Degree Plans
B.A. English
The Bachelor of Arts degree in English allows students to develop their own areas of expertise by creating a concentration in such areas as literature, composition and rhetoric, creative writing, science fiction and fantasy studies, and film. In completing this degree, students will learn how to communicate effectively and persuasively; they will improve their writing skills and may choose to learn technical and/or creative writing; they will learn textual analysis and effective research methods; how to build effective arguments and strengthen their critical thinking skills. This degree prepares students for careers in education, law, technical writing, publishing, entertainment, management, marketing and advertising, counseling and medicine.
5-Year B.A. and M.A. in English
The Department of English offers a five-year joint degree program that provides the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in English. In this program, the undergraduate degree requirements are slightly modified to require more theory and methods courses in an effort to prepare students for the more rigorous masters-level coursework. Students interested in this program will apply during the spring of their junior year and, if admitted, begin taking masters-level courses in the fall of their senior year with an undergraduate classification.
At the end of your sophomore year, you should make appointments with the Director of Graduate Studies and the Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss your intention to apply for the program, and to determine what requirements you need to fulfill before the end of your junior year. To be eligible to apply, you must have an overall GPA of 3.5 and a major GPA of 3.7. The actual application to the program will be submitted in the spring of your junior year. If you meet the GPA requirements and have consulted with both Directors, you will be able to access an online application. The deadline for submitting applications for Spring 2024 is February 29, 2024.
As part of this application, you will need to upload:
- A statement of purpose, no longer than two pages, double-spaced, indicating your goals for the next two years, your ideas about what you want to study, and your reasons for pursuing the joint BA/MA degree.
- A writing sample of 10-12 pages. This should be a paper you wrote for an English class. It should be a critical analysis, using research, and it should be very carefully edited and proofread. We strongly encourage you to revise the paper, to show that you can respond to faculty feedback, and to expand it if necessary, based on the guidelines.
You must also ask for letters of recommendation from two faculty members in English, preferably Graduate faculty members. Graduate faculty regularly teach graduate courses and so are in the best position to assess your readiness to succeed in our graduate classes. If you need help determining who these faculty are, please consult the English Graduate Office. Letters can be sent by faculty directly to the Director of Graduate Studies. Your application will be reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee, who might ask you to come in for an interview.
Teaching Certification Options for English Majors
B.A. English, Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification (Teacher Certification + M.Ed.)
The Graduate Certification Program (GCP) post-baccalaureate program is designed for students entering their senior year of undergraduate studies and are interested in earning a teaching certificate. The opportunity for a fully-paid internship as a classroom teacher while applying all coursework toward a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree are unique features of this program.
To qualify for Graduate Certification Program consideration, a student must apply for graduate school in SEHD’s Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture during their final year of undergraduate coursework. To declare their intent to apply to the Graduate Certification Program, students are required to meet with their major advisor and with GCP staff.
To qualify for admission to the Graduate Certification Program, students must:
- Be a current TAMU student in good standing
- Apply in the fall semester of their final year
- Have a 2.75 minimum overall GPA
- Have a 2.5 minimum GPA in English coursework
- Have a passing score on a TX Pre-Admission Content (TX PACT) exam
B.A. English, aggieTEACH Secondary Education (SEED) Minor + Teaching Certification
The aggieTEACH SEED minor provides teacher certification for TAMU non-education undergraduates interested in teaching middle or high school English grades 7-12. To qualify for SEED program consideration, a student must have at least 3 semesters remaining in their undergraduate coursework.
Students will follow the standard B.A. English Plan (linked above) with the addition of the aggieTEACH Secondary Education (SEED) Minor added to their curriculum. To declare this minor, students are required to meet with their major advisor and with the aggieTEACH staff.
To qualify for the Secondary Education Minor, students must:
- Be a current TAMU student in good standing majoring in English
- Have a minimum of 3 semesters remaining as an undergraduate
- Have 12 completed credit hours in English
- Have a 2.75 minimum overall GPA
- Have a 2.5 minimum GPA in Major Coursework
B.A. English, Middle School Teaching Certification - Program Not Currently Accepting Applications
The Department of English offers a degree program in English language arts and reading for prospective middle school teachers, grades 4-8. This program requires 33 hours of major coursework in English and 33 hours of specialized supporting coursework in areas of educational planning and teaching. This degree prepares students to become middle school teachers by specializing in teaching-specific studies, developing excellent communication skills, and understanding the social and intellectual development of children. This certification is a field-based program that requires students to spend extensive time in local middle schools. Students must maintain a 2.75 GPA to qualify for the degree plan and certificate, with no grade below "C" in the major, teaching field, or professional education courses.
Professional Licensure & Certification Disclosure
Notice to students pursuing programs that may lead to a professional license or certification required for employment: The following programs may lead to a professional license or certification that is required for employment. Professional licensure/certification requirements vary from state to state, which may affect a student’s ability to apply for a professional license/certification upon the completion of the program. The U.S. Department of Education regulation, 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), requires an institution to disclose whether the program will fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification for each state. The administrative departments that offer the programs have made the following determination regarding their curriculum.
| Program | Professional Licensure | Meets | Does Not Meet | A Determination Has Not Been Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. English, Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification | English Language Arts and Reading, Grades 7-12 | TX | AL, AZ, AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, PA, PR, OH, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, Vi, AS, CNMI, GU, MH, FM, PW | |
| B.A. English, Middle School Teaching Certification | English Language Arts and Reading, Grades 4-8 | TX | AL, AZ, AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, PA, PR, OH, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, Vi, AS, CNMI, GU, MH, FM, PW |
We recommend students contact the appropriate state licensing agency in their state or the state where they intend to work to seek the most up-to-date information about state licensure/certification requirements before beginning the program.