English Program

The English program in the Department of English and Modern Foreign Languages offers a wide variety of courses at all levels. Please review our listings, and contact us if you have any questions:

English Course Descriptions

Handbook for English Composition:

Guide to First-Year Composition

Freshmen Theme Courses:

Freshmen Theme Course Descriptions

Placement in Freshman English

Freshman receive placement advice based on their high school grade point average and on their ACT English score. Beginning freshmen who have entrance placements of an ACT English Composite score below 19 are required to enroll in the English 100, 110, 112 sequence; all other students will enroll in the English 111, 112 composition sequence. To verify placement, students will complete a writing sample during the first class period of each introductory course.

Placement of International Students

1. International Students who have a 500 (paper) or a 173 (computer) TOEFL score or have completed Level 6 in UT Martin's Intensive English Program may enroll in English 100 without taking an English placement exam. Those students who feel they can achieve a higher placement may take The English Writing Proficiency Placement Exam administered by the English Department at the scheduled time and will be placed in English 100 or 111 based on the results of this examination. 

2. The required  in-class writing sample taken during the first class meeting in all English 100 and 111 classes will continue to be an indicator of appropriate English placement for all students in those classes.

3. International students must be enrolled in or have completed Level 6 of the UT Martin Intensive English Program or have scored 500 (paper) or 173 (computer) on the TOEFL in order to take the English Writing Proficiency Placement Exam.

Upper Division Courses:

Course rotation

• Literature survey (200 level) courses

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Planning Guide

Honors English 111-112

Students who score 28 or above on the English portion of the Enhanced ACT may enroll in the freshman honors sequence (111H-112H), which offers enrichment and variety, collegial contact with other excellent students, and an obvious designation of distinction on the academic transcript. A student earning an "A" in English 111 may enroll in English 112H if space is available and with the approval of the instructor.

English Majors and Minors

        If you major or minor in English, you will experience the stimulating worlds of literature, art,  history, philosophy, and culture at the same time that you are working toward extremely practical career goals. Develop your capacity to think critically, speak clearly, and solve problems creatively.

Our graduates have unlimited opportunities; no skill is in more demand than the ability to write well. English majors have found careers as editors at publishing houses, feature writers for magazines and newspapers, public relations strategists, marketing experts, technical writers, and as teachers and educators.

• Students in the bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree program can major in English.
• Students in the B.A. or bachelor of science (B.S.) programs can minor in English.
• Secondary education majors in the B.S. program who want to be English teachers can choose an English concentration that is the equivalent of a major.

Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Awards

English Major (2610)

B.A. Curriculum. A major in English consists of 49 hours: six hours of English Composition, 13 hours of sophomore level courses, and 30 hours of upper-division English courses. Students may select Option 1, Option 2, or Option 3 outlined below. Students who pursue the English major for preprofessional training, for graduate study, or for careers outside teaching should consult with their advisers and follow either Option 1 or Option 2; students seeking teacher licensure should follow Option 3. Majors are expected to consult their advisers each semester regarding the selection of options and courses.

In general, majors should work during their freshman and sophomore years toward the completion of the general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and toward completing at least one sophomore-level literature survey sequence.

Some recommended minors for English majors include foreign languages, history, philosophy, political science, international studies, communications, theatre, one of the other fine arts, or education.

These links provide the specific requirements for the three major options.

Option 1
Literature Emphasis

Option 2
Writing Emphasis

Option 3
Pre-Secondary English Education Emphasis

Typical Program of Study

English Minor (M-2610)

A minor in English consists of six hours of English Composition; six hours comprising one complete sophomore sequence (250-251, 260-261, or 270-271); and 12 upper-division hours (300 or above) in English.

Special Features of English program...

UT Martin's Department of English offers many special features that will help you achieve success in your studies and that will prepare you for life after college. Features include:

• Small classes that encourage personal learning

• Honors courses

• A writing center that offers tutorial support and some part-time employment for majors

• A vital composition program

• Creative writing workshops

• Technical writing instruction

• Developmental writing courses

• Wide-ranging literature surveys

• Topical courses in literature and film

• Emphasis on women's studies and multicultural topics

• Personal advising

• Recognition of AP and transfer credit

• State-of-the-art computer facilities with international connections to information sources

• A variety of social activities such as trips to the Southern Festival of Books and regional professional meeting, as well as the annual department picnic

• Annual prizes in poetry, fiction, and essay

• Endowed scholarships

• Student groups such as English Society and Writers' Guild

Graduating Seniors

Your senior year there are three things you need to do before you walk across the stage:

1. At the beginning of the year, you need to check your senior status filing to make sure it is on record and the expected date of graduation is correct.
2. At this time you also need to sign up for two exams: the Comprehensive and the English Major Field. Be sure and make a note of the dates and times for these two exams because you will not receive a reminder. The scores will not keep you from graduating, but they are important since they are used to measure the effectiveness of the program.
3. At the end of your final semester, you need to schedule an exit interview with the department Chair. The discussion takes about 30 to 45 minutes and is a chance for you to talk about the program and make suggestions for improvement.

Who takes English?

All UTM students take a first-year composition sequence.

Many students also choose 200-level surveys in British, American or World literature as electives or to meet their general education requirements for graduation.

Non-majors can take relevant upper-division courses for graduate credit.

Careers in English

Famous English Majors http://www.msstate.edu/dept/english