Minors

The Department of English offers three different minors for undergraduate students. If you are interested in learning more about any of the minors, contact the coordinator of the corresponding major program or email us at engdept@sfsu.edu.

Literature in English Minor — 15 units

The Literature in English minor allows students from any major to explore literature from British, American, and other global traditions in English. For this minor, students pursue a streamlined version of the English major core requirements, supplemented by two elective courses in literary topics of their choice. Literature minors can expect to hone their aptitude for close reading, writing, research, oral communication, and critical thinking. Developing these skills can prove beneficial to students with regard to their major coursework, and to their lives after graduation.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to produce rhetorically effective texts across a range of digital, print, and multimedia formats. (Written Communication)
  2. Students will be able to carefully read and critically examine the ways in which culture and global context affect language, literature, and writing. (Global Perspectives)
  3. Students will be able to analyze language and texts in relation to the historical and social contexts in which they are situated. (Historical Thinking)

Requirements

All coursework used to satisfy the requirements of the minor must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

Course List
Code Title Units
ENG 250 Topics in Literature and Culture (or equivalent with advisor approval) 3
Select One: 3

1. ENG 460

Literature in English to 1800  
or    

2. ENG 461

Literature in English Since 1800  
ENG 640 Global Texts and Practices 3
Two Upper-Division Electives in Literature (one may be a non-ENG prefixed course with advisor approval )

Linguistics Minor — 15 units

All coursework used to satisfy the requirements of the minor must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 or better.

Course List
Code Title Units
ENG 420 Introduction to the Study of Language 3
ENG 421 Syntax 3
ENG 424 Phonology and Morphology 3
ENG 425 Language in Context 3
Select one: 3

ENG 422

History of the English Language  

ENG 423

Language Analysis for Language Teachers  

ENG 426

Second Language Acquisition  

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate a solid understanding of the fundamental linguistic subfields of phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
  2. Analyze grammatical aspects of English and other languages unfamiliar to them.
  3. Produce a field-appropriate research paper conforming to all writing conventions, citation conventions, and structural conventions in linguistics research.

Professional Writing and Rhetoric Minor — 18 units

A maximum of 6 PWR advisor-approved transfer units may be applied toward the minor.

All coursework used to satisfy the requirements of the minor must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Core Courses (12 units)

Course List
Code Title Units
ENG 216 Cultivating Curiosity: Explore Your World, Your Identity, and Your Future 3
or ENG 218 Literature Is Not A Luxury: Writing For Self and Community
ENG 402 Introduction to Professional Writing and Rhetoric 3
ENG 540 Professional Editing 3
ENG 545 Visual Rhetoric and Document Design 3

Skills Electives (6 units)

Select two:

Course List
Code Title Units

ENG 200

Writing Practices in Professional Contexts  

ENG 470

Writing Professional Promotions  

ENG 471

Writing Technical Documentation  

ENG 490

Grant Writing  

ENG 585

Professional Writing for Digital Audiences  

ENG 618

Individual and Team Writing  

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Students in the Professional Writing and Rhetoric minor will be able to produce rhetorically effective texts across a range of digital, print, and multimedia formats.

2. Students in the Professional Writing and Rhetoric minor will analyze workplace writing in order to understand and develop effective rhetorical strategies for a variety of professional writing contexts.

3. Students in the Professional Writing and Rhetoric minor will produce persuasive texts using a broad range of genres, methods, and conventions for professional writers, considering the unique purposes and audiences of workplace writing.