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English (Creative Writing), Bachelor of Arts

Program Overview

The English degrees at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, which include the BA in English, MA in English, MA in English as a Second Language, and MA in Interdisciplinary Studies, cultivate in students scholarly and creative achievement through graduate and undergraduate courses in literature, language, rhetoric and composition, creative writing, and secondary English language arts. We promote student literacy – specifically the abilities to read, write, and think critically – as well as an appreciation for the English language. We encourage faculty to pursue excellence in teaching, foster collegiality, contribute scholarly research, and engage in service to the university and Rio Grande Valley community. The English degrees, as a collaboration among the Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies, the Department of Writing and Language Studies, and the Creative Writing Program in the College of Fine Arts, support culturally responsive pedagogy and community engagement. A student with an English major possesses skills in critical thinking, writing, and reading. English majors can enter professions such as teaching, writing, editing, media production, the law, public service, and advocacy, and they are prepared for continued graduate or professional study.

Core Curriculum - 42 hours

The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.

The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once. 

Major Requirements – 48 hours

Required Courses - 12 hours

English Foundation - 6 hours

ENGL 3300Introduction to English Studies

3
ENGL 4390Senior English Capstone

3

Linguistics - 3 hours

ENGL 3362English Grammar

3

Creative Writing - 3 hours

ENGL 3351Creative Writing I

3

Prescribed Electives - 15 hours

This degree plan includes courses that appear in more than one section of the degree plan. Except for core curriculum courses, such courses can only be used to fulfill one requirement on the degree plan and credit hours will only be applied once.

Literature - 9 hours

Literature Survey - Choose one from:
ENGL 3301Survey of British Literature I

3
ENGL 3302Survey of British Literature II

3
ENGL 3303Survey of American Literature I

3
ENGL 3304Survey of American Literature II

3
ENGL 3305Survey of World Literature

3
Genre /Theme - Choose one from:
ENGL 3307Introduction to Film Studies

3
ENGL 3308Literature and Film Adaptation

3
ENGL 3309Introduction to Cultural Studies

3
ENGL 3315The English Novel to 1850

3
ENGL 3316The English Novel from 1850 to Present

3
ENGL 3320Development of the American Novel

3
ENGL 3328The Short Story and the Novella

3
ENGL 3329Science Fiction

3
ENGL 3335Women's Literature

3
ENGL 4300Advanced Topics in Literature and Cultural Studies

3
ENGL 4308Topics in International Film

3
ENGL 4309Special Topics in Film

3
ENGL 4314Advanced Topics in Contemporary Poetry

3
ENGL 4315Advanced Topics in World Literature

3
ENGL 4316Beat Generation

3
ENGL 4318South Texas Literature

3
ENGL 4320Literature and Psychoanalysis

3
Period /Single Author - Choose one from:
ENGL 3310Medieval Literature

3
ENGL 3311English Renaissance Literature

3
ENGL 3312The Eighteenth Century

3
ENGL 3313The Romantic Period

3
ENGL 3314The Victorian Period

3
ENGL 332119th-Century American Literature

3
ENGL 3322Hemingway

3
ENGL 3326Modern Poetry

3
ENGL 4310Chaucer

3
ENGL 4311Shakespeare

3
ENGL 4312Milton

3
ENGL 4313Topics in Single Author

3

Linguistics - 3 hours

Choose one from:
ENGL 3360Introduction to Language Studies

3
ENGL 3361Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics

3
ENGL 3370Language and Culture

3
ENGL 4365History of the English Language

3

Rhetorical Writing - 3 hours

Choose one from: 
ENGL 3340Survey Rhetorical Theory

3
ENGL 3345Studies in Literacy

3
ENGL 4343Composition Theory and Pedagogy

3

Creative Writing Concentration - 21 hours

Certain courses below appear in more than one section of the degree plan. The courses and related credit hours can only be applied only once to the degree.

Creative Writing Theory Core - 3 hours

ENGL 4353Forms and Techniques in Creative Writing

3

Advanced Creative Writing Electives - 12 hours

Choose from:
ENGL 3350Gallery

3
ENGL 3352Creative Non-Fiction

3
ENGL 4350Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry

3
ENGL 4351Advanced Creative Writing: Workshop in Playwriting

3
ENGL 4352Advanced Creative Writing: Workshop in Fiction

3
ENGL 4354Advanced Creative Writing: Graphic Literature

3
ENGL 4355Advanced Creative Writing: Screenwriting

3
ENGL 4356Advanced Creative Writing: Children's Literature

3
ENGL 4357Advanced Creative Writing: Creative Writing and Social Action

3
ENGL 4358Advanced Creative Writing: Writing for Performance

3
ENGL 4359Special Topics in Creative Writing

3

English Electives - 6 hours

Choose from additional English (ENGL) courses

Free Electives - 30 hours

The B.A. in English with Creative Writing Concentration requires free elective credit hours.

Advanced hours will vary to meet the minimum 42 advanced institutional credit hour requirement for a bachelor’s degree.

Total Credit Hours: 42

Total Credit Hours: 120

 

View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.

 

UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements. 

 

Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.