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ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

Go to class! As a discipline, English is defined by both materials and methods. While students can certainly access the materials—texts of many kinds, defined in many ways—on their own, the methods require participation in a community of scholars, which is the role of the classroom lecture and discussion. Students learn from each other as well as from faculty, and miss a significant portion of the educational experience when they miss class meetings or fail to participate in discussions. The English Department therefore affirms the importance of regular class attendance and supports penalties for non-attendance as indicated on the syllabi of individual faculty members.

Courses at the 400-level

ENGL 432: History of the English Language

Students analyze the phonological, morphological, and syntactic changes affecting the growth and structure of Old, Middle, and modern English, including the political and social factors that influenced the development of the language.
3 credit hours

Prerequisites:
  • ENGL 202
ENGL 433: Modern English Grammar

The structure of modern English is examined: its phonology, morphology, and syntax; its personal, social, and communicative purposes; its historical development and variations; and language acquisition.
3 credit hours

Prerequisites:
  • ENGL 202
ENGL 434: Studies in Theory and Criticism

Topics are selected from contemporary theory or the history of criticism. This course may be repeated for credit with a change in content.
3 credit hours

Prerequisites:
  • ENGL 202
ENGL 460: Seminar in Major Authors and Themes

Close analysis is made of a limited number of works by a major author or of a single topic. A research-based seminar paper is required.
4 credit hours

Prerequisites:
  • Four 300-level English courses
  • ENGL 202
ENGL 481: Advanced Workshop in Creative Writing

Students aim at producing original work in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction prose that is of publishable quality. Enrollment is limited to fifteen students.
3 credit hours

Prerequisites:
  • Completion of 6 credit hours of creative writing courses at the 300-level and consent of instructor
  • ENGL 202
ENGL 490: Directed Study

The student, working with a faculty member, selects a topic for study and researches it in depth. Students wishing to pursue a creative writing project should submit a portfolio of work with their application.
3 credit hours

Prerequisites:
  • consent of instructor, department chair, and dean
  • ENGL 202
ENGL 491: Directed Study

This course is open to students whose topic in English 490 may be more fully realized by an additional semester’s work.
3 credit hours

Prerequisites:
  • ENGL 490
  • ENGL 202
  • consent of instructor, department chair, and dean


   Page last updated: Wednesday, April 9, 2008