English

Mission Statement: The program in English studies introduces students to literature in a variety of cultural and historic contexts. Students will learn advanced writing and composition skills as they explore cultural and structural aspects of literature in a variety of contexts and styles. Students will learn research and analytic skills that can be applied in a myriad of writing situations, from the creative to the corporate. Students will be challenged to ask and answer questions about why literatures are written, why they take the forms that they do, what they communicate about human experiences and what impacts they have on the individual and on society.

Goals: The English studies major provides students with a broad understanding and appreciation of English language and literatures. These abilities are enhanced as students gain knowledge of literary forms and the cultural and historical circumstances these forms and their interpretations shape and reflect. English studies majors develop analytical, interpretive, and verbal skills.

Career opportunities: Students planning to enter the following fields may wish to consider a major in English studies: law, web design, teaching, public relations, human resource management, publishing, politics, ministry writing and editing. Students who decide to pursue graduate work will be well prepared to enter programs in either English, rhetoric and composition, American studies, comparative literature, and communication studies.

Major in English studies (literature specialization): 30 semester hours including six hours from 233, 234, 235, 271, 278, 279, or PHIL 237; three hours from 330A, 330B, or 378; 371 or 372; 375 or 379; six hours from 435, 436, 437, or 438 (other than Shakespeare); 438 (Shakespeare); 474; 475.
Supporting courses for English studies (literature specialization): 15 semester hours, including three hours of any 200-level COM course; COM 372, 373 or 479; PHIL 131; and six hours of a modern or classical language through 232 or its equivalent.

Major in English studies (writing specialization): 30 semester hours including six hours from 233, 234, 235, 271, 278, 279, or PHIL 237; six hours from 330A, 330B, 371 or 372; 378; 375 or 379; six hours from 435, 436, 437, 438; 474; 475.
Supporting courses for English studies major (writing specialization): 15 semester hours, including three hours of any 200-level COM course; COM 372, 373 or 479; PHIL 131; and six hours of a modern or classical language through 232 or its equivalent.

Minor in English studies: 18 hours, including six hours at the 200 level; and 12 hours upper division.

ENGLISH

ENG 131. English Composition I (3:3:0)
This course teaches academic reading and writing skills, which are crucial to students’ success and intellectual growth in all their courses. Students will learn to read literary and scholarly texts critically and carefully and to produce analytical arguments about those texts. They will refine their existing writing skills and address any problems they might have with standard English usage. Each section of ENG 131 pursues a different topic; recent offerings have focused on the problem of homelessness, images of scientific creativity, critical reading of fairy tales, and the recent crises in business ethics. All sections, however, do the same amount of work.

ENG 132. English Composition II (3:3:0)
This course continues to teach academic reading and writing skills. Students write a major research paper over the course of the semester focusing on a social problem and what should be done to alleviate it. Students learn research skills as well as the most effective rhetorical techniques to convince their audience of the importance of their chosen topic and the plausibility of their solution. Prerequisite: ENG 131.

ENG 233. Introduction to British Literature I (3:3:0)
An examination of British literature and its cultural context from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. Dramatic, lyric, expository and narrative forms are studied.

ENG 234. Introduction to British Literature II (3:3:0)
An examination of British literature and its cultural context from the second half of the eighteenth century to the present. Dramatic, expository, lyric and narrative forms are studied.

ENG 235. Introduction to Mexican-American Literature (3:3:0)
An examination of Mexican-American literature and its cultural context from its origin in the middle of the 19th century to the present.

ENG 271. Introduction to Regional Literatures (3:3:0)
An examination of the literature of a nation or geographic region and its cultural context from its beginnings to the present. Representative topics for this course include: Greek and Roman Antiquity, African Literature, Irish Literature, Native American Literature of the Southwest, French Literature. May be taken additional times as elective credit.

ENG 278. Introduction to American Fiction (3:3:0)
An introduction to the development of the novel and short story form in America from precolonial times to the present.

ENG 279. Introduction to American Poetry and Drama (3:3:0)
An introduction to the development of dramatic and poetic forms in America from precolonial times to the present.

ENG 330A. Creative Writing: Fiction Workshop (3:3:0)
A workshop for creative writers in the short story and longer forms. Prerequisite: three hours of any 200-level literature course.

ENG 330B. Creative Writing: Poetry Workshop (3:3:0)
A workshop for creative writers in various modes of poetic expression. Prerequisite: three hours of any 200-level literature course.

ENG 335. Technical Writing (3:3:0)
This course provides students with the writing and presentational skills necessary for effective professional performance. Emphasizes data analysis and summary, practical use of language, and writing for different audiences. Prerequisite: ENG 132.

ENG 371. Advanced Composition (3:3:0)
An in-depth practicum in expository writing and the essay, including issues of writing for publication. Prerequisite: three hours of any 200-level literature course.

ENG 372. Structure of English (3:3:0)
An examination of grammar and linguistics, as well as history and structure of the English language. Prerequisite: three hours of any 200-level literature course.

ENG 375. Literature and Environment (3:3:0)
A study of the complex ways in which literary treatments of the natural environment have developed in relation to changing environmental conditions and public attitudes toward the environment. Representative themes may include aesthetic ideals of landscape, gardens, travel environments; environmental activism and literary movements; the relations between human-made and natural spaces. Prerequisite: three hours of any 200-level literature survey course.

ENG 378. Practicum in Academic Writing and Consulting (3:3:0)
An introduction to the nuances of peer tutoring. Part of the requirements for this course will be met with work in the Writing Center.

ENG 379. Special Topics (3:3:0)
This course provides students with the opportunity to examine specific themes or ideas in a selection of works from world, British or American literatures. Representative courses include: African Literature, British Romanticism, Greek Tragedy, Irish Literature and Politics, Literary Naturalism. May be taken multiple times for credit. Prerequisite: three hours of any 200-level literature course.

ENG 410, 420, 430. Independent Study (X:0:0)
Intensive individual study in language or literature. Open to any student upon recommendation of the instructor and approval from the department of English and communication studies. One to three hours of credit. Prerequisite: three hours of upper division English studies.

ENG 435. The Novel (3:3:0)
An examination of the novel in specific historical and cultural context. Prerequisite: three hours of any 200-level literature course.

ENG 436. The Short Story (3:3:0)
An examination of the development of the short story form in specific historical and cultural context. Prerequisite: three hours of any 200-level literature course.

ENG 437. Poetry (3:3:0)
An examination of poetic genres in specific historical and cultural context. Prerequisite: three hours of any 200-level literature course.

ENG 438. Drama (3:3:0)
An examination of theatrical genres in specific historical and cultural context. Half of the time this course will be offered as Shakespeare. May be taken multiple times for credit. Prerequisite: three hours of any 200-level literature course.

ENG 474. Advanced Literary Studies (3:3:0)
An in-depth exploration of key literary theory from antiquity to the present. This course is designed to prepare students for their senior thesis project by teaching the fundamentals of literary research, analysis and scholarship. Prerequisite: senior standing.

ENG 475. Senior Thesis (3:3:0)
An advanced study of different kinds of research and interpretive traditions in English Studies. Students work toward creation of an interpretive or creative thesis project advised by a member of the English and communication studies department faculty. Results of this research will be presented to the full faculty. Prerequisite: senior standing, ENG 474.