MSC03 2170
Humanities, Second Floor
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
Phone: (505) 277-6347
Fax: (505) 277-0021
An undergraduate degree in English is one of the most versatile degrees in the Humanities. English students graduate with advanced skills in research, rhetoric, persuasive writing, critical reading and more. Our graduates go on to careers in law, business and academics among others. Our students enjoy a large range of opportunities to enhance their studies including lectures, reading series, and a robust internship program (learn more)
Students are encouraged to participate in the Departmental Honors Program in English. Eligibility requirements are a 3.2 cumulative GPA based on at least 75 hours of college credit (including a minimum of 9 hours in English courses numbered 200 and above), a 3.5 GPA in English courses at UNM (based on at least 9 hours in English courses taken at UNM numbered 200 and above), and a letter of recommendation from a regular faculty member from the Department of English. In the Honors Program, you will work closely with a faculty sponsor in order to write an Honors Thesis—a serious critical research, professional, or creative project. Thus, the Departmental Honors program asks you to challenge yourself at the highest academic level. Successful completion demonstrates that you are not only an exceptional student with a strong commitment to excellence, but that you can take initiative on a focused project, meet needed deadlines, and work cooperatively.
The distinction of cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude in English is awarded to successful candidates. To help ensure that you receive distinction for your work, it is important that you take the required coursework in a timely fashion, work steadily on your project, and consult frequently with your faculty advisor. Honors brochures, application forms, and guidelines are available outside the Undergraduate Office, Humanities Building Room 223. Sample materials are available upon consultation with the Department of English Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies: Professor Carolyn Woodward in Humanities 223.
The English department offers six concentrations to suit the diverse needs of our students:
This concentration is ideal for those students who want to develop their skills in writing, critical thinking, and literary analysis, as well as to gain a sense of the history of English, American, or World Literature. Of the 33 credit hours required for the major, students can select 18 of those hours as electives. Thus students will have an opportunity to tailor their program to their own interests. Students in this concentration will leave with an array of diverse skills that may lead to careers in business and industry, publishing, public service, and education. Students who wish to conclude their sequence by writing a thesis, must qualify for and enter the English Departmental Honors Program.
Lower Division Courses (9 hours)
Analysis of Literature (Eng 250)
Two Literature Surveys (Eng 264, 265, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, or 297)
Major Authors Courses (6 hours)
Chaucer or Milton (Eng. 351 or 354)
Early or Later Shakespeare (Eng 352 or 353)
300/400-level Electives (18 hours)
Choose from the wide range of courses in English, including world literature, English and American literature, medieval literature, criticism, creative and professional writing, rhetoric, and criticism and theory. 9 hours of these electives must be taken at the 400 level; students may apply one 200 level course to this suite of electives.
See the latest English Department Course Schedule for course offerings in English at the 300 and 400 levels.
Students in this concentration will develop skills in language, research, and analysis that can lead not only to careers in education and scholarship, but also to those in business and industry, publishing, public service, and law. In this concentration, required courses provide a solid grounding in English and American literature, including foundational studies in early literature and in the work of major authors. This study of literature is complemented by courses in rhetoric, criticism and theory, and/or the history of English. Of the 36 credit hours required for the major, students select 6 hours as electives. Students who wish to conclude their sequence by writing a thesis must qualify for and enter the English Departmental Honors Program.
Lower Division Courses (12 hours)
Analysis of Literature (Eng 250) and Early English Literature (Eng 294)
One American Literature Survey (chosen from Eng 295, 296, or 297)
One American Literature Survey (chosen from 264 or 265)
Major Authors Courses (9 hours)
Chaucer (Eng 351)
Shakespeare (Eng 352 or 353)
Milton (Eng 354)
Required 400 Level Classes (9 hours)
One 400-level American Literature course (chosen from Eng 460-466, 468, or 474)
One 400-level Literature course (chosen from Eng 450-459, 470, or 486)
One 400-level English language course (chosen from Eng 410, 441-443, 445, 447, 449 or 487)
300/400 Level Electives (6 hours)
See the latest English Department Course Schedule for course offerings in English at the 300 and 400 levels.
The Professional Writing Concentration is for those students interested in careers as technical and professional writers and editors. Students in this concentration learn and practice skills in editing, publishing, web-site development, technical writing, documentation, and proposal writing, among other practical skills. Courses range from basic editing and documentation to scientific and nature writing, medical writing, and visual rhetoric. While primarily designed for students interested in the practical careers in writing, the Professional Writing Concentration will also give students an edge in graduate or professional programs that require expert skills in writing, visual communication, rhetoric, and rhetorical analysis. The concentration requires courses in writing, language, and literature; an internship; and 9 hours of complementary coursework in scientific, technical, or professional disciplines. There are two sequences: the Rhetoric and Writing Sequence and the Language, Rhetoric, and Literature Sequence. Students who wish to conclude their program by writing a thesis, must qualify for and enter the English Departmental Honors Program.
Basic Requirements:
Students must fulfill the requirements for both sequences.
Professional Writing Sequence (19 hours)
Eng 219 or 220 or 240
Eng 290
12 hours from 320, 413-420 or 498
Eng 499 Internship (minimum 1 hour)
Language, Rhetoric, and Literature Sequence (15 hours)
Eng 250
3 hours from Eng 294-297
9 hours from English courses 300-level or above
Required Outside of English
9 hours of course work in science or technical and professional areas
You may also see the UNM Catalog for English Department course offerings, or look through the latest English Department Course Schedule
Students in this concentration take a broad selection of courses in English and American literature, expository and professional writing, language and rhetoric. The program emphasizes oral and written communication, critical analysis, and scholarly research, providing guided practice in the kinds of skill important to legal studies and the practice of law. Of the 33 credit hours required for the major, students select 6 hours as electives. Students in this concentration will leave with skill in language, research, and analysis that are valuable not only in law, but also in business and industry, publishing, public service, and education. Students who wish to conclude their sequence by writing a thesis, must qualify for and enter the English Departmental Honors Program.
Lower Division Courses (6 hours)
Analysis of Literature (Eng 250)
Expository Writing (Eng 220) or Traditional Grammar (Eng 240)
Literature Surveys (9 hours)
English 294 through 297:
Major Author Course (3 hours)
Early or Later Shakespeare (Eng 352 or 353)
300/400-Level Required (9 hours)
300/400 Level Electives (6 hours)
Choose from a wide range of courses in English, including world literature, English and American literature, criticism, creative and professional writing, rhetoric, and criticism and theory.
Recommended Outside of English
The following courses in public speaking are strongly recommended:
C& J 130 or 332
Phil 156
Poli Sci 315, 316, or 317
You may also see the UNM Catalog for English Department course offerings, or look through the latest English Department Course Schedule
The undergraduate major in English with a concentration in creative writing benefits students who wish to focus their studies on poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Creative writing program graduates have gone on to prestigious MFA programs, such as Cornell University, CUNY Hunter College, Sarah Lawrence College, Emerson College, Hollins College, Johns Hopkins, the University of Southern California, and others. Recent graduates have published their creative work in literary journals and have won awards such as the Stegner Fellowship at Stanford University.
The requirements in the undergraduate program emphasize creative-writing workshops, as well as elective courses in literature, along with options such as the MFA Tutorial, honors thesis, and internships such as Blue Mesa Review. Of the 33 credit hours required for the major, students are required to take 15 of those hours in workshop classes. Students may conclude their sequence by writing a thesis under the direction of the Honors Program in English. Students may also undertake an individual tutorial with a graduate student in the MFA program in their area of interest (see here for details).
Lower Division Literature (6 hours)
Analysis of Literature (Eng 250)
One Literature Survey (Eng 292 through 297)
Writing Workshops (15 hours)
Students must take at least one course at each level and at least two courses at the 400 level.
Eng 221, 222, 223
Eng 321, 322, 323, 324
Eng 421, 422, 423, 424
300 /400 level English Classes (12 hours)
At least two of these courses must be in literature. Courses range from professional writing, English and American literature, criticism and theory, and single author courses. (See the UNM Catalog or look through the latest English Department Course Schedule for course offerings in English at the 300 and 400 levels.)
The English-Philosophy major is an interdepartmental major administered jointly by the two departments. The purpose of the program is to develop an understanding of the history of ideas, ideals, and values; their expression and transformation in literature; and to explore the overlapping boundaries between philosophical and literary discourse.
The major provides training and practice in writing, critical thinking, literary and philosophical analysis, research, and the study of the history of philosophy and literature. Providing a strong grounding in the liberal arts, the English Philosophy degree may lead to careers in education and research, publishing, law, and public service, as well as jobs in business and industry.
English-Philosophy majors need not declare a minor field of study, and no minor in English-Philosophy is offered.
English Courses (18 hours)
Of the 18 hours, 12 must be numbered 300-level or above.
Recommended (6 hours)
Analysis of Literature (Eng 250)
Criticism/Theory (Eng 410)
Electives (12 hours)
You may see the UNM Catalog or the latest English Department Course Schedule for course offerings in English at the 300 and 400 levels.
Philosophy Courses (18 hours)
Of the 18 hours, 12 must be numbered 300-level or above.
Recommended (9 hours)
Reasoning and Critical Thinking
(Phil 156)
Greek or Modern Philosophy
(Phil 201 or 202)
Theory of Knowledge, Metaphysics, or Ethical Theory (Phil 352, 354, or 358)
Electives (9 hours)
Philosophy/English Courses (9 hours)
Required (3 hours)
Philosophy and Literature (Eng/Phil 480)
Electives (6 hours)
Six more hours of English or Philosophy courses at the 300-level or above.