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Advising

Introduction

The Department of English provides general advising information and undergraduate program information. Visit the Graduate Programs Web site for more advising information for graduate programs. There is also a FAQ section to clarify some of the most general, common concerns and questions about English programs and advising.

Contact Information

• General Undergraduate Information: Sharon Body
• Undergraduate Advising: Pat Angley, 407-823-5596

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many credit hours are required in order to graduate?

  Each student must complete 120 credit hours in order to graduate. Within the English major, 36 credit hours are required for the Literature track and the Creative Writing track and 33 hours for the Technical Communication track.

• Are there any other requirements for graduation I should be aware of?

  Yes. Students should pay special attention to upper division hours. Every student needs at least 48 upper division credit hours in order to graduate. This exceeds the number of courses required for the English major, so students must be sure to take the additional upper division classes in order to graduate.

• Who will advise me about my General Education classes?

  Advising about all general undergraduate classes will come from CAHSA, the College of Arts and Humanities Student Advising. CAHSA is located at Colbourn Hall Room 202. CAHSA's phone number is 407-823-3312.

• What is the foreign language requirement?

  In order to fulfill the Foreign Language requirement students must take 3 semesters of a Foreign Language, one of which can be the English Diversity Course.

• Who can advise me about choosing courses for my English major?

  Students can see the Undergraduate Advisor Pat Angley, Ph.D. or their assigned track advisor for advising about courses. To set up an appointment with Pat Angley, Ph.D., contact Sharon Body.

• How do I change my major?

  Students should go to the Registrar's Office or to CAHSA. Instructions and downloadable forms to change your major are available at the Registrar's Office Web site.

• How can I find the requirements for the English major?

  The Undergraduate Catalog contains the requirements for all majors, minors, and certificates. There are also handouts of the English major requirements in Colbourn Hall Room 405.

• What is an Independent Study course and how can I take one?

  An Independent Study course is a specialized course developed together by a student and faculty member with experience in the subject. It allows the student to study a subject that is not available as a regular class and obtain credit for it. To take an Independent Study course in the English department, students should have senior standing and at least a 3.0 GPA in their major. Students can only take one such course per term and up to two in their program.

  Students must identify a faculty member with whom they can work on an Independent Study course. The two will develop an Independent Study course plan and complete an Independent Study form. The form must then be turned into CAHSA, Colbourn Hall Room 202. A handout with instructions about developing an Independent Study course can be found in the Colbourn Hall Room 405.

• Are there any internships offered in the English department?

  Yes. Students can receive academic credit for internships.

• What internships are available and what do I need to do to take one?

  There are internships available for English seniors completing majors or minors in Technical Writing or Creative Writing. Students must be supervised by a member of the Technical Writing or Creative Writing faculty. A form must be filled out by the instructor and student and then taken to CAHSA, Colbourn Hall Room 202. This can also be requested from Sharon Body.

• How many credit hours are required for an English minor?

  The Creative Writing minor and the Literature minor require 21 credit hours, while the Linguistics, Writing, and Technical Writing and Editing minors each require 18 credit hours.

• What classes do I need to take for a minor?

  You can find a list of the course requirements for each of these minors in the Undergraduate Catalog. The course requirements for each minor are also available as handouts in Colbourn Hall Room 405.

• Where can I get help with my writing abilities?

  The University Writing Center is an excellent resource available to you.

• What is the University Writing Center?

  The University Writing Center offers writing support with drafting, revision, documentation, thesis/dissertation support, lab reports, business writing, resumes, cover letters, CVs, and application essays. Further information is available at the University Writing Center Web site .

• Where is it located?

  In MOD 608.

• Do I need to make an appointment?

  You can go as a walk-in, but appointments are recommended. You can make an appointment on-line on their Web site, by phone at 407-823-2197, or in person.

• When do I need to register for my classes?

  You can find information about when you can register for classes online on myUCF.

• How do I register for classes?

  You can register for classes online, using myUCF. You can find out more about the courses through myUCF or viewing the courses offered from the English Department.

• Where can I get my audit?

  You can obtain your audit on myUCF.

• Can I ever skip a prerequisite for a course in the English department?

  No, not unless it is approved by the department advisor and/or instructor.

• I need an override. How can I get one?

  You should contact the professor of the course.

• I need to see an advisor. Can I walk in or do I need an appointment?

  You can walk in, although it's best to have an appointment. To set up an appointment with Pat Angley, Ph.D., contact Sharon Body.

• Can an undergraduate take a graduate course?

  Yes. An undergraduate can take a graduate course, but only with the permission of the instructor. Undergraduate students should have senior standing with a 3.5 GPA or above in the major in order to take a graduate course.

• What is Honors in the Major and how can I apply?

  Honors in the Major is the opportunity to work with a scholar in your field on a course of sustained independent reading and on producing a thesis. Further information is available here.

• How do I approach requesting letters of recommendation from professors?

  Students must request a letter of recommendation from a professor with whom they have had coursework. Students should ask the professor far enough ahead of when the letter of recommendation is due. Students should obtain all the necessary forms, any personal information that the professors needs in order to write the recommendation, and a self-addressed envelope to the professor as soon as possible, in order to give him or her plenty of time to write and send the letter of recommendation. Students should be as clear as possible about what is needed and be prepared with all the above materials. Students ought to be respectful of the professor's time and show appreciation for it.

• How can I find out about course offerings?

  The Department offers a variety of classes. View courses offered for upcoming semesters to determine scheduling.

• What requirements must I complete in order to graduate?

  • Meet the General Education Program requirements.
  • Satisfy the CLAST requirement.
  • Complete the required course work for your specific course track according to your catalog year.
  • Satisfy both UCF's and the department's foreign language requirement.
  • Complete 120 semester hours of college course work of which 48 hours are upper level courses (3000 or 4000 level).
  • Pay attention to any summer hours you may need.
  • Complete the last 30 to 36 hours in residency at UCF.
  • Earn at least a 2.0 GPA in English courses as well as a 2.0 Cumulate UCF GPA.

English Department • College of Arts & Humanities at the University of Central Florida
Phone: 407-823-2212 Fax: 407-823-3300 • Web site Technical Support: cahweb@mail.ucf.edu