English, Creative Writing Option, B.A.

Program Description

Contrary to popular opinion, most students who major in English do not become public school teachers, although many do choose a career in teaching. Rather, English majors go into all areas of business and government and wherever else the ability to read and write the English language effectively leads to opportunities for advancement and success. The English major is a widely recognized and respected preparation for graduate degrees in law, medicine, social services, and business. It also provides an excellent foundation for free-lance and broadcast journalism. The academic backgrounds of management personnel in private and public organizations attest to how appropriate the English major is for those who pursue careers in management and administration.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a B.A. in English from Cal State East Bay will be able to:

1. analyze and interpret various kinds of texts;
2. express their understandings and interpretations in clear and cogent prose;
3. discuss at least one theoretical perspective about language and/or literature
4. demonstrate knowledge of key English language texts in their options: Literature, Creative Writing, Language and Discourse, and Interdisciplinary Language, Literature, and Writing Studies;
5. demonstrate facility with conducting research in traditional/nontraditional ways, including library research, the Internet, and data collection and analysis.

Career Opportunities

Advertising Copy Writer
Author/Critic
Bookstore Manager
Continuity Editor
Corporate Communications Director
Foreign Service Officer
Freelance Journalist/Writer
Greeting Card Editor/Writer
Lawyer
Librarian
Media Specialist
Newspaper Reporter
Public Information Officer
Publication Editor
Publicity Director
Publishing Agent
Radio/TV Agent
Script Writer
Teacher/Professor
Technical Writer

Preparation

For Advanced Placement course equivalencies, see Registration.

Major Requirements (B.A.)

Please consult an advisor in your major department for clarification and interpretation of your major requirements. The major consists of 72-84 units; the B.A. degree requires a total of 180 units.

Creative Writing (32 units)

• ENGL 2070 - Beginning Workshop in Fiction Units: 4
• ENGL 2075 - Beginning Workshop in Poetry Units: 4

•  

• ENGL 3070 - Intermediate Workshop in Fiction Units: 4

• or

• ENGL 4075 - Advanced Workshop in Poetry Units: 4

•  

• ENGL 3070 - Intermediate Workshop in Fiction
    (a second time if chosen above) Units: 4

• or

• ENGL 3071 - Writing Women’s Lives: A Workshop Units: 4

• or

• ENGL 4075 - Advanced Workshop in Poetry
    (a second time if chosen above) Units: 4

•  

• ENGL 4070 - Advanced Workshop in Fiction Units: 4

• or

• ENGL 4075 - Advanced Workshop in Poetry
    (a second time if chosen above) Units: 4

•  

• TWO upper division English courses in literature, language, or writing Units: 8
• ONE upper division English course in the literature of the 20th or 21st centuries Units: 4

Other Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University requirements for graduation which are described in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements chapter in the front of this catalog. These include the General Education-Breadth requirements; the second composition (ENGL 1002 ) requirement; the cultural groups/women requirement; the performing arts/activities requirement; the U.S. history, U.S. Constitution, and California state and local government requirement; the University Writing Skills Requirement; and the residence, unit, and grade point average requirements.