Writing and Literature Program

The writing and literature program is based on the principle that the study of literature is essential for students who seek careers in either publishing or journalism or who hope to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in writing. The program blends the study of literature with intensive coursework in writing and offers students the opportunity to focus, at an advanced level, on a particular genre (i.e. literary non-fiction, fiction, poetry, journalism). 1.

1. Rhetorical Knowledge (1 course) Students study rhetoric as the foundati on of English studies and learn how to read and interpret a variety of texts as persuasive messages.
2. British Literature (1 course) Students study important British novelists, poets, or dramatists, both canonical and contemporary, and apply the tools of literary study to reading and writing about these texts.
3. American Literature (1 course) Students study important American novelists, poets or dramatists, both canonical and contemporary, and apply the tools of literary study to reading and writing about these texts.
4. 2000-level or above English department offering (1 course) Students study important American or British novelists, poets, or dramatists, both canonical and contemporary, and apply the tools of literary study to reading and writing about these texts.
5. 2000-level or above English department writing course (2 courses) Students study and practice writing in a particular genre.
6. 3000-level or above English department offering (1 course) Students gain additional knowledge in literature, writing or communication at an advanced level as a prelude to the senior seminar experience.
7. 3000-level Writing Seminar (1 course)
8. Collaborative Experience (1 course) Understanding and practicing effective strategies for collaborating with others on writing and speaking tasks which involve group work.
9. Capstone Experience (1 course) Applying at an advanced level the research skills and knowledge gained in earlier communication courses to the completion of a major research project.

Requirements for Departmental Program in Writing and Literature

The following courses fulfill the requirement under which they are listed:

1. Rhetorical Knowledge (1 course)

• ENGL1208 Persuasive Strategies and Rhetorical Traditions

2. British Literature (1 course)

• ENGL2106 Irish Identities: Literature and Culture
• ENGL2404 Major British Poetry
• ENGL2406 The Rise of the British Novel
• ENGL2408 Modern British Novel: Empire and After
• ENGL2605 Stages of the Modern
• ENGL2607 Major British Drama

3. American Literature (1 course)

• ENGL2303 Modern American Writers
• ENGL2304 American Voices in Fiction and Non-Fiction
• ENGL2306 Survey in American Drama
• ENGL2307 Making It New: Poetry From Bradstreet to Bishop

4. 2000-level or above English department literature offering (1 course)

• ENGL2303 Modern American Writers
• ENGL2304 American Voices in Fiction and Non-Fiction
• ENGL2305 Writing Women
• ENGL2306 Survey in American Drama
• ENGL2307 Making It New: Poetry From Bradstreet to Bishop
• ENGL2309 The Haves and Have-Nots: American Authors on Money, Class and Power
• ENGL2321 Love and Gender in Film and Literature
• ENGL2323 Short Fiction
• ENGL2325 Spirituality and the Literary Imagination
• ENGL2402 Shakespeare: Tragedies, Comedies, Histories and Romances
• ENGL2404 Major British Poetry
• ENGL2406 The Rise of the British Novel
• ENGL2408 Modern British Fiction: Empire and After
• ENGL2409 The Political Novel
• ENGL2413 African American Literature: A Tradition of Resistance
• ENGL2603 Studies in Drama: Ritual and Social Reality
• ENGL2605 Stages of the Modern
• ENGL2607 Major British Drama
• ENGL2609 Playing Shakespeare: From Study to Stage
• ENGL2701 Literature and Film
• ENGL3301 The American West in Film and Literature

5. 2000-level or above English department writing course (2 courses)

• ENGL2501 Journalism
• ENGL2504 Prose Writing
• ENGL2505 Autobiographical Writing
• ENGL2506 Poetry Writing
• ENGL2507 Fiction Writing
• ENGL2521 Public Relations Writing
• ENGL2523 Introduction to Advertising
• ENGL3501 Writing for the Electronic Media
• ENGL3801 Feature Writing
• ENGL3803 Writing for the Workplace

6. 3000-level or above English department offering (1 course)

• ENGL3301 The American West in Film and Literature
• ENGL3303 Images of Masculinity
• ENGL3305 Satire
• ENGL3501 Writing for the Electronic Media
• ENGL3601 Crime Stories and American Culture
• ENGL3701 Media Theory
• ENGL3703 In and Out of the Tower: Critical Theory and the Academy
• ENGL3705 Monsters, Madness and Mayhem: The Gothic Tradition in Film and Literature
• ENGL3804 Critical Approaches to Organizational Communication
• ENGL3991 Special Topics I
• ENGL3992 Special Topics II
• ENGL4178 Directed Study

7. 3000-level Writing Seminar (1 course)

• ENGL3805 Writing Seminar

8. Collaborative Experience (1 course)

• ENGL3801 Feature Writing
• ENGL3803 Writing for the Workplace
• ENGL4178 Directed Study

9. Capstone Experience

• ENGL4994 Internship
• ENGL4999 Senior Seminar