1998 - 2000 Catalog Archive

Department of English Language and Literature

Russell J. Reising, Chairperson
Samir Abu-Absi, Associate Chairperson
Catherine H. Chengges, Administrative Coordinator
Jamie Barlowe, Adviser
C. Jane Bradley, Adviser
Joel Lipman, Adviser
Matthew Wikander, Adviser


Degrees Offered

The Department of English Language and Literature offers a baccalaureate degree program for a Bachelor of Arts.


Advanced Placement

Students with a score of 3 will receive credit for Composition I; those with a score of 4 will receive credit for Composition I and ENGL 2700; those with a score of 5 will receive credit for Composition I and II and ENGL 2700.


Requirements for the Undergraduate Major

The English major offers three concentrations. Students must select one of the concentrations detailed below. All concentrations require a minimum of 34 credit hours.

1. The General Literature Concentration must include the following: ENGL 3150; ENGL 3790; ENGL 3810; one course chosen from ENGL 4800-4860 (single author); three period courses: one chosen from ENGL 4400-4460 (British Literature before 1800), one chosen from ENGL 4500-4540 (British Literature after 1800), and one chosen from ENGL 4600-4680 (American Literature); and 12 elective hours in English. The student's program should include at least one course in drama or the novel. The department further recommends that during the sophomore and junior years the student take courses from the following: ENGL 3710, 3720, 3760, 3780.

2. The American Literature Concentration must include the following: ENGL 3150; ENGL 3790; one course in British Literature before 1800; one course in British Literature after 1800; a minimum of 18 elective hours in 4000-level American literature courses, one of which must be an American "single-author" course (ENGL 4860); and three elective hours in English.

3. The Writing Concentration must include the following: ENGL 3150; ENGL 3790; ENGL 3810; one course chosen from ENGL 4800-4860 (single author); three 4000-level literature courses: one in British Literature before 1800, one in British Literature after 1800, and one in American Literature; and 12 hours in departmental writing courses, at least half of which must be at the 3000- or 4000-level (e.g., 2010, 2950, 2960, 3010, 3050, 3800, 4030, 4070, 4080, 4090, 4890, 4950).

Related Area Courses for the above concentrations: The 18 hours in related fields at least half of which must be at the 3000- and 4000-levels are often chosen from the other humanities, the social sciences and interdisciplinary programs. The Related Area requirement may be satisfied by taking a minor. Students should in consultation with their adviser work out a pattern of related-area courses relevant to their career and intellectual interests.

Independent Study: Before the end of open registration, English majors wishing to enroll for credit in an independent study course must present to the supervising instructor a detailed written proposal, which will include the number of credit hours for the course, the number of credit hours of independent study already taken in the major during the student's college career and the name of the student's major. This proposal must be approved in writing by both the instructor and the appropriate undergraduate English adviser.

Limitations: No more than five courses in the major and related fields may be P/NC. No more than 6 hours in the major may be in independent study courses.


Honors in English

Qualified juniors and seniors may work for the designation "Honors in English."

A. Requirements. In addition to the hours required in the regular major, Departmental Honors will include:

1.Honors Thesis. This will require four hours of honors thesis (ENGL 4960).

2.Honors Seminar (ENGL 4900) is taken concurrently with Honors Thesis (ENGL 4960).

3.Credit hours for the Honors Thesis (ENGL 4960) or Honors Seminar (ENGL 4900) do not apply to the English major or to the related hours of the major.

B. Eligibility. After completing at least 15 hours of 3000-4000 level English courses, a student whose GPA in those courses is 3.6 or higher may submit a proposal for an Honors Thesis to the Honors Committee. Upon acceptance, the student will proceed to fulfill the honors requirements.

The designation "Honors" on the diploma will be given to students who receive a grade of A on the Honors Thesis, maintain a 3.6 GPA in English and attend the Honors Seminar.


Minor in English

A minimum of 22 hours is required for the minor in English. Two concentrations, Literature and Writing, are possible.

Requirements for the Minor in English (Literature concentration): ENGL 3790 (Critical Approaches to Literature 4 hours); ENGL 3810 (Shakespeare I 3 hours); one course chosen from ENGL 4400-4540 (British Period courses 3 hours); and one course chosen from ENGL 4600-4680 (American Period courses 3 hours). The remaining 9 hours will be selected from departmental offerings at the 3000- and 4000-level in consultation with the Department of English adviser.

Requirements for the Minor in English (Writing concentration): ENGL 3790 (Critical Approaches to Literature 4 hours); two courses in literature, at least one at the 4000 level (6 hours). Three courses in writing (one of which must be at the 3000-4000 level) selected from: ENGL 2010, 2950, 2960, 3010, 3050, 3800, 4030, 4070, 4080, 4090, 4950 (9 hours). The remaining 3 hours will be selected from departmental offerings in literature or writing in consultation with the adviser.

Requirements for the Minor in History and Criticism of Drama: This is an interdisciplinary minor that is offered for students interested in both drama and English. See the Department of Theatre, Film, and Dance for more information.

Last Updated: 11/15/23