The study of English offers a unique perspective of history, art, and culture. An academic background in English will set you up to thrive in many diverse and meaningful career paths.
Program Overview
Develop your ability to think critically, write succinctly and research thoroughly.
English is a discipline for those willing to take risks with their interpretations and provide support with text and theory-based evidence. In small classes, you’ll be encouraged to participate in stimulating discussions analyzing literature, practicing critical and creative writing and honing your critical-thinking abilities. Through an inclusive and supportive faculty-student dynamic, you’ll learn how to formulate arguments that reflect independent and provocative ideas and theories. As a graduate of our English program, you’ll be well-prepared for careers in teaching, advertising, publishing, public relations and government.
The program also offers a variety of immersive educational opportunities. You can gain practical insight from professional literary artists through our Contemporary Writer Series and perform original poetry at open mic nights hosted by Wordhorde. You can also work as a Teaching Assistant helping other students in writing courses or as a consultant at the Writing Center.
Find your voice
English students blend literature, theory and creative writing to foster a community where all written expressions and interpretations are valued.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.
English majors and minors must complete the required course ENG 250 Critical Approaches to Literature with a minimum grade of “C” before registering for upper-division courses in English.
A minimum of 39 credits is required, including a three-credit, upper-division literature elective, and the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 161 | Introduction to Creative Writing (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| ENG 250 | Critical Approaches to Literature | 3 |
| ENG 358 | Global Literatures: Studies in: The Underworld | 3 |
| ENG 371 | Literary Theory and Criticism | 3 |
| ENG 493 | Senior Seminar I: Studies in: Criminal Justice | 3 |
| ENG 494 | Senior Seminar: Studies in: | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
ENG 151 | Borderlands: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality | |
ENG 152 | Women and Literature | |
ENG 153 | Literary Culture of the American West | |
ENG 230 | Environmental Literature (GT-AH2) | |
ENG 255 | Ancient World Literature (GT-AH2) | |
ENG 331 | Literature and Ethnicity: Studies in: | |
ENG 337 | Women Writers | |
ENG 370 | Myth and Culture | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
ENG 300 | Creative Writing: Fiction | |
ENG 301 | Creative Writing: Poetry | |
ENG 303 | Creative Writing | |
ENG 305 | Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction | |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
ENG 372 | British Literature: Medieval and Renaissance Texts | |
ENG 373 | British Literature: Milton through the Romantics | |
ENG 374 | British Literature: The Victorians to the Present Day | |
ENG 463 | Major British Authors: | |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
ENG 384 | American Literature Early to Civil War | |
ENG 385 | American Literature-Civil War to Present | |
ENG 464 | Major American Authors: | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| Essential Skills | MATH | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Social Sciences | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Arts & Humanities | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective | Elective or minor course | 3 |
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| ENG 161 | Introduction to Creative Writing (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Natural Sciences | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Social Sciences | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENG 220 | Grammar and the English Language | 3 |
| ENG 250 | Critical Approaches to Literature | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Arts & Humanities | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Natural Sciences | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Social Sciences | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG | ENG elective (200 level) | 3 |
| Elective | Elective or minor course | 8 |
| ENG 358 | Global Literatures: Studies in: The Underworld | 3 |
| Gen Ed | Natural Sciences | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENG | Literature Elective | 3 |
| ENG | Writing Elective | 3 |
| ENG 372 or ENG 373 or ENG 374 |
British Literature: Medieval and Renaissance Texts or British Literature: Milton through the Romantics or British Literature: The Victorians to the Present Day |
3 |
| Elective | Elective or minor course | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 371 | Literary Theory and Criticism | 3 |
| ENG 384 or ENG 385 |
American Literature Early to Civil War or American Literature-Civil War to Present |
3 |
| Elective | Elective or minor course | 9 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENG 405 | Advanced Writing | 3 |
| ENG 373 or ENG 372 or ENG 374 |
British Literature: Milton through the Romantics or British Literature: Medieval and Renaissance Texts or British Literature: The Victorians to the Present Day |
3 |
| ENG 493 | Senior Seminar I: Studies in: Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Elective | Elective or minor course | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 494 | Senior Seminar: Studies in: | 3 |
| ENG 384 or ENG 385 |
American Literature Early to Civil War or American Literature-Civil War to Present |
3 |
| Elective | Elective or minor course | 9 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Spotlight
Gabriel Portis
Student
“I love the ways both my majors have rewired my way of thinking and the way I can apply them to make myself happier and more successful.”
Zenda Olson
Student
“At Western I’m learning what I truly want to study, how to manage my money and how to manage myself."
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsWestern’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsAlumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
Get Involved
Make your education a life changing experience.
A college education is so much more than just taking classes. Expand your community and network, while gaining hands-on experience in your field.
- Contemporary Writer Series: Emerging and established literary artists visit campus and community venues.
- Sigma Tau Delta: Join the international English honor society.
- Teaching Assistantships: Students help fellow students in challenging writing courses.
- WordHorde: This group hosts slam poetry and fiction at open mic nights.
- Writing Center: Work as a writing consultant for the greater campus community.
- Pathfinder Magazine: Publish your poems, stories, and essays in Western’s undergraduate journal of the arts.
- Western Press Books: Gain experience in copyediting through Western’s undergraduate literary press.
- Story Catcher Writing Retreat: Take a week in the summer to strengthen your skills by studying with some of the country’s best writers.
Writing workshops
Professor Brenna Womer conducts a journalism workshop for Western students in the Writing Center.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
Communication Arts, Language & Literature (CALL) Department
Department Chairperson
Tamara Toomey, M.S.Chair – Communication Arts, Languages and Literature and Lecturer in English
Administrative Assistant
Cindy PetitoAdministrative Assistant III
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Taylor Hall 216
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
