- Preparation for law school
- Preparation for M.A. or Ph.D. programs in English Literature & Language
- Preparation for careers in corporate communications, grant-writing and non-profits, advertising, publishing, personnel management and more
Faculty contact: Dr. Paul Jones
Program Overview
Although any major in English literature or rhetoric is an excellent preparation for law school, the English – Pre-Law major brings together the most relevant skills and contexts for a legal career. The analytic demands and extensive writing practice of the English Department’s small-enrollment courses will sharpen essential intellectual tools. The major is also flexible enough to match your other interests: you can fulfill up to 9 of the required hours in the major with creative writing workshops, courses in rhetoric or visual texts, or apprenticeship or internship experiences. Like all majors in the English Department, the English – Pre-Law major includes the English Core to provide a solid foundation in literary genres and research. Learn more about the English Pre-Law program on the undergraduate catalog .
Careers and Graduate School
Graduates of English – Pre-Law usually go to law school, both in-state and around the nation. Your opportunities are not, however, limited to that. With strong skills in critical analysis as well as writing and solid training in literary history, English – Pre-Law graduates also have the same variety of potential employment or graduate school tracks that other English program graduates enjoy.
Preparation for Law: If you plan to enter law school, you should choose an undergraduate major that reflects your true academic interests as well as providing intellectual foundations for legal training. The practice of law draws on a number of different disciplinary strengths, which means that you should view the whole of your liberal arts coursework as part of your preparation. English is, however, one of the most common undergraduate majors for law students, both because many people who are drawn to law are drawn to the analogous kinds of thinking and writing required in English and because it develops skills that every lawyer needs. Students interested in pursuing law as a career would be well advised to supplement their English coursework with classes that reinforce the cognitive skills for the LSAT and for legal work, such as logic and ethics. Classes in American history, political science, economics, and sociology provide background for understanding the American legal system, while classes and practice in speech and oral communication will help prepare you for the practice of law.
Browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake , OHIO's key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.
Admission Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission:No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy:For students currently enrolled at Ohio University, transferring into an English major requires a 2.0 GPA. Students choosing to transfer into the English – Pre-Law major should contact the director of undergraduate studies in the English department for assistance. Students who wish to add an English major in addition to another major program should seek assistance from the director of undergraduate studies; students with a second major outside the College of Arts and Sciences will be responsible for meeting the degree requirements of both the English – Pre-Law major and the College of Arts and Sciences.
External Transfer Admission:For students currently enrolled at institutions other than Ohio University, transferring into the English – Prelaw major entails no requirements beyond University admission requirements. Students should contact the director of undergraduate studies in the English Department for assistance.
Degree Requirements
- Major code BA5234
University-wide Graduation Requirements
Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University wide page.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement
View the College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences.
English Hours Requirement
For a B.A. degree with a major in English - Creative Writing, a student must complete a total of 42 semester credit hours in ENG coursework.
English Department Core Requirements
Complete the following requirements with a GPA of 2.0 (C) or higher.
Intercultural Foundations
Complete the following course:
- ENG 1100 - Crossing Cultures with Text Credit Hours: 3
Literary Reading
Complete one of the following courses:
- ENG 2010 - Introduction to Prose Fiction and Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 2020 - Introduction to Poetry and Drama Credit Hours: 3
British or American Literature I
Complete one of the following courses:
- ENG 2510 - British Literature I Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 2530 - American Literature I Credit Hours: 3
British or American Literature II
Complete one of the following courses:
- ENG 2520 - British Literature II Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 2540 - American Literature II Credit Hours: 3
Intercultural Breadth
Complete one of the following courses:
- ENG 3240 - Jewish American Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3250 - Women’s Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3260 - Queer Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3270 - Queer Rhetorics and Writing Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3370 - Black Literature to 1930 Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3380 - Ethnic American Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3390 - Black Literature from 1930 to the Present Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3450 - Intercultural Adaptations: Answering the Anglo-American Literary Canon Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3550 - Global Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3850 - Writing About Culture and Society Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 4660 - International Authors Credit Hours: 3
Writing and Research
Complete the following course:
- ENG 3070J - Writing and Research in English Studies Credit Hours: 3
Senior Seminar
Complete one of the following courses:
- ENG 4600 - Topics in English Studies Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 4640 - British Authors Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 4650 - American Authors Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 4660 - International Authors Credit Hours: 3
Concentration Requirements
Complete the following requirements with a GPA of 2.0 (C) or higher:
Literature
Complete one of the following courses. Courses used to meet another major requirement cannot also be used to meet this requirement.
- ENG 3010 - Shakespeare Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3020 - Topics in Shakespeare Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3040 - English Bible Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3110 - English Literature to 1500 Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3120 - English Literature: 1500-1660 Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3130 - English Literature: 1660-1800 Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3140 - English Literature: 1800-1900 Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3150 - English Literature: 1900 to Present Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3210 - American Literature to 1865 Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3220 - American Literature: 1865-1918 Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3230 - American Literature: 1918 to Present Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3240 - Jewish American Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3250 - Women’s Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3260 - Queer Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3350 - Irish Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3370 - Black Literature to 1930 Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3380 - Ethnic American Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3390 - Black Literature from 1930 to the Present Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3450 - Intercultural Adaptations: Answering the Anglo-American Literary Canon Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3550 - Global Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3560 - Young Adult Literature Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 4640 - British Authors Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 4650 - American Authors Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 4660 - International Authors Credit Hours: 3
Experiential Writing
Complete one of the following courses:
- ENG 3650 - Introduction to Literary Editing and Publishing Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3860 - Composing in New Media Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 3870C - Composing for the Community Credit Hours: 3
- ENG 4910 - English Internship Credit Hours: 1 - 9
- ENG 4940 - Research Apprenticeship in English Studies Credit Hours: 1 - 9
- ENG 4990H - English Departmental Honors Credit Hours: 3
Literary Theory
Complete the following course:
- ENG 3990 - Literary Theory and Ethical Practice Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Law
Complete the following course
- ENG 3570 - Law and Literature Credit Hours: 3
Electives
Complete at least nine credit hours of additional ENG courses at the 2000-level or higher, excluding ENG 2800, ENG 3***J, ENG 4510, ENG 4520, ENG 4911, ENG 4912. Three of these credit hours must be taken at the 3000-level or higher.