Practice in writing for specific purposes and audiences to develop a coherent voice for engaging in academic and professional discourse; practice in writing with the support of digital technology; study of primary texts, models, and principles of expository and argumentative writing to develop critical reading, writing, and thinking skills; introductory bibliographic instruction and practice in writing that incorporates library research.

An introduction to literature through critical reading, writing, and discussion of the major forms of literary and cultural expression. Students will explore works in various literary traditions and engage in a deep consideration of the diversity of human experience and identities. Major subtopic areas for the course will include: Reading Classical Traditions; Reading Great Works; Reading Cultural Crossroads; and Reading American Experience. Reading Classical Traditions: A study of major works from the ancient world to the Renaissance, emphasizing the impact these texts have had on our literary tradition and our culture. Reading Great Works: A study of major works since the Renaissance, emphasizing the principal modes of literary expression (poetry, drama, fiction and film). Reading Cultural Crossroads: A study of works emphasizing a variety of cultural values, intercultural relationships, global perspectives, and aesthetic experiences. Reading American Experience: A study of works from American literature, emphasizing the multicultural heritage and nature of American writers and cultures.

Independent projects in writing, editing, publication design and layout, and peer consulting connected to the English program newsletter (ENG 190 A – Inkwell Quarterly), the student literary magazine (ENG 190 B – Manuscript), the University Writing Center (ENG 190 C – Writing Methods), and our annual best essays publication (ENG 190 D - Kirby Canon).

An introduction to conventions, theoretical approaches, research methods, and practice of literary and cultural studies. Application of contemporary critical perspectives and research methodology in reading and writing about literary and cultural texts.

Practice in "real world writing." Students write on subjects associated with their major or intended careers. Students learn to perform as self-aware writers who have something to say to someone, to adapt their roles and voices to various audiences, and to marshal and present persuasively data that is relevant to a particular purpose and context.

The analysis and practice of various forms of creative writing including the study of the writer’s tools and choices in creating poetry, short fiction, and dramatic scenes.

An introduction to the field of Digital Humanities with an emphasis on how digital processes and products impact the development and study of literature, language, and the disciplines of the humanities.

A comparative and critical study of prescriptive, descriptive and transformational-generative grammar.

The study and practice of effective writing techniques related to writing at work for the professional world that focuses on producing polished documents, enhancing research techniques, and fine-tuning oral communication skills.

A study of the major works and movements in English literature from the Anglo-Saxon period through the eighteenth century.

A study of the major works and movements in English literature from the Romantic movement to the present.

A study of writers, works, and movements in the Americas from the 1490s to the Civil War.

A study of major American writers, works, and movements from the Civil War to the present.

A seminar experience where students write and critique poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or scripts. Specific genre designated in each course.

The study and practice of strategies for producing responsibly written public information, including persuasive and argumentative propositions for particular audiences.

A chronological study of the origins of the English language and the systematic changes that have made it the language we speak and write today.

A study of Medieval literature to 1485, exclusive of Chaucer.

A study of major writers, works, and topics of the British Romantic Period.

A study of major writers, works, and topics of the Victorian Age.

A study of nineteenth-century American literature, including novels, essays, short fiction, and poetry.

A study of selected works by Chaucer.

A study of selected plays and poems by Shakespeare.

A study of postmodern writers from the 1960s to the present.

 A study of the American novel from its eighteenth-century beginnings to the present.

A study of literature emerging from the British empire and its former colonies with an emphasis on major issues within postcolonial studies.

 A study of African American literature from the Antebellum era to the present.

A study of major writers, works, and topics of gothic literature from about 1764 to the present.

A study of fiction, including the novel, short story, and novella, written since World War II. Works from English, American, and world literature may be included to reflect the diversity of contemporary literature and the emergence of post-modernist themes and forms.

A study of drama from the tenth century to 1642; reading of plays by medieval and early modern dramatists exclusive of Shakespeare.

A study of major playwrights, works, and topics of modern British drama.

A study of major playwrights, works, and movements in American drama.

 A study of major British poetry of the twentieth century.

 A study of major movements and representative figures in American poetry from about 1900 to 1960.

An independent project in the area of the student’s concentration culminating in a formal written and oral presentation.  Advised by a member of the English department faculty, the project demonstrates the student’s learning in the major.

A study of the theory and practice of teaching composition, literature, and English language studies in the middle and secondary school level (grades 7 through 12). Topics include planning, methodology, presentation, and assessment of lessons. The course includes 40 hours of field experience.

Independent study and research for advanced students in the field of the major under the direction of a faculty member.  A research paper at a level significantly beyond a term paper is required.

Presentations and discussions of selected topics.

Professional cooperative education placement in a private or public organization related to the student’s academic objectives and career goals. In addition to their work experience, students are required to submit weekly reaction papers and an academic project to a Faculty Coordinator in the student’s discipline. (See the Cooperative Education section of this Bulletin for placement procedures.)