English
FACULTY Professors Brill de Ramirez, Chambers, Jost, Stein, Vickroy; Associate Professors Baker, Blouch, Conley, Craig, Dusenbery, Moloney, Newton, Palakeel, Prescott, Swafford, Worley; Assistant Professors Glassmeyer, Katz, Muzzillo; Lecturers Burgauer, Herbert, Leathers.
Chair: Prescott
Coordinator of Composition: Dusenbery
Coordinator of English Education: Muzzillo
Coordinator of Graduate Studies: Swafford
Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies: Conley
The Department of English offers a scholarly environment for writing and the study of literature. The department believes that this environment will enable students to become lifelong learners, responsible citizens, and successful professionals. The department is committed to
- developing students’ skills for creative, academic, or professional purposes.
- strengthening students’ critical thinking and research skills;
- increasing students’ knowledge and appreciation of the literatures of diverse periods and cultures; and
- broadening students’ understanding of and facility with language.
Students who major or minor in English develop their skills in preparation for careers in teaching, publishing, industry, business, or service agencies; for such professional studies as law, library science, or medicine; or for graduate studies in literature, language, or creative writing.
Bachelor of Arts Degree in English
General Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts is the only degree given in English. The B.A. degree requires completion of a 202 or 300-level foreign language course. Only three hours of foreign language are required if the student places at the 202 level or above; as many as 14 hours may be required if the student has less proficiency. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for a B.A. degree, all English majors must complete a minimum of 33 hours in courses above the 100-level, distributed according to the following requirements. (English majors are advised not to fulfill the general education HV-literary analysis requirement by taking ENG 124 or 127).
Requirements at the 200-Level 12
- ENG 233 American Literature to 1865
- ENG 235 American Literature 1865 to Present
- ENG 237 British Literature to 1800
- ENG 239 British Literature 1800 to Present
Requirements at the 300-Level 3
- ENG 347 Shakespeare
Five different courses from at least four of the following groups: 15
Group 1. British Periods
- ENG 341 Medieval English Literature
- ENG 344 Renaissance English Literature
- ENG 358 18th Century British Literature
- ENG 361 British Romantic Literature
- ENG 363 British Victorian Literature
- ENG 364 20th Century British Literature
Group 2. American Periods
- ENG 332 Early American Literature
- ENG 334 19th Century American Literature
- ENG 336 20th Century American Literature
Group 3. Genres
- ENG 368 Science Fiction and Fantasy
- ENG 372 Poetry as Genre
- ENG 373 Fiction as Genre
- ENG 374 Drama as Genre
Group 4. Individual Authors
- ENG 378 Individual Authors
Group 5. Cultural Literary Studies
- ENG 329 Studies in African American Literature
- ENG 330 Studies in Native American Literature
- ENG 331 Studies in Women Writers
- ENG 381 Literatures of Asia
Group 6. Topics in Language and Composition
- ENG 311 Introduction to Language
- ENG 312 English Grammar
- ENG 580 Methods of Teaching Composition
Group 7. Criticism and Theory
- ENG 370 Literary Criticism and Theory
Group 8. Writing Courses
- ENG 207 Creative Writing I
- ENG 300 Exposition
- ENG 301 Argumentative Writing
- ENG 303 Autobiography
- ENG 304 Research in Individual Disciplines
- ENG 305 Technical Writing
- ENG 306 Business Communication
- ENG 307 Creative Writing II
- ENG 407 Creative Writing III
- ENG 492 Practicum in English
- ENG 503 Creative Non-Fiction
- ENG 507 Workshop for Writers
(In conjunction with a senior project that emphasizes writing, two of these courses enable a student to acquire a significant writing emphasis within the English major.)
(ENG 300, ENG 301, ENG 304, ENG 305, ENG 306 are only counted towards the major if taken in addition to the University’s composition requirement).
Requirements at the Senior Level 3
- Every English major is required to complete a significant research writing project relating to interests/needs and including an audience, publishing, or organizational context. This requirement can be satisfied by ENG 480 or ENG 495. Majors wanting special project work in creative writing will take ENG 495.
- ENG 480 Senior Project
- ENG 495 Independent Study
Major Program in English Secondary Education - B.A.
Since the Bachelor of Arts is the only degree given in English, all English Secondary Education majors must fulfill B.A. degree requirements. Forty hours are required in major courses:
Requirements at 100-200 level:
- ENG 180 Intro to English Education 1
- ENG 233 American Literature to 1865 or ENG 235 American Literature 1865 to Present 3
- ENG 237 English Literature to 1800 or ENG 239 English Literature 1800 to Present 3
- ENG 270 Introduction to Literary Criticism & Theory 3
Requirements at 300 level:
- ENG 311 Introduction to Language 3
- ENG 312 English Grammar 3
- ENG 320 Young Adult Literature 3
- ENG 347 Shakespeare 3
- ENG 391 Methods of Teaching Writing 3
- ENG 392 Methods of Teaching Reading and Literature 3
Requirement at 400-level:
- ENG 472 Methods of Teaching Integrated Language Arts 3
- English Education Electives 9
If taken in addition to the required courses in the major and in addition to General Educations requirements, the following courses are approved as English Education electives. Students select three of these courses; at least two of the three must be at the 300 level or above
200-Level Courses (choose no more than one):
- ENG 207 Creative Writing I
- *ENG 233 American Literature to 1865
- *ENG 235 American Literature 1865 to Present
- *ENG 237 British Literature to 1800
- *ENG 239 British Literature 1800 to Present
*only if taken in addition to 200-level English Education requirements
300-, 400-, and 500-Level Courses (choose 2 or 3 courses):
- *ENG 300 Exposition
- *ENG 301 Argumentative Writing
- ENG 303 Autobiography
- *ENG 304 Research Individual Disciplines
- *ENG 305 Technical Writing
- *ENG 306 Business Writing
- ENG 307 Creative Writing II
- ENG 329 Studies African American Literature
- ENG 330 Studies Native American Literature
- ENG 331 Studies in Women Writers
- ENG 332 Early American Literature
- ENG 334 19th-Century American Literature
- ENG 336 20th-Century American Literature
- ENG 341 Medieval English Literature
- ENG 344 Renaissance English Literature
- ENG 358 18th-Century British Literature
- ENG 361 British Romantic Literature
- ENG 363 British Victorian Literature.
- ENG 364 20th-Century British Literature
- ENG 368 Science Fiction and Fantasy
- ENG 370 Literary Criticism and Theory
- ENG 372 Poetry as Genre
- ENG 373 Fiction as Genre
- ENG 374 Drama as Genre
- ENG 378 Individual Authors
- ENG 380 Topics in Language and Literature
- ** ENG 381 Literatures of Asia
- ENG 407 Creative Writing III
- ENG 492 Practicum in English
- ENG 503 Creative Non-Fiction
- ENG 506 Writing in the Professions
- ENG 507 Workshop For Writers
- ENG 508 Composing Hypertext
- ENG 550 Language Theory
- ENG 560 Writing Theory
- ENG 570 Contemporary Literature Criticism
- ENG 580 Methods Teaching Composition
*only if taken in addition to C2 Gen Ed requirement
**only if taken in addition to Non-Western Gen Ed requirement
Required Gen. Ed. course in World Literature:
Choose one of the following 3
- ENG 123 European Writers or
- ENG 385 Literatures of Europe or
- ENG 381 Literatures of Asia
English Major Options
The English faculty encourages majors to plan their schedules on the basis of both intellectual and career interests. The following options illustrate some ways in which an English major can be combined with a minor or selected electives to produce excellent preprofessional preparation. Consult with a faculty advisor to develop an individualized plan.
* Candidates for the B.A. degree must meet university foreign language requirements.
** Number of elective hours is determined by number of hours needed in foreign language to meet B.A. requirements.
Teacher Education Option
- General Education 39
- Foreign Language 3-14*
- English major 40
- Secondary Education professional courses 42
Preprofessional or Graduate School Option
- General Education 40
- Foreign Language 3-14*
- English Major 33
- Minor, depending on interest (for law school, political science; for library science, computer science and/or another CLAS area; for graduate school, foreign lan?guage, history, philosophy, African-American studies) 20
- A second minor, or electives 20**
English Major/Business Minor Option
- General Education 40
- Foreign Language 3-14*
- English Major 33
- Business Minor (Some business minor courses will fulfill gen. ed.) 27-30
- Electives or second Minor 10-24**
English Major/Writing Option
-
For students interested in creative writing or preparation for professional writing, publishing, editing, advertising, etc.
- General Education 40
- Foreign Language 3-14*
- English Major (ENG 495 could be creative project) 33
- Electives, or Minor (suggested: mass communications for students interested in advertising), or courses selected from creative writing sequence (ENG 207, 303, 307, 407, 503, 507), or advanced writing sequence (ENG 300, 301, 304, 305, 306), ENG 492, ENG 580 37-48**
Total 124 hours
For students wishing to meet the requirements for a teaching certificate in English from the Illinois State Board of Education.
Total 124-135 hours
Prepares student for professional training (such as law school or library science) or graduate school in English.
Total 124 hours
For students interested in an MBA program or a number of business and professional fields.
Total 124 hours
Minors in English
Minor in Literature (18 hours)
Required Courses
- ENG 233 American Literature to 1865 or
- ENG 235 American Literature 1865 to Present 3
- ENG 237 British Literature to 1800 or
- ENG 239 British Literature 1800 to Present 3
- ENG 347 Shakespeare 3
Electives 9
The English minor in literature provides (1) a foundation in the historical study of literature and (2) an opportunity to construct an individual program in English, American, and other literatures, literary theory, and genre studies.
Three courses from any two or more of the following groups: Group 1, British Periods; Group 2, American Periods; Group 3, Genres; Group 4, Individual Authors; Group 5, Cultural Literary Studies; and Group 7, Criticism and Theory.
Minor in Creative Writing (18 hours)
Three of the following: 9
- ENG 207 Creative Writing I
- ENG 303 Autobiography
- ENG 307 Creative Writing II
- ENG 407 Creative Writing III
- ENG 495 Independent Study
One course from 3 of the following groups: 9
- GROUP 1: British Periods
- GROUP 2: American Periods
- GROUP 3: Genres
- GROUP 4: Individual Authors
- GROUP 5: Cultural Literary Studies
- GROUP 6: Topics in Language and Composition (excluding ENG 580 Methods of Teaching Composition)
- GROUP 7: Criticism and Theory
Minor in Professional Writing (18 hours)
This minor is intended to help prepare students for writing-intensive jobs or careers, or for advanced study.
Three of the following 9
- ENG 305 Technical Writing
- ENG 306 Business Communication
- One of ENG 311/FLL 311 Introduction to Language ENG 312 English Grammar
Three selected from the following categories 9
- One of
- ENG 300 Advanced Writing-Exposition
- ENG 301 Advanced Writing-Argumentative Writing
- ENG 304 Advanced Writing-Research in Individual Disciplines
- One of
- ENG 207 Creative Writing I
- ENG 303 Autobiography
- One or two of
- ENG 506 Writing in the Professions
- ENG 550 Language Theory
- ENG 560 Writing Theory
- ENG 580 Theories & Methods of Teaching Composition
- ENG 492 Practicum in English
- One upper-division literature course (writing intensive) upon approval of department chair.