Major
	English (BA) from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minor
	English
Four-year Graduation Plan
	Yes
Honors
	Yes
Selective Admission
	Yes, for the Creative Writing Track
Teacher Licensure
	Yes
Links
	Web Site Courses General Catalog

The Department of English is nationally known for its strong faculty representation in all areas of English, American, and transnational literature and for its outstanding programs in creative and nonfiction writing.

Students major in English because they enjoy reading, writing, and talking about literature. They recognize that the study of English is valuable in its own right and can provide a base for many different careers.

• Why Study English at Iowa?
• Course Work
• Literary Publications
• Careers
• Scholarships

Why Study English at Iowa?
The University of Iowa, for more than 60 years, has been known as a writing university, a place where literature, films, fine arts, study of the book, and study of different cultures and their languages blend to make an ideal learning atmosphere for those interested in words and composition. In 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Iowa City, the University’s hometown, as its third City of Literature worldwide.

U.S. News & World Report ranked the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, which offers a graduate degree, as the No. 1 creative writing program in the nation. The workshop and Iowa’s other strong writing programs bring world-renowned writers to campus. Many teach and give public readings.

The Department of English focuses on educating individual students. Although English is one of the University's most popular majors, with around 1,000 students, most of the department's classes are small enough to encourage spirited discussion and offer abundant writing opportunities.

The department also values cultural, global, and aesthetic diversity. Literature encompasses a growing array of texts and includes a wide range of genres and modes, from drama, fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction to video, graphic novels, film, radio essays, material culture, new media, and performance art.

Course Work
Students majoring in English earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The BA requires a minimum of 120 semester hours (s.h.), including 33 s.h. (11 courses) for the major.

Requirements for the major are quite flexible. You'll take some courses that look at texts in detail, some that look at texts in their broader cultural contexts, and some that view texts from a historical standpoint. The department offers numerous courses, so almost any kind of concentration is possible.

Literature and writing are the main areas of study. You'll spend the greatest amount of time in literature courses. Since literature both reflects and illuminates history, philosophy, religion, the social sciences, and the arts, you might take courses in these subjects or even earn a second major in another field.

Students often take some writing courses as part of the major, including Creative Writing, Fiction Writing, Poetry Writing, and courses in multimedia writing and the creative nonfiction essay.

The course Introduction to English Major: Theory and Practice is required for all students. You'll be encouraged to take it as soon as you declare the major. You'll also complete the following course work.

One course from each of the following six areas:

• Medieval and early modern literature and culture
• Modern British literature and culture
• American literature and culture
• Transnational literature and postcolonial studies
• Literary theory and interdisciplinary studies
• Nonfiction and creative writing

Two courses from each of three historical periods:

• Early literature through the 17th century
• Literature of the 18th and/or 19th century
• Literature of the 20th and/or 21st century

Most courses satisfy both an area and a historical period requirement.

In addition, you'll choose a concentration from one of the six areas above and take two additional courses in that area.

If you're interested in secondary school teaching, you'll need to complete the College of Education's Teacher Education Program.

Creative Writing Track

English majors who enjoy writing may apply to the undergraduate creative writing track. Admission to the track is selective. To be accepted, you must be a junior or senior, show competence in introductory writing courses, complete a portfolio of writing qualifying you to be admitted to an intermediate-level workshop, and earn a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.33 in all of your UI English courses.

For More Details

See English in the UI General Catalog to learn more about the major and for information about graduating with honors or earning a minor in English.

Literary Publications
The department produces several notable literary journals and publications, including the Iowa Review, considered one of the best-known and most highly respected literary reviews in the country; the scholarly journal Philological Quarterly; and the Walt Whitman Quarterly Review, the official journal of the Walt Whitman Studies Association.

Careers
About one quarter of graduates plan to teach, while another quarter plan to do writing of some kind. The rest use English as a background for the study of law, business, theology, or other disciplines and professions.

Scholarships
Consult multiple sources for scholarship information, including the Office of Admissions; the Office of Student Financial Aid; and departmental web sites.