English
Disciplinary Major or Minor
(Bachelor of Arts)
Courses in English develop students’ understanding of important works of American, English, and world literatures, give them awareness of – and appreciation for – our literary heritage, provide them with historical and theoretical perspectives, and deepen their insight into their own experience. These courses also develop students’ ability to express their ideas orally and in writing and to conduct research. The English program also offers courses in the writing of poetry and fiction, and an emphasis in creative writing.
Students enroll in English classes for a wide variety of reasons, ranging from personal growth and enrichment to preparation for a profession or career. Graduates in English have found employment in teaching, personnel work, public relations, business management, journalism, publishing, and many other fields requiring a strong liberal arts background and communication skills.
Students majoring in English must have an interdisciplinary minor. Students often select Humanistic Studies, Design Arts, or Arts Management, but may choose Human Development, Democracy and Justice Studies, or other appropriate programs. Students majoring in English who wish to teach in the secondary public schools must minor in Education.
Students seeking information on teacher certification should contact the Education Office.
This disciplinary major also requires:
Completion of an interdisciplinary major or minor
Completion of one of the following areas of emphasis:
The following is only an example of a four-year English degree program and is subject to change without notice. Students should consult a English program advisor to ensure that they have the most accurate and up-to-date information available about a particular four-year degree option.
English Major with a Literature Emphasis; Minor in Humanistic Studies
Rebecca A Meacham; Professor; Ph.D., University of Cincinnati
Charles A Rybak; Professor; Ph.D., University of Cincinnati, chair
Stefan T Hall; Associate Professor; Ph.D., Saint Louis University
Rebecca L Nesvet; Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Courses
ENGLISH 104. Introduction to Literature. 3 Credits.
The distinctive characteristics of poetry, plays, short stories and the novel, intended to help students understand, appreciate and enjoy literature ranging from the classic to the contemporary.
Fall and Spring.
ENGLISH 206. Women in Literature. 3 Credits.
Surveys both women as writers and women as characters in literature; emphasizes the wisdom, experiences and insights of women writers and women in literature; concerned with literature from two or more cultures and comparison of the social and human values reflected in the literature of those cultures.
Fall Only.
ENGLISH 212. Introduction to Creative Writing. 3 Credits.
A first course focused on the analysis, understanding, appreciation, and techniques of writing poetry and fiction, as well as other genres at the discretion of the instructor.
Fall and Spring.
ENGLISH 214. Introduction to English Literature I. 3 Credits.
Chronological survey of English literature from Anglo-Saxon times to the end of the 18th century, including such writers as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Donne, Milton, Pope, and Swift.
Fall Only.
ENGLISH 215. Introduction to English Literature II. 3 Credits.
Chronological survey of English literature from the 19th century to the present, including such writers as Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, Byron, Tennyson, Shaw, Conrad, Eliot and Thomas.
Spring.
ENGLISH 216. Introduction to American Literature I. 3 Credits.
Chronological survey of American literature from early exploration narratives to Melville, including such writers as Mather, Bradstreet, Paine, Irving, Cooper, Poe, Emerson and Thoreau.
Fall Only.
ENGLISH 217. Introduction to American Literature II. 3 Credits.
From Whitman to the present, including such writers as Dickinson, Twain, James, Crane, Eliot, Porter, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Faulkner, Cummings, Updike, Walker and Carver.
Spring.
ENGLISH 218. World Literatures I. 3 Credits.
Chronological survey of world literatures from antiquity to roughly 1600. Texts studied will include Nonwestern as well as Western texts.
Fall Only.
ENGLISH 219. World Literatures II. 3 Credits.
Chronological survey of world literatures other than those of England and the U.S. from roughly 1600 to the present. Texts studied will include Nonwestern as well as Western works.
Spring.
ENGLISH 224. Practicum in Literary Publishing. 3 Credits.
Hands-on experience in the production of the Sheepshead Review, a literary magazine, from selecting submissions to editing the finished product. Projects include soliciting manuscripts and researching the literary market.
P: ENG COMP 105 or 228 or ACT English score of 32 or higher; REC: ENGLISH 212.
Fall and Spring.
ENGLISH 290. Literary Studies. 3 Credits.
In this course students will learn how to conduct a literary analysis: how to read literature for complexity, how to make an original, organized argument about a literary text, and how to employ academic prose while developing their own writing voice.
Fall and Spring.
ENGLISH 299. Travel Course. 1-4 Credits.
Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.
P: cons of instr & prior trip arr & financial deposit.
ENGLISH 301. Intermediate Creative Writing. 3 Credits.
Analysis of writing in various genres including individual and group criticism of original student materials in workshop context. Variable topics; may be repeated up to total of six credits.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment; and ENGLISH 212 or 213; and ENG COMP 105 or 228 or ACT English score of 32 or higher; and 9 cr of lit cses.
Fall Only.
ENGLISH 302. Short Fiction Writing Workshop. 3 Credits.
Advanced practice in the writing of short fiction, including group criticism of student work.
P: ENGLISH 301.
Spring Even.
ENGLISH 303. Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop. 3 Credits.
Advanced practice in the writing of poetry, including group criticism of student work.
P: ENGLISH 301.
Spring Odd.
ENGLISH 304. Creative Nonfiction Writing. 3 Credits.
Advanced study and workshop of creative nonfiction genres such as memoir, essay, book review, and interview.
P: Jr standing; ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment; ENG COMP 105 or ACT English score of 32 or higher; REC: ENGLISH 212 or 301
Fall Odd.
ENGLISH 305. Novel Writing Workshop. 4 Credits.
Advanced study in the development and writing of the novel, including group critique of student work.
P: ENGLISH 212 with a grade of at least a B; ENG COMP 105 (or ACT of 32) REC: ENGLISH 301
Fall Even.
ENGLISH 306. Novel Revision Workshop. 4 Credits.
Revision, structuring, development, and marketing of a 50,000+ word novel draft, including group critique of student work.
P: ENGLISH 305 or permission of instructor; Note: All students must enter this class with a completed novel draft of at least 50,000 words. REC: Eng 212
Spring Odd.
ENGLISH 312. Topics in Creative Writing. 3 Credits.
Study and writing of a single topic in creative writing (for example: fairytales, flash fiction, graphic narrative, playwriting, or screenwriting), including individual and group criticism of original student materials in workshop context.
P: Junior standing; ENG COMP 105 or ACT score of 32 or higher. REC: ENGLISH 212.
ENGLISH 315. The English Novel: 1700 to the1850's. 3 Credits.
The development of the English novel from its beginnings to the mid-Victorian period; includes works by such authors Defoe, Sterne, Fielding, Smolett, Austen, Scott, the Brontes, Thackeray, Dickens and Eliot.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Fall Only.
ENGLISH 316. The English Novel: 1850's to the Present. 3 Credits.
The development of the English novel from Mid-Victorian to modern times; includes works by such authors as Dickens, Eliot, Trollope, Hardy, Wilde, Conrad, Joyce, Woolf, Lawrence, Bowen and Cary.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Spring.
ENGLISH 320. Major Drama. 3 Credits.
Study of one or more British, Irish or American dramatists and dramatic works.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Fall Odd.
ENGLISH 322. Major Poetry. 3 Credits.
Significant non-dramatic poetry from England, Ireland, and/or America.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Fall Only.
ENGLISH 323. Topics in Literary Criticism. 3 Credits.
In-depth examination of one or more topics, issues, or approaches in literary criticism or theory. May be repeated for credit when a different topic is studied.
P: jr st and ENGLISH 290, or concurrent enrollment
Fall Odd.
ENGLISH 324. Practicum in Literary Publishing. 3 Credits.
Hands-on experience in the production of the Sheepshead Review, UW-GB's journal of the arts, from selecting submissions to editing the finished product. Projects include soliciting manuscripts and researching the literary market.
P: ENG COMP 105 or 228 or ACT English score of 32 or higher; REC: ENGLISH 212.
Fall and Spring.
ENGLISH 331. Major American Prose Fiction. 3 Credits.
Study of American prose fiction including examples of novels, short stories and satire; includes works by such authors as Melville, Twain, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Wright and Bellow.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Spring.
ENGLISH 333. Literary Themes. 3 Credits.
Explores a single theme such as fantasy, war, revolution, love or alienation through the literature of one or several nations. May be repeated for credit when a different theme is studied.
P: Junior standing and ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment
Spring.
ENGLISH 335. Literary Eras. 3 Credits.
Studies the works of a number of writers in relation to their time; includes poetry, prose and drama. May be repeated for credit when a different era is studied.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Fall Only.
ENGLISH 336. American Ethnic Literature. 3 Credits.
The study of literature which examines the experience of ethnic groups in America, such as African, Asian, Hispanic, and Jewish Americans, and American Indians. May be repeated for credit when content is different.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Spring.
ENGLISH 338. World Literatures. 3 Credits.
A study of selected works from world literatures. A variable content course.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Spring.
ENGLISH 340. History of the English Language. 3 Credits.
The origins, development, and cultural background of pronunciation and spelling, grammar, vocabulary, meaning and usage in Old, Middle, and Modern English, including contemporary English dialects.
P: none; REC: HUM STUD 160.
Spring Odd.
ENGLISH 344. African American Literature. 3 Credits.
Study of African American literature, exploring the aesthetic dimensions and cultural contexts of poetry, fiction, drama, and essays.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Spring Even.
ENGLISH 364. Literary Topics. 3 Credits.
The study of topics, through literature, with a focus on individual and social values. Topics may include subjects (i.e., the natural environment, calamities), genres (i.e., memoirs, detective novels), and adaptations (i.e., Shakespeare and opera). May be repeated for credit when content is different.
P: jr st.
ENGLISH 431. Shakespeare. 3 Credits.
Study of a representative selection of Shakespeare's poetry and plays, including comedies, tragedies and histories.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Fall Only.
ENGLISH 436. Major Author(s). 3 Credits.
Study of one or more important writers in British, Irish, or American literature.
P: ENGLISH 290 or concurrent enrollment, Jr st.
Spring Even.
ENGLISH 478. Honors in the Major. 3 Credits.
Honors in the Major is designed to recognize student excellence within interdisciplinary and disciplinary academic programs.
P: min 3.50 all cses req for major and min gpa 3.75 all UL cses req for major.
Fall and Spring.
ENGLISH 483C. Advanced Novel Writing Workshop. 3 Credits.
Revision, development, workshop of a single novel in preparation for marketing and publication. Students entering this course must have completed a novel draft of at least 50,000 words.
P: ENGLISH 305.
ENGLISH 497. Internship. 1-12 Credits.
Supervised practical experience in an organization or activity appropriate to a student's career and educational interests. Internships are supervised by faculty members and require periodic student/faculty meetings.
P: jr st.
Fall and Spring.
ENGLISH 498. Independent Study. 1-4 Credits.
Independent study is offered on an individual basis at the student's request and consists of a program of learning activities planned in consultation with a faculty member. A student wishing to study or conduct research in an area not represented in available scheduled courses should develop a preliminary proposal and seek the sponsorship of a faculty member. The student's advisor can direct him or her to instructors with appropriate interests. A written report or equivalent is required for evaluation, and a short title describing the program must be sent early inthe semester to the registrar for entry on the student's transcript.
P: fr or so st with cum gpa > or = 2.50; or jr or sr st with cum gpa > or = 2.00.
Fall and Spring.
ENGLISH 499. Travel Course. 1-6 Credits.
Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.
P: cons of instr & prior trip arr & financial deposit.
