BA in English
Concentrations
You may be surprised by all that a Mason English degree offers. In addition to providing a traditional grounding in literature and writing, the degree will introduce you to courses in film and media studies, linguistics, folklore and mythology, and cultural studies. This means that as an English major you can study the poetry of Shakespeare, the folklore of Mexico, and the films of Bollywood. You will have the chance to expand your writing skills through courses in editing and style, creative writing, and digital media.
Our BA in English offers unparalleled opportunities and prepares students for a variety of careers. PayScale's College Salary Report recently ranked Mason as the #1 best school for English majors based on the opportunities we provide. In fact, Mason English graduates earn the highest average starting salary nationally. With Washington, D.C. next door, it's no wonder that Mason students and graduates have a competitive edge. You can intern at the Library of Congress, the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Smithsonian Institution, and hundreds of other professional associations. Many of our students are involved in Mason’s rich literary scene: the student newspaper, literary magazines, and Stillhouse Press.
Our classes are small because we are dedicated to teaching each of our students to read critically and write carefully. You will have the opportunity to be mentored by faculty who are recognized experts in their fields and have the chance to study abroad. Our students frequently participate in the London Theater Tour, Oxford Summer School, the Creative Writing Workshop in Ireland, the Florence Semester Experience and more.
Employers in the region want to hire creative, critically minded researchers and writers. Many of our graduates go into research and writing, from technical editing to publishing, across the major industry sectors of the Washington, DC region, including government, arts and entertainment, and science and engineering.
Major Map
| First Year | Middle Years | Last Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academics |
Mason Core: Focus on the Foundation and Exploration Categories Take 100 and 200 level ENGH courses as pre-reqs for English BA and ENGH minors Meet with your academic advisor once a semester, preferably in September and February. Send a follow-up email to your advisor after you register for classes Discuss any AP, IB, Dual Enrollment or other transfer credits with your advisor; if you think you have credit, or think you have taken the class, it’s better to wait than to lose credits Take your foreign language placement test, obtain a heritage language waiver, or consider registering for your language classes to meet your intermediate proficiency requirement |
Meet with your academic advisor once a semester, preferably in September and February. Send a follow-up email to your advisor after you register for classes Complete Core Courses in Major: ENGH 305, ENGH 308 Use your Field Introduction course (ENGH 315, 318, 372, 380, or 396 or LING 306) to help you decide which concentration(s) to declare Begin meeting other 300-level course requirements for major Take one 400-level ENGH course Meet with English Honors Coordinator to discuss applying for the English Honors program Consider applying for a double major, an ENGH minor, or an ENGH BAM program Start brainstorming with faculty about potential research projects Apply to the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP) with the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) to conduct research or work on a creative project throughout the year |
Complete major course requirements Take Apex course (ENGH 401, 417, 458, 470, 484, 486, or LING 497), preferably in the fall semester Meet with your academic advisor to verify you have no outstanding course requirements. Send a follow-up email to your advisor after you register for classes Apply for graduation before the deadline Complete Honors program (if approved) Consider submitting an abstract for the CHSS Undergraduate Research Symposium
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| Career and Professional Prep |
Start talking to professionals and faculty members to gain insight on their path through their career Attend Secondary Education workshops to explore career opportunities in teaching Attend virtual information sessions about ENGH BAM programs Visit the Career Services Center to learn about Handshake; activate your Handshake profile to explore and opt-in to industry email lists Use Career Services to get help building your LinkedIn profile or creating/improving your resume Attend the fall and spring Career Fair to practice networking and interviewing skills Follow the Career Services Calendar for on-campus employer visits and resume and professional workshops |
Take ENGH 303 (Humanities College to Career) Talk to the English Dept Internship Director about on-site opportunities in publishing Look into internships through the Career Services Center and Handshake Get credit for your internship with ENGH 459 Engage with faculty members during office hours to begin building your academic network to support your undergraduate (and post-graduate) journey Consider applying to work for the Writing Center Start developing documents to prepare foryour future career, such as a teaching portfolio or writing sample Take a CliftonStrengths assessment with Mason’s Strength Academy to learn your professional strengths, talents, and recommended career pathways Attend a Career Services networking workshop; review undergraduate career resources on the Career Services web site (e.g., Career Readiness Guide, Interview Prep) Attend career and internship fairs through Career Services Center |
Look into internships through the Career Services Center and Handshake Talk to the English Dept Internship Director about on-site opportunities in publishing Get credit for your internship with ENGH 459 Schedule a meeting with Career Services for career information and potential opportunities upon graduation Contact professors to request letters of recommendation for future job or graduate school applications. Choose faculty who can speak to your work readiness and/or preparation for graduate school Narrow down prospective employers and create a job or graduate school searchstrategy at least 9 months before graduation Finalize materials for post-undergraduate employment (such as job application materials and self-marketing activities via LinkedIn) or graduate school applications (such as statement of purpose and resume/CV) Continue connecting with Career Services, attending career fairs, and developing your network for post-undergraduate employment |
| Experiences |
Attend a meeting of Sigma Tau Delta to meet fellow students and learn more about getting involved in departmental events Follow ENGH social media pages and ENGH news to stay up to date on ENGH events and opportunities Check out other student organizations/events on Mason 360, such as Book Buzz Visit DC metro-area cultural institutions, such as the Folger Shakespeare Library or the Library of Congress Attend readings at DC metro-area venues, such as Busboys and Poets or Bridge Street Books Explore visual culture and video installations at DC museums (Hirshhorn, NMAI, and other Smithsonian art museums) Attend a film festival Go to a retro screening at the AFI Silver (Silver Spring, MD) |
Consider studying abroad through Mason Korea or the Global Education Office (Note: students should meet with academic advisor prior to applying for study abroad programs) Consider a leadership position in a student organization Attend events organized by ENGH, such as Fall for the Book Attend and/or volunteer for Watershed Lit events and projects Submit your work for ENGH writing contests Consider working in a linguistics lab through LING 495 (take required pre-reqs early) |
Attend events organized by the English department, including the end-of-year party Attend Undergraduate Research Symposium and Apex course presentations to learn about your fellow students’ projects Attend a regional or national research conference Complete a graduation exit survey Sign up on Mason LinkedIn page as ENGH alum After graduation, you’ll still have access to your Handshake account Finish working in a linguistics lab through LING 495
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