Program Overview

Online Bachelor of Arts in English Program

The Online Bachelor of Arts in English program at Southwest Minnesota State University is designed to help students develop their unique writing style and prepare for a successful career in writing. The program offers two emphasis areas: Creative Writing and Literature.

Program Overview

The program is 100% online and can be completed in 2-4 years. It requires 41 credit hours in the major and 120 total credits. Students can choose from a variety of courses, including workshops, literature surveys, and electives.

Emphasis Areas

• Creative Writing: This emphasis area allows students to work closely with faculty who are published writers. Students will take courses such as Poetry Workshop, Fiction Workshop, and Techniques in Craft.
• Literature: This emphasis area broadens students' communication skills and general cultural and aesthetic awareness. Students will take courses such as British Literature Survey, American Literature Survey, and Literature and Film.

Curriculum Details

The program requires 41 credit hours in the major, including:

• Literature Core (9 credits)
• Literature Survey Courses (9 credits)
• Literature Diversity (3 credits)
• Literature Electives (6 credits)
• Capstone Course (2 credits)

Literature Core

• LIT 250: Critical Approaches to Literature (3 credits)
• LIT 306: Craft and Theory: Prose and Poetry (3 credits)
• LIT 370: Contemporary World Literature (3 credits)

Literature Survey Courses

• LIT 310: Greek Mythology & Literature (3 credits)
• LIT 320: British Literature Survey: Beginnings to Present (3 credits)
• LIT 330: American Literature Survey: Beginning to Contemporary (3 credits)

Literature Diversity

• LIT 335: African American Literature (3 credits)
• LIT 340: Sexuality and Gender in Literature (3 credits)
• LIT 355: Native American Literature (3 credits)
• LIT 375: Women's Literature (3 credits)

Literature Electives

• ENG 320: Publishing for Creative Writers (3 credits)
• LIT 3XX: Literature Course 300 or higher (3 credits)

Capstone Course

• ENG 495: Senior Capstone (2 credits)

Creative Writing Emphasis

The Creative Writing emphasis requires:

• ENG 207: Writers Workshop (3 credits)
• ENG 301: Poetry Workshop (3 credits)
• ENG 302: Fiction Workshop (3 credits)
• ENG 401: Advanced Poetry Workshop (3 credits)
• ENG 404: Advanced Fiction Workshop (3 credits)

Workshop Elective

• ENG 200: Student Publications (1-3 credits)
• ENG 204: Introduction to Journalism (3 credits)
• ENG 303: Screenwriting Workshop (3 credits)
• ENG 305: Creative Non-Fiction Workshop (3 credits)
• ENG 410: Advanced Journalism (3 credits)
• ENG 488: Techniques in Craft (1-4 credits)

Admissions Requirements

To apply to the program, students must:

• Submit an online application
• Pay a $20 application fee (waivable)
• Provide official transcripts
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (3.0 recommended)

Tuition and Aid

The estimated cost per credit hour is $323.30, with a total estimated cost of $38,796 for the program. Students may be eligible for scholarships, financial aid, and military benefits.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the program can pursue a variety of careers, including freelance writing, corporate writing, non-profit writing, and government writing. They will also have a portfolio of their work to showcase to potential employers.