The Writing, Rhetoric and Literacy concentration builds on departmental strengths in writing theory and design, rhetoric, composition, public writing, and rhetoric and writing instruction. It is designed for students who wish to pursue the study of theories and practices of writing and rhetoric. The Writing, Rhetoric and Literacy concentration offers students the ability to:

  • Study writing in a department that takes a humanistic approach to learning
  • Engage writing and rhetoric with a focus on genre, audience, invention, and style
  • Explore and practice writing and rhetorical approaches in social, cultural, and historical contexts

To change your major to English, you can either call the College of Liberal Arts Academic Advising Center at 970-491-3117 or send an email to cla_advising@colostate.edu. More information is available on https://advising.libarts.colostate.edu.

Effective Fall 2022

For graduation, an English major must attain a minimum grade point average of 2.000 in all Composition (CO) and English (E) courses.

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
E 240Introduction to Poetry 3
SPCM 200Public Speaking 3
Arts and Humanities13B6
Biological and Physical Sciences3A7
Quantitative Reasoning1B3
Electives 6
 Total Credits 31
Sophomore
 
E 270Introduction to American Literature (GT-AH2)3B3
Select one course from the following:  3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in Digital Environments (GT-CO3)2 
Select one course from the following: 3
British Literature--Medieval Period to 1800 (GT-AH2)3B 
British Literature--After 1800 (GT-AH2)3B 
Additional History Elective - select one course from the following: 3
  
HIST XXX
  
Black Cinema and Media  
History of Political Thought  
World Theatre History I  
PHIL *** Philosophy Elective 3
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Historical Perspectives3D3
Social and Behavioral Sciences3C3
Electives 5
 Total Credits 29
Junior
 
CO 402Principles of Digital Rhetoric and Design 3
E 341Literary Criticism and Theory4A,4B3
Second field2 6
Upper-Division English/Composition Electives (See list below) 6
Electives 12
 Total Credits 30
Senior
 
CO 401Writing and Style 3
E 406Topics in Literacy 3
Select one course from the following: 3
Chaucer4C 
Topics in Literature and Language4C 
Individual Author4C 
Second field2 6
Upper-Division English/Composition Electives (See list below) 9
Electives3 6
 Total Credits 30
 Program Total Credits: 120

Upper-Division English/Composition Electives

Select courses not taken elsewhere in the program from the Upper-Division English/Composition List, for a program minimum total of 15 credits.

Designated Writing
Select at least one course from the following:3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)
Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO3)
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)
Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO3)
Intermediate Creative Writing: Nonfiction
Writing the Environment
Creative Writing Workshop: Nonfiction
Writing Theory and Pedagogy
Select at least one course from the following:3
Teaching Composition
Topics in Literacy
Theories of Composition
The Politics of Literacy
Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language
Literature
Select 3 credits in literature courses3
Select 6 credits from any upper-division writing, literature, theory, and/or language courses6
1

Excludes E subject code courses.

2

The department requires majors to complete a second field. This may be met by completing the second semester of the second year of a foreign language or by completing 12 credits of upper-division courses in a coherent field of study outside of English.

3

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
For graduation, an English major must attain a minimum grade point average of 2.000 in all Composition (CO) and English (E) courses.

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2) X1A3
E 240Introduction to Poetry   3
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Biological and Physical Sciences  3A3
Quantitative Reasoning X1B3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
SPCM 200Public Speaking   3
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Biological and Physical Sciences  3A4
Electives   6
CO 150 and AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) requirement must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   16
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one course from the following:   3
British Literature--Medieval Period to 1800 (GT-AH2) X3B 
British Literature--After 1800 (GT-AH2) X3B 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  1C3
Social and Behavioral Sciences  3C3
Liberal Arts/History Elective   3
Elective   2
 Total Credits   14
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
E 270Introduction to American Literature (GT-AH2)X 3B3
Select one course from the following:   3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3) X2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO3) X2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) X2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3) X2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO3) X2 
Writing in Digital Environments (GT-CO3) X2 
Historical Perspectives  3D3
PHIL *** Philosophy Elective   3
Elective   3
E 240, E 276 or E 277, SPCM 200 and AUCC 3A, 3B, and 3C requirements must be completed by the end of Semester 4.X   
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 402Principles of Digital Rhetoric and Design   3
Second Field Course    3
Upper-Division English/Composition Elective (See list on Concentration Requirements Tab)   3
Electives   6
 Total Credits   15
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
E 341Literary Criticism and Theory X4A,4B3
Second Field Course   3
Upper-Division English/Composition Elective (See list on Concentration Requirements Tab)   3
Electives   6
 Total Credits   15
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 401Writing and Style   3
E 406Topics in Literacy X 3
Select one course from the following:   3
ChaucerX 4C 
Topics in Literature and LanguageX 4C 
Individual AuthorX 4C 
Upper-Division Elective   3
Elective   3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Second Field CoursesX  6
Upper-Division ElectivesX  6
ElectiveX  3
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   15
 Program Total Credits:   120