The ability to read critically, write powerfully, and think independently is more valuable than ever — in law, business, medicine, education, media, and public life. GCU's B.A. in English builds those skills through close engagement with literature, language, and writing across cultures and centuries. Choose your concentration — Digital Humanities or Writing — and graduate ready for a career that puts the power of language to work.
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GCU's English program offers two optional concentrations that shape the major toward your goals. The Writing Concentration sharpens your skills across scholarly, creative, and professional genres — ideal for careers in publishing, advertising, marketing, and content creation, or as a foundation for an M.F.A. in creative writing. The new Digital Humanities Concentration positions you at the exciting intersection of literature, data, technology, and design — learning to analyze cultural artifacts with computational tools and create digital archives, interactive exhibits, and data visualizations that bring stories to life.
Don't let anyone tell you an English degree isn't practical. Study after study shows that employers across industries rank critical thinking, written communication, and analytical reasoning as their most sought-after skills in new hires — and these are exactly what the English major develops. GCU English graduates have gone on to careers in law, business, medicine, education, media, nonprofit work, and public service — because reading and writing well open doors that narrow technical training doesn't.
Interested in teaching English at the secondary level? GCU's English major can be paired with the education coursework required for New Jersey teacher certification — including specific elective recommendations for aspiring teachers (children's literature, young adult literature, grammar, and history of the English language). It's one of the most popular and efficient pathways to becoming an English teacher in the state.
High-achieving English students can pursue departmental honors — conducting original research under the guidance of a faculty mentor, producing a thesis, and presenting their work publicly at G.C.U.'s Academic Excellence Celebration or a regional scholarly forum. It's a rigorous, rewarding experience that positions you exceptionally well for graduate school applications and professional distinction.
English is one of the oldest and most enduring of the liberal arts disciplines — and crucial to facing the challenges of the 21st century. GCU’s B.A. in English is built on the conviction that great literature and powerful writing are not relics of the past but living tools for understanding the world we live in.
The major offers a wide and varied program that spans English, American, and world literature alongside critical, creative, and professional writing. Students develop close reading skills, analytical rigor, cultural awareness, and communicative power — abilities that transfer across virtually every career path and area of advanced study.
The curriculum is deliberately diverse in scope. Required coursework ensures you engage with British literature from multiple eras, American literary traditions, and multi-ethnic literature — because great writing comes from everywhere, and understanding it from multiple perspectives makes you a better reader, writer, and thinker. Upper-level electives allow you to pursue particular interests in depth: Shakespeare, Romanticism, Contemporary American literature, African Diaspora literature, and much more.
Two optional concentrations allow you to specialize meaningfully. The Writing Concentration develops professional-grade writing skills across multiple genres and media, with a required practicum, internship, or independent project that connects your work to real-world contexts. The new Digital Humanities Concentration — one of the most exciting curricular additions to the program — introduces computational approaches to humanistic inquiry: data visualization, digital archiving, multimedia storytelling, and the ethical dimensions of technology in cultural life.
Small classes and close faculty relationships are the hallmark of GCU’s English program. You’ll work directly with scholars who are active researchers and dedicated teachers — people who care about your intellectual development, not just your GPA.
GCU’s B.A. in English is a great fit if you:
English graduates are among the most versatile in the workforce — because their core skills are universally valuable.
| Career | Entry Salary | Mid-Career Salary | Experienced Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers (English/ELA) | $52,000–$62,000 | $76,200 | $90,000–$105,000+ |
| Writers & Authors | $40,000–$55,000 | $73,700 | $100,000+ |
| Editors | $42,000–$55,000 | $73,400 | $90,000+ |
| Technical Writers | $55,000–$70,000 | $84,600 | $100,000+ |
| Lawyers (J.D. required) | $80,000–$120,000 | $161,400 | $200,000+ |
Job Outlook
Note: English graduates pursue an extraordinarily wide range of careers. The salary figures above represent a selection of common paths — actual outcomes vary widely based on graduate school choices, industry, and specialization.
To earn this degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and the major requirements below.
Beyond basic degree requirements, 33-36 semester hours of English are required for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in English. The major offers two optional concentrations: Digital Humanities, and Writing. A student may choose only one concentration.
For students who complete the 175 hours of clinical practice requirement for NJ teacher certification, the major requirements are 33 semester hours of English. For students who do not complete the 175 hours of clinical practice required for NJ teacher certification, the major requirements are 33 semester hours of English, plus one of the following three options, which adds 0-3 credits to the major, bringing the total to 33-36 semester hours of English: 1) an internship, either credit-bearing or non-credit-bearing (0-3 credits); 2) a 1-credit practicum (EN299 Practicum); or 3) a 1-3-credit independent project (EN421 Independent Project). The internship option may be satisfied by EN405 Internship (3 credits), CAR465 NonCredit Internship (0 credits) or by an internship arranged through the Office of Career Services or completed for another major or program. The requirements for the major are as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EN300 | Gateways to Literary Study | 3.0 |
| British Literature before the Nineteenth Century | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
EN301 | Shakespeare I: Of Kings & Lovers | |
EN302 | Shakespeare II: Deception & Betrayal | |
EN312 | Heroes, Myths, & Monsters | |
EN313 | Medieval Literature | |
EN314 | Chaucer: Bawds & Churls | |
EN315 | Shakespeare Theater Violence & Obsession | |
EN316 | Seventeenth Century Literature | |
EN317 | Eighteenth Century Literature | |
| British Literature from the Nineteenth Century to the Present | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
EN318 | Romantic Literature | |
EN319 | Victorian Literature | |
EN325 | Modern Irish/British Literature | |
EN326 | Contemporary Irish/British Literature | |
| American Literature | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
EN310 | American Drama | |
EN321 | American Renaissance | |
EN322 | American Realism | |
EN323 | Modern American Literature | |
EN324 | Contemporary American Literature | |
EN327 | Make It New: Modern American Poetry | |
| Multi-Ethnic Literature | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
EN370 | AsianAmericanLit | |
EN375 | USMultiEthnicLit | |
EN376 | NativeAmLit&Crit | |
EN380 | African Diaspora | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| EN429 | Bookends: A Global Literature Seminar | 3.0 |
| EN430 | Senior Seminar II | 3.0 |
| English Electives | ||
| English elective courses 1,2 | 12.0-15.0 | |
| Total Credits | 33.0-36.0 | |
Electives may be chosen from any of the EN offerings numbered EN113 or higher. One gen ed English course other EN111/221 may be double counted for English major elective credit. Students may not take both EN114 and EN226 for credit. English majors seeking NJ teacher certification are encouraged to consider the following English electives for the major: EN250 The Power of Grammar, EN260 Exploring Children’s Literature, and EN264 Journeys in Young Adult Literature.
Students who complete the 175 hours of clinical practice requirement for NJ teacher certification must take at least 12 English elective credits. Students who do not complete the 175 hours of clinical practice required for NJ teacher certification must take at least 12 English elective credits plus complete one of the following three options: 1) an internship, either credit-bearing or non-credit-bearing, in English or another discipline (0-3 credits; the three credit EN405 Internship course satisfies this requirement as does the zero credit CAR465 NonCredit Internship); 2) a 1-credit practicum (EN299 Practicum); or 3) a 1-3-credit independent project (EN421 Independent Project).
Majors are required to earn a final grade point average of at least 2.5 in the major in order to successfully graduate with an English major.
English majors seeking New Jersey teacher certification are encouraged to consider the following English electives for the major:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EN250 | The Power of Grammar | 3.0 |
| EN260 | Exploring Children’s Literature | 3.0 |
| EN264 | Journeys in Young Adult Literature | 3.0 |
| EN416 | HistoryStructureofEnglish (when offered) | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 12.0 | |
This concentration introduces students to the intersection of humanistic inquiry, digital technology, and creative design. Students will learn to analyze and interpret texts, artworks, and cultural artifacts using computational tools, data visualization, and multimedia storytelling. The concentration emphasizes ethical inquiry, creative practice, and public humanities within a Catholic liberal arts framework. Students will 1) explore the cultural, philosophical, and ethical dimensions of technology, and 2) create digital archives, interactive exhibits, and visualizations that preserve and share stories of Georgian Court University and the Lakewood community.
English Major Course Requirements (21); see above
Additional requirements for the Digital Humanities Concentration (12–15 credits):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (10 credits — see note for EN430&421) 3,4 | ||
| Core Course: select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
CM205 | Transmedia Storytelling 3 | |
EN210 | Writing for the Mass Media 2 | |
EN225 | Topics in Writing 2 | |
EN405 | Internship 2 | |
EN420 | Special Studies 2 | |
| Choose ONE 300-level EN course with DH-designation 2 | 3.0 | |
| Choose ONE 200-level or higher EN course with DH-designation 2 | 3.0 | |
| Complete Digital Humanities capstone (these two courses must be taken concurrently to satisfy the DH capstone requirement): 4 | 1.0 | |
EN430 | Senior Seminar II (credit counted above in English major requirements section) 4 | |
EN421 | Independent Project 2,4 | |
| Additional English Elective | ||
| English elective course 1 | 2.0-5.0 | |
| Total Credits | 12.0-15.0 | |
Elective may be chosen from any of the EN offerings numbered EN113 or higher. One gen ed English course other EN111/221 may be double counted for English major elective credit. Students may not take both EN114 and EN226 for credit.
May be counted as satisfying English elective requirement in the major.
CM205, which satisifies the Creative Thinking & Expression general education requirement, may count toward the DH concentration for English majors. No more than three EN/CM General Education credits can count toward the DH concentration.
EN430 satisfies both the DH Capstone requirement and EN major requirement of EN430 when it is taken together with EN421. The credits for EN430 count only once, but are used both for satisfying the EN major requirement of EN430 and a DH Capstone requirement. The DH requirement for EN421 is satisfied by 1 credit of EN421.
This concentration offers students the opportunity to sharpen their writing skills in a variety of scholarly, creative, and professional genres. Students learn about the practical requirements of writing with different technologies and for different media, while exploring their creativity in collaboration with faculty and peers. Since this track prepares students for jobs in a variety of fields (including advertising, publishing, editing, and marketing), a practicum, internship (noncredit or credit) or independent project is required. The concentration also offers a strong foundation for students planning to pursue an M.F.A. in creative writing. Students who minor in writing cannot choose the writing concentration.
English Major Course Requirements (21); see above
Additional requirements for the Writing Concentration (12–15 credits):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Internship or Practicum (note: students completing 175 hr for clinical practice requirement for teacher certification are not exempt from this requirement). Select one of the following: | 0.0-3.0 | |
CAR465 | NonCredit Internship | |
EN299 | Practicum | |
EN405 | Internship | |
EN421 | Independent Project | |
Internship completed for another major or program | ||
| Required Other Courses (substitute for English electives) | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9.0 | |
EN207 | News Writing & Reporting | |
EN208 | News Editing | |
EN210 | Writing for the Mass Media | |
EN215 | Creative Writing | |
EN221 | HNRS: Rhetoric, Research & Digital Lit | |
EN225 | Topics in Writing | |
EN230 | Writing on the Web | |
EN245 | Writing About Television | |
EN250 | The Power of Grammar | |
EN309 | Public Relations Writing | |
EN416 | HistoryStructureofEnglish | |
| Additional English Elective | ||
| English elective course 1 | 3.0 | |
| Total Credits | 12.0-15.0 | |
Elective may be chosen from any of the EN offerings numbered EN113 or higher. One gen ed English course other EN111/221 may be double counted for English major elective credit. Students may not take both EN114 and EN226 for credit.
Admissions Requirements First-Year Students
Note: Strong readers and writers thrive in this program. Students with backgrounds in AP English, creative writing, debate, journalism, or theater are especially well-prepared.
Transfer Students
Departmental Honors Eligibility: Students seeking departmental honors must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA and have completed 18–21 English credits with a minimum 3.5 GPA. Eligible students work with a faculty mentor on original research, produce an honors thesis, and present publicly.
NJ Teacher Certification: Students seeking NJ English teacher certification complete 175 hours of clinical practice and specific education coursework — see the Department of Education section of the catalog for full requirements.
By the time you earn your B.A. in English from GCU, you’ll be able to:
Q: Is an English degree actually useful in the job market? A: More than most people realize. Research consistently shows that employers rank critical thinking, written communication, and analytical reasoning as their top priorities in new hires — all core competencies of the English major. GCU English graduates have gone on to careers in law, business, healthcare, education, media, nonprofit management, and public service. The English major is one of the top pre-law undergraduate disciplines nationally, and it’s one of the strongest foundations for graduate school in almost any field. What you’re really building here is the ability to think, write, and communicate at a high level — and that’s valuable everywhere.
Q: What is the Digital Humanities Concentration, and why should I consider it? A: Digital Humanities is one of the most exciting areas of growth in academic and professional humanities work. It combines the close reading and analytical skills of traditional English study with computational tools — data visualization, digital archiving, multimedia storytelling — that allow humanists to work with cultural artifacts at a scale and in formats that weren’t possible before. Students in this concentration do genuinely community-engaged work, creating digital archives and interactive exhibits that document the history of GCU and the Lakewood community. If you love literature and ideas but also want to engage with technology and design, this concentration is designed for you. It’s also a strong differentiator for graduate school applications and for careers in libraries, archives, museums, digital media, and cultural institutions.
Q: Can I become a teacher with this degree? A: Yes — and it’s one of the most natural paths into teaching. Students who complete the English major alongside the required education coursework and 175 hours of clinical practice can earn NJ teacher certification as an English/Language Arts teacher at the secondary level (grades 9–12 or broader). The English faculty specifically recommend certain electives — children’s literature, young adult literature, grammar, and the history of the English language — for students planning to teach. Talk to your advisor early about how to plan your sequence.
Q: What is the difference between the Writing Concentration and the Digital Humanities Concentration? A: The Writing Concentration is for students who want to sharpen their craft across creative, scholarly, and professional writing genres — great preparation for careers in publishing, content creation, advertising, editing, and the M.F.A. path. The Digital Humanities Concentration is for students who want to bring technological tools to bear on humanistic questions — analyzing texts computationally, building digital archives, creating interactive exhibits, and exploring the ethics of technology in cultural life. Both require the same English major core; the concentrations add different specialized coursework on top of it.
Q: Can I do departmental honors? A: Yes — if you have a 3.5 cumulative GPA and have completed 18–21 English credits with a 3.5 GPA in those courses. Honors students work one-on-one with a faculty mentor to conduct original research, write an honors thesis, and present their work at Academic Excellence Night or a regional scholarly event. This is an exceptional preparation for graduate school and a meaningful distinction on your transcript and resume.
Q: Is there a Writing Center at GCU? A: Yes — and GCU’s Writing Center is directed by an English faculty member (Dr. Anthony Brano), making it a genuinely rigorous resource. The Writing Center supports students across all disciplines with their writing — from first drafts to polished final papers. English majors are encouraged to use it regularly and to consider becoming Writing Center tutors themselves, which is valuable professional experience.
Q: Can I double major in English and something else? A: Yes — English pairs well with many other majors. Popular combinations include English + Communication (shared interest in language, media, and writing), English + History (strong preparation for law school or graduate school), English + Psychology (excellent for counseling, social work, and human services careers), and English + Education (teacher certification pathway). Talk to your advisor early about how to plan a double major efficiently.
Q: What GPA do I need to graduate with an English degree? A: A minimum 2.5 GPA in the major is required for graduation — slightly higher than the university’s general requirement, reflecting the English program’s commitment to maintaining rigorous academic standards.
Q: When should I apply? A: GCU uses rolling admissions — you can apply any time. Priority deadlines are November 1, January 1, and March 1. Applying early gives you the best access to merit scholarships, housing, and financial aid.
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