College of Arts & Sciences

English

25

Teaching, Mentoring, & DEI Awards

4

Kentucky Poet Laureates

2

Undergraduate Literary Magazines

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In today’s complex world, critical thinkers and strong writers have an edge. The Department of English at the University of Kentucky offers a wide variety of courses in order to provide students like you with that edge. You are provided the opportunity to learn from faculty members that are best-selling and award-winning authors, poets, documentarians, and screenwriters. The English curriculum at UK favors a liberal arts tradition that provides you with a broad skill set and prepares you for success in a variety of careers. English is a powerful and flexible undergraduate degree that leads to numerous career paths. Many students choose professions in education, and many more find employment in fields such as communications, entertainment, business, and law.            

Careers

Grow Your Future

A Bachelor of Arts in English is a relevant and flexible undergraduate degree that leads to numerous career paths. In this new information age, collecting, reading and writing about complex information for a specific audience is an essential skill. English provides it. In addition, reading literature and watching films provide a chance to experiment with ideas and with possible selves. Books and films allow you to travel in time and space, without ever leaving home. They show you how the world looks through another person's eyes. In a complex world filled with different people, good readers and film analysts have an edge.

Career opportunities in English

  • Advertisers
  • Writers
  • Lawyers
  • Teachers
  • Editors
  • Information technologies
  • Filmmakers
  • Business executives
  • Public-relations managers
  • Web developers
  • Librarians
  • Publicists
  • Doctors
  • Diplomats
  • Activists

Accelerated Opportunity 

UK BLUE

If you know you want a career in law, then the UK BLUE program may be right for you. Incoming freshmen majoring in English can apply to participate in this 3+3 partnership with UK Law. Students selected for this accelerated program finish their B.A. and J.D. in six years, all while participating in enrichment activities that expose them to the legal, clinical, community service, and career opportunities that a law degree makes possible. For more information, visit the UK BLUE website: https://www.as.uky.edu/uk-blue.

 

 


Classes & Requirements

What You'll Study

English majors study a wide variety of courses in English and American literature as well as in linguistics, film, creative writing, cultural studies, and composition. Students explore, examine and read and write about complex information in literature and prose.


Graduation Requirements

Any student earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete a minimum of 39 hours at the 300+ level. These hours are generally completed by the major requirements. However, keep this hour requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the requirements in the major. Students interested in earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree must complete a minimum of 60 hours in biological, physical, mathematical and/or computer sciences. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences degrees in the Arts and Sciences section of the 2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin.

UK Core Requirements

  • The Nature of Inquiry in Arts and Creativity (3 hours)
  • The Nature of Inquiry in the Humanities (3 hours)
  • The Nature of Inquiry in the Social Sciences (3 hours)
  • The nature of Inquiry in the Natural, Physical and Mathematical Sciences (3 hours)
  • Composition and Communication I (3 hours)
  • Composition and Communication II (3 hours)
  • Quantitative Foundations (3 hours)
  • Statistical and Inferential Reasoning (3 hours)
  • Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA (3 hours)
  • Global Dynamics (3 hours)

Total Credit Hours - 30


Premajor Requirements

Choose one of the following:

  • ENG 230: Introduction to Literature
  • ENG 260: Introduction to Black Writers
  • ENG 290: Introduction to Women's Literature [3 hours]

*The department also strongly recommends ENG 100: Introduction to the English Major [1 hour]

Total Hours - 3​

Major Requirements 

Historical Survey Requirement 

Majors must take two Historical Survey courses of their choice. Historical Surveys can be taken in any combination and any order. Courses fulfilling the Historical Survey Requirements include:

  • ENG 241/242 - Survey of British Literature I/II
  • ENG 251/252 - Survey of American Literature I/II
  • ENG 265/266 - Survey of African-American Literature I/II [6 hours]

English Text and Context

  • Majors must completed ENG 330 - Text and Context after completing the premajor requirements and before going on to 400-level courses in the major. ENG 330 fulfills the Graduation Writing Requirement [3 hours]

English Early Period Requirement

  • English majors must take at least one designated Early Period ENG course of their choice. Approved courses include: ENG 241, 251, 341, 342, 343, 518, 519 or other Early Period subtitled courses as designated at the 300-400 level [3 hours]

Diversity Requirement*

  • Students must take one of the following courses among their surveys or electives to fulfill this requirement: ENG 260, 265, 266, 361, 362, 368, 369, 370, 460, 470, 490 [3 hours] 

* The director of undergraduate studies may approve another course, not on the list above, at or above the 200-level that is designated as a diversity course.

Other Course Work Required by the Major

English majors must take an additional seven ENG courses, mostly at the 300-level. For specifics regarding restrictions and course requirements please refer to the English website: https://english.as.uky.edu/english-major

Courses from Outside the Department

English majors must take an additional 9 hours at the 200+ level outside of English. For applicable departments that can fulfill this requirement please refer to the English website: https://english.as.uky.edu/english-major

CREATIVE Writing Option

​To Fulfill the ENG Creative Writing Option, students must complete the following: 

  • ENG 207 - Beginning Workshop in Creative Writing (subtitle required) [3 hours]
  • ENG 407 - Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing (subtitle required) [3 hours]
  • ENG 507 - Advanced Workshop in Creative Writing (subtitle required) taken twice under two different subtitles [6 hours]
  • Submission of a portfolio for evaluation by the Creative Writing staff six weeks prior to graduation

Total Hours - 39 - 42


English | Bachelor of Science

B.S. Major Requirements B.S. Four Year Plan

Imagine Your Future

Writers and Authors

Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.

Median Salary

$69,510

per year in 2021

Number of Jobs

142,800

in 2021

10 Year Job Outlook

5,900

new jobs (average)

Work Environment

Writers and authors may work anywhere they have access to a computer. Many writers and authors are self-employed.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Imagine Your Future

Editors

Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.

Median Salary

$63,350

per year in 2021

Number of Jobs

108,400

in 2021

10 Year Job Outlook

-5,500

new jobs (average)

Work Environment

Most editors work in offices, whether onsite with their employer or from a remote location. The work can be stressful because editors often have tight deadlines.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Imagine Your Future

Lawyers

Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.

Median Salary

$127,990

per year in 2021

Number of Jobs

833,100

in 2021

10 Year Job Outlook

80,200

new jobs (average)

Work Environment

The majority of lawyers work in private and corporate legal offices. Some work for federal, local, and state governments. Most work full time and many work more than 40 hours a week.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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A&S Undecided/Exploratory Studies

Understanding that over 70 percent of university students will change their declared major at least once during their college careers, the College of Arts and Sciences has developed an Exploratory Studies program for students who have yet to decide the specific field of study that most closely aligns both their personal interests and their professional career goals and objectives. The Exploratory Studies Program provides students with an extraordinarily diverse educational environment that includes coursework spanning Math and Natural Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences and provides students with the unique opportunity to explore multiple areas of interest during their first several semesters on campus. For more information please contact a recruiting representative at asrecruting@uky.edu. 


Enhancing Your Time at UK

While there are endless ways to create an unforgettable journey as a Wildcat, we can only think of one that gives you the chance to step outside the classroom and into exploring new parts of the world around you: participating in an Education Abroad opportunity! Whether it’s in a study, research, service, or internship program, taking your UK experience international with EA is the most hands-on way for you to expand your global perspective while making yourself a more well-rounded, marketable candidate to future employers no matter your field. As you take these first steps towards investing in your future, EA encourages you to take advantage of all the opportunities UK has to offer. Take a look at some of the many suggested opportunities UK Education Abroad & Exchanges has to complement your major! #ukyabroad

 

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