The English major's accelerated plan of study

Get a Job in Three Years

Highlights

• In English, you'll learn the kind of adaptive thinking, empathy, and creativity that the job market demands and that global citizenships requires.
• With our online summer internship program, you'll earn job experience and class credit at the same time!
• With our "Beyond English" class, you'll learn to translate your English major skills to the job market and beyond!
• With sumer online distance learning, you'll have more flexibility, graduate faster, and save money!

Suggested Three-Year English Plan of Studies:

• Literature
• English Language in a Global Context
• Creative Writing
• Professional Writing

3 Year Degree FAQs

Literature

Note:  Major classes in bold.   *College of Liberal Arts Core Requirement

English Language in a Global Context

Note:  Major classes in bold.   *College of Liberal Arts Core Requirement

Creative Writing

Note:  Major classes in bold.  *College of Liberal Arts Core Requirement

Professional Writing

Note: Major classes in bold.  *Three year sequence assumes students enter with AP/transfer credit for 106/108.  

3-Year Degree FAQ:

1. Who is this degree aimed at?
Our Accelerated Plan of Study works best for focused students who excel at academics and have a strong sense of their intellectual passions.  These students know what major(s) they want to study, which careers they want to pursue, and what they want to achieve in their time here.   

Since not all exceptional students have the same finances, however, we want to give those with fewer resources a chance to attend Purdue too.  A few thousand dollars can make or break an academic career.  So, basically, it’s the same prestigious degree, but at a discounted cost.  It just requires planning, commitment, and a bit more elbow grease.

2. Ok, that sounds like me. But what’s the actual cost breakdown for 3 years at Purdue vs. 4?
Good question!  First, we based our costs on Purdue’s own tuition, fees, room, and board estimates: <https://admissions.purdue.edu/costsandfinaid/tuitionfees.php>.  So, that’s $20,032 in-state; $38,834 out-of-state; and $40,994 international, multiplied by 3 (for the three-year degree).  Our estimate also assumes students will enroll in 3 summer courses each in years 1 and 2 (Purdue charges a flat rate for 6-9 summer credits so it makes sense to take 9).  That's $2,500.50 in-state tuition; $7,201 out-of-state; and $7,701 international each summer.  Finally, our estimate assumes residence hall living for each summer.  Rates vary based on room type and course length, but we assume an eight-week session in a double with a 13-meal plan.  So, that’s $2,000 each summer.  If a student chooses a different configuration or elects to live off-campus, this can affect the cost of attendance, raising or lowering it depending on arrangements.  For more, see <https://www.housing.purdue.edu/Housing/Contracting/Summer.html>.

3. Why isn’t English Education available as a 3-year option?
Given Indiana teaching certification requirements, it is difficult to complete the combined College of Liberal Arts and College of Education curricula within a 3-year time frame.  English Education is therefore exclusively a 4-year program.  Our other programs, however, are available in 3- and 4-year varieties.

4. If I do the accelerated program in English, can I still enroll in a Learning Community?
Yep!  During STAR, you’ll work with an academic advisor who can help tailor your plan of study around your desired learning community.  If you’re interested, the English Department offers its own LC, entitled “Culture, Creativity, Technology.” 

5. Can I also still do study abroad?
Of course!  The English department offers multiple options including summer and semester-long study abroad programs, while Purdue’s Study Abroad Office offers even more (such as one-week modules over spring break).  Because we have arranged our Accelerated Plan of Study so that your summer courses will be electives, summering abroad is easy!  Semester-long study abroad is a little trickier, but it is certainly doable.  You just need to consult your advisor and plan ahead.

6. Can I still do an internship?
Certainly!  In fact, we encourage it.  For instance, we offer a summer distance-learning (online) class, ENGL 490 “Worksite Internship Practicum,” so you can get college credit towards graduation while you work.  Because we’ve arranged our Accelerated Plan of Study so that your summers will be elective-filled, and because Purdue also offers tons of other distance learning options, you’ll have the ability to do an internship and take multiple classes at the same time.  Basically, we’ve designed our program to provide you with maximum flexibility.  

And, thanks to the College of Liberal Arts’ partnership with Parker Dewey, you can undertake paid micro-internships either during the school year or the summer.  The small projects and assignments you’ll complete as part of these micro-internships lets you explore different career possibilities in a low risk way and earn valuable work experience at the same time.

7. Cool, but what if I prefer traditional summer courses to distance learning?
Want to take traditional summer classes instead of distance ones?  That’s fine.  You can even mix and match!

8.  How do AP & dual credits work with the accelerated degree program in English?
Purdue requires 120 credits for graduation.  AP & dual credits can help you get there faster.  Applied to our accelerated plan, they can reduce the number of classes you must take in any given single semester (offering a more manageable course load); help free you from taking summer classes (saving you $$); or even reduce your time to degree further (saving you more $$$).  AP & dual credits are definitely a plus!

9. What if I don’t finish in 3 years?
Not a problem!  The main purpose of the three-year degree is cost savings.  You can add another summer of classes and still save $$.  You can also switch from the 3-year to the 4-year degree at any time.