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Courses | B.A. in English

Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include Biola's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, .

International Students

All students requesting transfer of credits from countries where English is not the primary language must provide the following to be assessed by the English Department prior to approval of credits: sample writings, a course description from the University's catalog, a syllabus of the course, writings from the course and transcript. Final decision will be made by the department chair.

English Language (EL)

All students for whom English is not a primary language may take EL coursework (ENGL 102–105) for GE fulfillment of foreign language degree requirements or for elective credit. For students pursuing the B.A. degree, the 8 credits of EL is needed for the Core Curriculum foreign language requirement.

Curriculum Requirements

Program Courses
English majors meet the Core Curriculum requirement within the major.
In addition to the English courses taken for Core Curriculum credit, all students of English must complete 33 credits in required program courses.
Required of all English Majors:
Introduction to English Studies3
Select one of the following:3
British Literature I
British Literature II
British Literature III
Select one of the following:3
American Literature I
American Literature II
Select one 200/300/400-level English elective3
The following courses are required of all English Majors:
Writing in the Disciplines3
Studies in Grammar and Language3
Studies in American Literature3
or  Studies in American Literature: Realism and Naturalism
or  Studies in American Literature: Modernism and Masculinity
or  Studies in American Lit: California Dreamin’– Modern & Contemporary Literature of the Golden State
or  Studies in American Literature: Mid-20th-Century American Literature
or  Studies in American Literature: Contemporary American Literature
or  Studies in American Literature: Contemporary Women Writers and Feminist Theory
Studies in British Literature3
or  Studies in British Literature: Legends of King Arthur
or  Studies in British Literature: Monsters & Mayhem in the Middle Ages & Renaissance
or  Studies in British Literature: Environment from Enlightenment to Romanticism
or  Studies in British Literature: Romanticism
or  Studies in British Literature: The Victorian Novel
Studies in Literary & Critical Theory3
Select one of the following:3
Studies in Major Authors
or 
Studies in Major Authors: Shakespearean Literature & Film
or 
Studies in Major Authors: Jane Austen
or 
Studies in Major Authors: Herman Melville & His Influences
or 
Studies in Major Authors: John Steinbeck
or 
Studies in Major Authors: Toni Morrison
Studies in Genre
or 
Studies in Genre: Faith and Unbelief in the Novel
or 
Studies in Genre: History of the British Novel
or 
Studies in Genre: Modern & Contemporary Short Stories
or 
Studies in Genre: Rhetorical Genres
Required of all English Majors:
English Capstone Course3
Select a concentration below 1
Total Credits33
1

See concentration tables below which detail the requirements needed to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

Concentrations

Literature

For those wishing to focus on the study of literature, the Literature track requires at least 12 credits in upper-division English courses in addition to the required English program courses.

Program Courses33
Concentration Courses
Select two 300/400-level English electives6
Select two 400-level English electives6
Concentration Course Requirements: 12 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 171
General Electives4
Total Credits120
1

See for details.

Writing

For those seeking to supplement their study of literature with theoretical and vocational training in writing.

Program Courses33
Concentration Courses
This concentration requires students to take five specialized courses in writing in addition to the required English program courses.
Advanced Composition3
Studies in Specialized Writing3
or  Studies in Specialized Writing: Digital Literacy and New Media
or  Studies in Specialized Writing: Vision, Voice, and Practice
or  Studies in Specialized Writing: Writing the Novel
Technical and Digital Communication3
Select 2 of the following 3 courses:6
Creative Writing: Poetry
Creative Writing: Fiction
Creative Writing: Nonfiction
Concentration Course Requirements: 15 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 171
General Electives1
Total Credits120
1

See for details.

Secondary Instruction

For those interested in teaching English at the high school level, this concentration provides coursework that, combined with successfully passing the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET), leads to a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in English. The Secondary Instruction concentration consists of 56 credits.

The leading to a California Teaching Credential at 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ University is subject to change in response to new legislation. Please see a credential analyst in the School of Education for current information on completing the requirements for a teaching credential. Students must consult with both their major advisor and a School of Education advisor.

Program Courses33
Concentration Courses
The Rhetorical Act 13
or  Interpersonal Communication
or  Oral Interpretation
United States History To 1865 23
or  Survey of American Government
Introduction to Psychology 33
Introduction to Teaching3
Psychological Foundations of Education3
Methods of Teaching Linguistically Diverse Students3
Secondary Content Area Reading3
Single Subject Pedagogy2
Secondary Curriculum, Differentiation, and Assessment3
Student teaching (12 credits) may be completed at the graduate level and is not required for undergraduate graduation. Please meet with an advisor in the School of Education.
Secondary Student Teaching I
Secondary Student Teaching II
Concentration Course Requirements: 26 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 462
Total Credits121
1

This course fulfills the Communication Core Curriculum requirement.

2

This course fulfills 3 credits of the History Core Curriculum requirement. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requires that a teaching credential candidate must have completed a minimum 2-credit course that covers the U.S. Constitution or fulfill this requirement by examination. Biola University students may complete this requirement by taking either of with a grade of C or better. Students receiving AP college credit for either or will also meet this requirement. Transfer coursework must be reviewed by a credential analyst in the School of Education.

3

This course fulfills the Behavioral Science Core Curriculum requirement.

4

See for details.

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