Other Emphases

Graduate School in English
If you are enjoying your time as an English major, you may want to consider doing further work in the field. That’s where graduate school comes in. The Department can provide you with a good preparation for advanced study. Some of our students choose to go on to public and private graduate programs on the continental U.S.; others choose to enroll in our own Department’s M.A. or Ph.D. programs. Graduate work can give you advanced preparation to teach at the high school level or it can lead to a career in research and teaching at the college or university level. For those with an interest in creative writing, graduate school affords the opportunity to deepen one’s understanding of various genres and to strengthen one’s own creative abilities.

In order to prepare for graduate school, you will use our major requirements to plan a program that explores a range of literatures over a broad time span and that grounds you in critical theory. If you are thinking at all about graduate school, you should meet with your advisor early on in your major career to map out an appropriate suite of courses. Being able to write well will stand you in good stead, as will an understanding of different theoretical approaches to literary study. Most graduate schools, including our own, require one foreign language for the M.A. and two for the Ph.D., so it would be a good idea to develop a strong knowledge of at least one language.

If you have questions about course selections or program requirements, ask your advisor or contact the English Graduate Office in KUY 416 (956.8956).

Pre-law
Quite a few English majors pursue law degrees upon graduation. Many of the Department’s offerings in advanced expository writing, rhetoric, and editing have proved to be popular electives for students planning a career in law. Any course, however, which requires extensive reading, regular written analysis, and arguments backed up by evidence will be a good choice. Pre-law students should therefore pay special attention to upper-division WI courses. If you are considering a career in law, you should consult with the pre-professional advisors in Arts & Sciences Advising, Hawai'i Hall 108.

Secondary Education
Whether you’re a student in the College of Education, or an English major with plans to teach eventually, the English Department will play an important role in your preparation as an educator. Secondary school English teachers must take ten upper-division English courses as part of their B.ED. degree requirements. English majors who wish to complete their B.A. before seeking teacher certification should use the B.ED. English requirements as a guide for selecting courses. The fewer courses you have to take after graduation, the faster you can gain your certification (Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Secondary Education, or the PBCSE). Contact Education’s Student Academic Services Office, Wist Annex 2, Room 126 (956.7849) for further information.