Undergraduate Program

English as an Area of Study

The study of English gives students familiarity knowledge of language and literature, including familiarity with the literature that helped define past eras. Studying English also helps students develop their ability to read perceptively, think critically, analyze problems, and write persuasively. For these reasons, a major in English has traditionally been viewed as good training for careers in law, government, business, and publishing, as well as for careers in teaching and writing. The department has compiled some sources of Career information and suggestions.

The Bachelor of Arts in English

The College of Arts and Sciences requires 124 semester hours for the B.A. degree. English majors are required to take thirty-nine hours (thirteen three-hour courses) of English, including six hours of English literature surveys, six hours of American literature survey, and four hours of advanced composition, in addition to six hours of advanced courses in British literature, six hours of advanced courses in American literature, and nine hours of electives in English (three of which must be at the advanced level).

These documents will help a student plan a rewarding and efficient course of study:

• Required and recommended courses
• Undergraduate requirements checklist
• Advising and pre-registration
• The Portfolio (for Departmental assessment and as a personal record)

Program Goals (Departmental Document)

This document provides an overview of the departmental goals regarding the education of undergraduate students.

Teacher Certification

Students who are certain they want to teach English in the public school system after they graduate from Mississippi State usually major in Education. However, if public school teaching is just one career a student is considering, and/or if a student has a strong preference for majoring in English, there are methods for completing an English major and also becoming certified to teach in the public schools. Students seeking to meet both these goals should consult with advisors in both the English Department and the College of Education.

Certification in the Teaching of ESL

Students at either the undergraduate or graduate level can take a block of courses leading to a certificate in the teaching of English as a second language. Consult the department's TESOL certificate program requirements.

Course Offerings

• Course descriptions of all classes offered by the English Department, as taken from the Mississippi State catalog.
• Current class schedules.
• Detailed descriptions of selected advanced undergraduate courses, as prepared by the professors offering the classes.

Undergraduate Admission

Contact the Mississippi State University Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Further Information

For more information about majoring or minoring in English at the undergraduate level, contact Dr. Thomas Anderson in the Department of English.