This minor may only be completed by students admitted to the Elementary Education or the Elementary Education and Special Education programs. A minor is not required to complete either program.
Minors provide a depth of study in a particular area of interest and also inform classroom instruction. The completion of a minor is required to teach middle school in some states and may benefit students particularly interested in teaching at this level.
The Department of English is housed in the College of Letters & Science. Students may wish to consult with an undergraduate advisor in English to discuss course selection and other issues related to this field of study.
Upon completion, the subject area of the minor will be posted on the UW–Madison transcript. Students will not receive an additional certification or license in the subject area. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not offer content licenses in association with the Elementary Education or Special Education teaching licenses.
How to Get In
This minor may only be declared by students completing the Elementary Education or the Elementary Education and Special Education programs. To declare the minor, contact your academic advisor in Education Student Services any time after program admission.
Requirements
The English minor requires the completion of 24–30 credits to include the coursework listed below. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 is required, based on all UW–Madison coursework included in the minor.
Note: Six credits of introductory literature must be completed prior to enrolling in coursework required for the English minor. Courses with a Literature breadth designation from many subjects—e.g., Comparative Literature, Classical & Ancient Near Eastern Studies, African Cultural Studies, or Theatre and Drama—may be selected to meet this requirement. Students are encouraged to explore these options, although introductory English department coursework may also be used in this capacity.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Complete the following: | ||
| ENGL 241 | Literature and Culture I: to the 18th Century | 3 |
| ENGL 242 | Literature and Culture II: from the 18th Century to the Present | 3 |
| ENGL 314 | Structure of English (students are encouraged to take this course as early as possible) | 3 |
| Children's or Young Adult Literature chosen in consulatation with advisor | 3 | |
| Shakespeare | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Shakespearean Drama | ||
| Early Works of Shakespeare | ||
| Later Works of Shakespeare | ||
| Elective | ||
| Select one English department elective numbered 204 and above, except for ENGL 207 and ENGL 236 1 | ||
| Ethnic Literature | ||
| Select one 3-credit intermediate or advanced ethnic literature course 2 | ||
| Applied English Linguistics | ||
| Select one of the following (listed in order of preference): | 3 | |
| English Grammar in Use | ||
| History of the English Language | ||
| English Language Variation in the U.S. | ||
| English in Society | ||
| Global Spread of English | ||
| Composition for English Teachers | ||
| History and Theory of Rhetoric and Writing Studies | ||
Or, select a course in consultation with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office. | ||
| Additional Credits | ||
| If necessary, select additional coursework to reach the minimum of 24 credits. Introductory literature may be used. | ||
- 1
Students considering a Letters & Science English major should select a pre–1800, non-Shakespeare literature course.
- 2
Search for Intermediate/Advanced–level courses that are designated as both Literature and Ethnic Studies courses in the enrollment application.