English (B.A., B.S.)

Departmental Requirements (36 hours)

• ENGL 221 - British Literature I (C) [SGR #4, HSDC]
• ENGL 222 - British Literature II (C) [SGR #4, HSDC]
• ENGL 241 - American Literature I (C) [SGR #4, HSDC]
• ENGL 242 - American Literature II (C) [SGR #4, HSDC]
• ENGL 284 - Introduction to Criticism (C) [SGR #1, HSDC]
• ENGL 489 - Senior Capstone
• ENGL/LING Elective (at 200- or 400-level)  6cr
• ENGL/LING Elective (at 400-level)  12cr

Specialization: Creative Writing (36 hours)

Specialization: Professional Writing (36 hours)

Specialization: Secondary Teaching (36 hours)

Students who wish to obtain certification to teach secondary school must also complete coursework and testing in the School of Education. Please contact the English Department or the School of Education for further information.

English Double Major (30 Hours)

See English Double Major  for program requirements.

Secondary Education-English Education specialization (B.S.Ed.)

See Secondary Education-English Education specialization (B.S.Ed.)  for program requirements.

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan.

• English, B.A. No specialization 4-year plan guide  
• English, B.A.-Creative Writing specialization 4-year plan guide  
• English, B.A.-Professional Writing specialization 4-year plan guide  
• English, B.A.-Secondary Teaching specialization 4-year plan guide  
• English, B.S. No specialization 4-year plan guide  
• English, B.S.-Creative Writing specialization 4-year plan guide  
• English, B.S.-Professional Writing specialization 4-year plan guide  
• English, B.S.-Secondary Teaching specialization 4-year plan guide  

Related Program:

• Secondary Education, B.S.Ed.-English Education specialization 4-year plan guide  

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will intentionally engage with diversity in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions leading to opportunities for equal access to participation in educational and community programs for all members of society.
2. Students will be able to systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments, and break down complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
3. Students will recognize when there is a need for information and identify, locate, evaluate and effectively and responsibly use and convey that information to address the need or problem at hand.
4. Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking.
5. Students will be able to demonstrate cognitive, effective, and behavioral skills that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.
6. Students will produce grammatically, rhetorically, and stylistically sound writing.
7. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze, discuss, and write about literary works, authors, genres, topics, and time periods.
8. Students will demonstrate a knowledge of critical research expectations in literary studies and an ability to implement this knowledge in their written work. 

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization