English

Studying literature opens your world, introducing you to other cultures, other places, and other times. Reading novels, plays, and poems gives you new ways to see the world and new ways to see yourself. The study of English also includes learning the professional skills—reading, writing, and critical thinking—needed to succeed in an ever-changing global economy.

An English major meets the needs of students who want a general background in the discipline as well as those wishing to prepare for professional or graduate study. English courses complement any field of study that requires the development of good writing and critical thinking skills. Students have used the English major not only to prepare for careers in teaching, law, journalism, publishing, and public relations but also agriculture, business, medicine, counseling, science, and social work.

Degrees

Courses

EN098: READING WORKSHOP

Credits 4
Focuses on the improvement of comprehension in reading. Emphasis is placed on the ability to organize and summarize information presented in reading selections. Reading techniques and methods appropriate to a variety of materials will be explored. Individual conferences deal with individual reading problems. Does not count toward the number of hours required for graduation.

EN100: WRITING I

Credits 4
This course introduces students to the expectations of college-level reading and expository writing. Classroom instruction emphasizes the conventions of effective writing. Students are placed into EN100 based on ACT scores and high school performance. Does not count toward an English major or minor.

EN101: WRITING II

Credits 4
This course extends students’ understanding of the expectations of college-level expository writing. It emphasizes critical analysis, argument, and research. Students are placed into ENG 101 based on ACT scores and high school performance. Does not count toward an English major or minor.

EN103H: GREAT DEBATES

Credits 4
This course will introduce students to key debates in the Humanities that have influenced and affected different cultures. The readings might include classical literature like the Iliad and the Odyssey or philosophical basics like Kant and Mill. It also might include more contemporary literary and cultural texts that reveal questions our society asks about itself. This class will challenge students while engaging them with basic questions about the history of human ideas. Students will discuss and write about these texts, learning critical thinking, composition, and research skills. Specific topics and readings will be determined by the instructor.

EN131: WRITING III: ADVANCED WRITING AND PRACTICE

Credits 4
Skill
W
Presents the terminology traditionally used to describe the structure of Standard Written English. Students receive intensive practice in the analysis of grammar and syntax. Emphasizes correctness for both authorship and critical editing. Recommended for those seeking a career in professional writing and for future teachers of English.

EN134: INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE

Credits 1
This course introduces students to the study of English literature. Students will learn critical thinking, reading, and writing skills, as well as cultural analysis.

EN150: TOPICS IN LITERATURE

Credits 2
This course is designed to introduce students to the study, analysis, and joy of literature. Students will read a variety of literary works connected by a specific aesthetic or cultural theme such as seduction poetry, revenge, the concept of the “alien,” etc. Intended primarily for first- and second-year students, this course will encourage them to draw connections between works of different genres, eras, and authors and communicate those ideas to others. May be repeated when topics vary.

EN232: VARIETIES OF LITERATURE

Credits 4
Skill
W
An introduction to literature. Topics vary and may be organized by genre (introduction to poetry, to drama, to fiction) or by theme (African American literature, War and Peace). Emphasis is placed on developing skill in analytical writing about literature. Topics are announced in the semester schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

EN233: LITERATURE OF RURAL LIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Credits 4
Skill
W
This course will increase student awareness of environmental issues and literary analysis by examining literature depicting agriculture, rural life, nature, and/or environmentalism. Emphasis will be placed on developing skill in analytical writing about literature.

EN235: LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS

Credits 4
Skill
W
This study of literature for children and young adults surveys the field from traditional origins to modern times. Culturally diverse fiction, nonfiction, poems, and plays written for, by, or about children and young adults are read and/or viewed and critically analyzed. Students develop an understanding of problems posed by stereotyping and censorship. Emphasizes books written and illustrated by authors of diverse gender, ethnicity, race, and religion. The course elicits student responses to the literature to develop analytical and critical thinking skills.

EN239: DISCOVERING LITERATURE

Credits 4
This course will provide students with an introduction to literature, literary terms, and techniques for analysis, such as prosody, figures of speech, and close reading. This course will also introduce students to the rudiments of literary theory and schools of thought. Emphasis is placed on developing skills in critical reading and analytical writing. In addition, students will explore issues of diversity that may include, but are not limited to, racial identification, cultural and linguistic heritage, class privilege, sexual identity, religious practice, geographical background, and gender.

EN242: AMERICAN LITERATURE SURVEY

Credits 4
Skill
W
A historical survey examining American literature in various periods of its development from precolonial writing to the twentieth century. Students analyze the representations of American culture, examine the historical and cultural contexts underlying American literature, and interpret literature through discussion and written assignments.

EN244G: BRITISH LITERATURE: FROM CASTLES TO COLONIES

Credits 4
Skill
W
A historical survey of British literature from the medieval period to 1798. The course covers: the nature of the oral tradition; the blending of languages and culture; manuscript culture and the transition to print culture; the development of drama; the traditions of epic and romance; medieval, Elizabethan, Cavalier, and metaphysical poetry; and the origins of the novel. Students will examine the historical and cultural contexts underlying the literature and interpret texts through written assignments, discussion, and other activities.

EN245G: BRITISH LITERATURE: RULE BRITANNIA TO COOL BRITANNIA

Credits 4
Skill
W
A historical survey of British literature from 1798 to the twenty-first century. The course covers the development of the novel, the characteristics of Romanticism, the conflicting nature of the Victorian period, and the developments of modernism and post-modernism that mark the twentieth century. Students will examine the historical and cultural contexts underlying literature and interpret texts through written assignments, discussion, and other activities.

EN250G: TOPICS IN GLOBAL LITERATURE

Credits 4
Skill
W
An introduction to literature from around the world. Topics vary and may be organized by genre or by theme. Emphasis is placed on developing skill in analytical writing about literature and on making connections among texts from different cultures. Classes will address the social, historical, and cultural contexts surrounding chosen works. Topics are announced in the semester schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

EN251/251G: TOPICS IN THE LITERATURE OF RACE, GENDER, AND ETHNICITY

Credits 4
Skill
W

This course teaches students about concepts of race, gender, and ethnicity in literature. It will explore the representations of women, people of color, and/or LGBTQ people and also include a substantial number of works written by authors form those communities. Topics will vary, and course can be repeated for credit with new themes. Themes may include: “African American Literature Survey,” “How to be a Girl,” or “MLK to Obama: African-American Political Literature.” The course will include regular reading, short weekly writing assignments, and two major essays to meet requirements for a lower-division W course.

EN252: TOPICS IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING

Credits 4
Skill
W
This course introduces students to a variety of writing styles and conventions suitable to various workplaces and disciplines. Students will learn how to prepare written and oral reports for formal and informal settings. Students will learn basic communication principles in preparation for the real-world workplace. Students will learn to analyze different writing situations, how to plan and design communications, and how to write in an appropriate style. Topics may include “Business Writing,” “Technical and Professional Writing,” and “Research Writing.” May be repeated when topics vary.

EN330: MAJOR AUTHORS OR MOVEMENTS

Credits 4
Skill
W
An intensive study of a major literary figure, period, or movement. This course will emphasize in-depth knowledge of literature. It will also emphasize skills in critical reading, analytical writing, and information literacy. Examples of course titles: "Jane Austen," "Modern British Fiction," The Harlem Renaissance," "Dickinson and Whitman," "Balzac and Zola." May be repeated when topics vary.

EN331: SHAKESPEARE

Credits 4
Skill
W
An in-depth study of the plays and sonnets of Shakespeare with emphasis on the great tragedies. Works by Shakespeare's contemporaries may be included. Plays are read closely and analyzed in conjunction with the reading of criticism and theory. Live performances, readings, videos, and electronic resources will be used as appropriate. Students will be expected to write papers which demonstrate an informed close reading of the primary texts, as well as competence in library research and in the evaluation of theoretical and critical approaches.

EN334: LITERARY STUDIES

Credits 4
Skill
W
A special topics course for upper-division students, focusing upon a particular theme, author, period, or genre. Attention is given to developing advanced skills in reading, analyzing, and writing. May be repeated when topics vary.

EN336: CREATIVE WRITING

Credits 4

An intensive experience in writing poetry, short stories, drama, or other creative genres. May be repeated when topics vary or by permission of the instructor. 

EN338: NEW AMERICAN STORIES

Credits 4
An examination of contemporary American literature from the twentieth century to the present. The course emphasizes the ways writers have challenged Americans toward a broader, more inclusive vision of literature, culture, and identity. Students will examine the cultural contexts underlying the literature and interpret texts through discussion and written assignments.

EN350: ADVANCED TOPICS IN LITERATURE

Credits 2
Designed to focus on depth rather than breadth, this course allows students to pursue their study of literature at a higher level by immersing them in a cluster of related texts, an author’s body of work, or perhaps even a single great book. Intended primarily for juniors and seniors, this course emphasizes close textual analysis, the understanding of research in literary criticism, and the application of secondary source materials.

EN430G: STUDIES IN WORLD LITERATURE

Credits 4
This course will be alternately organized under two formats: First; as a survey of World Literature, highlighting major representative works from various national literatures and spanning the Early Modern period through post-modernism. Second; as a special topics course isolating at least two works from three or four different national literatures, thus allowing for greater in-depth familiarity and exploration of a chosen literature, author and/or period. May be repeated when topics vary.

EN495: SENIOR SEMINAR

Credits 4
A capstone for majors, this course will continue to develop students' knowledge of literary theory and the schools of criticism and their research writing skills. Students will be expected to contribute their writing, analysis, and research throughout the semester. This course is primarily student-driven, and course meetings are centered on active participation and the collaboration between students and the faculty. Following the practices of scholarly research, students investigate a topic thoroughly and produce a thoughtful and original research paper and presentation.