Academic Programs Catalog

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in English

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the English major is met by completing one of the following: English 360, 362, 364, 368, 413, or 499. These courses are referenced in item 3. below.
2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following courses (34 to 40 credits):
   	(1)	One of the following courses (1 credit):
   		AL	250	Career Strategies for Arts and Letters Students			1
   		AL	460	Advanced Career Strategies			1
   	(2)	Both of the following courses (6 credits):
   		ENG	210	Introduction to Literary Studies			3
   		ENG	280	Introduction to Literary Theories			3
   	(3)	One of the following Tier II writing courses in English (3 credits):
   		ENG	360	Studies in Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature (W)			3
   		ENG	362	Studies in Modern/Contemporary Literature (W)			3
   		ENG	364	Studies in 18th-/19th-Century Literature (W)			3
   		ENG	368	Studies in Medieval/Early Modern Literature (W)			3
   		ENG	413	Critical Questions in Language and Composition (W)			3
   		ENG	499	Senior Thesis Research (W)			3
   	(4)	One of the following courses on diversity in literature or film (3 credits):
   		ENG	350	Readings in African, African American, or African Diaspora Literature			3
   		ENG	351	Readings in Chicano and Latino Literatures			3
   		ENG	352	Readings in Asian/Asian American/Asian Diaspora Literature and Visual Culture			3
   		ENG	353	Readings in Women Writers			3
   		ENG	354	Readings in Native American Literature			3
   		ENG	355	Readings in Sexuality and Literature			3
   		ENG	356	Readings in Jewish Literature			3
   		ENG	360	Studies in Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature (W)			3
   		ENG	448	Seminar in Gender and Literature			3
   		ENG	449	Seminar in Race, Ethnicity, and Literature			3
   		ENG	450	Seminar in African American Literature			3
   		ENG	460	Seminar in Global and Postcolonial Literature			3
   		ENG	466	Seminar in Literatures of the Pacific Rim			3
   		ENG	482	Seminar in Feminist Literary and Cultural Theory			3
   		FLM	450	Studies in Ethnic Film			3
   		FLM	451	Studies in Postcolonial Cinema			3
   		FLM	452	Studies in Film, Gender, and Sexuality			3
   	(5)	One of the following courses in literature before 1800 (3 credits):
   		ENG	318	Readings in Shakespeare			3
   		ENG	368	Studies in Medieval/Early Modern Literature (W)			3
   		ENG	441	Seminar in Early American Literature			3
   		ENG	454	Seminar in Medieval Literature and Culture			3
   		ENG	455	Seminar in Early Modern Literature			3
   		ENG	457	Seminar in 18th Century British Literature			3
   	(6)	One of the following seminars in literature (3 credits):
   		ENG	422	Seminar in Genre and Form			3
   		ENG	426	Seminar in Drama or Performance Studies			3
   		ENG	440	Seminar in Popular Culture Studies			3
   		ENG	441	Seminar in Early American Literature			3
   		ENG	443	Seminar in 19th Century American Literature			3
   		ENG	445	Seminar in 20th and 21st Century American Literature			3
   		ENG	448	Seminar in Gender and Literature			3
   		ENG	449	Seminar in Race, Ethnicity, and Literature			3
   		ENG	450	Seminar in African American Literature			3
   		ENG	452	Seminar in 20th and 21st Century British Literature			3
   		ENG	454	Seminar in Medieval Literature and Culture			3
   		ENG	455	Seminar in Early Modern Literature			3
   		ENG	457	Seminar in 18th-Century British Literature			3
   		ENG	458	Seminar in 19th-Century British Literature			3
   		ENG	460	Seminar in Global and Postcolonial Literature			3
   		ENG	462	Seminar I in Transatlantic Literature			3
   		ENG	466	Seminar in Literatures of the Pacific Rim			3
   		ENG	473A	Literature and Medicine			3
   		ENG	473B	Law and Literature			3
   		ENG	475	History of the Book: From Manuscripts to Comics			3
   		ENG	478A	Literature, Technology, and Representation			3
   		ENG	478B	Literature and Visual Culture			3
   		ENG	481	Seminar in Critical and Cultural Theory			3
   		ENG	482	Seminar in Feminist Literary and Cultural Theory			3
   	(7)	One of the following capstone course requirements (3 credits):
   		ENG	484B	Critical Questions in Region, School, Movement			3
   		ENG	484C	Critical Questions in a Literary Period			3
   		ENG	484D	Critical Questions in a National Literature			3
   		ENG	493	English Internship			3
   	(8)	English electives: Additional credits in English courses as needed to meet the requirement of at least 34, but not more than 40, credits in courses in the major, including no more than 4 credits in a 100-level English course.
   Note: No single course may count more than once toward the requirements above.

Creative Writing Concentration
The creative writing concentration is available to students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in English except those students seeking teacher certification. Students interested in the concentration should consult with their advisor. Students who elect this concentration must complete the following courses, all of which will count toward the 34 to 40 credits in the Bachelor of Arts in English degree. The concentration will be noted on the student's transcript.

Popular Culture Studies Concentration
The Popular Culture Studies concentration is available to students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in English except those students seeking teacher certification. Students interested in the concentration should consult with their advisor. Students who elect this concentration must complete the following courses, all of which will count toward the 34 to 40 credits in the Bachelor of Arts in English degree. The concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript.

English Education Concentration
The English Education concentration is available to students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in English and seeking secondary education teacher certification. Students interested in the concentration should consult with their advisor. Students who elect this concentration must complete the following courses, all of which will count toward the 34 to 40 credits in the Bachelor of Arts in English degree. The concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Studies offers students in-depth education in the disciplinary understanding of film as a medium and in the critical analysis of films as interpretable texts. Students will gain an understanding of aspects of cinematic aesthetics, film grammar, the history of film, cultural contexts of film, and theoretical and critical approaches in film studies.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Film Studies
 

1. The University requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Studies.
   
   The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the Film Studies major is met by completing one of the following courses: Film Studies 334, 400, 434, 435B, 460, 480, or 499. Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
   1. The following requirements for the major (36 to 40 credits):

      a.	All of the following courses (9 credits):
      	FLM	200	Film Collective				1
      	FLM	230	Introduction to Film Studies				4
      	FLM	260	Introduction to Digital Film and Emergent Media				4
      b.	All of the following courses (12 credits):
      	FLM	300	Classical Film and Media Theory				3
      	FLM	301	History of Film after Midcentury				3
      	FLM	380	Classical Film and Media Theory				3
      	FLM	381	Contemporary Film and Media Theory				3
      c.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
      	FLM	450	Studies in Ethnic Film				3
      	FLM	451	Studies in Postcolonial Cinema				3
      	FLM	452	Studies in Film, Gender, and Sexuality				3
      d.	One of the following capstone courses (3 credits):
      	FLM	400	Seminar in the History of Film (W)				3
      	FLM	460	Seminar in Digital Film and Emergent Media (W)				3
      	FLM	480	Seminar in Film and Media Theory (W)				3
      	FLM	493	Film Studies Internship				3
      e.	Complete 9 to 13 credits in courses from the following:
      	ENG	231	Film and Literature				4
      	ENG	478A	Literature, Technology, Representation				3
      	ENG	478B	Literature and Visual Culture				3
      	FLM	211	Documentary History and Theory				3
      	FLM	255	Stars and Directors				3
      	FLM	311	Introduction to Documentary Production				3
      	FLM	334	Introduction to Screenwriting (W)				3
      	FLM	335	Film Directing				3
      	FLM	336	Aesthetics of Film Editing				3
      	FLM	337	Topics in Film Form				3
      	FLM	350	National and Transnational Cinemas				3
      	FLM	355	Studies in Film Genres				3
      	FLM	400	Seminar in the History of Film (W)				3
      	FLM	411	Collaborative Documentary Design and Production (W)				3
      	FLM	434	Advanced Screenwriting (W)				3
      	FLM	435A	Creating the Fiction Film I				3
      	FLM	435B	Creating the Fiction Film II (W)				3
      	FLM	438	Film Financing, Programming, and Distribution				3
      	FLM	450	Studies in Ethnic Film				3
      	FLM	451	Studies in Postcolonial Cinema				3
      	FLM	452	Studies in Film, Gender, and Sexuality				3
      	FLM	455	Experimental Film and Media				3
      	FLM	460	Seminar in Digital Film and Emergent Media (W)				3
      	FLM	480	Seminar in Film and Media Theory (W)				3
      	FLM	489H	Senior Honors Independent Project				3
      	FLM	490	Independent Study				1 to 4
      	FLM	491	Special Topics in Film Studies				3
      	FLM	492H	Honors Seminar in Film Studies				3
      	FLM	493	Film Studies Internship				2 to 4
      	FLM	499	Senior Thesis Research (W)				1 to 4
      	LL	250A	Topics in National Cinemas: German Cinema				3
      	LL	250B	Topics in National Cinemas: East Asian Cinema				3
      	ROM	355	French, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish Cinema since 1930				4
      	RUS	250	Russian and Soviet Cinema				3
      	THR	304	Topics in Acting/Directing II: Acting for the Camera				3
      	THR	350	Plays as Film				3
      	Film Studies 450, 451, or 452 may not count towards fulfillment of this requirement if used towards requirement 3. c. above. Film Studies 400, 460, 480, or 493 may not count towards fulfillment of this requirement if used towards requirement 3. d. above.

The Minor in Creative Writing, administered by the Department of English, offers undergraduate students across the university a focused experience in the production of literary texts. The minor curriculum includes an introductory multi-genre course, workshops in a single chosen genre at the introductory and advanced level, as well as a literary studies course focused on broad readings within that genre. The required core courses are designed to provide awareness of larger conversations about creative writing as a discipline, as well as promote literary citizenship through involvement in co-curricular opportunities on campus and within the local writing community. Emphasizing the value of creative writing methods for problem-solving and critical thinking, for understanding diverse views and subject positions, and for clarity of expression, the minor opens up creative writing study to students from a range of colleges.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who are planning careers in creative writing and literary publishing should pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. The bachelor’s degree provides the opportunity for more intensive study in creative writing, including writing in and across multiple genres, participation in internships, and creative writing capstone projects. Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of English or the Director of Creative Writing to apply.

Admission

Students who are interested in the minor are eligible to apply if:

1. they have attained sophomore standing (at least 28 credits).
2. have completed the introductory course requirement (ENG 210, ENG 226, or FLM 230 if in screenwriting track).

1. submit a creative writing sample.
2. submit an application packet available online at the program website http://www.english.msu.edu/undergraduate/program-options/creative-writing/ or through the Department of English.

The Minor in Fiction Filmmaking educates students in the history, theory, and production of fiction film. Students who enroll in this minor combine practical skills in production with conceptual training in film studies to produce theoretically informed work while developing an understanding of the challenges of creating high-quality films. 

The Minor in Fiction Filmmaking is jointly administered by the Department of English within the College of Arts and Letters and the School of Journalism in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. The Department of English is the primary administrative unit. The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University.

Students who are interested in the minor are eligible to apply if they have attained sophomore standing, and have completed at least one of the prerequisite courses listed below. Both prerequisite courses need to be completed prior to or concurrent with FLM 335. Students must submit an application available in the advising offices of the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Communication Arts and Sciences during late February. Applications will be reviewed prior to annual enrollment. Applications are also available online at www.film.msu.edu.

With the approval of the department that administers the student’s degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s academic advisor for the minor.

Prerequisite Courses

The Minor in Film Studies, which is administered by the Department of English, offers students in-depth education in the disciplinary understanding of film as a medium and in the critical analysis of films as interpretable texts. Students will gain an understanding of aspects of cinematic aesthetics, film grammar, history of film, cultural contexts of film, and theoretical and critical approaches in film studies.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Film Studies.  With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of English or the Director of Film Studies in the Department of English. 

Requirements for the Minor in Film Studies

The Minor in Literature and Cultural Studies focuses on the study of literature through the lens of cultural studies. The minor provides extensive course work in literary studies, and provides the option for students to develop and enhance their ability to analyze complex texts, to think critically, to write effectively, and to imagine new and potentially different social possibilities.
                            
Requirements for the Minor in Literature and Cultural Studies

Students must complete 18 credits from the following:

The Minor in Popular Culture Studies, which is administered by the Department of English, is designed to provide students opportunities for in-depth study of popular culture texts, trends, and topics across a range of media.  The minor introduces critical approaches and methods of research in popular culture studies, as well as opportunities for practical experience with the Journal of Popular Culture or by engaging in scholarly conferences or public conference events that center on science fiction and fantasy, comics, gaming, and pop music.  The minor draws on the extensive resources in MSU Libraries’ Special Collections and other library collections such as detective fiction, video games, and comic art, offering students options to explore in depth the world-renowned resources available at MSU.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Popular Culture Studies. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to apply to the program should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of English.

Requirements for the Minor in Popular Culture Studies

Complete a minimum of 16 credits from the following:

The Minor in Screenwriting, which is administered by the Department of English, offers undergraduate students a foundation in the production of scripts for fiction films and television programs.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who are planning careers in writing for film and television should consider combining this minor with a major in Film Studies or Digital Storytelling.

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of English or the Director of Film Studies in the Department of English.

Admission

Students considering the Minor in Screenwriting must have a minimum grade-point average of 2.0.

Requirements for the Minor in Screenwriting

Complete a minimum of 16 credits from the following: