GET CAREER-READY COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Bachelor of Arts in English
Accredited by
- 4-week courses that fit your schedule
- Flexible online courses for busy learners
- No application fee, essays, or exams
Format
Online
Completion Time
This program is designed to be completed within 48 months. Some students finish in as few as 31 months at an accelerated pace. Actual time to completion varies based on transfer credit, course availability, enrollment status, and academic progress.
31 Months*
Credits
120
Average Cost Per Credit
$640
Program Overview
Why Get a Bachelor of Arts in English?
Good written and verbal communication skills are highly valued in just about any field. National University’s Bachelor of Arts in English (BA) is an excellent starting point for a career in teaching, media, advertising, writing and publishing, and many other fields. Students choose from three career-focused concentrations: Literary Studies, Written Communication, or Creative Writing. NU’s flexible, four-week class format empowers you to complete the program at an accelerated pace.
Career-Focused Concentrations
BA-to-MA in English Pathway
Experienced Faculty and Mentors
Dedicated Career Support
Career Impact
Explore current career data, including projected job growth and earning potential.
*Data Source: The career outcomes data presented is sourced from Lightcast, which provides insights based on real-time job postings, public datasets, and analytics. Lightcast derives its data from sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES). While accurate and reliable, this data reflects general labor market trends and may not represent individual outcomes or specific local conditions. For more details on Lightcast’s methodology, visit their Data Overview.
Professional Pathways
Writers and Authors
15,984
Job openings in the past year$55,874
Median SalaryTechnical Writers
4,298
Job openings in the past year$90,474
Median Salary
*Data Source: The career outcomes data presented is sourced from Lightcast, which provides insights based on real-time job postings, public datasets, and analytics. Lightcast derives its data from sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES). While accurate and reliable, this data reflects general labor market trends and may not represent individual outcomes or specific local conditions. For more details on Lightcast’s methodology, visit their Data Overview.
What You’ll Learn and Apply
Admission and Degree Requirements
How to Apply
Admission highlights:
- Transfer-friendly admission process
- Flexible monthly start dates
- Online application with personalized support
- Year-round enrollment opportunities
- Guidance from dedicated admissions advisors
Application requirements:
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts from previously attended institutions
- Proof of high school diploma or equivalent
- Personal statement or educational goals statement
- Resume or relevant academic background information
Degree Requirements
Requirements include:
- General education coursework (minimum 46 units)
- Minimum 30 credit hours completed through NU
- Completion of all core BA coursework and chosen concentration
- 120 credit hours required for graduation
- Minimum 51 credit hours completed at the upper-division level
Additional information:
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Complete all required BA coursework, including core, concentration, and capstone courses
- Participate in collaborative learning experiences
Courses and Concentrations
Build advanced expertise in your field through career-relevant coursework.
Degree Requirements
7 COURSES
Introduction to Literature
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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.
Writing for the English Major
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: LIT 100; ENG 240
An introduction to the writing, argumentative, and analytical skills required of English majors.
Two of the following four survey courses:
British Literature I
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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.
American Literature I
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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.
Shakespeare
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
An examination of major works of William Shakespeare.
ONE of the following two courses:
History of Literary Theory
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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.
Contemporary Literary Theory
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important contemporary literary theories and their application to literary analysis and criticism.
Choose ONE of the following THREE courses:
African American Literature
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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.
Concentration in Literary Studies
4 COURSES
Any four additional LIT courses may be selected from the list below that have not already been taken to fulfill the requirements of the Major.
Mythology
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
An examination of mythology. This course recognizes that myth-making is a creative activity central to all cultures, including our own society. Students analyze and compare mythological narratives from a variety of cultures.
Contemporary Fiction
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
An upper-level seminar in contemporary fiction. Students will discuss and analyze major genres and movements in contemporary fiction, focusing on American fiction. Students will situate contemporary fiction in current political, cultural, historical and philosophical trends to better understand the relationship between fiction and the contemporary world.
Contemporary Poetry
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important authors, movements, trends, and critical stances in contemporary poetry, with an emphasis on American poetry.
Children’s Literature
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
Provides students with a foundation for teaching children to read and learn through reading. Students learn to identify the stages in reading development, select appropriate literary texts for diverse learners at each stage, analyze children’s literary texts, and assess the literacy and language development of young learners.
World of the Short Story
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A look at short stories. The reading list includes varieties of form and style in short fiction drawn from world literature and focuses on contemporary writing.
Studies in Poetry
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
Focused study of a particular theme, genre, period, or author.
Studies in the Novel
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
Focused study of a particular theme, genre, period, or author.
Studies in Drama
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ABA 620
An examination of the conventions and varieties of dramatic texts and performance, focusing on drama of the 20th century. Includes discussion of both Western and non-Western traditions.
Contemporary World Literature
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
Study of contemporary literary works from diverse cultures outside the Anglo-American literary tradition.
Literature of the Americas
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
This course will provide students with a hemispheric perspective to the study of the literatures of the Americas. The readings will come from a variety of prominent 20th century U.S. and Latin American literary texts. All works will be read in English translation.
Guided Study (variable units)
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100 and Completion of at least one upper division LIT course with a grade of C or better.
Individual instruction on a literary topic under direction of instructor. May be repeated once with different subject matter. Requires prior approval of appropriate academic department.
Concentration in Written Communication
4 COURSES
The Concentration in Written Communication is recommended for students interested in improving their skills as writers and communicators in the workplace and elsewhere. Students are to choose any four courses from the following list below:
Persuasion
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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.
Strategic Writing
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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.
Mediated Messaging
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: COM 385, or COM 394
Course examines 21st-century mediated communication systems and technology. Theory and methods used in creating, shaping, encoding, and transmitting mediated messages for personal and professional communications are examined. Software and skills for encoding mediated messages into text, graphics, audio, and video are learned and practiced.
English Grammar
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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.
Prose Style
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240
Analysis of the ways in which grammatical and formal elements of English non-fiction prose shape style for different contexts and purposes. Study of examples of classic and contemporary prose. Application of principles of style to make students’ writing more effective.
Technical Writing
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 102; (Only Business, Engineering and Nursing majors may fulfill the requirement by taking ENG 334A)
A workshop to help students whose careers will involve communicating technical information clearly. Students are encouraged to practice on professional models in their own disciplines while learning those attributes common to all effective technical writing.
Editing
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240
Editing for style, clarity, and coherence in a variety of academic and non-academic contexts, including editing of one’s own and others’ writing and collaborative writing/editing.
Writing Technologies
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240
A survey of the history of writing technologies and their cultural effects. Students will also explore uses of contemporary technologies including digital text forms and generative AI.
Nature Writing
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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.
Concentration in Creative Writing
4-6 COURSES
Intro to Creative Writing
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
An introduction to poetry and fiction writing using the collaborative workshop method. No previous creative writing experience is required.
Or both of the following ENG courses:
Fiction Writing I
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 102
An introductory course in writing short fiction. Students will focus on the basic elements of fiction writing and write their own original work. Students will also analyze published work and discuss each other’s writing in a traditional workshop format. Designed to give students a basis for future creative work.
Poetry Writing I
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 102
An introductory level poetry workshop. Students will compose their own original poems and study the basics of the craft of poetry along with a general historical overview of the history of poetry and its developments. This course is designed to give students a basis for future personal creative work.
Fiction Writing II
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 150, or ENG 201
An intermediate course in writing fiction. Students will build on principles learned in ENG201, focusing on developing compelling and original fiction. Students will also discuss the importance of revision, and engage in thorough critiques of each other’s original work.
Poetry Writing II
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 150, or ENG 202
An intermediate workshop in poetry. Students will compose their own original poems and continue the study of the craft of poetry, focusing on the modern tradition.
ONE of the following:
Nature Writing
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
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.
Contemporary Fiction
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
An upper-level seminar in contemporary fiction. Students will discuss and analyze major genres and movements in contemporary fiction, focusing on American fiction. Students will situate contemporary fiction in current political, cultural, historical and philosophical trends to better understand the relationship between fiction and the contemporary world.
Contemporary Poetry
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100
A survey of important authors, movements, trends, and critical stances in contemporary poetry, with an emphasis on American poetry.
Creative Writing Project
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all other requirements of the Concentration in Creative Writing.; ENG 301; ENG 302; and one of the following courses; ENG 375, or LIT 401, or LIT 402
Students will produce a fiction or poetry project as the culmination of their work in the Creative Writing Concentration.
Graduate Transition Programs
BA English/MA English Transition Program
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. Students wishing to enroll in the transition program should contact their academic advisor.
Students in the BA English/MA English transition program may take one MA English class (3.0 semester credit hours), excluding ENG 697 and ENG 699, as an upper division elective for the BA English, reducing the total required number of courses for the MA English from ten to nine.
Students must apply to and begin the MA English program within six months of completing the BA English program. A complete description of Transition Program requirements can be found in the Policies and Procedures section of this Catalog.
Trusted and
Accredited
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Discover how scholarships, financial aid, transfer credit, and other tuition resources can help make your NU degree possible.
Get Financial Aid Through
the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps determine your eligibility for federal student aid and other financial assistance. It’s an important first step in exploring your financial aid options at NU.
- Apply once each year to be considered for federal
financial aid - Explore loans, work-study, and other financial aid opportunities
Make Previous Coursework Count
Eligible coursework from an accredited institution may transfer toward your NU degree, depending on your program and the courses completed.
- See whether previous coursework may apply to your program
- Submit official transcripts for transfer credit evaluation
- Speak with an advisor about program-specific transfer limits
Millions in Scholarships
National University offers scholarships and grants that can help eligible students reduce the cost of earning a degree. Opportunities are available based on financial need, military affiliation, and other eligibility criteria.
- Scholarships for eligible bachelor’s students
- Need-based scholarship opportunities
- Scholarships for eligible Veterans and military families
Put Other Funding Sources to Work
Depending on your eligibility, you may be able to use employer tuition benefits, military education benefits, or other funding sources toward your NU education.
- Use eligible employer tuition assistance or education benefits
- Explore military Tuition Assistance and GI Bill® benefits
- Ask about additional funding options that may be available to you
Make the Most of Your
Prior Learning
Your professional training, certifications, military experience, or other prior learning may qualify for credit or course waivers, depending on your program.
- Explore eligible professional training and credentials
- Find out whether your experience aligns with NU coursework
- Work with an advisor to understand your options
How NU Supports Your Success
NU’s Whole Human Education™ provides flexible, supportive, and career-focused education for the way you live and learn.
Faculty Mentorship
Learn from experienced faculty with real-world industry insight.
Learning Resources
Access free tutoring and academic resources to support your success.
Transfer-Friendly Pathways
Apply prior college credit or professional experience to finish your degree faster.
Career Support
Strengthen your career potential with career counseling, professional development, and job search tools.
Take Your Expertise Further
Learn more about our career-focused programs and flexible options for working professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
National University’s Bachelor of Arts in English is designed for students with professional goals in teaching, media, journalism, writing, public relations, and many other areas requiring solid written and oral communication skills. For aspiring teachers, our curriculum provides the transferable expertise you’ll need to enter your grade-level of choice. NU’s BA in English can be completed by taking four-week courses, one course at a time, so you can finish faster without sacrificing your family or work obligations.
The skills gained studying English at the college level are applicable in a variety of professional settings. 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 BA in English, you’ll be equipped with the qualifications to pursue positions* like:
Writers
- Technical writers
- Proposal Writers, coordinators, and managers
- Copywriters
- Content writers
- Authors
- News analysts, reporters, and editors
Communications, Public Relations Professionals
- Marketing coordinators and specialists
- Public relations managers
- Marketing product managers
- Social media coordinators, specialists, and managers
- Digital marketing specialists, content marketing specialists
- Communications specialists, coordinators, and managers
- Fundraising coordinators
- Multimedia journalists
- Producers and directors
- Grant writers
Administrative or Account Support Positions
- Administrative assistants and executive assistants
- Account coordinators and managers
- Project coordinators managers
- Program coordinators and managers
- Store managers
- Human resource assistants
Teaching and Tutoring at the K-12 level
Research Roles
- Research Associates, Assistants, Coordinators, and Analysts
Paralegals and 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.
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, Single Subject Matter Preparation, 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 credit hours 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 (30 semester credit hours). Students must apply to and begin the MA English program within six months of completing the BA English program.
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.
Hear from Our Graduates
Working professionals who turn their degree into leadership impact.
I loved being able to take an entire semester’s worth of credit in one month. It allowed me to work full-time while getting my degree and to finish my degree quickly.
Megan M.
Bachelor of Arts in English, Class of 2009
National University has a support system that wants to see you excel and be successful. From the advisors to your professors, they are on your team.
Gerald C.
Class of 2021
As a Navy Veteran, it means the world to have a school show the military and its Veterans so much respect and love for our time and service.
Kareece B.
Class of 2024
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.
