English
Majors and minors offered
The English department regards the teaching of writing and the teaching of literature as equally important and thoroughly complementary. -Courses in the department seek to help students read with comprehension and enjoyment and write with skill and grace, to appreciate their cultural background and explore its values, to examine the relationship between art and life and to discover the liberating qualities of the imagination. A major in English provides valuable preparation for careers in professional areas such as law, business, banking and public relations as well as in those fields usually considered “literary” in nature: editing, publishing, journalism, advertising, teaching or librarianship.
In addition to the English major, students may elect the environmental studies-English interdisciplinary major. The department also -cooperates in a program leading to the New York State certification for teaching. The University’s semester program in England provides an -international experience, including an extensive array of internships, which strongly -supports majors in English and performance and communication arts.
Membership in the Irving Bacheller chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, is open to students who have a 3.0 overall GPA and four or five English courses with a 3.5 average, or a 3.0 overall average and six or more English courses with a 3.25 average.
First-year students need departmental approval to take English courses at the 300 or 400 level, but all 200-level courses (except English
290) are open to them.
A unit of credit toward graduation is given for a test score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement test in English Language/Composition; a unit of credit is also given for a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement test in English Literature/Composition.
Upper-level English writing courses have specific course prerequisites; most upper-level -literature courses have two courses at the 100 or 200 level as prerequisites.
Students may also take dramatic literature courses offered by the department of performance and communication arts for credit in -English when they are dual-listed with English.
Students planning to teach English at the
secondary level are encouraged to include all four surveys
of British and American literature (225, 226, 237 and 238)
in their major, along with the following additional courses:
English 319 or 320 (Shakespeare)
and 362 (English
Language), Performance and Communication Arts 111 (Rhetoric
and Public Speaking) or 113 (Introduction
to Performance Studies). Students interested in teaching
certification should consult the education section.
Students planning to enroll in graduate
programs in literature should take an enriched major that
includes both surveys of British literature (225, 226),
English 357 (Postcolonial
Literature and Theory) and English 367 (Feminist
Postcolonial Theory) and should consult with the department
chair and their advisors carefully; such students should
recognize that a reading knowledge of one or two modern languages
is often required in graduate school. Students considering
graduate programs in writing should consult with
a faculty member who teaches creative writing.
Requirements for the Major for Students Enrolled Prior to Fall 2008
A minimum of 11 semester units in English.
1. Introduction to the major
a. Literary History
Two of the following:
225. Survey of English
Literature.
226. Survey of English
Literature.
237. Survey of American
Literature.
b. Forms of Expression
One of the following:
125. Introduction to Dramatic
Scripts.
190.
Introduction to Literary Forms
201. Introduction to Newswriting.
212L. The London Stage.
215. Dramatic Texts in
Context.
223. Playwriting.
241. Techniques of Fiction.
242. Techniques of Poetry.
243. Creative Non-Fiction
Writing.
244. Techniques of Screenwriting.
290. Expository Writing.
295. Nature and Environmental
Writing.
Or appropriate special topics course.
c. Gender, Ethnicity and Nation
One of the following:
220. Introduction to African
Literature.
224. Caribbean Literature
in English.
228. Irish Literature.
230. Introduction to African-American
Literature.
238. Survey of American
Literature.
239. Introduction to Canadian
Literature.
255. African-American
Drama.
263. Native American Fiction.
Or appropriate special topics course.
2. 250. Methods of Critical Analysis.
This course is designed to familiarize students with a variety of critical
approaches to texts. Students are encouraged to take this course during
their sophomore year, but must, except in extraordinary circumstances,
take the course before the end of their junior year.
3. A five-course concentration
Students are encouraged to supplement their concentration with appropriate courses from outside the major.
Focus areas:
(a) British literature
Students electing this concentration must take
five courses in the literatures of Great Britain
and associated literatures. Two of these
must be 300- or 400-level courses in periods
before 1830 and one must be a course in
a minority British literature (e.g., Irish literature)
or literature of the postcolonial British Empire
(e.g., African literature, Caribbean literature,
postcolonial literature and theory, Canadian
literature). The other courses must be
taken at the 300 or 400 level.
(b) American literature
Students electing this concentration must take five courses in the literatures of the United States. One of these must be a 300- or 400-level course in a period prior to 1900, and one of them must concentrate on a minority group within the United States (African-American, Native American, ethnic American women, etc.). The remaining courses must be taken at the 300 or 400 level.
(c) Anglophone, post-colonial and multicultural studies
Students electing this concentration must take English 357 or an appropriate substitute, and four other related courses, two of which should be at the 300 or 400 level.
(d) Writing
Students electing this concentration must take a total of five courses. Students must complete a sequence of courses in one of the following: screenwriting, fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction. In addition, students must take one 300-level literature course in the genre of their sequence and two or three other writing courses.
(e) Gender and Sexuality
Students electing this concentration must take five courses approved by their advisor, three of which must be at the 300 or 400 level.
(f) Independent
Students may, in consultation with their advisor, design their own concentration. Proposals for independently designed concentrations must be approved by the department's independent project committee. Such concentrations must consist of five courses, at least three at the 300 or 400 level.
4. An SYE
All majors must complete a course, sequence of courses or project approved by the department to receive SYE transcript notation.
Minor Requirements for Students Enrolled Prior to Fall 2008
The English department currently offers four ways to minor in English, each one consisting of a group of six courses.
1. The minor in literature requires
English 225 and 226
(surveys of British literature), 237
or 238 (one survey
of American literature) and three 300- or 400-level courses in literature.
2. The minor in British literature requires English
225 and 226 (surveys
of British literature, 237
or 238 (one survey
of American literature) and three 300- or 400-level courses in British
literature.
3. The minor in American literature requires English 237
and 238 (surveys of
American literature), 225
(the first survey of British literature) and three 300- or 400-level
courses in American literature.
4. The minor in writing requires two of the following survey courses: English
225, 226, 237
and/or 238, three writing courses (two of which must be a sequence, listed above) and one 300- or 400-level course in literature.
Major Requirements for Students Entering in Fall 2008 and Later
The department offers two versions of the major that share many elements but have different emphases: the English major in literary studies and the English major in creative writing. Students may also minor in either. In addition, students may pursue a combined major of English and environmental studies.
Both the English major in literary studies and the English major in creative writing are 11-course majors, requiring five courses at the introductory level, five at the advanced level and one Senior Year Experience (SYE). For both literary study and creative writing, students are required to take the 200-level methods course (250), a 200-level survey of literary history in an early period (225 or 237), and a SYE. All majors are encouraged to take at least one course in creative writing.
The English Major in Literary Studies
A minimum of 11 semester units in English:*
1. Five courses at 100 or 200 level, to include:
English 250.
One survey of literary history in an early period (225 or 237).
Three other introductory courses (one of which can be in creative writing).
2. Five courses at 300 or 400 level, to include:
Two literature courses in periods before 1900, one of which must be pre-1800.
Three other advanced literature courses (one of which can be in creative writing).
3. SYE: one Senior Year Experience course, which can be taken as a senior seminar (450), an independent study (489 or 490), an honors project (495), the professional semester in education, or an SYE taken in another major.
*Students may take more than the minimum of 11 courses in English. However, the registrar will not give credit toward graduation for more than 14 courses in a single department.
The English Major in Creative Writing
A minimum of 11 semester units in English:*
1. Five courses at 100 or 200 level, to include:
English 250.
One survey of literary history in an early period (225 or 237).
Two introductory creative writing courses (201, 241, 242, 243, 244, 290, 295).
One other introductory course.
2. Five courses at 300 or 400 level, to include:
Two advanced writing workshops: these courses must complete the sequences in the genres begun at the 200 level (308, 309, 310, 311, 312).
Three advanced literature courses, at least one of which must be in a period before 1900.
3. SYE: one Senior Year Experience course, which can be taken as a senior seminar (450), an independent study (489 or 490), an honors project (498), or an SYE taken in another major.
Requirements for the Minor for Students Entering in Fall 2008 or Later
The English department will offer two ways to minor in English, each one consisting of a group of six courses.
1. The English minor in literary studies requires English 250 (Methods of Critical Analysis); two literature courses at the 200 level, one of which must be English 225 or 237 (a survey of literature in an early period); and three literature courses at the 300 or 400 level.
2. The English minor in creative writing requires English 250 (Methods of Critical Analysis); English 225 or 237 (a survey in literature in an early period); three writing courses, two of which must be in a sequence of courses in the same genre; and one literature course at the 300 or 400 level.
Environmental Studies/English Major
The environmental studies-English major gives students an opportunity to combine seven core courses in environmental studies with eight core courses/electives in English, thus providing substantial study in both disciplines, as well as their intersection. The interdisciplinary major seeks to attract students who combine an interest in the environment with the desire both to explore existing literature and to create new literature on environmental themes. Note that students pursuing this major may not also major in English. Please consult page 111 of this Catalog for the complete list of courses.
Certification to Teach English
Students seeking initial certification as a 7-12 -English teacher in New York must major in -Eng-lish and also complete the certification minor in education. English majors intending to complete student teaching after graduation in the University’s Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program must complete the English major and the educational studies minor in education (or its equivalent) as undergraduates. Consult the Education section of this Catalog and/or speak to the coordinator of the teacher education -program in the education department as early as possible.
Honors
To receive honors in English, students must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major and submit for evaluation a critical or creative writing project of substantial length. The proposal for an honors project must be submitted to the department’s Honors/Independent Projects committee midway through the semester before the project is to begin.
Normally, the project is developed in English
498 (Honors Projects) under the direction of a faculty advisor; English
498 is offered only in the fall semester. Critical projects usually
examine the works of a particular writer or a literary theme or practice
that two or more writers share. Creative projects are usually collections
of original poetry, fiction or prose essays.
Professors
Patricia Ann Alden, A.B., A.M., Ph.D., Stanford
Professor of English and Associate Dean for International and Intercultural
Studies
Peter Joseph Bailey, A.B., New School for Social Research; M.A., Johns
Hopkins; Ph.D., Southern California
Professor of English and Chair of Department
Robert Mark DeGraaff, A.B., Calvin; M.A., Miami University; Ph.D.,
Duke
Professor of English
James Kerry Grant, B.A., Cambridge (England); M.A., East Anglia (England);
Ph.D., Virginia
Professor of English
Sidney Logan Sondergard, B.A., M.A., Wichita; Ph.D., Southern California
Professor of English
Susan Eileen Ward, B.A., Carnegie–Mellon; M.A., Ph.D., Connecticut
Professor of English
Bruce Ira Weiner, A.B., Princeton; M.A., Ph.D., Pennsylvania
Craig Professor of English
Margaret Kent Bass, B.A., Wilmington; M.Ed., Mississippi; Ph.D., Louisiana
State
Associate Professor of English, Interim Vice President and Dean of
Student Life and Co-Curricular Education, and Coordinator of the Jeffrey
Campbell Graduate Fellows Program
Robert Duffley Cowser, B.A., Loyola; M.A., Marquette; Ph.D., Nebraska/Lincoln
Associate Professor of English
John Jaunzems, B.A., M.A., McMaster (Canada); Ph.D., Toronto
Associate Professor of English
Richard H. Jenseth, B.A., Western; M.A., SUNY Albany; Ph.D., Iowa
Associate Professor of English
Natalia Rachel Singer, B.A., Northwestern; M.F.A., Massachusetts
Professor of English
Caroline Breashears, B.A., Arkansas; M.A., Ph.D., Virginia
Associate Professor of English
Sarah Gates, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Boston University
Assistant Professor of English
Mary M. Hussmann, B.A., Northern Iowa; M.F.A., Iowa
Associate Professor of English
Hillory Oakes, B.A., Oklahoma; M.A., Ph.D., Denver
Visiting Assistant Professor of English and Director of the University
Writing Center
Pedro Ponce, B.A., Williams; M.A., Johns Hopkins; M.F.A, Western Michigan;
Ph.D., Denver
Assistant Professor of English and Coordinator of the Writers Series
Bruce D. Danner, B.A., Washington; M.A., -Purdue; Ph.D., University of Alabama
Visiting Assistant Professor of English
K.L. Cook, B.A., West Texas A&M; M.A., Southern Illinois; M.F.A., Warren Wilson
Viebranz Visiting Professor of Creative Writing
Paul R. Graham, B.A., St. Lawrence; M.F.A., University of Michigan
Assistant Professor of English
