Purdue University College of Liberal Arts
Information for
Majors and Minors
The Department of English offers majors and minors in the following areas:
- English Education
- English Literature
- Creative Writing
- Professional Writing
English Secondary Teaching Major
English Education is a joint program with the College of Education. Completion of the major leads to state certification when all requirements are fulfilled and exams passed. Students are certified to teach English in the fifth through twelfth grades in Indiana. Because the major requires a lot of hours, and there are also professional requirements to fulfill, in order to finish in four years it is extrememly important to work with your adviser to make sure you are taking appropriate courses. If you want a teaching minor, be aware that it may take an extra semester or even an extra year to complete your degree. In order to be admitted to the College of Education you must have at least a 2.5 GPA. In order to student teach, you must maintain a 2.5 GPA in your major.
Students receiving a degree in English Education complete coursework in both the School of Education and the College of Liberal Arts. In addition, English Education students must complete a 10-week student teaching experience in a middle or high school.
PLAN OF STUDY for the English Secondary Teaching MAJOR
For more information about programs of study, teacher licensure, and student teaching visit the following websites:
The Office of Professional Preparation and Licensure
The School of Education Office of Field Experiences
English Literature Major and Minor
The English literature major is designed to be extremely flexible. You can focus on literature, linguistics, cultural studies, or work with your adviser to develop another plan of study that will achieve your educational goals. In general, this major requires a lot of reading and writing. If you are planning to study literature in graduate school, you will probably want to take all four of the survey courses (240, 241, 350, and 351), and a variety of upper-level classes.
PLAN OF STUDY for the English literature MAJOR
PLAN OF STUDY for an English literature MINOR
Creative Writing Major and Minor
Creative Writing majors focus on writing poetry, fiction, or drama. Besides the required five courses in writing, students take six more courses in either literature or linguistics. Creative writing is appropriate for students who love to write and who will do so no matter what. Many students choose to get a double major in Professional Writing and Creative Writing.
PLAN OF STUDY for the Creative Writing MAJOR
PLAN OF STUDY for the Creative Writing MINOR
Professional Writing Major
The undergraduate major in Professional Writing includes strands in Technical Writing and Writing and Publishing. The Professional Writing major is noted for cultivating expertise in writing for the digital workplace, for teaching and researching multimedia writing, visual rhetoric, and usability, and for emphasizing collaboration, community service, and open source development and documentation. Professional Writing is known nationally for its innovative and productive faculty, its outstanding alumni network, and its leadership in the areas of digital publishing, visual communication, and networked communication in a global community. Students have numerous opportunities for internships and coursework in these subjects and gain important experience for the job market and advanced degrees. Students majoring in professional writing are required to minor in another field, such as information technology, journalism, agricultural communication, art and design, or computer graphics technology.
PLAN OF STUDY for the Professional Writing MAJOR