Page 141 - BSU Undergraduate-Catalog-2017-2019

9. To seek external funding for curriculum development, pedagogical research, and faculty
development.
10. To assist the university in increasing its retention and graduation rates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPARTMENT
The Department offers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) with concentrations in Creative Writing and
Language and Literature and a track in Africana Literature, and the Bachelor of Science (BS) in
Secondary Education. It also offers six minors: Creative Writing, Literature, Literature of the African
Diaspora, French, Spanish, and Hispanic Culture. Students seeking teacher certification, via the BS
degree, must apply for admission into the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Professional
Development

To receive a BA degree or a BS degree in English, the student must successfully complete at least
120 semester hours. Entering students must officially declare English as a major, and students who
change their major after having begun matriculation at the University must submit a Declaration of
Major/Program Form. All students who declare English as a major will be evaluated (1) after the
completion of, Introduction to Literature (ENGL 236), the introductory course to the major, and (2)
periodically throughout their matriculation at the university

Students who pursue a major or a minor in English must earn a grade of "C" or above in all English
language and literature courses, and all students taking English 100, 101, or 102 and Reading 100
or 101 must earn a "C" or higher. All students who minor in a modern language or who take
modern language courses to meet discipline requirements must earn a grade of "C" or higher in each
course. All students must take and pass the Bowie State University English Proficiency Examination
(EPE).

The Department also offers a Master of Arts (MA) in English degree for individuals who (1) have
earned the traditional bachelor’s degree in English and allied fields (e.g., language arts,
humanities) and wish to supplement that degree with training in literature and rhetorical theories
and in humanities computing; (2) now teach on the secondary or collegiate level and wish to
investigate literary and rhetorical theories and practices; and (3) wish to pursue doctoral studies
upon completion of the master’s degree.

DEVELOPMENTAL ENGLISH AND READING AT BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY
Bowie State University measures skill proficiencies in writing and reading by student performance
on ACCUPLACER, a College Board placement test administered to all first-time freshmen by the
University Testing Center. Placement in, and successful completion of, specific developmental
courses (Developmental English and Developmental Reading) is required of all students who do
not demonstrate proficiency in writing and reading. These courses are housed in the Department
of English and Modern Languages.

Transfer students who have not completed their English 101 requirements prior to enrolling in
Bowie State University must also take writing and reading placement tests and are also required to
enroll in and successfully complete developmental courses designed to improve their skills for that
area.

Students who do not pass Developmental English and Developmental Reading with a grade of A, B,
or C will not be permitted to enroll in English 101 or 102.

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