The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's English bachelor's degree provides a semester-by-semester guide to core courses, labs, and requirements.
The Interactive Degree Audit is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample and adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan. A full list of undergraduate course descriptions is available.
Year One
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UN 1015 Composition | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Math | Placement | 3 |
| HU2324: Intro to Film* | None | 3 |
| HU1000: Intro to Humanities* | None | 3 |
| Modern Language (German or Spanish)** | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Essential Education: Natural and Physical Science | 3 | |
| English Core Elective (Example: HU2501 American Experience in Literature) | 3 | |
| HU2510 Intro to Creative Writing* | UN1015 | 3 |
| Modern Language (German or Spanish)** | Placement | 3 |
| Add’l Elec (Example: HU2130 Intro to Rhetoric)** | 3 | |
| Total | 16 |
Year Two
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Education: STEM | 3 | |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| HU2500 Writing About Literature | UN1015 | 3 |
| HU3513 Shakespeare* | UN1015 | 3 |
| Modern Language and World Literature elective (Example: HU 3263 Topics in German-Speaking Cultures)** | 3 | |
| Free elective*** | None | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English core elective (Example: HU3515 Workshop in Poetry)** | Variable | 3 |
| HU3502 Mythology* | UN1015 | 3 |
| Production Elective (Example: HU2633 Fundamentals of Digital imaging)** | None | 3 |
| Add’l Elec (Example: HU2700: Intro to Philosophy)** | None | 3 |
| Essential Education: STEM | 3 | |
| Total | 15 |
Year Three
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HU3517 Literary Theory & Criticism* | UN1015 | 3 |
| Essential Education: Experience (Example: HU3370 The Documentary Experience) | 3 | |
| Free elective (Example: HU3554 Science Fiction & Fantasy)*** | HU1015 | 3 |
| Free elective (Example: HU3120 Technical and Professional Communication)*** | Variable | 3 |
| Free elective (Example: ART3180- Color and Creativity)*** | Variable | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English core elective (Example: HU3518 Workshop in Science Fiction)** | UN1015 | 3 |
| HU3600 Professional Development in HU | None | 3 |
| Prod Elect (Example: HU2645:Graphic and Information Design)** | None | 3 |
| Add Elec (Example: HU3151 The Rhetoric of Everyday Texts)** | Variable | 3 |
| Free elective: (Example: HU3327 Film Style and Genre)*** | Variable | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
Year Four
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Free elective (Example: HU4628 Usability Evaluation and Testing)*** | Variable | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HU4500 Senior Seminar in English | o-requisite varies (3000-level lit class) | 2 |
| English Core Elective: HU35—(Advanced Literature Class Linked with Senior Seminar, varies by year) | UN1015 | 3 |
| Free elective (Example: HU4370 Documentary Workshop)*** | HU3370 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 14 |
Grand Total = 120 Credits
* Also counts for Essential Education requirements
** A full list of major elective course options is available on the official degree
audit
*** To fulfill graduation requirements for upper level credits, student must take
at least 16 credits of their major and/or free electives at the upper-division level
(3xxx or 4xxx)
NOTES:
The Essential Education minor pathway is an option for any student. Following one
of the Essential Ed minors may require some adjustments in the four year plan.
Additionally, English majors have many (up to 36) free electives that provide flexibility. Students are encouraged to take additional English coursework as free electives and/or consider adding a minor or coursework outside their major to explore other interests and enhance their degree. Minors that work particularly well with an English major include Media Production or Writing. Double majors or double degrees are also possible with the English major. Recent examples include English and Business, English and Computer Science, and English and Information Technology.
Essential Education Requirements (24 total credits)
Required courses are:
- Essential Ed Seminar (UN 1013 or UN 2013, 1 credit),
- Composition (UN 1015-3 credits),
- a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
- a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
- an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
- an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
- an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
- and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.
For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.
Additional Notes
- Prerequisite (pre-req) course must be successfully completed PRIOR to taking the subsequent
course.
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Required Corequisite (co-req) courses that MUST be taken together in the same semester.
- Class Standing: So (Sophomore Standing earned 30 credits) Jr (Junior Standing earned 60 credits), Sr (Senior Standing earned 90 credits)
- Semester Offered: Noted under electives with F (Fall), Sp (Spring), Su (Summer) or On Demand (no anticipated offering but may show in the schedule, consult with your advisor)
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Math: Students are placed into an initial math course based on ACT/SAT math score, the online ALEKS assessment, or a math placement exam score for credit (AP, IB, CLEP).
- Transfer, Advanced Placement, or study abroad courses are not included in credit hours used for GPA calculations. Transfer credit is awarded for Michigan Tech equivalent coursework only if a grade of ‘C’ or better (2.00/4.00) or equivalent is earned at a transfer institution. Study abroad credit will be awarded based on passing a course according to equivalent international standards. Advanced Placement credit is awarded according to published AP Exam score standards (also IB and CLEP).
This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.
For 2025-2026. Revised Summer 2025.