English (B.A.)

The Bachelor of Arts in English at UNF gives you the broadest possible foundation in the discipline. You will move through American, British and world literature, literary theory and rhetoric, building the analytical depth and communication skills that translate across virtually every professional field.

The program is built around progressive challenge. You begin with foundational courses in literature and critical reading and writing, move into intermediate electives drawn from everything the English department offers, and culminate in advanced upper-level work. Your final requirement includes a capstone experience, which you can complete through a workshop, an internship, independent study or a qualifying study abroad program. The capstone is your opportunity to bring everything together in a project that reflects your individual strengths.

A minor is required for this degree and can be selected from any approved minor at UNF, including those outside the College of Arts and Sciences. Choosing your minor early is strongly recommended, as some minors carry prerequisites. All BA students in the College of Arts and Sciences also complete either a foreign language sequence or a foreign culture option.

This is the most flexible track in the English department. If you want maximum choice in courses, a wide range of career directions and the freedom to shape a program around your own intellectual interests, this is your path.

The Concentration in Creative Writing is built for students who think in stories, images and language. You will develop your craft inside intensive workshops while building the literary and analytical foundation that serious writers need. Elective options in digital media, film studies and rhetoric give you the flexibility to shape a program around your creative vision.

Where do creative writing graduates go? Publishing, teaching, journalism and literary arts are natural pathways. So are law, business, communications and any field that rewards original thinking and the ability to move an audience. Many of our graduates go on to pursue advanced degrees in English, creative writing, rhetoric and technical communication.

Note: Students in the Concentration in Creative Writing are not eligible to also minor in Creative Writing.

Literary Community and Publications

At UNF, creative writing students do not just study the craft. You become part of a working literary community. Student publications including The Talon Review, Flock, EAT and Mudlark give you real publication credits before you graduate. The Word by Word Reading Series and River House connect you to a broader community of writers, readers and literary professionals.

Scholarships

Financial support is available specifically for creative writing students. UNF offers the Amy R. Wainright Scholarship Awards for Creative Writing, a dedicated Creative Writing Scholarship and the Lovee K. Kliman Scholarship for Artistic Expression.

Contact

For more information, contact your advisor or reach out directly to Mark Ari, Creative Writing Coordinator.

The Concentration in Professional and Public Writing is built for students who want to apply the power of language directly to a professional field or a public cause. You will study how writing works in real-world contexts, from workplace genres and business communication to public advocacy, digital texts and community action. Then you will produce it at a high level.

What makes this concentration distinctive is its built-in flexibility. A required minor pairs your advanced writing skills with a second discipline of your choosing, whether that is business, health sciences, public policy, communications, education or another field entirely. The result is a graduate who can do something most professionals cannot: communicate with precision, persuade with evidence and write for any audience in any context.

Employers across every industry are looking for exactly these skills. Research consistently shows that more than 85% of employers prioritize candidates who can:

• Present information clearly in writing and in person
• Support a claim with well-chosen evidence
• Approach problems systematically and analytically
• Translate complex ideas into language others can act on
• Reach clear conclusions that give others a basis for decisions

The Concentration in Professional and Public Writing builds all five. The Small Business Administration has long recognized strong communication and writing ability as the single most important factor in professional success. This concentration is designed to give you exactly that foundation, combined with the literary and analytical depth of a full English degree.

For more information, contact your academic advisor to learn more about declaring this concentration and selecting your minor.

The Accelerated B.A. to M.A. in English is designed for high-achieving undergraduates who want to earn both degrees in approximately five years. In your senior year, you take up to nine credits of graduate coursework that counts toward both your bachelor's and master's degrees, giving you a significant head start before you graduate.

The financial advantage is real. Because those nine graduate credits are taken while you still hold undergraduate status, you may be able to apply undergraduate financial aid and scholarships toward them. The result is a master's degree completed in one additional year at a fraction of the cost of a traditional graduate program.

To be eligible you will need to:

• Be majoring in English at UNF with a 3.5 GPA in your English courses
• Complete 21 hours of English major requirements before applying
• Meet with the COAS English Undergraduate Advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator at the start of your junior year
• Submit two letters of recommendation from UNF Department of English faculty

The application happens during your junior year, so the earlier you start planning the better. Meeting with your advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator early gives you the flexibility to identify and schedule the right graduate courses alongside your remaining undergraduate requirements.

Honors in the Major is designed for high-achieving English students who want to stand out in applications for graduate school, internships and employment. Upon completion, the designation is cited on your graduating transcript and can be highlighted in application letters and professional materials.

To be eligible, you need an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher. You complete two experiences from the five pathways listed below.

Apply during your sophomore year or early in your junior year. Late junior year is the last opportunity. Senior year is too late to apply.

To apply, write a letter to the Student Success Coordinator that briefly describes your personal and professional goals, your current academic standing and GPA and which two experiences you plan to complete or have already completed.

Contact Dr. Chris Gabbard, Student Success Coordinator, Lassiter Hall, Room 2023.