English BA
Fall 2025- Program Delivery
- On Campus, Hybrid
- Total Credits
- 39 Credits
About the Program
English majors have long contributed successfully to cultural, political, educational, business, and community leadership. You will start by doing what you love: reading, writing, analyzing, and discussing what you’ve read and written. What happens because of these activities is crucial to long-term professional success. The insights you develop from these activities contribute to clear and audience-aware communication; critical thinking for problem-solving; innovative and creative ideas and insights; empathy that contributes to inclusiveness; resourceful research abilities; and insight into cultural and historical contexts.
Focus of Study
- Genres and Media: study formal categories fundamental to English from a range of sub-disciplinary perspectives.
- Traditions and Transformations: immerse yourself in cultures from historical periods before the rise of modern industrial life.
- Literacy Platforms and Textual Cultures: learn histories and materialities of reading and writing as they are embedded in social and cultural practices.
- Dynamic and Unfolding World: explore industrial modernity, postmodernity, and contemporary culture.
- Craft in Context: practice creative expression and writing across modalities, genres, and platforms.
Program Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English, you must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete at least 39 credit hours of ENGL coursework. At least 18 hours must be upper division (courses numbered 3000 or higher).
- Majors declared prior to Fall 2025 in Elementary or Secondary Education emphases require 33 and 36 credit hours of English coursework, respectively.
- Obtain a grade of C- or higher in all courses applied to the major.
- Maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in all ENGL coursework.
- No more than 60 credit hours of ENGL coursework can be applied to your bachelor's degree.
- Submit a Senior Assessment during your final semester of the senior year.
Additional course work is required to complete the English BA degree. Please see the advising guide on the Academic Advising website for more information.
Departmental Honors
To graduate with departmental honors in English, a student must have a 3.75 GPA in the major and a 3.5 CU GPA overall.
English Major Options
Fall 2025 and After
A stand-alone English major requires 39 credit hours of English course work, 18 of which must be upper division (3000+ level):
- Click to view the English BA Advising Guide
- Students who have declared a subfield emphasis in the English major (for instance, literature or rhetoric and writing) may switch to this single-degree (39 credit) major but do not have to and may complete their already declared subfield emphasis.
In addition to this stand-alone English major, three additional options are available, each with its own requirements.
- The English Studies Online plan is a fully online degree option.
- The English major can be combined with College of Education coursework to earn an initial licensure in secondary English language arts. If declared during or after Fall 2025, the Secondary Education Option requires the same number of credit hours of English coursework as all other English majors (39 credit hours) in addition to 43 hours of College of Education course work. For more information on the requirements for the Initial Secondary Licensure, see the Secondary Initial License Certificate page.
- The English major can be combined with College of Education coursework to earn an initial licensure in Elementary Education. If declared during or after Fall 2025, the Elementary Education Option requires the same number of credit hours of English coursework as all other English majors (39 credit hours) in addition to 45 hours of College of Education coursework and 13 hours of auxiliary courses in the social sciences and humanities. For more information on the requirements for the Initial Elementary Licensure, see the Elementary Initial License Certificate page.
Before Fall 2025
Students who have already declared the English major before fall 2025 may switch to the stand-alone, single-degree (39 credit) major described above, but do not have to; they may complete their already declared subfield emphasis (for instance, rhetoric and writing, literature, or one of the education emphases), as these are linked just below. Tracks or emphases may have different course, grade, GPA, or hour requirements.
As noted, the English Studies Online option remains as is, and any students already enrolled in this degree plan can continue their degree work without change.
Program Coursework
For details on coursework and degree requirements, please visit the Academic Catalog.
View this video or explore this infographic to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new degree plan?
In Fall 2025, the UCCS English Department will introduce a new degree plan for English majors. Previously, English majors completed required courses within their chosen emphasis (such as literature, rhetoric, or education). The new degree plan simplifies your options, creating an integrated stand-alone English BA degree. You can now choose between this stand-alone English BA or the existing English Studies Online degree plan. You can also still combine this new stand-alone English BA with College of Education coursework for initial licensure in elementary or secondary education.
Why did the department create a new degree plan?
Student and faculty feedback told us our previous degree plans were restrictive, making them difficult to complete, schedule, and advise. We created the new degree plan to make things easier for English majors and to offer English majors more choices and freedom to explore the discipline, while also providing a set of shared courses for a common experience in the degree.
If I’m already a student prior to Fall 2025, do I have to switch to the new degree plan?
No. You aren’t required to switch to the new degree plan.
If I’m already a student prior to Fall 2025, can I switch to the new degree plan if I want to?
Yes. You have the option to switch to the new degree plan or remain on your current degree plan.
When do I have to decide whether to switch into the new plan?
You can switch into the new plan at any time while earning your degree.
If I switch into the new plan, can I switch back to my previous plan?
No. If you switch to the new degree plan, you will not have the option to switch back to your previous degree plan.
How do I switch degree plans?
Contact your academic advisor to let them know you would like to switch your major to the new Fall 2025 stand-alone English BA degree plan.
How will I know which degree plan (my current emphasis or the new plan) is best for me?
Run a degree audit for both plans in your student portal. Compare the two to determine what options each gives you and what requirements you’ll have in each.
Resources:
If I’m starting at UCCS in Fall 2025, will I have the choice between the old emphasis-based plans and the new plan?
No. Any English majors who start at UCCS in Fall 2025 or later will automatically be on the new degree plan and benefit from the wider options it offers. The default will be the new plan, unless students select the English Studies Online degree plan option.
Can I complete the new degree plan entirely online?
No. If you are interested in completing your degree entirely online, you should choose the English Studies Online degree plan. The department is continuing to increase our online offerings, but at this time the new English BA degree plan cannot be completed fully online.
Who should I contact with questions?
Contact your academic advisor or the English Department Chair.
Admission Details
To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.
Additional resources for Admissions: