Department of English

Professor Madonne Miner, Chairperson.

Horn Professors Higdon and McDonald; Professors Aycock, Clarke, Dragga, C. Rude, D. Rude, Shaw, and Whitlark; Associate Professors Barker, Ceniza, Conrad, Crowell, Hurst, Kemp, Kuriyama, Samson, Schoenecke, and Wenthe; Assistant Professors Barkley, Bouwman, Breslin, Brigham, Desens, Gadeken, Goubil-Gambrell, Harrienger, Hiemstra, Patterson, Patton, Purinton, Trotter, and Wilson; Visiting Assistant Professors Carter, Davis, Harrington, and Rickly.

This department offers study in the following graduate degree programs: ENGLISH, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy; TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION, Master of Arts; TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION AND RHETORIC, Doctor of Philosophy. The department also participates in the interdepartmental programs in linguistic studies and in comparative literature at the master's and doctor's levels with other departments. See the section of this catalog entitled "Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Study" for details.

Before beginning a graduate program in English, students must consult the Director of Graduate Studies concerning departmental admission procedures and degree requirements. Admission to the Graduate School requires departmental recommendation as well as approval by the Graduate Dean.

The master's degree program offers advanced study in literature, creative writing, rhetoric, and language. It is intended to be not merely a continuation of undergraduate work but a distinctly different educational experience requiring study in greater depth and the development of critical thinking.

Applicants for the M.A. degree may complete 24 hours of graduate courses and a thesis or 36 hours of course work. Recommended areas of emphasis are English and American literature, comparative literature, composition and rhetoric, creative writing, or linguistics. Supporting work is available in bibliography, film, literary criticism, teaching college composition, and teaching technical and professional writing. Reading knowledge of one foreign language is required. At the conclusion of course work, all students must pass the M.A. comprehensive examination.

The doctoral program requires both greater breadth of study than the M.A. program and greater concentration in an area selected for specialization. To fulfill these requirements the student must demonstrate a reasonably comprehensive knowledge of literature and the ability to engage in original research.

Doctoral students may specialize in an area of English literature, American literature, two closely related areas of English and American literature, composition and rhetoric, comparative literature, or creative writing. They may minor outside the department or within the department in one of the above areas or in linguistics. Course work for the Ph.D. generally amounts to 60 hours beyond the B.A. degree, including at least 45 hours of course work in English. All students are reviewed annually for satisfactory progress. In addition, the student must pass a qualifying examination and prepare and defend a dissertation. Reading knowledge of two foreign languages or high competence in one language is required.

The master's degree program in technical communication combines study of the history, theory, research, and genres of technical communication with practice in applying this knowledge. The thesis option requires students to complete 24 hours of graduate courses in technical communication and electives or a minor, 6 hours of research methods, and a thesis. The nonthesis option requires students to complete 36 hours of graduate courses in technical communication, electives, and a minor.

The doctoral program aims to engage the students in acquiring broad knowledge of the history, theory, research, genres, and practice of technical communication and rhetoric; specialized knowledge of some aspect of communication or rhetoric; and ability to conduct independent research. The Ph.D. requires at least 60 hours of graduate courses beyond the bachelor's degree, proficiency in research methodology, and a dissertation. The 60 hours include 45 hours in the specialization and 15 hours in the minor. The minor includes courses in a field other than technical communication and rhetoric. The courses may be taken in one department or may consist of a cluster of courses on related topics from different departments.

Courses in English. (ENGL)

Courses with "Studies" in their titles as well as ENGL 5377 and 5380 may be repeated for credit when the topic varies.

5301. Old English (3:3:0). Survey of the grammar and vocabulary of Old English together with readings.

5303. Studies in Medieval British Literature (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in British literature to 1500, treating in various semesters poetry, prose, drama, and major authors.

5304. Studies in Renaissance British Literature (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in British literature, 1500-1600, treating in various semesters poetry, prose, drama, and major authors.

5305. Studies in Shakespeare (3:3:0). Emphasis on the comedies, tragedies, histories, poetry, or a combination of these.

5306. Studies in Seventeenth-Century British Literature (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in British literature, 1600-1660, treating in various semesters poetry, prose, drama, and major authors.

5307. Studies in Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Literature (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in British literature, 1660-1800, treating in various semesters poetry, prose, drama, and major authors.

5309. Studies in Nineteenth-Century British Literature (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in British literature, 1800-1900, treating in various semesters poetry, prose, drama, and major authors.

5313. Studies in Twentieth-Century British Literature (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in British literature, 1900-present, treating in various semesters poetry, prose, drama, and major authors.

5315. Studies in British Fiction (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in British fiction, treating in various semesters major figures and movements.

5320. Studies in Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century American Literature (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in American literature, 1600-1800, treating in various semesters poetry, prose, drama, and major authors.

5323. Studies in Nineteenth-Century American Literature (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in American literature, 1800-1900, treating in various semesters poetry, prose, drama, and major authors.

5324. Studies in Twentieth-Century American Literature (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in American literature, 1900-present, treating in various semesters poetry, prose, drama, and major authors.

5325. Studies in American Fiction (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in American fiction, treating in various semesters major figures and movements.

5334. History of the English Language (3:3:0). An exploration of the external and internal history of the English language and the people who speak it. Considers linguistic, historical, and literary materials.

5335. Principles of Language (3:3:0). A broad introduction to the major subfields of descriptive and applied linguistics. Covers theoretical and practical issues in modern analyses of language.

5337. Studies in Linguistics (3:3:0). Special topics.

5340. Research Methods (3:3:0). Survey of research methods in literature and language providing experience with bibliography, microform collections, scholarly journals, and other research tools.

5342. Critical Methods (3:3:0). Survey of contemporary critical methods with special attention to their application to literature.

5343. Studies in Literary Criticism (3:3:0). Concentrated study of specific problems in literary theory and its application to literature.

5350. Studies in Drama (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in American, British, or world drama.

5351. Studies in Film and Literature (3:3:0). Readings, analysis, and research in the interrelationships between film and literature.

5352. Studies in Fiction (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in world fiction.

5353. Studies in Poetry (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in American, British, or world poetry.

5354. Studies in Nonfiction Prose (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in American, British, or world nonfiction prose.

5355. Studies in Comparative Literature (3:3:0). Theory and practice of the study of comparative literature, with emphasis on themes and motifs.

5360. History and Theories of College Composition (3:3:0). Seminar in history and contemporary theories of composition and rhetoric studies. Required for all new teaching assistants and graduate part-time instructors.

5361. Theories of Invention in Writing (3:3:0). Classical and modern theories of rhetorical invention.

5362. Rhetorical Analysis of Text (3:3:0). Classical and modern theories of rhetorical analysis.

5363. Composition Research (3:3:0). Survey of research methods in composition studies with emphasis on current research trends.

5365. Studies in Composition (3:3:0). Consideration of classical and modern theories and research in written composition.

5366. Teaching Technical and Professional Writing (3:3:0). The theory and teaching of technical and professional writing with special attention to developing course objectives, syllabi, and teaching techniques.

5367. Methods of Teaching College Composition (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENGL 5360. Introduces methods of teaching writing through assigned readings, supervised participation in teaching activities, and seminar discussion.

5370. Studies in Creative Writing (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of creative writing staff. Theory and practice of creative writing in various genres.

5371. Foundations of Technical Communication (3:3:0). Theory and practice of technical communication.

5372. Technical Reports (3:3:0). Theory and practice of reports and proposals.

5373. Technical Manuals (3:3:0). Theory and practice of manual development and design.

5374. Technical Editing (3:3:0). Substantive editing and design of technical documents.

5375. Document Design (3:3:0). Theory and practice of creating comprehensible, usable, and persuasive texts.

5376. Writing for the Computer Industry (3:3:0). Design and testing of written, online, and multimedia documents that support computer software and hardware.

5377. Theoretical Approaches to Technical Communication (3:3:0). Intensive analysis and application of one or more theories of technical communication.

5378. Graduate Internship in Technical Communication (3:0:0). Prerequisite: Consent of the Director of Graduate Studies. Substantial writing and editing experience combined with research.

5380. Advanced Problems in Literary Studies (3:3:0). Concentrated studies in works, authors, or approaches.

5390. Writing for Publication (3:3:0). This course is designed to teach students in Ph.D. programs how to write clear and effective articles for professional journals in their field.

6000. Master's Thesis (V1-6).

7000. Research (V1-12).

8000. Doctor's Dissertation (V1-12).


Return to Main Directory
Page Maintained by: Cheryl Hedlund

Page Administrator: Gale Richardson

LAST UPDATE: 11-20-98