Unveil the wonders of life by exploring language and literature.
Open the door to manifest your creativity through the written word. Whether you want to write, edit, or teach, University of the Cumberlands’ English degree program has everything you need to succeed. No matter your level of writing or your understanding of literature, an English program is the perfect place to strengthen your skills. With a close-knit faculty and personable classroom experience, getting your English degree not only teaches you everything you wanted to know about English and literature, it also creates irreplaceable bonds with your classmates. Words are powerful; learn how to wield yours well.
By the Numbers
Programs & Requirements
Bachelor's in English - Creative Writing
Unlock your potential for creation and language with a degree in English with a creative writing emphasis. With this English focus, you will wade into the waters of storytelling, poetry, nonfiction, and classic literature, as well as many other opportunities. Your time will be spent studying the techniques that give a person’s natural talent a direction for improvement. With the freedom to create original work, you’ll find your voice among the writers of the ages.
Course Requirements
ENGL 239 Introduction to Creative Writing
ENGL 430 Literary Criticism
ENGL 439 Descriptive Linguistics
ENGL 339 Studies in Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction
ENGL 340 Studies in Creative Writing: Fiction
ENGL 341 Studies in Creative Writing: Poetry
Choose four classes from the following (12 hours):
ENGL 331 English Literature through 1660
ENGL 332 English Literature 1660-1830
ENGL 333 English Literature since 1830
ENGL 334 American Literature through 1865
ENGL 335 American Literature since 1865
And choose one class from the following (3 hours):
ENGL 431 Studies in British Literature
ENGL 432 Studies in Modern Literature
ENGL 433 Women in Literature
ENGL 437 Studies in British and American Authors
Choose one elective (3 credit hours) of a 300- or 400-level course in writing (either ENGL, JOUR, or COMM course)
or
One elective of a 300- or 400-level course in literature.
And choose two classes (6 credit hours) from Spanish or French electives.
A Bachelor of Arts in English - Creative Writing requires all the above courses in addition to completing one of the following foreign language sequences:
FREN 131 Elementary French I
FREN 132 Elementary French II
FREN 231 Intermediate French I
FREN 232 Intermediate French II
SPAN 131 Elementary Spanish I
SPAN 132 Elementary Spanish II
SPAN 231 Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 232 Intermediate Spanish II
Bachelor's in English - Literary Studies
Explore an array of artistic works by some of the greatest minds in the history of literature – and start applying their techniques to your personal and professional life. During this program, you’ll spend your time analyzing and interpreting timeless works from every era ranging from the Renaissance to the 2000s. Uncover the hidden mysteries of these great minds and reveal just how much they impacted the world with their words. You too can have that kind of impact, and a bachelor’s degree in literary studies is the perfect step to get there!
Course Requirements
ENGL 430 Literary Criticism
ENGL 439 Descriptive Linguistics
Choose four classes from the following (12 hours):
ENGL 331 English Literature through 1660
ENGL 332 English Literature 1660-1830
ENGL 333 English Literature since 1830
ENGL 334 American Literature through 1865
ENGL 335 American Literature since 1865
And choose three classes from the following (9 hours):
ENGL 431 Studies in British Literature
ENGL 432 Studies in Modern Literature
ENGL 433 Women in Literature
ENGL 437 Studies in British and American Authors
Choose three 300- or 400- level courses in writing or literature (9 credit hours).
And choose two classes (6 credit hours) in Spanish or French.
A Bachelor of Arts in English - Literary Studies requires all the above courses in addition to completing one of the following foreign language sequences:
FREN 131 Elementary French I
FREN 132 Elementary French II
FREN 231 Intermediate French I
FREN 232 Intermediate French II
SPAN 131 Elementary Spanish I
SPAN 132 Elementary Spanish II
SPAN 231 Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 232 Intermediate Spanish II
Bachelor's in English - Secondary Education
Follow your dream of teaching others about English; you never know when you're teaching the world's next great author. Through this degree program, you will foster a love for the English language and all it has to offer in your future students. Learn how English works in a world where language is ever-changing, and become trained in giving young people their best chance at becoming lovers of words, stories, and grammar.
Course Requirements
ENGL 430 Literary Criticism
ENGL 438 Advanced Writing
ENGL 439 Descriptive Linguistics
Choose four classes from the following (12 hours):
ENGL 331 English Literature through 1660
ENGL 332 English Literature 1660-1830
ENGL 333 English Literature since 1830
ENGL 334 American Literature through 1865
ENGL 335 American Literature since 1865
And choose three classes from the following (9 hours):
ENGL 431 Studies in British Literature
ENGL 432 Studies in Modern Literature
ENGL 433 Women in Literature
ENGL 437 Studies in British and American Authors
Choose two 300- or 400- level courses in writing or literature (6 credit hours).
And choose two classes (6 credit hours) in Spanish or French.
These additional courses are required for teacher certification in English:
COMM 230 Introduction to Public Speaking
THTR 130 Introduction to Theatre
ENGL 337 Literature of Adolescence or EDUC 338 Reading & Language Arts I
In addition, 42 hours in professional education courses are also required as defined by UC's Department of Education. View our course catalog for more information.
A Bachelor of Arts in English - Secondary Education requires all the above courses in addition to completing one of the following foreign language sequences:
FREN 131 Elementary French I
FREN 132 Elementary French II
FREN 231 Intermediate French I
FREN 232 Intermediate French II
SPAN 131 Elementary Spanish I
SPAN 132 Elementary Spanish II
SPAN 231 Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 232 Intermediate Spanish II
English Minor Options
When you pursue a minor in creative writing or literary studies, you give yourself the opportunity to test your creative limits – and push beyond them -- or explore the depths of great literature. If you want to grow as a writer and reader while still having time to venture into other study areas, a minor in creative writing or literary studies might be your best opportunity.
Course Requirements
Required Courses (9 hours):
ENGL 239 Introduction to Creative Writing
ENGL 430 Literary Criticism
ENGL 439 Descriptive Linguistics
Choose one of the following (3 hours):
ENGL 339 Studies in Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction
ENGL 340 Studies in Creative Writing: Fiction
ENGL 341 Studies in Creative Writing: Poetry
Choose two of the following (6 hours):
ENGL 331 English Literature through 1660
ENGL 332 English Literature 1660-1830
ENGL 333 English Literature since 1830
ENGL 334 American Literature through 1865
ENGL 335 American Literature since 1865
Choose one of the following (3 hours):
- ENGL 431 Studies in British Literature
- ENGL 432 Studies in Modern Literature
- ENGL 433 Women in Literature
- ENGL 437 Studies in British and American Authors
And choose one elective (3 credit hours) of a 300- or 400-level course in writing (either ENGL, JOUR, or COMM).
Required Courses (9 hours):
ENGL 334 American Literature through 1865
ENGL 335 American Literature since 1865
ENGL 439 Descriptive Linguistics
Choose two of the following (6 hours):
ENGL 331 English Literature through 1660
ENGL 332 English Literature 1660-1830
ENGL 333 English Literature since 1830
Choose one of the following (3 hours):
ENGL 431 Studies in British Literature
ENGL 432 Studies in Modern Literature
ENGL 433 Women in Literature
ENGL 437 Studies in British and American Authors
And choose two electives (6 hours) in writing or literature.
* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.
To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog.
Take the Next Step
Mission & Goals
The English program's mission at Cumberlands to open the world of language, art, beauty, and advanced literacy to every student. Through thought-provoking adventures into literature and writing, you'll master the complexity of the English language.
English Careers & Outcomes
All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Writer/Author: $69,510
Writer/Author: $69,510
Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media.
Editor: $63,350
Editor: $63,350
Editors plan, coordinate, and revise material for publication in books, newspapers, or periodicals or on websites. They review story ideas and decide what material will appeal most to readers. In smaller organizations, a single editor may do all the editorial duties or share them with only a few other people.
Public Relations Specialist: $62,800
Public Relations Specialist: $62,800
Public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the individuals, groups, or organizations they represent. They craft media releases and develop social media programs to shape public perception of their clients and to increase awareness of each client’s work and goals.
Journalist: $48,370
Journalist: $48,370
News analysts, reporters, and journalists keep the public updated about current events and noteworthy information. They report international, national, and local news for newspapers, magazines, websites, television, and radio.
English Teacher: $61,820
English Teacher: $61,820
High school teachers generally teach students from the 9th through 12th grades, specializing in an area such as English, math, science, or history, and so on. They inspire students, help students hone their skills, and sometimes offer guidance regarding future college or career plans.
College Professor: $79,640
College Professor: $79,640
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.
Common Questions
Since all workplaces value good written and verbal communication skills, the possibilities are endless when it comes to careers that benefit from an English degree. Some jobs are more English-specific, such as writing, editing, or teaching, but strong reading comprehension and writing skills are an asset in many other careers as well.
Absolutely! Many Cumberlands students major in two different academic programs. An English major can pair well with essentially any other major. With a required 42 credit hours, it is possible to double-major, so long as you have the time management skills to balance your coursework and personal life.
Yes, you Can! With smaller class sizes and devoted faculty, you will learn and grow alongside like-minded peers and professors, forging unbreakable bonds. Since many English classes are the same regardless of emphasis, you will interact with the same students many times and get to know them over the next four years, creating opportunities for a supportive community during your college years and beyond.
For literature, each class varies based on the topic and the professor. However, you will read extensively on all eras of writing and the impact it had on British and American history. You will also explore exciting topics like modern and gothic literature as well as women within the literary world. Writing classes are structured as a group workshop to facilitate collective writing and allow for advice from fellow students. You will explore countless styles, themes, structures, and sound as you dive into the depths of writing. Finally, the education classes that focus on grammatical, functional, and applicable content operate as any other class where you will solidify your knowledge of the English language and learn how to share that knowledge with others. You will perform research on a plethora of topics and strengthen your skills for essay writing.
Neither degree ranks better than the other, but one might better suit your specific career goals. For example, a Bachelor of Science might be better suited for more technical careers such as office working or operations, whereas a Bachelor of Arts would be beneficial for areas like communications and writing. Since the only difference between the two for English is whether you take two language classes or four, it is not so much a matter of which is better, but rather how much language you wish to explore. On the job front, the two are practically interchangeable.
Yes! There are a number of options you can explore if you're a good writer and want to either volunteer or receive work-study funding while contributing your skills to the benefit of the university and community. You can explore positions in our campus newspaper, The Patriot, our Office of Communications & Marketing (UCOMM), or our Office of Development, for starters. If you want to help others understand English better, you can pursue a job in The Learning Commons as an English tutor for fellow students.
Kristen Mitchell"I’ve always known I wanted to become a writer, so it was a no-brainer for me to pursue a creative writing degree. It has been an unforgettable experience; I had no idea I would grow as much as I have the past few years. My skills have improved, and I've become more confident, skilled, open-minded, expressive, and in love with the world of words!"
Student / English - Creative Writing
Faculty Experts
Learn more about our talented English professors.
Dr. Ipatia Apostolides
Emily Vander Ark
Michael Ferraro
Request Information
Want to know more? Ask away!