Bachelor of Arts in English
Online
Complete your studies on your own time.
Year-Round Enrollment
Our admissions team reviews applications year-round
240K+ Alumni worldwide
Year-round enrollment
Take the first step in your National University Journey
Spell Out Your Career Aspirations With a Versatile BA in English
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts in English Degree
Application:
$0 application fee. No essays/exams.
A BA in English is an excellent starting point for a career in teaching, media, advertising, writing and publishing; for graduate or professional studies in English, communications, or law; and for advancement in any field in which communication skills are important.
National University’s Bachelor of Arts in English emphasizes literary analysis, diversity, critical thinking, and written and oral communication skills through a rigorous curriculum of literature, composition, language and linguistics, and communication studies.
NU’s curriculum is designed for students seeking a flexible way to earn their degree. Offered online in the four-week class format, you can complete the program at an accelerated pace under a supportive and dedicated faculty of active practitioners.
Degree Requirements
To receive the Bachelor of Arts in English degree, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as articulated below, 45 of which must be completed in residence at National University, 76.5 of which must be completed at the upper-division level, and a minimum 69 units of the University General Education requirements. In the absence of transfer credit, additional general electives may be necessary to satisfy total units for the degree. The following courses are specific degree requirements. Students should refer to the section on undergraduate admission procedures for specific information on admission and evaluation. All students receiving an undergraduate degree in Nevada are required by State Law to complete a course in Nevada Constitution.
National University awards credit in quarter units, with each academic year divided into four 12-week quarters.
Each quarter is made up of three 4-week classes, with one class per month. Under the current policy, 4.5 units of credit are awarded for courses.
Preparation for the Major
1 Course
Introduction to Literature
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
An overview of the main genres of literature, including fiction, poetry and drama. Examines literary language and different approaches to literary criticism designed to increase student confidence when responding to literature.
Requirements for the Major
9 Courses
Choose any FOUR of the following FIVE survey courses:
British Literature I
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and; LIT 100
A survey of important British authors and literary trends from Chaucer through the middle of the 18th century.
British Literature II
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important British authors and literary trends from the late 18th century through the modern era, with a focus on Romantic, Victorian and Modernist writers and texts. Some attention will also be paid to colonial and post-colonial writing in English.
LIT 321 American Literature I
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important American authors and literary trends through the late 19th century. Texts will be situated in relation to cultural, philosophical, social and historical contexts, e.g., Puritanism and its legacies, varieties of American Romanticism, debates over slavery and gender roles, formation of national identities.
American Literature II
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important American authors and literary trends from the late 19th century through the present. Texts will be situated in relation to cultural, philosophical, social and historical contexts. Particular attention will be paid to the modernist canon and to works by women and authors of color that respond to American literary heritage and social conditions.
History of Literary Theory
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of major arguments about the nature of literature, literary expression, and literary experience from Plato through the mid-20th century.
Shakespeare
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
An examination of major works of William Shakespeare.
Contemporary Literary Theory
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important contemporary literary theories and their application to literary analysis and criticism.
Contemporary World Literature
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
Study of contemporary literary works from diverse cultures outside the Anglo-American literary tradition.
Choose ONE of the following THREE courses:
African American Literature
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and; LIT 100
Examination of important representative works by U.S. African-American writers and theoretical approaches relevant to studying that literature. Emphases may vary in different sections.
U.S. Latino Literature
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: LIT 100 and ENG 240
Examination of important representative works by U.S. Latino writers and theoretical approaches relevant to studying that literature. Emphases may vary in different sections.
Gender and Literature
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A study of the representations of gender in literature to better understand changing literary aesthetics. Discusses assumptions about the ways gender permeates language and discourse.
English Capstone Course
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of 8 upper-division LIT courses
This course is designed as the culmination of the English B. A. program. Students will bring the skills in literary study, analysis, research and writing learned in the program to bear on an original work of literary scholarship. Students will also be given the opportunity to revisit and revise several papers written in previous classes in the major. This course is an eight-week Practicum. Grading is H, S, or U only.
Upper-Division Electives for English Major
7 Courses
Choose TWO additional upper division LIT courses And one of the following:
Film as Art
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Survey of the art of cinema from the silent period to the present; examines film techniques and theories; explores film styles and genres, focusing on elements such as lighting, editing, and cinematography; establishes a basis by which students can make aesthetic judgments.
Communication Theory
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Provides a broad survey of the theoretical approaches employed in the study of communication. Focuses on theories relevant to many levels of interaction from interpersonal to mass and mediated communication. Also explores how and why theories are developed and how they can be evaluated.
Persuasion
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Introduces learners to the principles, functions, and practices of social influence. Examines how to influence others’ attitudes, beliefs, opinions, values, and behaviors through communication. Explores scientifically established principles of persuasion that are used in contemporary media.
Representation in the Media
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
An exploration of the ways in which popular media represents our diverse and dynamic culture. The course focuses particularly on images and narratives of race and gender on television, in the movies and in popular culture. It also examines the cultural forces that influence how such representations are produced and perceived, their political and behavioral consequences, and various methods for analyzing and critiquing popular media.
Interactive Storytelling
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Introduces the evolution of storytelling, from oral delivery to written and interactive texts, and transmedia publication. Examines the effects of this evolution on storytellers and participants. Offers hands-on creation of online identities and texts.
Strategic Writing
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Teaches strategic writing and presentation for traditional and new media platforms. Provides students practice in creating content that meets organizational objectives, and in applying communication theory and persuasion techniques. Learners develop content for advertising, PR, and corporate communications.
English Grammar
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Analysis of Modern English structure using the methods of traditional grammar. Topics studied: parts of speech, grammatical functions, phrase, clause, and sentence types, and nominal and verbal categories. Nature and usefulness of prescriptive rules of grammar. How to teach traditional grammar as presented in the secondary English curriculum. Instruction will encourage students to demonstrate critical understanding of traditional grammar, of contemporary syntactic analysis, and of the strengths and weaknesses of those systems in secondary education.
Fundamentals of Linguistics
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
An introduction to contemporary linguistics. Covers the phonology, morphology and syntax of the English language with an emphasis on language acquisition as related to the developmental stages of childhood. The course is especially designed for students intending to teach elementary school students.
Nature Writing
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102; ENG 240, or ENG 334A
An advanced course for students interested in using writing as a means of exploring the natural world. This course surveys nature writing in its various forms (essays, articles, poetry, journals, etc.) as well as effective nature writing strategies. This course is designed to give students a basis for future personal creative work.
Film in a Global Context
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 240
Examines how international cinema represents various aspects of societies and cultures outside the U.S. Representative films of Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Australia and Oceania, and Canada may be studied.
Popular Culture
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Introduces students to the concept and origins of popular culture and to social theories used by academics to analyze its impact on self and culture in modern consumer societies. Topics include mass media, TV, the internet, video games, sports, leisure, fashion, celebrity, shopping, advertising, and youth culture.
American Film and Society
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: ENG 102
A critical examination of the complex relationship between film and society and the processes by which film both influences and is influenced by society. Emphasizes the importance of locating the meaning of film texts within social and historical perspective and identifies how the film industry influences the presentation of different groups of people and issues in society. Explores the interrelationship between film and technology, the impact of narrative and the institution of Hollywood on the sociological imagination and the nature of representation, particularly as it applies to race, class and gender.
And Any FOUR additional upper division courses in the School of Arts, Letters, and Sciences
Career Outlook
The Bachelor of Arts in English degree will prepare you for careers such as:
- Top Jobs in this field
- Median Salary (USA)
- JOB Openings (USA)
- Elementary School Teachers
- $63,387 avg. salary (USA)
- 115,805 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Lesson Planning
- Classroom Management
- Curriculum Development
- Special Education
- Learning Styles
- Individualized Education Programs (IEP)
- Instructional Strategies
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- Clark County School District
- Atlas Preparatory Academy
- State Of West Virginia
- Wake County Public Schools
- Stepping Stones
- Pasco County Schools
- Middle School Teachers
- $63,979 avg. salary (USA)
- 51,404 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Lesson Planning
- Mathematics Education
- Classroom Management
- Science Education
- Curriculum Development
- Differentiated Instruction
- Learning Styles
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- Stride K12
- Uncommon Schools
- Kipp Massachusetts
- Kipp Austin Public Schools
- KIPP Foundation
- Springfield Public Schools, MO
- Secondary School Teachers
- $65,057 avg. salary (USA)
- 80,635 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Lesson Planning
- Classroom Management
- Curriculum Development
- Mathematics Education
- Learning Styles
- Differentiated Instruction
- Individualized Education Programs (IEP)
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- Clark County School District
- Stride K12
- Chicago Public Schools
- Charter Schools USA
- Success Academy
- IDEA Public Schools
- Short-Term Substitute Teachers
- $37,365 avg. salary (USA)
- 62,103 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Lesson Planning
- Classroom Management
- Learning Styles
- Special Education
- Child Development
- Working With Children
- Curriculum Development
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- Scoot Education
- Charter Schools USA
- Ess Education Support Services
- San Diego Community College District
- Kelly Education
- Broward County Public Schools
- Editors
- $69,688 avg. salary (USA)
- 13,608 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Journalism
- Proofreading
- Marketing
- Content Editing
- Copy Editing
- Project Management
- Social Media
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- Outlier Ai
- Wolters Kluwer
- Outlier
- Pearson Education
- Launch Potato
- NBC
- Technical Writers
- $80,271 avg. salary (USA)
- 5,361 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Technical Writing
- Technical Documentation
- Project Management
- Templates
- Proofreading
- Artificial Intelligence
- Marketing
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- Outlier
- Outlier Ai
- Johnson & Johnson
- Chegg
- Public Consulting Group
- Elevance Health
- Writers and Authors
- $52,114 avg. salary (USA)
- 19,431 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Marketing
- Copywriting
- Social Media
- Content Creation
- Artificial Intelligence
- Journalism
- Search Engine Optimization
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- Outlier
- Circle – Data Annotation
- Outlier Ai
- Chegg
- Pearson Education
- Innovaxis Marketing Consulting
- Office Clerks
- $40,426 avg. salary (USA)
- 354,323 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Data Entry
- Administrative Support
- Office Supply Management
- Office Equipment
- Office Management
- Invoicing
- Medical Office Procedures
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- State of New York
- Ascension
- State University of New York
- Rooms to Go
- OSF Healthcare System
- New York State
- Proofreaders and Copy Markers
- $45,051 avg. salary (USA)
- 1,076 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Proofreading
- Copywriting
- Artificial Intelligence
- Generative Artificial Intelligence
- Creative Writing
- Marketing
- Journalism
Top companies hiring for this role
- Outlier
- Outlier Ai
- Unclassified
- Innovaxis Marketing Consulting
- Lincoln Financial Group
- Productive Playhouse
- Ford
Program Learning Outcomes
As a graduate of National University’s Bachelor of Arts in English, you’ll understand how to:
- Knowledgeably discuss the major writers, works, movements, and periods of the British and American literary traditions.
- Apply close reading skills to analyze literary and other texts.
- Critically examine the relevance of variables of human diversity such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, and sexuality to the understanding and cultural significance of literature.
- Apply relevant cultural and historical information in the analysis of literary texts.
- Critically evaluate the assumptions and implications of major critical approaches to literature.
- Analyze the significance of genre conventions to the meanings and effects of literary works.
- Explain and defend their own criteria for evaluating works of literature.
- Collaborate with others to develop more complicated interpretations or arguments.
- Compose sophisticated written arguments about works of literature, incorporating appropriate close reading, research, and writing skills.
Admissions
Transfer Students Welcome
Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.
To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.
Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.
To speak with our admissions team, call (855) 355-6288 or request information and an advisor will contact you shortly. If you’re ready to apply, simply start your application today.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
National University is dedicated to making higher education affordable, as well as accessible. Through NU scholarship offerings, eligible students are able to reduce the financial burden of college, start classes sooner, and finish their programs faster while focusing on achieving their goals.
Accreditations
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.
Why National University?
We’re proud to be a Veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible, achievable higher education to adult learners.
Today, we educate students from across the U.S. and around the globe, with over 240,000 alumni worldwide.
“National University has impacted my career. You can immediately apply what you learn in class to your business.”
Francisco R.,
Class of 2016
What makes a degree
with National University unique?
Free Tutoring Sessions
Access personalized tutoring sessions at no cost — empowering your learning.
Online
Flexibility meets quality education with our online learning option.
24/7 Support
Get assistance anytime, anywhere with our round-the-clock support services.
Military Friendly
Committed to serving those who serve — diverse resources and support for veterans and family. Military and Veteran Admissions.
Mentoring Network
Individual student and alumni career guidance, professional development opportunities, and customized career support.
Transfer Students Welcome
NU makes it easy to get your degree, even if you started it with another university. Learn more about transferring to NU.
Accelerate Your Career With NU
At National University, you’re part of a family. As a student, you’ll have the support of staff, faculty members, students, and alumni who will be there with you every step of the way, cheering you on as you pursue your goals.
Our network of 240,000 alumni is a large global community that provides our graduates with the professional connections to get a leg up in your new career.
FAQs
English majors often go on to fulfill their professional goals in teaching, media, journalism, writing, public relations, and many other areas requiring solid written and oral communication skills. National University’s Bachelor of Arts in English can also help you develop the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to evaluate written materials, regardless of medium.
NU’s BA in English is designed for students looking to improve as a researcher or writer. For those who wish to enter the teaching profession, our curriculum provides the transferable expertise you’ll need to enter your grade-level of choice – and the committed support of our faculty to help you get there.
NU’s BA in English can be completed by taking four-week courses, one course at a time so that you can finish faster without sacrificing your family or work obligations.
National University’s BA in English is designed to help you develop the written and verbal skills that can help you become marketable in just about any field and any type of organization. Employers in every industry need professionals who are proficient in writing and communicating. With your English degree, you’ll be equipped with the qualifications to pursue positions* like:
Writers
- Technical writers
- Proposal Writers, Coordinators & Managers
- Copywriters
- Content Writers
- Authors
- News Analysts, Reporters & Editors
Communications, Public Relations Professionals
- Marketing Coordinators & Specialists
- Public Relations Managers
- Marketing Product Managers
- Social Media Coordinators, Specialists & Managers
- Digital Marketing Specialists, Content Marketing Specialists
- Communications Specialists, Coordinators, Managers
- Fundraising Coordinators
- Multimedia Journalists
- Producers & Directors
- Grant Writers
Administrative or Account Support Positions
- Administrative Assistants & Executive Assistants
- Account Coordinators & Managers
- Project Coordinators Managers
- Program Coordinators & Managers
- Store Managers
- Human Resource Assistants
Teaching & Tutoring at the K-12 level
Research roles
- Research Associates, Assistants, Coordinators & Analysts
Paralegals & Legal Assistants
* SOURCE: Emsi Labor Analyst- Report. Emsi research company homepage at https://www.economicmodeling.com/company/ (Report viewed: May 3, 2022. DISCLAIMER: The data provided is for Informational purposes only. Emsi data and analysis utilizes government sources to provide insights on industries, demographics, employers, in-demand skills, and more to align academic programs with labor market opportunities. Cited projections may not reflect local or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Current and prospective students should use this data with other available economic data to inform their educational decisions.
Earning a Master’s in Business Administration can further sharpen your critical thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills. An MBA is a globally recognized program that can have tremendous value in all sectors of the job market, and if you know where you want to drive your career, you can choose a program with a specialization in your particular area of interest.
In order to become a teacher, you’ll need to pass the required tests for teacher certification in the state where you live. NU’s BA in English provides the transferable expertise you need to enter your grade-level of choice – and the committed support of our faculty to help you get there. If you are interested in teaching English or Language Arts in middle or secondary schools, learn more here: Bachelor of Arts in English with Single Subject Matter Preparation and Inspired Teaching and Learning Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential (California).
Students enrolled in the BA English program who have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and are within six courses of completing the BA program may register for the BA English/MA English transition program. They do so by asking their academic advisor to submit a plan change into the transition program.
Students in the BA English/MA English transition program may take any one 600-level ENG course (excluding ENG 689 or ENG 699) as an elective within the BA English program. For students in the BA English/MA English transition program, the University will waive one MA English course taken as part of the BA degree if the grade earned is a “B” or higher.
No graduate units will be awarded; instead, the University will waive the MA English course taken as part of the BA degree. However, students must still meet the residency requirements for the MA English program (45 quarter units). Students must apply to and begin the MA English program within six months of completing the BA English program.
Additional Resources
Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.
Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.
NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.
All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.
National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.
*Positions may require additional experience, training, and other factors beyond successfully completing this degree program. Depending on where you reside, many positions may also require state licensure, and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all licensure requirements are met. We encourage you to also review program-specific requirements. Any data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee that completion of any degree program will achieve the underlying occupation or commensurate salary
Back to top