Undergraduate English Major and Minors
The Department of English at CSUSB is a vibrant community of teachers, scholars, and writers committed to the interdisciplinary exploration and development of English Studies. Our B.A. in English integrates four distinct approaches that are rarely united in English programs: literary studies, creative writing, linguistics, and rhetoric/writing studies. Students in our program gain an in-depth understanding of the imaginative, discursive, and practical aspects of language, as they read, interpret, synthesize, and write texts of various kinds. With this background, our graduates are prepared for careers in writing, business, public relations, advertising, technology, public health, teaching, and many other fields. They can also pursue graduate studies in a wide variety of disciplines, including law and medicine. Additionally, our graduates will find themselves well-prepared to take on the responsibilities of civic and community engagement.
The English major consists of a common, multidisciplinary core, and a choice of four concentrations that allow students to focus their coursework in literature, linguistics, creative writing, or rhetoric/writing studies. As a fifth option, the Department offers an individualized concentration where students, under the direction of a faculty advisor and with the approval of a faculty committee, can create their own course of study based on their personal and professional interests. Our English Teacher Preparation Program also provides prospective secondary school English teachers a subject matter CSET waiver before they enter a credential program.
We also offer a broadly designed Minor in English, as well as more focused minors in Border Studies, Creative Writing, and Multimedia Storytelling. In addition, we offer Certificate programs in Creative Writing, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), Teaching Writing, and Public and Professional Writing.