English (BA)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Arts in English 
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: English 
Academic Plan Code(s): ENGLBA

Program Information

The program for English majors is designed to lay a foundation for careers in writing, teaching, scholarship, and research, as well as for many other types of position in the business and professional world where skills in communication, creative, critical, or analytical writing, public relations, editorial skills, advertising, or the like are required. English majors will complete one of three tracks: Creative Writing, Literature, or Professional and Public Writing. This flexibility, combined with student-centered classes and award-winning faculty, offers a degree that teaches student to think on their feet in a rapidly changing world. 

Creative Writing

The Creative Writing Program at UofL offers a variety of creative writing courses covering the major genres of poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction, and screenwriting. Our track guides students through Introductory to Advanced courses, with Special Topics courses along the way. The Creative Writing program hosts several visiting writers each semester through the Anne and William Axton reading series. 

Literature

Literature students develop strong historical knowledge of fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction, and they explore literary craft across a range of composing and publishing practices, including social media, film, comics, and print and digital books. In addition to studying genre, authorship, and craft, students engage with written art as both commentary on and contributor to issues of profound social moment.

Professional and Public Writing

The PPW track offers a variety of courses where students learn the ins and outs of writing, have the opportunity to pursue a variety their own projects, and build a personal portfolio. They do this all while learning how to productively collaborate with others and manage projects. This track prepares its students for careers in grant writing, publishing, freelance writing, management, journalism/content creation, marketing, law, or work in almost any setting: the non-profit sector, the corporate world, or in academia.

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.

Degree Summary

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Admission to the BA in English requires completion of ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 OR ENGL 105 or approved substitute; a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0; and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in courses in the major. 

The Change Major Request form can be found under the Academic Progress tile on ULink.

General Education Requirements

All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Program/Major Requirements

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above. 

¹

Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language

²

In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above

³

May be incorporated into other degree requirements

Track in Creative Writing

Academic Plan Code(s): ENGLBA_CW

¹

A student who did not take ENGL 202 as part of the major's core requirements will need to take it before starting the Creative Writing track sequence.

²

ENGL 305 is a special topics course. Students in the Creative Writing track may take ENGL 305 twice to satisfy this requirement if they choose two different genres/topics. 

Track in Literature

Academic Plan Code(s): ENGLBA_LIT

Track in Professional and Public Writing

Academic Plan Code(s): ENGLBA_PPW

Track in Creative Writing

Track in Literature

Track in Professional and Public Writing

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.