Open Focus

This track is designed for students seeking a broad education in the various areas of English studies as preparation for diverse professional careers. Select courses in literature, film and media, creative and professional writing, rhetoric, and cultural theory. Many courses are offered both face-to-face and online.

We have structured the requirements so that this track can be completed entirely online. Read more about the online program.

Track Requirements

Track O: Open Focus

At least 3 credits in literature must be in a period before 1900. They can be taken in American Literature, British Literature or any other literature course in the English department. Students can take up to 9 credits in 200-level English courses to satisfy the 36 credits for the major. This includes ENGLISH 215 which is a requirement and non-substitutable. ENGLISH 192 can be substituted for 3 of the 9 credits in 200-level courses. 

Students must also complete a 3 credit capstone seminar at the 600 level (612, 615 - 616, 620 - 633, 685, 690), which may be in any of the areas listed below.

ENGLISH 215Introduction to English Studies3
American Literature 3
Select one of the following courses in American Literature
ENGLISH 269Literary Forms and Genres:
ENGLISH 274Literature and the Other Arts:
ENGLISH 276Introduction to American Indian Literature:
ENGLISH 277Introduction to Ethnic Minority Literature:
ENGLISH 278Introduction to World Literatures Written in English:
ENGLISH 279Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Literature:
ENGLISH 280Introduction to Asian-American Literature:
ENGLISH 281Introduction to African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 307Survey of American Literature to 1865
ENGLISH 308Survey of American Literature, 1865-1965
ENGLISH 309Survey of Contemporary American Literature
ENGLISH 372Survey of American Indian Literature
ENGLISH 373Survey of Ethnic Minority Literature
ENGLISH 374Survey of U.S. Latino/a Literature
ENGLISH 375Survey of Asian American Literature
ENGLISH 376Survey of African-American Literature to 1930
ENGLISH 377Survey of African-American Literature, 1930 to the Present
ENGLISH 460Writers in American Literature, 1500-1900:
ENGLISH 461Writers in American Literature, 1900 to the Present:
ENGLISH 463Writers in African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 517Studies in African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 520Studies in American Indian Literature:
ENGLISH 523Studies in U.S. Latino/a Literature:
ENGLISH 524Studies in Asian-American Literature:
ENGLISH 623Seminar in American Literature:
ENGLISH 631Seminar in African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 632Seminar in American Indian Literature:
British Literature 3
Select one of the following courses in British Literature
ENGLISH 222English Writers, 1800 to the Present
ENGLISH 301Survey of English Literature, Beginnings to 1500
ENGLISH 302Survey of English Literature, 1500-1660
ENGLISH 303Survey of English Literature, 1660-1798
ENGLISH 304Survey of English Literature, 1798-1900
ENGLISH 305Survey of English Literature: 1900 to the Present
ENGLISH 452Shakespeare
ENGLISH 633Seminar in Rhetoric and Professional Writing:
ENGLISH 454Milton
ENGLISH 456Writers in English Literature, 1500-1660:
ENGLISH 457Writers in English Literature, 1660-1798:
ENGLISH 458Writers in English Literature, 1798-1900:
ENGLISH 504Studies in Literature, 1660-1800:
ENGLISH 505Studies in Literature, 1800-1900:
Minority, Women's or World Literature3
Select one of the following courses in Minority, Women’s or World Literature
ENGLISH 243Introduction to Literature by Women:
ENGLISH 276Introduction to American Indian Literature:
ENGLISH 277Introduction to Ethnic Minority Literature:
ENGLISH 278Introduction to World Literatures Written in English:
ENGLISH 279Introduction to U.S. Latino/a Literature:
ENGLISH 280Introduction to Asian-American Literature:
ENGLISH 281Introduction to African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 285Modern Irish Language and Literature in Translation
ENGLISH 306Survey of Irish Literature
ENGLISH 332LGBTQ+ Literature:
ENGLISH 372Survey of American Indian Literature
ENGLISH 373Survey of Ethnic Minority Literature
ENGLISH 374Survey of U.S. Latino/a Literature
ENGLISH 375Survey of Asian American Literature
ENGLISH 376Survey of African-American Literature to 1930
ENGLISH 377Survey of African-American Literature, 1930 to the Present
ENGLISH 381World Literatures Written in English:
ENGLISH 463Writers in African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 465Women Writers:
ENGLISH 517Studies in African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 518Studies in Irish Literature:
ENGLISH 520Studies in American Indian Literature:
ENGLISH 522Studies in World Literature Written in English:
ENGLISH 523Studies in U.S. Latino/a Literature:
ENGLISH 524Studies in Asian-American Literature:
ENGLISH 622Seminar in Irish Literature:
ENGLISH 627Seminar in Literature and Culture:
ENGLISH 628Seminar in Literature by Women:
ENGLISH 629Seminar in Literature and Sexuality:
ENGLISH 631Seminar in African-American Literature:
ENGLISH 632Seminar in American Indian Literature:
Theory and Criticism3
Select one of the following courses in Theory and Criticism
ENGLISH 378Survey of Current Literary and Cultural Theory
ENGLISH 390Classical Film Criticism and Theory
ENGLISH 391Television Criticism and Theory
ENGLISH 393Entertainment Industries:
ENGLISH 394Theories of Digital Culture:
ENGLISH 395Feminist Media Criticism and Theory: *
ENGLISH 547Studies in Theory and Criticism:
ENGLISH 626Seminar in Critical Theory:
Rhetoric, Professional, Technical or Creative Writing6
Select two of the following courses in Rhetoric, Professional, Technical or Creative Writing
ENGLISH 201Strategies for Academic Writing
ENGLISH 205Business Writing
ENGLISH 206Technical Writing
ENGLISH 207Health Science Writing
ENGLISH 210Global Englishes
ENGLISH 212Grammar and Usage
ENGLISH 214Writing in the Professions:
ENGLISH 233Introduction to Creative Writing
ENGLISH 240Rhetoric, Writing, and Culture:
ENGLISH 310Writing, Speaking, and Technoscience in the 21st Century
ENGLISH 400Introduction to English Linguistics
ENGLISH 401History of the English Language
ENGLISH 402Theories of Language and Literature:
ENGLISH 403Survey of Modern English Grammar
ENGLISH 404Language, Power, and Identity
ENGLISH 414Special Topics in Creative Writing:
ENGLISH 415Fiction Workshop
ENGLISH 416Poetry Workshop
ENGLISH 418Literary Journal Production
ENGLISH 425Advanced Business Writing
ENGLISH 426Professional and Technical Communications Research
ENGLISH 427Writing for Nonprofits
ENGLISH 428Strategic Writing for Organizations
ENGLISH 430Advanced Writing Workshop
ENGLISH 431Topics in Advanced Communications:
ENGLISH 432The Rhetoric of Argument
ENGLISH 433Creative Nonfiction for Publication
ENGLISH 434Editing and Publishing
ENGLISH 435Rhetoric and Professional Writing
ENGLISH 436Technical Documentation
ENGLISH 437Project Management for Professional Writers
ENGLISH 438Advanced Research Writing
ENGLISH 439Information Design
ENGLISH 442Writing Center Tutoring Practicum
ENGLISH 443Grant Writing
ENGLISH 444Technical Editing
ENGLISH 445The Composing Process:
ENGLISH 446Global Business Communications
ENGLISH 448Technical Communications Theory and Practice
ENGLISH 449Internship in the Humanities
ENGLISH 615Advanced Workshop in Fiction
ENGLISH 616Advanced Workshop in Poetry:
ENGLISH 633Seminar in Rhetoric and Professional Writing:
Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies6
Select two of the following courses in Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies
ENGLISH 286Writing about Film and Television
ENGLISH 290Introduction to Film Studies
ENGLISH 291Introduction to Television Studies
ENGLISH 292Classic Dramas in Film:
ENGLISH 294Game Culture
ENGLISH 295Women and Film
ENGLISH 312Topics in Film, Television and Digital Studies:
ENGLISH 316World Cinema:
ENGLISH 320Studies in Film and Television Authorship:
ENGLISH 329Film and Literature
ENGLISH 380Media and Society:
ENGLISH 383Cinema, Television, and Genre:
ENGLISH 390Classical Film Criticism and Theory
ENGLISH 391Television Criticism and Theory
ENGLISH 393Entertainment Industries:
ENGLISH 394Theories of Digital Culture:
ENGLISH 395Feminist Media Criticism and Theory: *
FILMSTD 212Intermediate Topics in Film and Television Studies:
FILMSTD 350Global Jewish Film and Television:
FILMSTD 412Global Cinema and Media:
FILMSTD 669Screening Sexuality:
FILMSTD 690Seminar in Contemporary Cinema and Media:
English Electives9
9 credits in English electives are required for the major.
Total Credits36
*

This course is listed in more than one category. It may count in only one category.

Contact

Prospective Undergraduate Students (not yet enrolled at UWM)

Prospective students, contact our admissions counselor at let-sci@uwm.edu or 414-229-7711.

Current Undergraduate Students

General questions such as how to declare, how to change a major, general education requirements, etc. should be directed to the college advising office at ls-advising@uwm.edu or 414-229-4654.

Specific questions about English, such as research opportunities, internship opportunities, major requirements, etc., should be directed to the English department.

Interested in this Plan?

For more information about the Open Focus plan, contact Associate Professor Jocelyn Szczepaniak-Gillece at szczepan@uwm.edu.

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