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2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Bachelor of Arts in English

A bachelor’s degree in English from American Public University System (APUS) will help you organize and articulate your thoughts in speech and writing, helping you achieve personal and professional success. You will not only gain skills that help to prepare you for the workplace but you will also build confidence in your ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in all situations.

The English department provides students with courses in Composition, Professional Writing, Linguistics, and World, British, and American Literature. Through a carefully planned program of planned and elective courses, you will hone your professional and personal communication skills by learning to investigate, analyze, and synthesize information. The program culminates in a final senior seminar where you will create your own work of academic research.

Our faculty are not only teachers; they are also active members of their professional fields and organizations. Among them are scholars, novelists, editors, poets, journalists, and bloggers, and as a student, you will have the ability to regularly interact with them. The Trefry Library at APUS gives you 24/7 access to the world with thousands of books and journals, media sources, and research guides. The English department at APUS welcomes you to our family.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:

  • Articulate ideas effectively and efficiently in speech and in writing.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of critical theories in the analysis and synthesis of text.
  • Analyze themes, multiple interpretations, and critical connections in texts.
  • Assess diverse perspectives that challenge personal cultural experiences and expectations.
  • Create texts of critical thought by integrating diverse viewpoints.

Degree at a Glance

Degree Program Requirements

General Education (30 semester hours)

Major Required (30 semester hours)

Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from a General Concentration, Concentration in Literature, or Concentration in Writing and Communication.

General Concentration (18 semester hours)

The General concentration allows you to choose your own focused area of study. You will select six (6) courses from among World, British, and American literatures and from a wide variety of offerings in professional and creative writing

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Attain a wide breadth of knowledge in analyzing and synthesizing texts.
  • Compose texts that incorporate diverse perspectives through critical analysis and evaluation.
Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)

Concentration in Literature (18 semester hours)

The Literature concentration focuses on developing analysis and synthesis skills. Through the examination of diverse viewpoints in the chosen literature, you will be exposed to the ideas of great thinkers, you will widen your perspective of the world in general, and you will develop the ability to defend spoken and written arguments using primary source. You should take at least one (1) course from each of the World, British, and American offerings, and it is strongly recommended that you take the three (3) remaining from either the World, British, or American offerings.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Explore the themes, multiple interpretations, and critical connections within American, British, and World literatures.
  • Critique literary texts using analysis and synthesis.
  • Formulate critical insights from texts and articulate them in speech and in writing.
Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)

Concentration in Writing and Communication (18 semester hours)

The Writing and Communication concentration focuses on developing your articulation skills through practice of the writing process. This concentration gives you the opportunity to focus on five (5) professional and/or creative writing courses and one (1) course of literature that highlights writing-in-practice. You will have the opportunity to develop a portfolio of practical and professional writing.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Examine effective and efficient written and oral communication across industries.
  • Interpret diverse viewpoints in written communication.
  • Create professional texts that conform to industry-specific expectations and facilitate communication.
Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)

Final Program Requirement (3 semester hours)

Elective Requirements (39 semester hours)

  1. All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110-Making Writing Relevant.

  2. All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110-Making Writing Relevant.

  3. Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all major courses prior to enrollment. Must be taken as the last course before graduation.

If you're ready to move forward, we're ready to take you there.

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