Overview
The English department at CSUSB offers courses in literature, linguistics, and various kinds of writing. Undergraduate English majors may choose one of four concentrations: literature, creative writing, linguistics, and rhetoric and writing studies. In special cases, with the support of a faculty advisor and departmental approval, students may also develop a “Directed Self-Study” concentration that combines coursework from English and, potentially, from other departments on campus. These five tracks share a common 30 unit core, book-ended by two courses (ENG 2000: Introduction to English Studies, and ENG 5160 Professional Pathways in English). Beyond the common core, each concentration requires 18 additional units, generally with a significant amount of choice for student to complete individual requirements. Within each track there are many options for students to pursue their particular interests.
Students planning to seek a single-subject teaching credential in English as their career option will likely want to complete the English Teacher Preparation Program (ETPP). The department encourages students to speak with a faculty advisor or a College of Arts and Letters Professional Advisor to ensure that they are making optimal choices regarding their elective courses in order to ensure a timely graduation.
Goals
The goals of the English program are to help students to develop the ability to read carefully and think critically, to write clear and well-supported analyses of a variety of texts, to understand various aspects of the English language, to gain a broad knowledge of writers and literary forms from a variety of periods and cultures, and to understand and practice writing as a situated and powerful form of social action. The five concentrations are designed to enable students to pursue their varied interests under the broad umbrella term of 'English Studies.
Read more detailed information about the requirements for the B.A. in English in the CSUSB Bulletin.
Program Advising
Please visit our Advising page for information about the English major, worksheets, and Roadmaps for the major.