Department: English
Department Chair: G. Phillips
Department Members: K. Burpo, S. Crisafulli, R. Erable, C. Moody, G. Phillips
Major: English, Creative Writing
Minors: English, Creative Writing, Professional Writing
The English and Creative Writing majors are designed to develop students who can read, write, speak, and argue intelligently and sensitively, and who know the great artistic achievements and profound insights into human experience which our literary heritage provides. Both majors call for extensive preparatory work in the foundations of writing and literature, particularly British and American. Upper-division courses offer specialized work in periods, genres, literary research and scholarship, written expression, and the history and structure of English. Students who complete these majors develop proficiency in reading, writing, and thinking critically, and have a well-rounded knowledge of English literature; thus, they acquire the skills needed to pursue a variety of graduate programs and/or a variety of careers—in public service, business, law, education, and publishing.
English Major
English majors must earn a C or better in LA 201 and ENG 210. They must earn a C- or better in all other ENG and prerequisite courses.
Core Requirements
ENG 117 World Literature I
ENG 118 World Literature II
ENG 210 Intro to Literary Research
ENG 410 Senior Seminar
ENG 485 Communication Consulting Project
ENG 499 Senior Competency Practicum
One course from each of the following categories
Category A: Topics in Literature
ENG 231 Global Literature
ENG 232 Greek Literature
ENG 234 African American Literature
ENG 235 Native North American Literature
ENG 236 Gender & Sexuality in Literature
ENG 238 American Minority Literature
Category B: Language
CWR 150 Introduction to Creative Writing
ENG 224 Introduction to Linguistics
ENG 227 Advanced Grammar
ENG 228 Advanced Composition
Category C: Pre-1800 Historical & Cultural Contexts
ENG 307 Early Modern & Enlightenment British Literature
ENG 308 Old & Medieval British Literature
ENG 333 Shakespeare
ENG 355 Early American Literature
Category D: Post-1800 Historical & Cultural Contexts
ENG 312 Romantic & Victorian British Literature
ENG 314 Modern & Contemporary British Literature
ENG 359 Realist & Modernist American Literature
ENG 360 Contemporary American Literature
Additional required coursework
English majors are required to take an additional three to four credits at the 200 level or higher. Choices include the category courses above, plus:
ENG 300 Topics in English CWR 270 Fiction I
ENG 375 Dramatic Literature I CWR 280 Poetry I
ENG 376 Dramatic Literature II CWR 290 Creative Nonfiction
CWR 210 Journal Editing Leadership THE 245 Playwriting
CWR 211 Journal Publishing Leadership
Students may also count toward the English major one four-credit, upper-level French or Spanish literature course; this course will count as four undistributed ENG credit hours.
Professional Development Requirements
ENG 385 Professional Development in English
One of the following courses
ENG 482 English Practicum (approved as a PDP experience for 2-4 hours)
SNR/SNT 489 (ENG) Professional Development Experience in English
Related field requirement
Twelve semester hours from related fields are to be selected in consultation with the student’s departmental advisor. (Note: The agreed list of courses must be submitted to the Academic Records Office, in writing, by the academic advisor). English majors may use the Creative Writing major or minor as a related field. All related field requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
Creative Writing Major
Creative Writing majors must earn a C or better in CWR 150, LA 201, and ENG 210. They must earn a C- or better in all other CWR, ENG, and prerequisite courses.
Core Requirements
CWR 150 Introduction to Creative Writing
CWR 270 Fiction I
CWR 280 Poetry I
CWR 499 Senior Competency Practicum
ENG 118 World Literature II
ENG 210 Introduction to Literary Research
ENG 360 Contemporary American Literature
One of the following courses
CWR 370 Fiction II
CWR 380 Poetry II
One of the following courses
ENG 231 Global Literature
ENG 232 Greek Literature
ENG 234 African American Literature
ENG 235 Native North American Literature
ENG 236 Gender & Sexuality in Literature
ENG 238 American Minority Literature
Additional required coursework
Creative Writing majors are required to take two additional CWR and/or ENG courses at the 200-level or higher. Choices include those listed above, plus:
CWR 210 Journal Editing Leadership ENG 312 Romantic & Victorian British Literature
CWR 211 Journal Publishing Leadership ENG 314 Modern & Contemporary British Literature
CWR 290 Creative Nonfiction ENG 333 Shakespeare
CWR 300 Topics in Creative Writing ENG 355 Early American Literature
ENG 224 Introduction to Linguistics ENG 359 Realist & Modernist American Literature
ENG 227 Advanced Grammar ENG 360 Contemporary American Literature
ENG 228 Advanced Composition ENG 375 Dramatic Literature I
ENG 307 Early Modern & Enlightenment British Lit ENG 376 Dramatic Literature II
ENG 308 Old & Medieval British Literature THE 245 Playwriting
Professional Development Requirements
CWR 385 Professional Development in Creative Writing
One of the following courses
CWR 482 Creative Writing Practicum (approved as a PDP experience for 2-4 credits)
SNR/SNT 489 (CWR) Professional Development Experience in Creative Writing
Related field requirement Twelve semester hours from related fields are to be selected in consultation with the student’s departmental advisor. (Note: The agreed list of courses must be submitted to the Academic Records Office, in writing, by the academic advisor). Creative Writing majors may use the English major or minor as a related field. All related field requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
English Minor (20 hours)
English minors must earn a C or better in LA 201 and ENG 210. They must earn a C- or better in all other ENG and prerequisite courses.
Core Requirements
ENG 117 World Literature I
ENG 118 World Literature II
ENG 210 Introduction to Literary Research
Additional required coursework
An additional 8 hours of ENG course work at the 200-level or higher.
Creative Writing Minor
Creative Writing minors must earn a C or better in CWR 150. They must earn a C- or better in all other CWR, ENG and prerequisite courses.
Core Requirements
CWR 150 Introduction to Creative Writing
Two of the following courses
CWR 270 Fiction CWR 370 Fiction II
CWR 280 Poetry I CWR 380 Poetry II
CWR 290 Creative Nonfiction THE 245 Playwriting
Additional Required Coursework
Creative writing minors are required to take an additional 7-8 credits of ENG course work at the 200 level or higher.
Professional Writing Minor (15-17 hours)
Core Requirements
ENG 227 Advanced Grammar
ENG 485 Communications Consulting Project
One of the following courses
CWR 150 Introduction to Creative Writing
ENG 228 Advanced Composition
Two of the following courses
CWR 110 Journal Editing
CWR 111 Journal Publishing
MMJ 115 Reporting, Interviewing, and Newswriting
MMJ 135 Editing for Print and Online
revised 11-22-21