443, 444, 445, 446, 448, 469, 472, 474, 478, 479, 483, 484, 485 (Courses from other departments that count toward this concentration: ASAM 125; FR 196, 298, 413, 440; GER 125, 217, 240, 316, 318, 437, 480; PHIL 220, 221, 223, 224, 225, 232, 241, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425; LALS 275, 278, 295, 350; SPAN 225) | |
| Creative Writing (Fiction, Poetry, or Nonfiction): | |
| Fiction: ENGL 212, 491 | |
| Poetry: ENGL 210, 490 | |
| Nonfiction: ENGL 201, 492 | |
| Total Hours—Selected Concentration Requirements | 9 |
a Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog to determine if any of the courses on these lists are approved for General Education.
Note: Students may repeat ENGL 490, 491, or 492 in order to satisfy the nine-credit-hour requirement.
English Electives
| Courses | Hours |
| Five additional courses, no more than one of which may be at the 100-level | 15 |
| Total Hours—English Electives | 15 |
Distribution Requirements
In addition to the Core requirements, all English majors must take the following, distributed across their concentration and electives:
- One course in materials before 1900
- One course in materials after 1900
- One course in U.S. Social and Cultural Diversity
Courses Within Each Distribution*
| Materials before 1900: |
| ENGL 107, 115, 118, 297, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 321, 323, 324, 403, 405, 408, 413, 416, 417, 419, 421, 426, 478, 479 (Courses from other departments that fulfill this requirement: CL 208, 250, 251, 252, 253; GER 240, 316, 422, 437, 438, 480; PHIL 220, 221, 223, 224, 232, 241, 243, 420, 421; POL 241, 321; RUSS 241, 242, 321; SPAN 226) |
| Materials after 1900: |
| ENGL 102, 113, 114, 119, 120, 121, 123, 202, 232, 233, 234, 260, 265, 302, 318, 319, 320, 325, 326, 327, 333, 351, 358, 422, 427, 428, 472, (Courses from other departments that fulfill this requirement: ASAM 125; FR 191, 196, 298, 413, 440; GER 122, 123, 125, 217, 318; JST 116; LALS 192, 270, 275, 278, 295, 350, 427; PHIL 232; SPAN 224, 225) |
| U.S. Social and Cultural Diversity: |
| ENGL 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 117, 118, 119, 123, 260, 261, 262, 265, 328, 333, 341, 342, 343, 351, 358, 359, 361, 362, 363, 364, 422, 428, 429, 440, 441, 443, 444, 445, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474 (Courses from other departments that fulfill this requirement: ASAM 125; GER 123; JST 116; LALS 192, 278, 295, 350, 427; PHIL 232; SPAN 224) |
*Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog to determine if any of the courses on these lists are approved for General Education.
Courses may be used to satisfy more than one distribution requirement.
To view a recommended plan of study for the major in English, please visit the LAS website at
http://www.las.uic.edu/students/prospective-undergraduate/degree-programs/four-year-model-plans.
Students from other disciplines who want to minor in English must complete 18 semester hours as follows:
| Required Courses—English Minor | Hours |
| Students must complete the following courses with a grade of C or better. | |
| ENGL 240—Introduction to Literary Study and Critical Methods | 3 |
| ENGL 243—American Literature: Beginnings to 1900 | 3 |
| One of the following courses: | 3 |
| ENGL 241—English Literature I: Beginnings to 1660 (3) |
|
| ENGL 242—English Literature II: 1660–1900 (3) | |
| One course in U.S. Social and Cultural Diversity (see list above) | 3 |
| Two additional courses in English, one of which may be at the 100-level | 6 |
| Total Hours—English Minor | 18 |
In conjunction with the LAS-COOP, the English department offers writing internships in fields such as journalism, public relations, advertising, publishing, corporate communications, technical writing, information technology, and broadcasting. Students benefit by acquiring hands-on experience and professional writing samples for use in job applications.
To qualify, students must be enrolled full-time at UIC, have taken English 202 and 240, and be in good academic standing. Students who wish to receive credit for their writing internship must be admitted to and enroll in ENGL 493—Internship in Nonfiction Writing.
Degree Requirements—Teaching of English
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of English degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of English degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| BA in the Teaching of English Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Core Requirements | 12 |
| English Electives | 9 |
| Required Methods Courses | 12 |
| Collateral Courses | 12 |
| Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure | 13 |
| General Education and Electives to reach the Minimum Total Hours | 62 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BA in the Teaching of English | 120 |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Core Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
| ENGL 240—Introduction to Literary Study and Critical Methodsa | 3 |
| ENGL 241—English Literature I: Beginnings to 1660 | 3 |
| ENGL 242—English Literature II: 1660–1900 | 3 |
| ENGL 243—American Literature: Beginnings to 1900 | 3 |
| Total Hours—Core Courses | 12 |
a ENGL 240 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement
English Electives
| Courses | Hours |
| Three courses at the 200-level or above to be chosen in consultation with the English advisor. | 9 |
| Total Hours—English Electives | 9 |
Required Methods Courses
Recommended to be taken in consecutive semesters.
| Courses | Hours |
| ENGL 459—Introduction to the Teaching of English in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| ENGL 486—The Teaching of Writing in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| ENGL 489—Teaching of Reading and Literature in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| ENGL 481—Methods of Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| Total Hours—Required Methods Courses | 12 |
Collateral Courses
| Courses | Hours |
| ENGL 498—Educational Practice with Seminar I | 6 |
| ENGL 499—Educational Practice with Seminar II | 6 |
| Total Hours—Collateral Courses | 12 |
Additional Requirements for
Teacher Licensure
| Courses | Hours |
| ED 200—Education Policy Foundations | 3 |
| ED 210—The Educative Process | 3 |
| ED 330—Curriculum, Instruction, and Evaluation in the Secondary School |
4 |
| SPED 410—Survey of Characteristics of Learners with Disabilities |
3 |
| Total Hours—Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure | 13 |
To be recommended for student teaching, ENGL 498
and 499—Educational Practice with Seminar I and II, a student must complete all program course requirements (general requirements for the major, the Core courses, Methods courses, and courses in Professional Education) with a minimum grade point average of 3.00/4.00 in English courses taken at UIC. Students intending to
complete student teaching must obtain the provisional approval of the director of English education in the academic year preceding the academic year in which student teaching is to be done.
In addition to specified course work in the major field, the teacher education student must fulfill certain other requirements as well as maintain a minimum major GPA of 3.00/4.00, a cumulative GPA of 2.50/4.00, and a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 in education courses. For detailed information, see the Program Guide for Teacher Education in English, available from the secondary education coordinator in the Department of English.
The teaching license is not automatically awarded upon successful completion of licensure and degree requirements. Before the license is issued, the candidate must file an application for the Illinois teaching license with the Council on Teacher Education. The candidate must also pass a series of examinations required by the Illinois State Board of Education. The Basics Skills Test must be passed prior to applying for candidacy with the Council on Teacher Education. The Content Area Test must be passed before the candidate is allowed to student teach. The Assessment of Professional Teaching must be passed prior to licensure. For information on application procedures, contact the Council on Teacher Education located in EPASW 3015. See College of Education: Council on Teacher Education and Secondary Education Program in the College of Education section of the catalog.
To view a recommended plan of study for the Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of English, please visit the LAS website at http://www.las.uic.edu/students/prospective-undergraduate/degree-programs/four-year-model-plans.
Minor in the Teaching of English
Secondary education majors from other disciplines who want to minor in the Teaching of English must complete 18 hours in the English minor curriculum listed.
This minor is open only to students obtaining full licensure in an approved UIC Teacher Education major. To teach English as a second subject in Illinois public schools, one must apply for and receive an Endorsement from the State Board of Education and meet all of the additional course and other requirements the Board has established.
The teaching license is not automatically awarded upon successful completion of licensure and degree requirements. Before the license is issued, the candidate must file an application with the State of Illinois and take an examination administered by the State Board of Education. For information on application procedures, contact the Council on Teacher Education in the College of Education.
Departmental Distinction. To be eligible for Departmental Distinction, a candidate must have:
- attended UIC for three semesters,
- a cumulative GPA of 3.00/4.00,
- completed a minimum of 21 hours at UIC in courses required for the major, and
- a GPA of 3.50/4.00 in courses required for the major.
High Distinction. To be eligible for High Distinction, a candidate must complete all requirements for Departmental Distinction with a GPA of 3.75/4.00 in courses required for the major.
Highest Distinction. To be eligible for Highest Distinction, a candidate must meet all requirements for High Distinction and complete ENGL 398—English Honors Thesis with a grade of A.
