The goal of the Department of English is to enable students to develop written communication skills and critical thinking skills which will enhance their success in college and in their careers. Through literature courses, the department seeks to introduce the diversity of existing worldviews, the continuity of the human experience, and an appreciation for the history and spiritual values present in a study of literature.
Academic Opportunities
The Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts degree in English may include tracks in professional writing or literature. The professional writing track includes technical and creative writing, courses which prepare students to write for the media, publications, or for personal satisfaction. Students may certify to teach English at the elementary or secondary level. Literature is also an important component in the Language Arts major, which with teacher certification allows graduates to teach at the elementary level. The interdisciplinary studies major features professional writing and literature concentrations. An English minor may also be paired with most majors.
Career Opportunities
Careers available to graduates with a degree in English include education, journalism, technical writing, business, law, library science, and government service. Many employers value a liberal arts degree as a solid foundation for the world of work. The English major provides a better understanding of human nature and universal issues and truths, and helps exercise critical thinking skills.Degree Options In English, Course Descriptions
Bachelor’s Degree in English:
BA/BS with English Major:
Includes a track in Literature or Professional Writing.
GENERAL EDUCATION CORE ..................................... 51 credit hours
ENGLISH MAJOR ....................................…................... 28 credit hours
ENG 2000 level or above .................................................................... 6
ENG 2413 World Literature ............................................................. 3
ENG 3213 British Writers I or
ENG 3223 British Writers II ........................................................ 3
ENG 3313 American Writers I or
ENG 3323 American Writers II ................................................... 3
ENG 3513 Critical Writing and Literary Analysis ......................... 3
ENG 4413 Pluralism in American Literature ................................. 3
ENG 4533 Senior Writing Project ................................................... 3
ENG 4811 Senior Seminar................................................................ 1
ENG 4213 Shakespeare Comedies, or
ENG 4223 Shakespeare Tragedies, or
ENG 4233 Shakespeare Histories, or
ENG 4713 Studies in Genre: Novel, or
ENG 4723 Studies in Genre: Short Story, or
ENG 4733 Studies in Genre: Poetry, or
ENG 4743 Studies in Genre: Drama ........................................... 3
TRACK (select one) ............................................................ 9 credit hours
Literature Track (9 hours)
ENG 3000 level or above literature
Professional Writing Track (9 hours)
ENG 3523 Creative Writing, or
ENG 3533 Technical Writing, or
ENG 3613 Introduction to Linguistics, or
ENG 4513 Media Writing, or
ENG 4523 Advanced Composition, or
JRN 1101 Newspaper Journalism1, or
JRN 2101 Yearbook Journalism1
FOREIGN LANGUAGE (BA only)..................................... 8 credit hours
MINOR ........................................................................... 18 credit hours
ELECTIVES............................................................... 14-22 credit hours
TOTAL FOR ENGLISH MAJOR................................... 128 credit hours
BS with English Education Major:
Students may seek teacher certification at the elementary or secondary level with the English Education major. Elementary Education students will choose the Elementary Ed. minor, while Secondary Ed. students will choose a subject area minor from biology, history, mathematics, social studies, or speech.
GENERAL EDUCATION CORE .................................... 51 credit hours
ENGLISH EDUCATION MAJOR ................................... 43 credit hours
ENG 2113 Approaches to Grammar ................................................. 3
ENG 2413 World Literature ............................................................. 3
ENG 3513 Critical Writing and Literary Analysis ......................... 3
ENG 3613 Introduction to Linguistics ............................................ 3
ENG 4413 Pluralism in American Literature ................................. 3
ENG 4523 Advanced Composition ................................................... 3
ENG 4533 Senior Writing Project ................................................... 3
ENG 4811 Senior Seminar................................................................ 1
1 A maximum of three hours of JRN 1101 and/or JRN 2101 may be applied toward the writing track.
2 Under review by the Michigan Department of Education.
ENG 3213 British Writers I or
ENG 3223 British Writers II ........................................................ 3
ENG 3313 American Writers I or
ENG 3323 American Writers II ................................................... 3
ENG 4713 Studies in Genre: Novels or
ENG 4723 Studies in Genre: Short Story, or
ENG 4733 Studies in Genre: Poetry, or
ENG 4743 Studies in Genre: Drama ........................................... 3
ENG 3000 or above literature .......................................................... 3
ENG 3000 elective,
from any course except ENG 3533 Technical Writing …………….3
RDG 3313 Children’s Literature (Elementary) or
RDG 3413 Adolescent Literature (Secondary) ........................... 3
RDG 4503 Assessment Strat. in Lang. Arts Ed. (Elementary) or
RDG 4603 Assessment Strat. in English Ed. (Secondary) ........ 3
MINOR ...................................................................... 22-27 credit hours
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES …………...................... 36 credit hours
TOTAL FOR ENGLISH EDUCATION MAJOR .... 152-157 credit hoursBS with Language Arts Education Major:
Students may seek teacher certification at the elementary level with the Language Arts Education major. Students choose the Elementary Education minor.
GENERAL EDUCATION CORE .................................... 51 credit hours
LANGUAGE ARTS EDUCATION MAJOR .................... 36 credit hours
COM 2513 Introduction to Communication Studies ....................... 3
COM 3533 Intercultural Communication........................................ 3
ENG 2113 Approaches to Grammar ................................................. 3
ENG 2413 World Literature .............................................................. 3
ENG 3613 Introduction to Linguistics ............................................. 3
ENG 4523 Advanced Composition ................................................... 3
MED 3633 Media Criticism ............................................................... 3
RDG 3313 Children’s Literature ...................................................... 3
RDG 3413 Adolescent Literature ..................................................... 3
RDG 4453 Writing Workshop ............................................................ 3
RDG 4503 Assessment Strategies in Language Arts Education .... 3
THE 3113 Theatre for Young Audiences .......................................... 3
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MINOR ............................ 23 credit hours
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES ………….............................. 36 credit hours
TOTAL, LANGUAGE ARTS EDUCATION MAJOR..... 146 credit hoursMinors: For non-english majors
English Minor.
Requires 12 hours of ENG above the 2000 level, and six hours of upper-division ENG.
English Education Minor.1 Requires ENG 2113, 2413, 3513, 3613, 4413, 4523; three hours from ENG 3213, 3223, 3313, or 3323; and three hours from ENG 4713, 4723, 4733, or 4743..
Humanities Minor. Requires six hours from ENG 2413, 3213, 3223, 3313, 3323; six hours from ART 2003, ENG 3003, FLM 2013, or MUS 2303; and six upper-division hours of either COM or ENG.
Professional Writing Minor. Requires ENG 1123, 2113; and 12 hours from ENG 3523, 3533, 3613, 4513, and 4523.Course Descriptions
Course Divisions. English Department courses are subdivided into
English (ENG) and JRN (Journalism).
English Division
ENG 1003 Basic Writing. Reading, critical thinking, expository writing, and study strategies. Required for students with no college credit in composition when the English ACT is 16 or below.
ENG 1113 College Composition A. Writing and revising expository papers and documented reports. Students read and analyze selected essays and articles. Prerequisite: English ACT of 17 or above; or grade of C or better in ENG 1003.
ENG 1123 College Composition B. Writing critical essays and research papers; Examines forms of imaginative literature. Prerequisite: ENG 1113.
ENG 1133 Fundamentals of Composition. For students who need a third composition course. Relation between writing and thinking, fundamentals of grammar, syntax, organization, and unity. Satisfactory completion meets the English proficiency requirement.
ENG 2013 Literary Aspects of the Bible. Genres of literature in the Old and New Testaments with reference to the historical and cultural context of the writings. Prerequisites: BIB 1013 or 1023 and ENG 1123.
ENG 2113 Approaches to Grammar. History and development of the English language. Political and cultural influences on the language and an analysis of the relation between theoretical and practical approaches to English study. Required of majors certifying to teach. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 2413 World Literature Survey. A comparative study of literature from a variety of world cultures. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 3213 British Writers I. British writers of medieval times to the close of the 18th century, and characteristics of the literary periods. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 3223 British Writers II. British writers of the late 18th century to the early 20th century, and characteristics of the literary periods. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 3313 American Writers I. An analytical study of the development of American Literature from the Colonial era to the Civil War. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 3323 American Writers II. Major works from the Civil War to the present. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 3513 Critical Writing and Literary Analysis. Advanced writing course on types of writing used to analyze literature. Analytical application of major literary criticism philosophies. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 3523 Creative Writing. Creative writing theory and practice in a seminar setting; Composition of fiction, poetry, and/or drama. Also, sources of creative writing, characteristics of major genres, and process of revision and editing. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 3533 Technical Writing. Scientific, business, and technical writing. Includes how to conduct research, write abstracts, and compose major reports. Also, studies format of scientific and technical journals. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 3613 Introduction to Linguistics. Basic concepts and methodology of the science of language: Descriptive and historical aspects, phonemic, morphemic, and syntactical features. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 4213 Shakespeare Comedies. A critical study of Shakespeare’s comedies synthesizing the historical, linguistic, theatrical, and cultural context of these writings. Prerequisite: ENG 1123 and 3513.
ENG 4223 Shakespeare Tragedies. A critical study of Shakespeare’s tragedies synthesizing the historical, linguistic, theatrical, and cultural context of these writings. Prerequisite: ENG 1123 and 3513.
ENG 4233 Shakespeare Histories. A critical study of Shakespeare’s histories synthesizing the historical, linguistic, theatrical, and cultural context of these writings. Prerequisite: ENG 1123 and 3513.
ENG 4413 Pluralism in American Literature. African, Asian, Arab, Hispanic, and Native-American voices in American literature. Required for English majors planning to teach. Prerequisite: ENG 1123 and 3513.
ENG 4523 Advanced Composition. Advanced writing, revision, and editing. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 4533 Senior Writing Project. Student preparation of a major paper in an area of interest. Prerequisite: ENG 1123.
ENG 4593 Special Topics. Various topics in English, chosen by students or instructor.
ENG 4603 Assessment Strategies in English Education. Capstone course in the English Education major. Presents strategies, methods, and assessment for effectively teaching middle and high school English students. Using an integrated language arts perspective, teacher candidates research, design and implement lessons that meet the state and national standards and gain practical tools to assess student growth. Emphasizes the development of professional practice through reading professional literature and participating in professional organizations. A supervised sixty-hour field experience is required. Prerequisite/Co requisite: Completion of subject-area coursework.
ENG 4613 Advanced Literary Theory. Continuation of ENG 3513: Philosophies of literary criticism. Prerequisite: ENG 1123 and 3513.
ENG 4713 Studies in Genre: Novels. An analytical study of the structure of the novel in the context of selected novels including critical and literary analysis of each narrative. Prerequisite:
ENG 1123 and 3513.
ENG 4723 Studies in Genre: Short Story. Literary analysis of selected short stories. Prerequisite: ENG 1123 and 3513.
ENG 4733 Studies in Genre: Poetry. Literary analysis of selected poetry. Prerequisite: ENG 1123 and 3513.
ENG 4743 Studies in Genre: Drama. Literary analysis of selected dramas. Prerequisite: ENG 1123 and 3513.
ENG 4753 Advanced Studies in Poetry. Extended in-depth analysis of selected poetry. Through the course of study, the student will recognize and understand thematic concerns that spring from different cultures, events, and historical contexts. Prerequisite: ENG 1123 and 3513.
ENG 4811 Senior Seminar. Required capstone course for English majors designed to assess student and program progress. Prerequisite: ENG 1123
