English (Narrative Studies), BA
Explore the power of storytelling as a communication tool. Learn to recognize, interpret and craft stories that inform, persuade and inspire, and to translate facts and events into compelling narratives across traditional and emerging media, equipping you for narrative-driven careers.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
English (Narrative Studies) degree description
In the Bachelor of Arts program in English with a concentration in narrative studies, you explore the varied forms, contexts and cultures of narrative. Drawing from a variety of perspectives and disciplines, you learn methods to critically interrogate the social, historical, aesthetic and ethical dimensions of story and storytelling.
You gain an understanding of key narrative concepts and their uses across modalities. You become familiar with the diverse applications of narrative, including the principles of narrative generation and interpretation across a variety of traditional and emerging media, the uses of narrative in various spheres of social and political life, and creative and communicative practices.
As a student of narrative studies, you prepare to translate facts, events and stories into compelling narratives relevant for creative, professional and socially embedded purposes. You are empowered to engage globally with pressing concerns, such as climate change, justice movements, and the frontier of computational developments, including narratives generated by artificial intelligence.
Why specialize in narrative studies at ASU?
The narrative studies concentration offers flexibility, with room to customize your coursework based on your interests. You can select courses from across the English department that align with your career goals, allowing you to shape your education around the storytelling skills you want to develop. This well-established liberal arts concentration has evolved through curricular updates to address contemporary storytelling challenges, including narratives generated by artificial intelligence.
You'll learn from award-winning storytellers and thought leaders in one of the largest, most interdisciplinary departments of English in the country. Faculty bring diverse perspectives and expertise to help you critically examine the social, historical, aesthetic and ethical dimensions of narrative across modalities.
You have the option to complete an internship or research mentorship through the Department of English's Internship and Career Futures Program, which connects students with more than 300 partners in business, nonprofit, government and education sectors.
Additional details
You may join ASU's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honors society. Additionally, the Department of English's Glendon and Kathryn Swarthout Awards in Writing are among the most generous university writing prizes in the country, and students on the Tempe campus and online in any program are eligible to apply.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the largest and most diverse college at ASU. Arizona State University has offered a bachelor's degree in English since the 1930s, and this concentration continues that tradition with a focus on narrative forms, contexts and cultures.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| ENG 110 Approaching Big Problems |
| ENG 300 Your Degree in the World |
| ENG 240 Introduction to Narrative Studies |
| ENG 340 Studies in Narrative |
| ENG 308 Form and History/Culture |
| ENG 203 Introduction to Health Humanities |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
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See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Study abroad expands students' perspectives by exposing them to new and distinct cultures, communities and people. Students can explore the English language at a deeper level through an extended lens of literature, dialects and rhetoric in one of more than 300 Global Education programs. Those who study abroad gain heightened cultural competency, and communication and critical thinking skills, enhancing their educational experience and their resumes.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communications Specialist | -0.3% | $76,910 | Learn more |
| English Professor | 0.0% | $78,760 | Learn more |
| Freelance Writer | -0.3% | $76,910 | Learn more |
| High School Teacher | -0.2% | $72,040 | Learn more |
| Marketing Associate | -3.7% | $133,660 | Learn more |
| News Reporter | -5.9% | $62,200 | Learn more |
| Public Relations Manager (PR Manager) | 5.7% | $146,910 | Learn more |
| Public Relations Specialist | 1.8% | $74,750 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this narrative studies concentration prepares you for
Graduates with a degree in English are prepared to pursue graduate studies in a number of programs, including English, creative writing, education, law and business. They are also well positioned to pursue a variety of careers in diverse fields. Educated professionals with expertise in narrative are in high demand because of the increasing importance of recognizing, critiquing, shaping, transforming and realizing the qualities of effective storytelling in an attention economy. Some of the most common professions for English majors are in the fields of:
- business
- journalism
- law
- media and public relations
- nonprofit service
- publishing
Graduates often find roles that involve:
- developing web content
- editing
- managing public relations
- teaching
- writing professional and technical content
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Department of English
|
RBHL 170
englishadvising@asu.edu
480-965-3168
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
