English Undergraduate Courses (ENGL)
(Old course numbers are in parentheses. All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted.)
English 101 (1) Composition and Rhetoric. A course in writing nonfiction prose, principally the expository essay. Required of all bachelor’s degree candidates unless the requirement is waived under regulations prevailing at the time of admission.
English 102 (2) Composition and Rhetoric. A course in writing college-level research papers based on argumentative models. Precision in footnotes, bibliographies, usage, punctuation, and stylistics assumed. Required of all bachelor’s degree candidates unless the requirement is waived under regulations prevailing at the time of admission.
English 111 (106) Introduction to Creative Writing. PR: ENGL 101 and 102, or equiv. Practice in writing a sequence of structured exercises designed to enhance creative writing skills.
English 131 (35) Poetry and Drama. An introduction to the genres.
English 132 (36) Short Story and Novel. An introduction to the genres.
English 139 (85) Contemporary African Literature. A survey of contemporary African poetry, drama, and fiction.
English 154 (80) Literature of African America. Studies in the literature of African-American authors.
English 156 (81) Literature of Native America. A historical survey of Native American prose, poetry, song, and story from the beginning to the present.
English 201 (108) Advanced Composition. PR. ENGL 101 and 102. Composition for students who wish to further develop their expository and argumentative skills.
English 212 (114) Creative Writing: Fiction. An open enrollment introduction to the writing of fiction.
English 213 (115) Creative Writing: Poetry. An open enrollment introduction to the writing of poetry; practice in the basics of image, metaphor, line, form, sound and voice.
English 214 (116) Creative Writing: Nonfiction. Introductory course in the writing of nonfiction.
English 221 (111) The English Language. PR: ENGL 101 and sophomore standing. Study of the structure of contemporary English.
English 225 (125) Western World Literature. Selected readings in the canon of Western world literature, both ancient and modern.
English 226 (126) Non-Western World Literature. Selected readings in non-western world literature, both ancient and modern.
English 230 (139) Film Studies. Topics in the study of film, or film and literature, in a historical, theoretical, and/or cultural context.
English 231 (130) Prose. Study of prose genres, including autobiography, biography, travel, narrative, and nature writing.
English 232 (132) Poetry. Teaches appreciation and enjoyment of poems through critical and analytical reading. Studies in the various types of poetry, and of the language, imagery, and techniques of poetic expression.
English 233 (133) The Short Story. Study of the short story’s structure, history, and contemporary forms.
English 234 (134) Drama. The drama’s structure, history, and contemporary forms.
English 235 (131) Novel. The novel’s structure, history, and contemporary forms.
English 236 (180) The Bible as Literature. Analysis of the themes, topics, and literary genres of the Old and New Testaments. Issues to be discussed include the unity of the text, the status of authorship, translation, and the depiction of God.
English 241 (24) American Literature I. A historical introduction and survey from its beginnings to the mid-nineteenth century.
English 242 (25) American Literature II. A historical introduction and survey from the mid- nineteenth century to the present.
English 251 (141) American folklore and Culture. Study of various aspects of folklore from the American Indian, early settlers, the American Negro, the immigrant, and occupational groups. Influence of folklore on American culture.
English 252 (145) Appalachian Fiction. Reading of short stories, novels, and other narratives by Appalachian authors.
English 253 (280) Southern Writers. Study of twentieth-century Southern essayists, poets, short story writers, and novelists in relation to ideological background.
English 254 (186) African-American Literature. A historical introduction and survey of African-American literature.
English 255 (187) Multiethnic Literature. This course examines literature by Americans of diverse ethnicities including, but not limited to, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, African Americans, and European Americans of various class/religious/regional backgrounds.
English 257 (175) Science Fiction and Fantasy. A study of the history and nature of science fiction from H.G. Wells to the present, with special attention to those features of prose narration that science fiction shares.
English 258 (178) Popular American Culture. A survey of modern popular American culture from 1940 to the present with special emphasis on popular literature, music, television, movies, radio in its golden age, and comic books.
English 261 (21) British Literature I. A historical introduction and survey from the middle ages through the eighteenth century.
English 262 (22) British Literature II. A historical introduction and survey from the late eighteenth century to the present.
English 263 (150) Shakespeare 1. Study of several of Shakespeare’s most important plays.
English 272 (170) Modern Literature. British and American poetry, drama, and fiction from 1900 to 1960.
English 273 (172) Contemporary Literature. An examination of the significant literature written since 1960 in England and America, including poetry, drama, and fiction. Selections will vary depending on the instructor.
English 285 (188) Images of Women in Literature. Representative literary works studied against a backdrop of social and historical documents to examine the effect of images of women in literature on the self-image of women today.
English 288 (189) Sexual Diversity in Literature and Film. Study of the representation of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals in literature and film.
English 293 (191) Special Topics. PR: Consent. Investigation of topics not covered in regularly scheduled courses.
English 301 Writing Theory and Practice. Traditional and contemporary approaches to rhetoric and writing theory for Professional Writing and Editing students.
English 302 (207) Editing. A comprehensive approach to editing, including the correctness and effectiveness of a document, information design, and editorial responsibility. Students gain a realistic perspective on workplace practice through real-world scenarios, case studies, and technological applications.
English 303 (206) Multimedia Writing. Study of communication and design issues in multimedia composition focuses on communication, creative expression, persuasion, interactivity, and rhetorical principles. Practice in composing multimedia documents such as online publications, interactive literary works and tutorials.
English 304 (105) Business/Professional Writing. PR: ENGL 101 and 102. Students will analyze different writing contexts, meet the needs of different audiences, organize and present material in letters, memos, and reports. Includes some research, Internet components, and a review of style, grammar, and usage.
English 305 (208) Scientific and Technical Writing. PR: ENGL 101 and 102. Writing for the scientific and technical professions. Description of a process and a complex idea; feasibility report; analysis of a technological innovation.
English 306 (209) Topics in Humanities Computing. Topics include: literary studies (electronic publications, web-based, interactive fiction, poetry, drama, nonfiction), creative writing in digital media, composition on-line, pedagogy, cultural studies of electronic media, online communications, language studies. Topics rotate; check with instructor.
English 309 (295) Approaches to Teaching Composition. PR: ENGL 201. (May not be taken for both undergraduate and graduate credit). Surveys the attitudes toward and techniques of teaching writing in elementary and secondary schools. Provides experiment in class with methods of teaching writing.
English 312 (201) Creative Writing Workshop: Fiction. PR: Consent, and grade of B or higher in ENGL 212. Advanced workshop in creative writing for students seriously engaged in writing fiction.
English 313 (202) Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry. PR: Consent, and grade of B or higher in ENGL 213. Advanced workshop in creative writing for students seriously engaged in the writing of a major group of poems.
English 314 (203) Creative Writing Workshop: Nonfiction. PR: Consent, and grade of B or better in ENGL 212, 213, or 214. Advanced workshop in creative writing for students seriously engaged in writing nonfiction.
English 318 (271) Topics in Creative Writing. PR: Consent. (May be repeated for a maximum of 9 Hrs.) Advanced work in creative writing; course content changes with genre: fiction, poetry, nonfiction.
English 321 (211) History of the English Language. Study of the nature of the language; questions of origins, development, and language families.
English 323 (253) Introduction to Old English. An introduction to the grammar of Old English in order to read texts in the language. After the basic grammar is mastered, students translate a selection of Old English prose texts and poems.
English 329 (212) Topics in the English Language. This course rotates a set of topics offering students field-specific approaches to the study of the English language. Students engage the language through active research paradigms focusing on the social context of the language.
English 331 (237) Topics in Genre. This variable-topic course will trace formal and thematic conventions in poetry, drama, prose fiction, and/or nonfiction.
English 342 (235) American Drama. Study of representative American dramas and history of theater in America.
English 343 (220) American Poetry. Major American poets of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
English 344 (223) Modern American Poetics. 3Hr. A close study of those poets who have shaped the aesthetics of contemporary American poetry.
English 345 (257) American Literature to 1800. Major genres, authors, themes, and topics in American literature c. 1500 to 1800.
English 346 (266) American Literature, 1800-1865. Major genres, authors, themes, and topics in American literature from 1800 through the Civil War.
English 347 (259) American Literature, 1865-1915. Major genres, authors, themes, and topics in American literature from the Civil War to World War I.
English 348 (269) 20th-Century American Literature. Major genres, authors, themes, and topics in American Literature, from 1900 to 1999.
English 349 (284) Contemporary American Literature. Major genres, authors, themes, and topics in American literature from 1960 to present.
English 351 (240) Folk Literature. The folk ballad, its origin, history, and literary significance, based on Child’s collection and on American ballad collections.
English 352 (245) Topics in Appalachian Literature. Studies of authors, genres, themes, or topics in Appalachian literature.
English 354 (282) Topics in African-American Literature. This course examines a specific aspect of African-American literature and/or culture. Topics vary from semester to semester.
English 355 Multiethnic Literatures. In-depth examination of particular themes and traditions in ethnic literatures. Topics vary per semester.
English 356 (281) Topics in Native American Literature. Specialized topic courses reflecting current trends and issues in Native American literature and culture. Subjects vary per semester.
English 360 (254) Literature of the Middle Ages. Literature of the period 1066-1485 in relation to the cultural transformations of the time. Course emphases may include (but are not limited to) Arthurian romance, the “mystery” plays, crusade narratives, political ballads, women’s writings.
English 361 (255) Chaucer. Early poems, Troilus and Criseyde, and The Canterbury Tales. In addition to an understanding and appreciation of Chaucer’s works, the student is expected to acquire an adequate knowledge of Chaucer’s language.
English 362 (261) Literature of the Sixteenth Century. A survey of the major authors of the English Renaissance. Course emphases may include (but are not limited to) exploration and travel, lyric forms, Reformation politics, and women’s writings.
English 363 (250) Shakespeare II. Advanced studies in Shakespeare’s plays and non-dramatic poetry. Methodological emphases vary per semester, including textual, historical, dramaturgical, and postcolonial approaches.
English 364 (262) Literature of the Seventeenth Century. A study of the poetry and prose of Seventeenth-Century England, from John Donne’s Songs and Sonnets to John Milton8s Paradise Lost. Topics may include (but are not limited to) the literature of women, contrasting poetic styles, literary responses to the English Revolution of the 1640s, the discourses of loyalty and dissent.
English 365 (256) Milton. Study of all of Milton’s poems and a few selected prose works.
English 366 (263) Literature of the Eighteenth Century I. Literature of the period 1660-1744 in relation to social, political, and religious movements of the time.
English 367 (264) Literature of the Eighteenth Century II. Continuation of ENGL 366 covering the latter half of the century. May be taken independently of ENGL 366.
English 368 (265) The Romantic Movement. A survey of the works of the major British Romantic writers along with an introduction to works of scholarship in British Romanticism.
English 369 (267) Victorian Literature. Study of Victorian poets and prose writers with an emphasis on historical, political, and cultural issues. Representative authors may include Tennyson, the Brownings, Arnold, Dickens, the Brontes, Eliot, and Hardy.
English 371 (268) Modern British/Irish Literature. Studies in late 19th and 20th century British and Irish literature, including the works of Yeats, Eliot, Joyce, Woolf, Auden, Beckett, Hughes, Churchill, and Heaney.
English 372 (228) Commonwealth Literature. This course examines fiction, poetry, and plays written by citizens of countries that are members of the British Commonwealth; for instance, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and some Caribbean Islands.
English 373 (270) Contemporary British Literature. The poems, plays, and fiction read in this course reflect Britain’s current multicultural makeup.
English 374 (227) Postcolonial Literature. This course will address various issues in postcolonial literature, including gender, nationalism, resistance, development, neocolonialism and diasporic identities. In addition, students will examine contemporary literary modes associated with the postcolonial project of revisionist history .
English 381 (232) Literary Criticism. Literary criticism from Aristotle to modern times.
English 382 (233) Contemporary Literary Theory. An introduction to the predominant schools of literary theory of the twentieth century, including psychoanalytic criticism, Marxist criticism, feminist criticism, deconstruction, postmodernism and cultural studies.
English 383 (231) Introduction to Cultural Studies. Students will explore the ways in which we are all simultaneously users of and used by culture, and the ways in which cultural practices influence how we think, feel, and act in everyday life.
English 384 (230) Introduction to American Studies. This course introduces students to methodologies of studying American popular and mass cultures in the past and present. Topics may include film, literature, performance, music, economics, and technology.
English 385 (287) American Women Writers. Studies in the literature of American women writers. Topics may vary per term.
English 386 (286) British Women Writers. This course examines fiction, poems, essays, and drama written by British women writers, beginning with fourteenth-century Margery Kempe and continuing into the late twentieth century with Nadine Gordimer.
English 387 (288) Topics in Women’s Literature. Topics include women writers outside of Great Britain and the United States; comparative women writers; women’s writing on a particular theme or topic.
English 388 (289) Topics in Gay/Lesbian Studies. Specialized topic courses reflecting current trends in studies of gay and lesbian history, literature, culture, and theory. Subjects will be taught on rotation.
English 405 (294) Fiction for Adolescents. Designed for prospective teachers of English and language arts. Course focuses on recent fiction for adolescents as well as on traditional literature appropriate to the needs, interests, and abilities of youth. Evaluative criteria emphasized.
English 418 (273) Creative Writing Seminar. PR: 9 hours of creative writing and consent. Individual projects in creative writing pursued in a workshop setting.
English 491 (194) Professional Field Experience. 1-12 Hr. PR: Consent. Prearranged experimental learning program, to be planned, supervised, and evaluated for credit by faculty and field supervisors. Involves temporary placement with public or private enterprise for professional competence development. (Pass/Fail grading).
English 491A Professional Field Experience: Capstone. PR: Consent. Capstone internship for the concentration in Professional Writing and Editing. (A/F grading.)
English 495 (290) Independent Study. 1-3 Hr.(With departmental consent, may be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.) PR: departmental consent. Individual study of literary, linguistic, and writing problems.
English 496 (299) Senior Thesis. PR: Consent. Careful investigation of and independent research on a topic approved in advance by the thesis director and the department.