Undergraduate Majors and Minors

The Department of English Language and Literature is the largest academic department at Eastern Michigan University, with more than fifty tenured and tenure-track faculty members and more than fifty lecturers and graduate teaching assistants. Our department is made up of dedicated teacher/scholars who have specializations in the fields of literature, children's literature, linguistics, composition and rhetoric, creative writing, technical and professional writing, English education, journalism, and public relations. Besides serving the EMU community with a variety of general studies courses, we offer 7 undergraduate majors, 4 undergraduate interdisciplinary majors, 8 undergraduate minors, and 6 graduate programs of study.

 

Degrees

All undergraduate English majors are offered as either Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees. The Bachelor of Arts degree includes study in a foreign language. You can see the description of degree programs for the College of Arts and Sciences in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog.

 

Programs of Study

Majors

See the EMU Undergraduate Catalog about requirements for completeing majors and minors at Eastern Michigan University.

English Language

The English language major offers students a mix of classes that focus on written communication and on linguistics. More information on the English Language major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, the English Department Written Communications Program Web site, or the English Department Linguistics Program Web Site.

English Linguistics

This major focuses on linguistics, which is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics majors study grammar, syntax, phonology, the history of the English language, and so on. More information on the English Linguistics Major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog or the Linguistics Program Web Site.

Journalism

Journalism majors learn about the theory and practice of writing for newspapers, magazines, web sites, etc., and pursue careers as newspaper reporters and editors, public relations specialists, marketing, broadcasting, and related fields. More information on the Journalism major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog or the Journalism Program Web Site.

Literature

This major is designed to enhance students' understandings and critical perspectives of a variety of different types of literature with attention to the historical and cultural contexts within which the different types of literature were produced. Students in this major take courses in American and British literature, poetry, drama, Native American literature, African American literature, and so on. More information on the Literature Major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog or the Literature Program Web Site.

Written Communication with Concentration in Imaginative Writing

Students in this major focus on the craft and practice of "creative writing." Course work includes class in writing poetry, fiction, mixed media, and advanced literature classes. Students also take some courses in other written communication programs like professional writing and journalism. More information on this major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog or the Creative Writing Program Web Site.

Written Communication with Concentration in Professional Writing

This major combines course work in journalism and technical writing, which gives students an educational background useful in pursing a variety of professional writing careers. More information on this major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, the Journalism Department Web site, or the Written Communications Program Web site.

Written Communication with Concentration in Technical Communication

This major prepares students for careers in technical and professional writing, a field where practioners write, edit, and design a variety of different types of documents that convey technical information to a variety of different users and readers. More information on this major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog or the Written Communications Program Web Site.

Interdisciplinary and Group Majors

These majors are made of coursework from different programs within the English department along with coursework from other programs and departments at Eastern Michigan University.

Language, Literature and Writing

This program combines elements of literature, writing, and linguistics to provide students a a diverse and balanced degree in English studies. More information on this major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, the Literature Program Web site, the Written Communications Program Web site, or the Linguistics Program Web site.

Language, Literature and Writing for Secondary Education

Along with programs offered through the College of Education's Teacher Education programs, this interdisciplinary major prepares students to teach English in junior high and high school. This program qualifies students for recommendation for certification for the Michigan Department of Education Secondary Provisional Certificate endorsed in English, certification code "BA," and, depending on the minor selected, an additional endorsement. This program meets all requirements of the National Council of Teachers of English. More information on this major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, the Literature Program Web Site, the Written Communications Program Web site, or the Linguistics Program Web Site.

Children's Literature and Drama/Theatre for the Young

This program combines study in the English department's courses in literature and children's literature with study in the Communication and Theatre Arts department. More information on this major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, the Children's Literature Program Web site, or the Theatre and Educational Drama Program Web site.

Public Relations

Students in this program take coursework from programs in both the English Department and the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts in order to earn a degree that provides training for a career in public relations. More information on this major can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog or the Public Relations Program Web site.

Minors

See the EMU Undergraduate Catalog about requirements for completeing majors and minors at Eastern Michigan University.

Children's literature

This 21 hour minor focuses primarily on coursework in both children's literature and literature. More information on this minor can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog or the English Department Children's Literature Web site.

English language

Similar to the department's English language major, this 21 hour minor offers students a mix of classes that focus on written communication and on linguistics. More information on this minor can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, the Written Communications Program Web site, or the Linguistics Program Web site.

Language, literature and writing

Similar to the department's major in language, literature and writing, this 24 hour minor offers students a balanced offering of classes in literature, writing, and linguistics. More information on this minor can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, the Literature Program Web Site, the Written Communications Program Web Site, or the Linguistics Program Web Site.

Language, literature and writing for secondary, K-12, and special education-secondary teacher certification

This 24 minor is similar in offering to the department's interdisciplinary major in language, literature and writing for secondary education. Successful completion of this minor, in the context of other program requirements, qualifies the student for recommendation for endorsement in English, certification code "BA." The certification test covering this field is #02, "English." More information on this minor can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, the Literature Program Web Site, the Written Communications Program Web Site, or the Linguistics Program Web Site.

English linguistics

This 21 hour minor is similar in focus to the department's major in English linguistics. More information on this minor can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, or the Linguistics Program Web Site.

 Journalism

Similar to the department's major, this 24 hour minor helps prepare students for a variety of careers in journalism. More information on this minor can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog or the Journalism Program Web site.

Literature

Like the department's major, this 24 hour minor enhances its students' understanding of a variety of different approaches to literature and culture. More information on this minor can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, or the Literature Program Web Site.

Writing

This 21 minor allows students to take a variety of writing classes, including those in technical communication, journalism, and creative writing. More information on this minor can be found in the EMU Undergraduate Catalog, the Creative Writing Program Web Site, the Written Communications Program Web Site, or the Journalism Program Web Site.