BA in English

Comprising 120 credits, our BA in English program includes core major courses, electives, and general education courses. Study literature across genres, historical periods, and cultural contexts, while specialized studies in creative writing, Shakespeare, and Christian literature let you discover how language is used historically and in the modern world to shape culture and thought.

Reading and talking about literature, whether the great books that inspired our founding fathers or narrative fiction allowing us to see through a thousand eyes, is the chief way a society can create virtuous citizens. With an emphasis on critical thinking and analytical skills, our English major equips you with the tools necessary for various career paths where a deep appreciation of the written and spoken word is paramount.

Degree Plan

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Courses

English program courses develop skills in analyzing and creating fiction, nonfiction, and poetry works and how to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences. You’ll read the “canon” of English literature and study more modern or underrepresented texts, from fantasy to science fiction.

Take courses such as:

• American Literature I and II
• Advanced Studies in British Literature
• Christianity & Literature
• Creative Writing: Non-Fiction
• Modern & Contemporary Literature

English Minor

Rather than solely pursuing an English major, broaden your academic experience by complementing your primary field of study at HCU with a minor in English. Immerse yourself in literature, writing, and critical analysis, exploring a variety of genres and forms. Enhance your communication skills by studying language and literature, which serves as a valuable complement to almost any discipline.

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In nearly every career, the most powerful tool to wield is language. English majors interpret the world by developing a robust writing and critical thinking toolkit, from using marketing data to connect with readers to understanding complex technical language. Translating thoughts and ideas into clear language is essential preparation for the workplace, graduate study, and a trajectory of lifelong learning. Graduates of the BA in English degree program excel in professional and creative writing, business, teaching, politics, and more.

Career and Salary Outcomes

Equipped with the ability to interpret and harness language and logic effectively, our English program graduates excel in diverse vocations that require talents in writing, building arguments, engaging with various perspectives, critical thinking, analysis, and research, whether you work in publishing, write ad copy for a marketing agency, or create and circulate internal or public-facing communications in business and industry settings.

Personally and professionally fulfilling career paths for English majors include:

• Content Writing
• Copyediting
• Journalism
• Literary and Film Criticism
• Management
• Marketing
• Postgraduate Research
• Public Relations
• Speech Writing
• Teaching
• Technical Writing

Entering fields like public relations or marketing can earn average annual salaries such as $66,750 and $83,190, respectively, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with ample opportunity to advance to higher-paid management roles. English majors are also prepared for careers spanning writing and publishing, where editors can earn $75,020 annually, to technical writing, where the average yearly salary is $80,000.

Many English majors gain admission to law schools, creative writing master’s programs, and graduate programs in English literature or composition, rhetoric, linguistics, comparative literature, library science, education, or related fields. Courses like Literary Theory pave the way for continued academic and professional success as English professors, research fellows, authors, and novelists.

Shape Academics and Experiences To You

HCU’s opportunities and resources give you the power to shape your learning inside and outside the classroom. Ways to enhance your new skills in language and literature include:

• Supplementing learning with writing, history, philosophy, or apologetics courses
• Presenting research at prestigious conferences like the Christianity and Culture Conference
• Accessing incomparable campus resources such as the Dunham Bible Museum and its collections
• Exploring study abroad opportunities, including programs through the Council for Christian
• Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the chance to study at Oxford
• Engaging with Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society, and other student-led clubs and organizations

Faculty of Leading Thinkers

As an English major, you learn from faculty who also teach graduate-level courses and the Honors College, offering an elevated experience and in-depth conversation on any topic in small classes. Interact directly with high-profile researchers and thinkers who actively impact Houston’s writing communities and schools and who have published scholarship on a range of authors, including Homer, Virgil, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Nella Larsen, Marilynne Robinson, and Philip K. Dick.