Concentration in Linguistics and Rhetoric (42 credits)

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The concentration in Linguistics and Rhetoric is designed to provide students with a comprehensive course of study in the structures, uses, and ideologies of discourse in various types of texts, genres, and domains: from everyday talk to persuasive writing. Students will gain a complex understanding of spoken and written discourse by comparing a wide range of philosophical underpinnings, theoretical perspectives, and methodological approaches. This concentration is particularly suited for students who are interested in graduate study in Linguistics, Rhetoric, Applied Linguistics, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Hunter Core Requirement

Several courses within this major may fulfill parts of the Hunter Core Requirement (CUNY Common Core Requirement [CCC], 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: General Education - Effective Fall 2019 .

Courses	CUNY Common Core
ENGL 22000	English Composition (EC)

Please note that no more than two courses from any one department will count for the CUNY Common Core Requirement.

Courses Required for the Major

A. Introductory Courses (6 credits)

ENGL 22000 - Introduction to Writing about Literature (W)
ENGL 25200 - Introduction to Literary Studies
ENGL 22000 must be the first course taken in the major
ENGL 25200 must be taken within a semester of declaring the major

B. Required courses in Linguistics and in Rhetoric and Composition (18 credits)

1. In Linguistics

ENGL 28000 - The Structure of Modern English

2. Between one to three courses in Linguistics (3-9 credits) from

3. In Rhetoric and Composition

ENGL 30100 - Composition Theory and Practice

4. Between one to three courses in rhetoric and composition (3-9 credits) from

ENGL 34000 - History of Rhetoric
ENGL 34100 - Rhetorical Criticism
ENGL 34200 - Topics in Rhetoric
ENGL 34300 - Topics in Composition Studies
In addition to ENGL 28000 and ENGL 30100, majors in this concentration take either one more course in linguistics and three more courses in rhetoric; three more courses in linguistics and one more course in rhetoric; or two more courses in linguistics and two more courses in rhetoric.

C. Survey courses in literature (6 credits)

D. Literature Requirements (3 credits)

1. One course from

E. Electives (9 credits)

Students in this major are required to take nine credits of elective courses. One elective course must be a 400-level advanced seminar, which can only be taken after achieving 24 credits in the major (see below). The remaining courses must be at the 300-level or above (with the exception of ENGL 28500).

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. For example, someone majoring in English and History who takes HIST 34251 Britain Since 1689 may count that course toward either the English or History major, not both. Students may choose from the courses and departments listed below.

Note: To take a 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. Permission will only be granted for 300-level courses in other departments.

Note: Linguistics and Rhetoric majors may also choose one additional elective outside of the department from courses related to linguistics or rhetoric offered in other departments - in Anthropology (ANTHC 15100 Introduction to Linguistics; ANTHC 32047 Youth and Language; ANTHC 32076 Language, Sex And Gender; ‪ANTHC 32081: Language and Power; ANTHC 35100 Language In Culture And Society; ‪‪ANTHC 35200 Language In Society; ANTHC 35400: Grammatical Analysis (3 Cr); ANTHC 40100 Seminar Linguistic Field Techniques; ANTHC 40176 Discourse Pragmatics; ANTHC 40191 Languages In Contact)); in Classics (CLA 11000 Greek and Latin Roots of English); and in Philosophy (PHILO 10300 Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking; PHILO 39484: Speech Acts); or from courses in foreign language study that are beyond those taken in fulfillment of the foreign language requirement (e.g., advanced courses in a second language, beginning courses in a third language).

*ENGL 33300 and ENGL 34200 may be taken multiple times in different topics to fulfill both required and elective courses

400-level Advanced Seminar

All English majors must take a 400-level Advanced Seminar as one of their electives. In order to be eligible for the course, students must first complete at least 24 credits in the major and meet the prerequisites for the specific Seminar (listed below).

ENGL 49000 - Advanced Seminar in Literature and Criticism (Prerequisites: ENGL 22000; ENGL 25200; ENGL 30400; ENGL 30600; ENGL 30700; one of ENGL 31700, 31800, 32000, 32100, 32300, 32400, 32500, 32600, 32700, or 32900)
ENGL 49200 - Advanced Seminar in Linguistics and/or Rhetoric (Prerequisites: ENGL 22000; ENGL 25200; ENGL 28000; ENGL 30100: and one of ENGL 34000, ENGL 34100, ENGL 34200, or ENGL 34300; and one of ENGL 33000, ENGL 33200, ENGL 33300, ENGL 34600, ENGL 34700, ENGL 34800)
ENGL 48400 - Advanced Seminar in Creative Writing (Prerequisites: ENGL 22000; ENGL 25200; ENGL 28500; ENGL 30400; ENGL 30700; and both a level 1 and 2 workshop in the student’s chosen genre)

Students may take any Advanced Seminar for which they meet the prerequisites. If eligible, students may take the Honors Seminar (ENGL 49400) in place of or in addition to one of the Advanced Seminars. In rare cases, students may take ENGL 48500 Individual Tutorial Project instead of an Advanced Seminar, but only by permission of an advisor and the professor supervising the project.