Edward A. Geary, Chair
4198A JFSB, (801) 422-4938
Gregory Clark, Coordinator, English Composition
4110C JFSB, (801) 422-3565
College of Humanities Advisement Center
1175 JFSB, (801) 422-4789
Admission to Degree Program
All degree programs in the Department of English are open
enrollment. However, special enrollment limitations apply for
teaching majors.
The Discipline
The English major provides a detailed knowledge of the English
language and of literature written in English. English majors
approach language and literature as a source of knowledge and
aesthetic pleasure, a mode of encountering and evaluating diverse
minds and attitudes, a vehicle for art and action, a means of
historical understanding, and a source of spiritual insight. English
majors use writing as their primary means (1) of knowing,
understanding, and evaluating their experience and their reading
and (2) of sharing their insight with others. In keeping with the
long-standing ideals of a liberal arts education, the English
Department aims to cultivate in its students those foundational
skills in writing, awareness, and judgment upon which lives of
wisdom, service, and an ever-increasing love for learning might
be built.
Career Opportunities
With a firm grounding in the liberal arts, English majors are
prepared for any career that requires perceptive reading, orderly
and clear thinking, intellectual maturity, and effective writing.
Many career opportunities for English majors exist in teaching,
professional writing and editing, law, business, communications,
or government service. English majors can certify to teach
secondary-school English, or they can prepare for graduate study
in English and college teaching. When combined with prerequisite
courses in other departments, the English major provides
excellent preparation for graduate work in law, business, library
science, medicine, humanities, or religion. By selecting areas of
concentration, some English majors prepare for careers in
technical and professional communication, editing, creative
writing, and related fields. By supplementing their English major
with computer classes, some find work in information technology.
The skills and knowledge acquired by an English major also
provide good preparation for government service, especially
when combined with the study of foreign languages, economics,
political science, and history.
General Information
The Department of English strongly recommends that StDev 317,
a 1-credit-hour course, be taken at the end of the sophomore year
or the beginning of the junior year. Because liberal arts degrees
provide preparation in a variety of useful fields rather than a
single career track, this course is recommended to help liberal arts
students focus on specific educational and occupational goals and
to identify the career options or educational opportunities
available to them. The course will introduce them to the resources
needed for accessing information about graduate schools,
internships, careers, and career development. Students will learn
basic employment strategies, including the steps necessary for
obtaining employment related to their own specialty.
Graduation Requirements
To receive a BYU bachelor’s degree a student must complete, in
addition to all requirements for a specific major, the following
university requirements:
- The university core, consisting of requirements in general and
religious education. (See the University Core section of this
catalog for details. For a complete listing of courses that meet
university core requirements, see the current class schedule.)
- A minimum of 30 credit hours in residence
- A minimum of 120 credit hours
- A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
Undergraduate Programs and Degrees
BA English
BA English Teaching
Minors
English
English Teaching
Students should see their college advisement center for help or
information concerning the undergraduate programs.
Graduate Programs and Degrees
MA English
For more information see the BYU
2005–2006 Graduate Catalog.
