English, Writing Emphasis (ENGLW.BA)

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Language and Literature

"This major prepares students for graduate work in the discipline or for careers such as research, writing, editing, and a variety of other related occupations. The program focuses studies on technical, professional, rhetorical, and creative writing. "

Degree Checklist

For a check list of all the courses required for this degree program and a suggested four-year sequence of study, please click on the link below.

General Education Requirements - Total Hours: 53 - 59

Click here for the General Education Core requirements

This program requires 6 hours of world language at the intermediate level, and specifies that the following courses be taken to fulfill six hours of the humanities requirement.

ENGL 221 - Western Literature: Ancient to Renaissance Credit Hours: 3

Selected literary masterpieces from ancient, medieval, and Renaissance world literature studied in relation to cultural context.

Prerequisites

ENGL-110
ENGL 222 - Western Literature: Enlightenment to Postmodern Credit Hours: 3

Selected literary masterpieces of the Enlightenment, nineteenth century, and twentieth century studied in relation to cultural context. 

Prerequisites

ENGL-110 

Religion Requirements - Total Hours: 12

ENGL 495 - English in Christian Perspective (W) Credit Hours: 3

Through readings, oral discussion, a journal and a paper, English majors are assisted in the integration of the various facets of the major in relation to fundamental disciplinary concepts and overarching philosophical, theological and ethical concepts, guided by Christian perceptions of truth.

Prerequisites

ENGL-300, plus the 12-hour core religion requirement. Preference will be given to second-semester juniors and seniors.

Specialty Area Requirements

English Core

(9 hrs):

ENGL 300 - Theories of Reading and Writing (W) Credit Hours: 3

ENGL-300 is designed to acquaint English majors with significant issues within the discipline including critical approaches to reading, writing, teaching, and research. The course introduces literary theory in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries with a brief overview of the history of criticism. Students will apply critical theories to a number of literary texts.

Prerequisites

ENGL-110
ENGL 410 - Contemporary Literature (W) Credit Hours: 3

Contemporary Literature introduces students to major authors, movements and philosophies that shaped literary art during the last decades of the 20th century (post-1960). The course explores significant works of postmodern fiction, poetry or drama, giving special attention to how Christian faith can and should interact with this literature.

Prerequisites

ENGL-300 and one additional 300-level course in the major
ENGL 495 - English in Christian Perspective (W) Credit Hours: 3

Through readings, oral discussion, a journal and a paper, English majors are assisted in the integration of the various facets of the major in relation to fundamental disciplinary concepts and overarching philosophical, theological and ethical concepts, guided by Christian perceptions of truth.

Prerequisites

ENGL-300, plus the 12-hour core religion requirement. Preference will be given to second-semester juniors and seniors.

Writing Core

(6 hrs):

ENGL 309 - Rhetoric for Writers (W) Credit Hours: 3

A survey of the theories and techniques of rhetoric from ancient Greece to the present. Particular attention is given to the ways in which contemporary writers can create appropriate rhetorical strategies for communicating in their own social and cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

ENGL-300
ENGL 409 - The Writing Life Credit Hours: 3

This course helps writing majors explore and develop a self-sustaining process and practice of writing. The class will model a professional writing life, allowing students to create their own projects, to compile reading lists of process essays, interviews, and creative pieces in their chosen genre, and to write analytical papers positioning their own work in broader communities of writers.

Prerequisites

ENGL-309, plus one 300-level Writing course (ENGL-360, 361, 362, 363, or 364)

Creative Writing (9 hrs):

Choose two of the following (6 hrs):

ENGL 360 - Introduction to Writing Poetry (W) Credit Hours: 3

A study of the techniques of writing poetry by reading and critiquing established and original work in a writing workshop setting.

Prerequisites

ENGL-110
ENGL 361 - Introduction to Writing Fiction (W) Credit Hours: 3

A study of the techniques of writing fiction by reading and critiquing established and original work in a writing workshop setting. 

Prerequisites

ENGL-110
ENGL 362 - Introduction to Writing Creative Nonfiction (W) Credit Hours: 3

A study of the techniques of writing nonfiction by reading and critiquing established and original work in a writing workshop setting. 

Prerequisites

ENGL-110
ENGL 363 - Introduction to Playwriting (W) Credit Hours: 3

This course provides a study of the craft of playwriting by reading and watching established plays, as well as writing, critiquing, developing and staging original monologues and short plays in a workshop setting.

Prerequisites

ENGL-110
ENGL 364 - Introduction to Screenwriting Credit Hours: 3

 An introductory course in the foundational theories and techniques of screenwriting. Students will learn to analyze existing screenplays, as well as develop their own craft. They will learn primarily through conceiving, writing, and developing original screenplays. This is a writing-intensive, workshop-based class.

Prerequisites

Engl-110

Choose one of the following:

ENGL 460 - Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry (W) Credit Hours: 3

Advanced training and practice of the techniques of creating poetry through writing, reading and critiquing original work in a workshop setting.

Prerequisites

ENGL-360
ENGL 461 - Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction (W) Credit Hours: 3

An advanced study of the techniques of writing fiction by learning, reading, practicing and critiquing established and original work in a writing workshop setting.

Prerequisites

ENGL-361
ENGL 462 - Advanced Creative Writing-Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3

Advanced training and practice of the techniques of creating nonfiction through writing, reading, and critiquing original work in a workshop setting.

Prerequisites

Any one of the following courses:ENGL-360, ENGL-361, ENGL-362, ENGL-363, ENGL-364 or ENGL-365
ENGL 463 - Advanced Scriptwriting Credit Hours: 3

An advanced course in the theories and techniques of dramatic writing. Students will analyze the aesthetic of contemporary plays or screenplays. They will learn primarily through conceiving, writing, and developing an original play or screenplay. This is a writing-intensive, workshop-based class.

Prerequisites

ENGL/THEA 363 or ENGL/COMM 364

Rhetoric Electives

Choose two of the following (6 hrs):

ENGL 371 - Film Criticism (W) Credit Hours: 3

This course enables students to learn the process of writing film criticism. Focusing on four major types of writing (simple review, analytical critique, comparative analysis and documented research paper), the course expands students’ critical thinking and develops advanced writing strategies. Students are required to watch, analyze and discuss movies from various genres during the writing process.

Prerequisites

ENGL-300 or COMM-200
ENGL 470 - Religious Rhetoric and Spiritual Quest (W) Credit Hours: 3

This course provides an overview of major figures in the history of Christian rhetoric, concentrating on those who influenced the later development of spiritual autobiography and of social/political movements based in Christian faith. Students will both study influential texts and write their own non-fiction works of spiritual quest.

Prerequisites

ENGL-300
ENGL 471 - Rhetorics of New and Digital Media (W) Credit Hours: 3

This is an advanced writing course focused on the rhetorical aspects of digital media.  Topics covered include multimedia composition, visual literacy, social media, online communities, and the evolving constructs of authorship and identity in writing for digital environments.

Prerequisites

ENGL-300

Professional Writing Electives

Choose one of the following (3 hrs):

ENGL 350 - Technical and Professional Writing (W) Credit Hours: 3

A course designed to teach students to design documents that communicate technical and professional information effectively and efficiently. Students will learn to analyze the linguistic and design features of existing documents. They will also analyze specific rhetorical situations to understand how audience, purpose, and context shape all professional communication. This course also focuses on ethical issues related to technical writing and the role technology plays in designing, developing, and delivering documents. A writing-intensive, service-learning course.

Prerequisites

ENGL 110
ENGL 351 - Introduction to Editing and Publishing Credit Hours: 3

An advanced writing course which provides students with knowledge of and experiences in editing and publishing. Topics covered include copyediting, the production of print and online publications, literary citizenship, book culture, blogging, and writer platforms.

Prerequisites

ENGL-110

English Electives - Credit Hours: 6

Choose 6 hrs of additional English courses (Writing or Literature) at the 300 level or above