Concentration in English Language Arts (39 cr.)

Return to Programs and Courses in English

The concentration in English Language Arts is designed to provide students with experience in the study of literature, language, rhetoric, and writing. While it is designed and intended primarily for prospective elementary school teachers, the concentration is open to all students. The English department strongly recommends that students choose at least one Language, Writing, or Modern/Contemporary Literature elective course.

This concentration consists of five parts:

Note: Double majors may count the course toward the requirements for only one of their majors. Students wishing to take a 300-level course that is not listed below must get prior written consent from an English advisor, and any such course is subject to the pre-requisites of the department in which the course is taken. Students also enrolled in the QUEST major may satisfy one of their ELA elective requirements by taking any Art History, Music History, Theatre, or Dance History course. Taking one of these courses will also satisfy 3 credits of the QUEST Arts Distribution requirement. This option is available only to ELA majors who are also majoring in QUEST.

Foundational Courses

Foundational Courses include courses in English and prerequisites to these courses. These courses must be completed before embarking upon the major. Students with appropriate background may be exempted from some or all Foundational Courses. See department for proper placement.

Note: Several courses leading to (foundational) or within this major may fulfill parts of the Hunter Core Requirement (CUNY Common Core [CCC], Hunter Focus, Concurrent Requirements). When selecting courses, it may be to a student’s advantage to choose courses that count toward the Hunter Core Requirement and also advance the student on the path to the major. Details on the Hunter Core Requirement can be found here: Appendix I: Hunter Core Requirement

Courses	CUNY Common Core	Foundational or Major
ENGL 12000	English Composition (EC)	Foundational
ENGL 22000	English Composition (EC)	Foundational

B.A. in English: Concentration in English Language Arts

A. Introduction to Literary Studies (3 cr)

– to be taken within one semester of declaring the major

ENGL 25200 - Introduction to Literary Studies

B. Four Required Literature Courses (12 cr.)

1. Three Required Courses

2. One course chosen from among the following courses in American Literature (3 cr)

C. Two Required Language and/or Rhetoric Courses (6 cr.)

1. Required Course

ENGL 33100 - The Structure of Modern English

2. One course chosen from among the following (3 cr):

ENGL 33000 - Sociolinguistics
-or-
ENGL 33200 - History of the English Language (W)
-or-
ENGL 33300 - Topics in Language and Linguistics
-or-
ENGL 34000 - History of Rhetoric
-or-
ENGL 34200 - Topics in Rhetoric
-or-
ENGL 34800 - English Across the World

D. Two Required Courses in Writing (6 cr.)

1. Required Course

ENGL 30100 - Theory and Practice of Expository Writing

2. One course chosen from among the following (3 cr):

ENGL 30000 - Introduction to Creative Writing
-or-
ENGL 30800 - Workshop in Non-Fiction I
-or-
ENGL 34100 - Rhetorical Principles of Expository Writing
Note: Students must take ENGL 30000 or 30100 before taking ENGL 30800.

E. Four Electives (12 cr.)

Students may choose from among 300- or 400-level English courses, including, if the student is eligible, one of the Honors Seminars (ENGL 49400). It is strongly recommended that students consider choosing either a Modern/Contemporary Literature, Linguistics, Rhetoric,or Writing course to fulfill one of the Elective requirements. All English majors also have the option to take one of their elective courses in another department. In order to do this, students must meet all of that department’s prerequisites for the course. Students with double majors may apply the course to one of those majors, but not both.

NOTE: Students also enrolled in the QUEST major may satisfy one of their ELA elective requirements by taking any Art History, Music History, Theatre, or Dance History course. Taking one of these courses will also satisfy 3 credits of the QUEST Arts Distribution requirement. This option is available only to ELA majors who are also majoring in QUEST. To take a 300-level course in one of the following departments and programs that is not on the list, or in another department, students must have prior written permission from an English advisor and must meet all the prerequisites for the course.