Course Descriptions - Major & Minor Requirements

110. Fundamental English (3) offers a study of grammar, punctuation, mechanics and usage. Writing from the sentence to the paragraph level and short essays. Does not count in the major, minor, education concentration or LAE. Prerequisite: placement. Offered every fall.

121. Composition (3) requires students to write between five and six thousand words, applying rhetorical principles of literate discourse--principles as demonstrated in samples of effective writing by writers of diverse backgrounds. Includes grammar, levels of usage, the purposes of language, writing for different purposes and audiences. Does not satisfy hours for the major or minor. Prerequisite: placement or completion of 110. English 121 is a prerequisite for all English courses except 213 and 217. Offered every semester.

123. Masterpieces of Literature (3) explores common themes found in literature. It examines their origins, their alterations and the techniques of their expression, so that readers may see that human concerns are universal and diverse and that humans are resourceful in imaginatively stating their concerns. Offered every semester.

124. Masterpieces of World Literature (3) explores common themes found in literature. It examines their origins, their alterations and the techniques of their expression, so that readers may see that human concerns are universal and diverse. Emphasis is on non-western literature. Does not count in the major or LAE. Offered every semester.

201. Advanced Writing (3) includes study and practice in the methods of organization and use of evidence to help students write more effectively and persuasively. Students read essays by writers of diverse backgrounds and learn to write for different purposes and audiences. Offered every fall.

202. Business and Technical Writing (3) concentrates on clarity and orderliness in preparing technical correspondence, studies, reports and proposals. It pays particular attention to the conventions and requirements of scientific and business writing. Offered every spring.

207. Introduction to Journalism (3) introduction to the principles and concepts of journalism, the process of reporting and writing the news. Emphasis is on print journalism with some attention to the electronic media. The writing of basic news stories and an analysis of their purpose, value and content. Basic issues of taste and journalistic codes of conduct. Offered every semester.

208. Editing and Make-Up (3) fundamentals of editing, including rewriting, copyreading, headline writing, proofreading, page make-up and layout, and caption writing. Grammar and punctuation will be covered as necessary. Prerequisite: 207. Offered every spring.

209. News Story Types (3) advanced news writing, concentrating on various news story types, such as speech, social events, accident and disaster reports, as well as obituary, crime, political, and sports writing. The major emphasis is on writing. Prerequisite: 207. Offered every fall.

211. Principles of Literary Study (3) explores the theoretical principles and the critical viewpoints based on them, which underlie the thoughtful, purposeful study of literature and applies them to key literary works. Offered every spring.

213. Journalism Design Practicum (1) offers students opportunities to develop layout and makeup experience by working on the student newspaper or yearbook. Students may study desktop publishing or photojournalism. A maximum of three practica may be taken for major or minor credit. Offered every semester.

217. Journalism Writing Practicum (1) requires participants to write for the Black and Magenta, to meet weekly or biweekly assignments given by the editorial staff and to attend workshops directed by a monitor from the English department and staff members of the Black and Magenta or to work on the school yearbook. A maximum of three practica can be taken for major or minor credit. Offered every semester.

231. Tradition of British Literature I (3) studies the major literary movements and figures of British culture from Anglo-Saxon writings through the Neo-Classic Period. Offered every fall.

232. Tradition of British Literature II (3) examines the development of poetry and prose in Britain from the Romantic writers to the present. The political and intellectual contexts, as well as the subjects and styles of selected authors of both genders are studied. Offered every spring.

233. Tradition of American Literature (3) traces the growth of our literary art from its Old and New World roots through the discovery of distinctly American themes and forms. A diverse range of ethnicity, including native-, African-, Asian- and Hispanic-Americans and writers of both genders, is presented. Offered every spring.

306. Creative Writing (3) is an introductory writer's workshop exploring the genres of fiction, poetry and drama, with simultaneous exploration of the creative act and the critical response through class participation and evaluation. Emphasis is on form as realized vision. Offered every semester.

311. Adolescent and Young Adult Literature (3) examines classic and modern literature suitable for grades 7-12, as it relates to the language arts curriculum, methods and materials in the secondary school. Prerequisite: Education 309 or 312 or 313. Offered every fall.

315. Feature and Editorial Writing (3) a study of the writing and marketing of the feature story, editorial, and investigative reports with an analysis of their purpose, value, and content. Offered every fall.

316. Public Relations Writing (3) a study of the current methods of writing copy for agencies, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations. The writing of press releases, with an analysis of their purpose, value, and content. Prerequisite: 207. Offered every odd spring.

317. Journalism Ethics (3) ethical problems and issues in mass communication with a framework of basic theories and social roles of mass media. Surveys the major ethical issues that concern journalism. Describes ethical dilemmas that confront broadcast and print journalists. Matters of journalistic morality, codes of ethics, codes of conduct, taste, libel, shield laws, photo guidelines are covered. Prerequisite: 207. Offered every even spring.

323. Shakespeare and the Renaissance (3) explores important themes and genres in the works of such writers as Spenser and Sidney, with special emphasis on the dramatic accomplishments of William Shakespeare. Offered every odd fall.

329. Romantic and Victorian Literature (3) explores the relation of nature to culture in major Romantic and Victorian poetry and representative prose sections; the position of art, the process of myth and metaphor in nature/culture relations. Offered every even fall.

331. History of the British Novel (3) studies the novel as an important literary and social development in Britain and follows some of the important changes in the structure, purpose and audience of the novel through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. (Included: Defoe, Austen, Dickens, Eliot, Hardy) Offered every odd spring.

333. Twentieth Century British Literature (3) examines the directions British fiction has taken in response to a changing social and literary scene: two world wars, the decline of the British Empire, the rise of working class, women and minority writers. The course considers experimental and traditional writers from Joyce to the present, including Joyce, Woolf, Lawrence, Forster. Offered every even fall.

341. Nineteenth Century American Fiction (3) studies the works of the American romantics from Irving and Cooper through Hawthorne and Melville, then moves on to the realism and naturalism of Twain, Howells, Norris and Crane. Offered every odd spring.

343. Twentieth Century American Fiction (3) studies the variety and richness of American fiction since the turn of the century, from the novelists of the 1920s through post-World War II writing and the contemporary novel. Topics include the 1920s novel, the war novel and women and minority writers. (Included: Wharton, Hemingway, Faulkner, Vonnegut, Morrison). Offered every even spring.

351. Modern and Contemporary Poetry (3) makes a comparative study of modern poetry, with a primary emphasis on British and American works: on Yeats, Eliot, Pound, Auden, Frost and the very moderns. The course shows the central development in form and content within the period. Offered every even fall.

361. Language: Structure and Usage (3) studies the theoretical views and methodological tools for an accurate understanding of language, its structure and usage. Emphasis is on the English language, covering topics such as language acquisition and development, the history of the English language, grammar, dialects and levels of usage. Offered every semester.

385. Readings in Literature (3) provides for study of significant writers, genres and themes. Possible subjects include Chaucer, Milton, Poe, Canadian literature and feminist writing, as well as others devised by faculty or requested by students. Offered every semester.

390. Advanced Creative Writing (3) provides students with practice in a variety of forms, increasing in complexity. Individual style and voice in students' work as well as in contemporary authors are explored. Prerequisite: 306 or permission of instructor. Offered every spring.

394. Classical Mythology (3) focuses on Greek and Roman mythology and their influence on English and American writers. Various examples of Greek and Roman literature will be read in translation. Offered every spring.

495. Seminar (3) is the capstone course for English majors; students share in intensive study of a literary topic or author and write a paper of suitable length. Discussions focus on analyzing literature, critical reading and research methods. Offered each semester on a subject selected by the instructor. Prerequisite: senior status or permission of department chair. Offered every semester.

Major Requirements

The following 12 hours are required: English 211 Principles of Literary Study; English 231 Tradition of British Literature I or 232 Tradition of British Literature II; English 233 Tradition of American Literature; English 495 Seminar. Any combination of English courses for the remaining 18 hours is allowed, with the requirement that 12 of those hours must be at the 300-level or above. (English 124 does not count for the major.)

Minor Requirements

The student must take 15 hours of English offerings, excluding English 121, with the requirement that at least 3 hours must be at the 300-level or above. (English 124 does not count for the minor.)

Teacher Licensure

Integrated language arts, grades 7-12, includes an English major. Contact the Education Department for a specific list of course requirements.

SCHEDULE OF COURSE OFFERINGS – ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Every Semester

ENGL 121 Composition
ENGL 123 Masterpieces of Literature
ENGL 124 Non-Western Literature
ENGL 207 Introduction to Journalism
ENGL 213 Journalism Design Practicum
ENGL 217 Journalism Writing Practicum
ENGL 306 Creative Writing
ENGL 361 Language, Structure and Usage
ENGL 385 Readings in Literature (topics vary)
ENGL 495 Seminar

Every Fall

ENGL 110 Fundamentals of English
ENGL 201 Advanced Writing
ENGL 209 News Story Types
ENGL 231 Tradition of British Literature I
ENGL 311 Adolescent and Young Adult Literature
ENGL 315 Feature and Editorial Writing

Every Spring

ENGL 202 Business and Technical Writing
ENGL 208 Editing and Make-Up
ENGL 211 Principles of Literary Study
ENGL 232 Tradition of British Literature II
ENGL 233 Tradition of American Literature
ENGL 390 Advanced Creative Writing
         (390 topics alternate: fiction in even springs, poetry in odd springs)
ENGL 394 Classical Mythology

Every Odd Spring

ENGL 316 Public Relations Writing
ENGL 331 History of the British Novel
ENGL 341 19th Century American Fiction

Every Even Spring

ENGL 317 Journalistic Ethics
ENGL 343 20th Century American Fiction

Every Odd Fall

ENGL 323 Shakespeare and the Renaissance

Every Even Fall

ENGL 329 Romantic and Victorian Literature
ENGL 333 20th Century British Literature
ENGL 351 Modern and Contemporary Poetry

SUGGESTED SCHEDULING PLANS

The following are possible four-year plans for students, but they are by no means the required plan. Each student should speak with his/her advisor to decide on the best possible plan for his/her unique situation.

English Major

English majors take or test out of English 121 (a prerequisite for most English classes) in the freshman year.  We strongly recommend senior status for English 495.

Middle School Language Arts Major

Adolescent/Young Adult Requirements