Course Listings

Composition and Literature

ENGL 102 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: (Fulfills the general education requirements in communications or arts and humanities.) Prerequisite: WRTG 112. Further practice in writing using readings in literature. Focus is on academic writing forms, especially critical analysis of literature, through a variety of modes, such as comparison and contrast, classification, and causal analysis. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 102 or ENGL 292.

Introduction to Mythology

ENGL 103 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: (Formerly HUMN 103.) A foundation in ancient mythology, focusing on Greek and Roman myths. Discussion may also cover Norse, Irish, Chinese, Arabic, and Hindu myths, among others. Emphasis is on examining various classical myths as expressed through plays, poems, and stories. The objective is to demonstrate an understanding of the differences between myths, legends, and other similar genres and show how classical world mythology still influences contemporary society. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 103 or HUMN 103.

Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama

ENGL 240 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. An introduction to fiction, poetry, and drama, with an emphasis on developing critical reading and writing skills. The objective is to identify and define elements of literature and literary genres, analyze literary texts using principles of close reading, and demonstrate skill in academic writing. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 240 or ENGL 340.

Introduction to the Study of Language

ENGL 240SU | 4 Credits

Course Desc: Study of the ways language works and an introduction to the scientific study of language and linguistics. Presupposes no formal study or knowledge of language. Cannot receive credit for both ENGL 110 and ENGL 240. Prerequisite: C or better in ENGL 102 or 103.

Introduction to Women's Literature

ENGL 250 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. An overview of multiple forms of writings by and about women from various periods and cultures. The aim is to read critically, understand diverse perspectives, and write effectively about women's literature.

Standard English Grammar

ENGL 281 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: (Fulfills the general education requirement in communications but is not a writing course.) Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. An overview of standard edited English, a standard central to academic and professional communications. The aim is to write clear, effective prose consistent with the writer's goals. Topics include applying advanced grammatical and linguistic descriptions and prescriptions and attending to the needs of diverse audiences while making writing and editing decisions. Tasks focus on parts of speech, sentence patterns, and sentence transformations. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 281, ENGL 281X, or WRTG 288.

Scotland: Culture, Literature, and History

ENGL 288I | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112, WRTG 101, or WRTG 101S. A study of the culture of Europe's northernmost Celtic peoples--the Scots. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 288I or ENGL 388I.

Introduction to Creative Writing

ENGL 294 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. An introductory survey and practical study of key aspects of literary writing. The objective is to produce original creative writing and to critique, revise, and edit that writing from a writer's perspective. Constructive, collaborative processes are employed to better understand the art and craft of creative writing. Topics may include poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or drama.

Critical Approaches to Literature

ENGL 303 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: (Designed as a foundation for other upper-level literature courses.) Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. A study of the techniques of literary criticism, emphasizing close reading, critical thinking, and critical writing. The goal is to apply a variety of theoretical approaches to literature, analyze texts, and create professional written communications.

Renaissance Literature

ENGL 310 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. A study of major British authors and literary works from the English Renaissance period. The goal is to gain historical perspective and discern contemporary relevance by exploring social and cultural contexts.

The Long 18th-Century British Literature

ENGL 311 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. A study of major British authors and literary works from the period known as the long 18th century, roughly from Restoration through the Age of Sensibility (1660-1830s). The goal is to gain historical perspective and discern contemporary relevance by exploring social and cultural contexts.

19th-Century British Literature

ENGL 312 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. A study of major British authors and literary works from the historical eras known as Romantic Age and Victorian Age. The goal is to gain historical perspective and discern contemporary relevance by exploring social and cultural contexts.

African American Authors from the Colonial Era to 1900

ENGL 363 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. An examination of African American authors before 1900, including Phillis Wheatley, Frances Harper, Maria W. Stewart, David Walker, Frederick Douglass, William Wells Brown, Charles Chesnutt, and Paul Laurence Dunbar. The goal is to research historical issues; integrate findings into discussion; and articulate, develop, and advance a persuasive argument in written form.

African American Authors from 1900 to Present

ENGL 364 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. An examination of early 20th-century to early 21st- century African American authors, including James Weldon Johnson, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Ann Petry, Helene Johnson, Dorothy West, and Langston Hughes. The goal is to research historical issues; integrate findings into discussion; and articulate, develop, and advance a persuasive argument in written form. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 364 or HUMN 364.

Special Topics in Creative Writing

ENGL 381 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. A study of special creative writing topics. The goal is to develop creative writing skills within the scope of the special topic. Focus may be on a specific format (such as the novella, novel, or screenplay) or genre (such as mystery, horror, or teen fiction; travel writing; or epic poetry). May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits when topics differ.

Advanced Grammar and Style

ENGL 384 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: (Fulfills the general education requirement in communications but is not a writing course.) Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. An examination of the basic units of grammatical descriptions, the nature of grammatical categories and structure, the methods, and reasons for creating and using those structures, and the application of grammatical concepts to editorial and written style. The focus is on creating dynamic texts that convey complex subject matter to diverse audiences. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 384 or WRTG 388.

History of the English Language

ENGL 386 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. An examination of the development and usage of the English language. The objective is to explore various texts and research tools to examine the linguistic heritage and continuing evolution of English. Discussion traces the history of English from its origins and examines contemporary issues and controversies.

Special Topics in Literature

ENGL 388 | 1 - 3 Credits

Course Desc: An in-depth introduction to literary works written by a specific author or authors, representative of a literary movement, or produced in a specific time or place. Assignments include advanced reading and research. Students may receive credit for a given topic in either ENGL 288 or ENGL 388 only once.

Scotland: Culture, Literature, and History

ENGL 388I | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112, WRTG 101, or WRTG 101S. A study of the culture of Europe's northernmost Celtic peoples--the Scots. Assignments include advanced reading and research. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 288I or ENGL 388I.

Dublin, Ireland: A Brief Literary History

ENGL 388J | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112, WRTG 101, or WRTG 101S. An introduction to the literary history of Ireland. Emphasis is on poets, dramatists, and fiction writers of the 20th century (Lady Gregory, Yeats, Synge, O'Casey, Beckett, and Joyce). Visits to Trinity College, the Abbey Theatre, St. Stephen's Green, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church, and Dublinia, a number of important literary museums, as well as attendance at several evening theatre performances are included. Assignments include advanced reading and research. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 288J or ENGL 388J.

Hemingway in Madrid

ENGL 388Q | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112. A study tour of Madrid¿s influence upon Ernest Hemingway and his body of work. Students will explore sites within the city that influenced Hemingway, many of which appeared in his novels and short stories. Museum visits within the city are included to examine the works of painters who had an impact on Hemingway¿s own artistic sensibilities. Assignments include advanced reading and research. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 288Q or ENGL 388Q.

Special Topics in English Literature

ENGL 389 | 1 - 3 Credits

Course Desc: An in-depth introduction to literary works written by a specific author or authors, representative of a literary movement or produced in a specific time or place. Assignments include advanced reading and research. Students may receive credit for a given topic in either ENGL 289 or ENGL 389 only once.

Shakespeare Studies

ENGL 406 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. An intensive study of Shakespeare's work and its continuing relevance with reference to historically specific social and cultural contexts. The objective is to evaluate and synthesize source materials, apply critical theory, and demonstrate understanding of dramatic text. Histories, comedies, tragedies, romances, and sonnets may be examined. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ENGL 406 or HUMN 440.

Major British Writers Before 1800

ENGL 418 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. A comprehensive and intensive study of one or two British writers from the period before 1800. The aim is to apply critical reading and thinking skills to analyze and interpret major British works before 1800 from various perspectives (social, historical, political, intellectual, and biographical). Authors studied may include Chaucer, Spenser, Marlowe, Jonson, Milton, Defoe, Richardson, Fielding, Pope, Swift, or Johnson. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits when topics differ.

Major British Authors Since 1800

ENGL 419 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 101 or WRTG 101S. Recommended ENGL 240 and 303. A comprehensive and intensive study of one or two British authors from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. The aim is perform research and understand the importance of biographical, historical, and cultural influences on the writer and the legacy of the writer. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits when topics differ.

Early American Literature

ENGL 430 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. A study of early American literature. The aim is to examine literary periods, movements, and styles; interpret literature as a reflection of national and world events; recognize the differences among types of American literary works; and apply critical methodology. Topics include Indigenous narratives, revolution and government, American romanticism, slavery, women's rights, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and naturalism and realism.

Modern American Literature

ENGL 433 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. A study of modernist American fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and drama. The goal is to interpret and analyze literature in its social and historical contexts. Topics include the literary movement of modernism and application of critical theory.

Major American Writers

ENGL 439 | 1 - 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or equivalent. A study of works by selected American authors from the colonial period to the present. The goal is to understand the place these authors and their works hold in the canon of American literature. Emphasis is on the impact of historical and social events, as well as biographical influences, on the literature. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits when topics differ.

Postmodern American Literature: 1945 to 1999

ENGL 441 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. A comprehensive study of literature in America from 1945 till the end of the 20th century. The objective is to interpret American literature as a reflection of national and world events, recognize the differences among types of American literary works, and apply critical methodology. Topics include the American Dream; war; fear and paranoia; rebellion and counterculture; civil rights, feminist, and gay movements; postmodernism; and multiculturalism.

Contemporary Global Literatures

ENGL 459 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. A synthesis and application of knowledge and skills developed by previous study in the discipline. The goal is to refine skills and explore ways that they may be applied after graduation. Focus is on reviewing and revising previously written papers and/or projects to create a comprehensive portfolio. Assignments include the creation of the portfolio and writing original papers on one's professional postgraduate objectives and the current status of the discipline.

Composition Theory

ENGL 465SU | 4 Credits

Course Desc: Explores current theories and research on writing process and product. Topics include: definitions of writing; rhetorical contexts; heuristics for pre-writing, writing and rewriting; questions of arrangement, style, grammar, mechanics and assessment. Prerequisite: C or better in ENGL 103.

English Literature Capstone

ENGL 495 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisites: ENGL 250, ENGL 303, and at least 9 additional credits of upper-level ENGL courses. An advanced examination of contemporary literary texts written by diverse writers that addresses the connections between geographical regions, history, and social justice. Literature studied will be of varied genres, including poetry, fiction, memoir, with some in multimedia form. Students will study canonical and emerging writers to understand established and current discourse in the field. The goal is to demonstrate critical, interpretative, and analytical skills in reading and writing as well as apply contemporary theory. Writers covered may vary from term to term.

Independent Study in English

ENGL 499 | 1 - 6 Credits

Course Desc: Prerequisite: 6 credits in upper-level ENGL. Directed independent study of topics of special interest not covered by regularly scheduled courses in English. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits when topics differ.