Basic orientation to the English Major for those students who entered KU prior to Fall 2013.

1. Katie Rockey
Advising Specialist
4-3500 krock@ku.edu
Dr. Katie Conrad
Director of English Undergraduate Studies
kconrad@ku.edu
Dr. Mary Klayder
Associate Director of English Undergraduate Studies,
Honors Coordinator
mklayder@ku.edu

2.  Traditional Track
 Creative Writing Track
tip: take a workshop early; spread out your writing courses
 Language, Rhetoric, & Writing Track
 tip: take one of the LRW electives early
 The requirements for all three tracks are available at
http://www.english.ku.edu/undergraduate/
and at
http://catalog.ku.edu/201314/schools/clas/departments/engl/programs/babgsenglish/requirements
 All three tracks require 2 500+ capstone courses. (For CW, at least one
must be a CW course)
 Survey course „equivalents‟ are those courses that fall within the
same national literature (American or
British/commonwealth/(post)colonial) and the same time period as
the surveys. These offerings change semester by semester, are
listed in course descriptions (not in the catalog), and can be found
here: http://www.english.ku.edu/courses/

3.  The English Minor requires at least 18 hours of
junior/senior level English courses numbered 300
or above, distributed as follows:
• Minimum of 6 hours of British literature, including at least
one survey course (ENGL 312 or ENGL 314)
• Minimum of 6 hours of American literature, including at
least one survey course (ENGL 316, ENGL 320, or ENGL
322)
• Additional 6 hours of English courses (excluding ENGL
496)
 Starting in Fall 2014, a minor in English with a
creative writing emphasis should also be available

4.  Requirements for Departmental Honors in English:
The Departmental Honors option adds one additional course (3 hours) to the overall
major, bringing the total to 33 hours. Students intending to work for departmental honors
must have at least junior standing and the following qualifications:
 A 3.25 overall GPA
 A 3.5 GPA in English major courses
 Students working for Departmental Honors in English must take ENGL 598 (Honors
Proseminar). This course can be applied toward core or elective requirements (as
specified in the course description) and toward the 500+-level capstone course
requirement. Enrollment in ENGL 598 requires departmental approval from the
Honors Coordinator.
 Upon successful completion of ENGL 598 with the grade of “A” or “B”, candidates
must next enroll in ENGL 599 (Honors Essay). Enrollment in ENGL 599 requires that
a student secure an advisor and submit an Honors Intent Form to the Honors
Coordinator. This is an additional course and doesn‟t replace the second capstone
requirement.
In order to graduate with the departmental Honors in English, students must have:
 A 3.25 overall GPA
 A 3.5 GPA in English major courses, including an A or A- in ENGL 599

5. One way to complete the major is through study abroad courses. The Department currently sponsors three
study abroad programs directly:
 The London Review – 3 hours credit for ENGL 492/HNRS 492 – Spring semester class focused on spring
break in London and the publication of a journal of student writing. This or Pura Vida may be taken as a CW
elective; or this course can be used as a 314 equivalent.
 Pura Vida: Travel Writing and the Costa Rica Experience – 3 hours credit for ENGL 360/HNRS 492 –
Winter term twelve-day trip to Costa Rica preceded by eight preparatory classes and followed by a final
travel essay. Appears on spring transcript. This or the London Review may be taken as a CW elective.
 The British Summer Institute in the Humanities: 7 hours credit for ENGL 315 (British literature and HL
principal course) – 3 hours, HA 305 – 3 hours, LA&S/HNRS 492 – 1 hour. Four week program in England
and Scotland. Generally done in time for students to take other summer courses.
 Irish Studies at Queen’s University Belfast – 3 hours credit for ENGL 530 – a month-long,
interdisciplinary examination of Ireland, with a special emphasis on Northern Ireland and the history of the
Troubles. Not officially a KU program, this program is nonetheless coordinated through KU Study Abroad
and will count for major credit. (May also be counted for Peace and Conflict Studies with consultation with
the PCS program.)
 Students may also study abroad on semester-long and year-long programs. We offer equivalent credits so
long as students pre-approve their plans.
Check with Dr. Klayder in English (and other departments) before you leave about courses that could count for
major or general education requirements.

6.  ENGL 495: Directed Reading. Independent research with a faculty member; by mutual agreement of student and faculty member.
Note: this is a voluntary overload for faculty; they may choose not to supervise Directed Readings even if they have not reached capacity.
 ENGL 494: Research Internship
• Practical research experience in English studies gained by assisting a faculty member on a faculty research, editorial, pedagogical, or outreach project. Credit hours
are graded by faculty on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: at least one 300-level English course, declaration of English major, and permission of
instructor. FLD
 Up to 6 credits combined of ENGL 494 (Research Internship) or ENGL 495 (Directed Study) may be applied as major
electives; they may not count as English core equivalents.
 ENGL 496: Internship. 50 hours=1 credit; 150=3 credits.
• Some appropriate internships: publishing; writing newsletters and web content; publicity; grant-writing; teaching English. Consult with Dr Conrad
for internship approval and permission codes. For some possibilities, see www.kucareerhawk.com & click on “Internships” –or find your own!
Internships will also be posted at the English Majors Blackboard site.
• MAY BE PAID OR UNPAID.
 ENGL 497: Service Learning Internship.
• Practical experience in the use of English skills in a non-profit or advocacy context. Credit hours are graded by faculty on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis, based
on the written recommendation of the student provided by the on-site supervisor and on the student's written reflective component assigned and evaluated by the
supervising faculty member. May be used as a component of the Service Learning certification program. Prerequisite: at least one 300-level English course,
declaration of English major, and permission of instructor. FLD
 Up to 3 credit hours of ENGL 496 (Internship) or ENGL 497 (Service Learning Internship) may be applied as a major elective.

7.  Kiosk
http://kukiosk.wordpress.com/
 Siren
https://www.ku.edu/students/orgs/Siren_11981.html

8. Call for award submissions comes in Spring (usually mid February).
Have you written a strong critical paper or creative work that you are
particularly proud of? Did a teacher tell you a piece you wrote was particularly
strong? SUBMIT IT!
 We have …
• at least 8 endowed awards or scholarships in critical writing (especially
but not only literary study)
• several awards in the genres of fiction, poetry, playwriting, creative
nonfiction, nature writing, science fiction, and technical writing

9.  English majors often go on into law, publishing, teaching, journalism,
publicity, library science, and advertising…but also politics, business,
medicine, and just about anything else you might imagine.
 Consider other elective coursework, minors, majors or co-majors, or
certificates to enhance your degree
 Make use of ENGL 496: Internship or ENGL 497: Service Learning
Internship
 Think broadly about what you do well and what you love to do:
writing, reading, research, creative thinking, critical analysis, leading
discussion, etc.
 If you are interested in grad school in English, speak early to Dr
Conrad or Dr Klayder and to faculty advisors in your fields of interest.
Strongly consider doing an Honors thesis.

10.  All KU students
• ENGL sequence (101, 102/105, and 203-211)
• MATH 101 & a second MATH
• COMS 130 or PHIL 148
• HWC 204 & 205
• One Non-Western course: www.collegesas.ku.edu
THEN
 Bachelor of Arts: best for breadth & depth
• Lab science
• 4th semester proficiency in a foreign language
• 3 courses from each principal course area (Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural
Sciences & Mathematics)
 Bachelor of General Studies
• 2 courses from each principal course area (Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural
Sciences & Mathematics)
• Requires a Non-English minor
 18 hours of course work; usually 12-15 hours at the JR/SR level
If you have questions about which degree path to choose, consult an advisor. When
in doubt, choose the BA!

11. • Available for opt-in only for students in their first
year at KU in 2012-13 or after.
• http://kucore.ku.edu/
• If you are eligible and interested, visit Prof.
Conrad

12.  You can use the Schedule of Classes to search for
principal courses, KU Core courses, and other gen eds
for the term in which you are enrolling. Use the “more
options” link to the right of the text search box.
https://classes.ku.edu/Classes/ExternalDisplay.action

13. Think ahead, and keep in mind gen eds,
total required hours, jr/sr hours, CLAS
hours, study abroad, honors, research,
internships, etc.