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.
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
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
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
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
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
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