TO: First-Year English Majors [Fall 2017]

Department of English Physical Address:
Brink Hall 200
(208) 885-6156 phone
(208) 885-5944 fax
englishdept@uidaho.edu

Mailing Address:
English Department
c/o University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102
Moscow, Idaho
83844-1102

Dear prospective English majors,

Good to learn of your interest in English as a major course of study at the University of Idaho--see (also) the English major requirements in the UI catalog.) On behalf of the department's faculty and students, welcome! In advance of registration for fall semester, here is information and advice about planning your classes. This advice is intended to complement the primary/general information for First-Year students at the university's Academic Advising site--please be sure also to review the information at that site: http://www.uidaho.edu/academicadvising/students/newstudents/firstyearstudents

To get started on planning your schedule, let's see what a first semester schedule may look like, then refer to department and university requirements that guide such a schedule.

Example of First Semester Schedule for First-Year Students:

• Possibly a foreign language--see placement information further below--you will need the equivalent of four semesters in one foreign language to fulfill requirements for the B.A. English degree

• or defer foreign language until spring semester and take instead a social science course (such as Psych 101, Hist 101 or 102, Anth 100, Soc 101, Geog 165 or 200, Hist 111 or 112, Pol 101 or . . . .see under Quick Links the General Education Curriculum Guide);

-ISEM 101 section of an Integrated Seminar (3 crs) required for first-year students—a priority to take in the Fall semester or if necessary, in the Spring semester

-English 102 (ACT 25-30, SAT Pre-2016 570-690, SAT 2016 630-720) or 101 (ACT 18-24, SAT Pre-2016 450-560, SAT 2016 510-620) (3 crs)—according to English Placement Guidelines, see under Quick Links the General Education Curriculum Guide)

• MATH/or CS/or STAT course or a SCIENCE course: that is, Math, or Computer Science, or Statistics (3-4 crs)—seesee under Quick Links the General Education Curriculum Guide)(some majors simply take Math 123, which requires an ACT 1-18, or SAT Pre-2016 200-460, or SAT 2016 200-500)--I suggest that you consider taking Statistics (Stat 251) at some point, which can be useful in different careers and managerial postions, and this also is true of computer science courses (CS 112).

• or CORS Integrated Science (for example, CORS 217, or 220 or see other sections listed under CORS in UI time schedule, 3 crs)

• or lab core science (4 crs)—keep in mind that if you do not satisfy the core requirement for Math or CS or Stat in your first semester, university requirements specify that you are to do so in your second semester;

• fulfill the Oral Communication requirement in General Education by taking Comm 101 or Phil 102 (or fulfill this later by taking Engl 313 or Engl 317)

-English 215 (if necessary, with exemption from Engl 102 or English department override permission along with concurrent enrollment in Engl 102), or take instead English 257 Lit. of Western Civ. I or Engl 258 Lit. of Western Civ. II —may be deferred to second semester; don't be worried by the 200-level designation of these introductory, entry-level courses, and Engl 257 or Engl 258 do not need to be taken in sequence).

To repeat, for example, a Fall Semester schedule may very well look like this:

Engl 101 (or 102--if in Engl 102, then could substitue below, Engl 215; Engl 102 is not a prerequisite for Engl 257 or 258--those courses also are good options)--3 credits
ISEM course (3 crs)
Math 123 (3 crs, or CORS course?)
Psych 101 (3 crs, or other social science course?)
Spanish 101 (or place into 102 or ?, or other foreign language)--4 crs

See more information on English courses in this weblink.
Aim then for 15-17 total credits: you should try to average 15 or more credits each semester to make good progress toward your degree, which requires a total of at least 120 credits.

How and why such a schedule? Please see information at the English department’s website to take a look at the different emphases in the major (Literature Emphasis, Creative Writing Emphasis, Professional Emphasis, Teaching Emphasis, Linguistics and Literacy Emphasis), the university's requirements in general core curriculum studies (also see this core curriculum site) English and Math Placement guidelines (see links above), and also keep in mind the foreign language requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, that is, competence in one foreign language equivalent to that gained by the completion of four semesters of college courses is required as an English major (because the degree is a B.A. degree).

The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by completing either of the following options: (1) 16 credits or four high-school units in one foreign language, or (2) 12 credits in one foreign language, and one three-credit course in literature translated from the same language. The 12 credits may be satisfied by three high-school units in one foreign language.

Examples: If you have completed one year of high school Spanish, French, or German, you may qualify to enroll in Spanish 102, or French 102, or German 102 (this fall semester or next spring semester); two years of HS, then 201-level course; three years HS, then 202-level course; four years HS, then 301-level course. Again, see Placement Exam Information immediately below.

If it does not seem straightforward to you to start out at a particular level of a foreign language, you may need to discuss this with a faculty member in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures (Phone 208-885-6179 or E-Mail: forlang@uidaho.edu ).

Department of Modern Languages and Cultures:

Placement Exam Information:

Modern Languages:

• Modern Languages and Cultures requires pre-requisites for the lower level language courses. To enroll in any course above the 101, the student must have proof of one of the following:
• Prior completion of the course (taken at any university/college) or
• Dual credit for the course (taken during High School) or
• A placement exam (students email modlang@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-5138 to schedule).
• Please contact MLC for override information along with any questions you may have.  
• During UIdaho Bound call Hil Priest (885-6179) to arrange temporary overrides for students.  Students will be responsible for validating their placement by completing the exam at the very latest by 5 PM on the Friday before classes begin in the fall.

Read on below, and let us know if you have questions about your schedule of classes and/or about "majoring" in English to achieve the B.A. degree in English.

Consult the online UI Fall Class Schedule (see link via http://www.uidaho.edu/registrar) to be precise in your options and scheduling, including making note of the 5-digit CRN numbers for each course/section and noting that there's a link specifically for a subset of courses that satisfy core curriculum requirements. This registration process (especially how to set up your VandalWeb account with your student ID# and PI) is not quite as daunting as it may appear.

If you have some dual-enrollment or transfer credits, also see these guidelines: http://www.uidaho.edu/registrar/transfer

Also, please take the opportunity when speaking with an advisor to introduce yourself—let us know about your interests in the UI, in English as a major, whether you are thinking of a double major or a minor in another field of study, your tentative career possibilities if you have some in mind, and ask questions.

Again, on behalf of the department's faculty, staff, and students, we look forward to meeting you in person and also possibly communicating with you by email or phone to complete your advising.

Sincerely,

Stephan Flores
Associate Professor of English

Further Information on the Emphases in English

Further Information on Core Requirements and Degree Audit Resources

Looking ahead: Advice for second semester (SPRING of your first year, you'll register for spring semester in November) just follows from these basic requirements with special emphasis on taking Engl 215 Introduction to English Studies, if offered, or Engl 257 or 258 if you have not yet completed one of those courses--Engl 215 is required for all emphases in the major; if you are in the Literature Emphasis and completed Engl 102 and Engl 215 in fall semester, then look to take Engl 310 in the spring; and perhaps begin to take further coursework in the major (a creative writer might take Engl 291 or 292 or 293, for example, or if you are pursuing secondary teaching certification you would take Psych 101 in the second semester, Comm 101 first or second semester, and perhaps EdCI 201 in second semester), and if in the Linguistics and Literacy emphasis, take Engl 241/Anth 241.

Note also that for English majors, Engl 257 or 258 (or Engl 175) and also Engl 215 or permission of instructor are prerequisites or co-requisites to literature courses numbered 300 and above.

Also think of what other disciplines/minors or double-major options may appeal and complement/strengthen your degree, in our college or even in other colleges at UI. An understanding of communciation, social media and other media, web design, statistics and coding languages/web design, visual literacy, international relations, philosophy, and so on, are important for you to consider and to explore. Seek your advisors/mentors advice, and visit the UI Career Center.

Additional information on placement/prerequisites:

English:  (http://www.uidaho.edu/class/english/first-year/placement)

• Students who are currently enrolled in English 101 for college credit are eligible for an override for English 102.  Please call (885-6156) or email (jenniferbh@uidaho.edu) Jennifer Baillargeon-Hauck and identify up to three sections (by number) that fit the student’s schedule.  The override will only apply for those sections. If Jennifer is unavailable, please contact Barbara Kirchmeier (885-8326, Barbara@uidaho.edu).
• All other students must complete the Write Class assessment rather than seeking an override.  The English department has already contacted participants with this information and a deadline to complete the Write Class assessment in order to have accurate placement information available at UIdaho Bound.  Students who did not do this ahead of time can still complete the Write Class assessment at any time before the deadline to drop classes.  (www.writeclassuidaho.com)
• Students who have not completed the Write Class should register for English according to their current placement information.

Math: (http://www.uidaho.edu/sci/math/academics/math-placement)

• Please email math@uidaho.edu for placement overrides.
• Overrides are based on unofficial transcripts/copies of test scores or current/midterm grades (if students are currently enrolled in a prerequisite-satisfying course).
• The Mathematics Main Office (Brink Hall 300, 885-6742) will be open from 10am-5pm.
• Janssen Engineering Building (JEB 125) will be a satellite location for math overrides