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College of Arts & Sciences

English

Why pursue a degree in English at North Central College?

The English Department cultivates a culture and practice of intentional writing and inclusive reading. We offer three majors: English Education; English, Literature; and English, Writing. Students also often seek one of our five minors: literature, writing, professional & technical writing, language arts & linguistics, and film & screen studies. We also offer an M.A. in professional and creative writing. Students in our programs gain expertise in the role language plays in creating and defining meaning from one’s life and world. Through close faculty mentorship, students will develop skills in creative writing and rhetoric, hone their ability to read broadly and closely, gain methods to enter the classroom, and/or pursue undergraduate research.

The study of writing and literature develops students' academic, professional, and creative skills. Our graduates find success in law, creative writing, education, business, medicine, corporate communications, grant writing, arts administration, and publishing. In all of these fields, the ability to communicate effectively, problem solve, and work in a team mean English majors advance faster and earn more. Think about it: in a culture beset by distraction, the ability to read—and write—literature makes one extraordinary.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

  • The role of language and storytelling in reflecting the human experience and encouraging new thought
  • The artistic, historical and cultural contexts of literature
  • The development of craft and writerly practice for creative, academic, and professional settings

then a degree in ENGLISH might be for you.

Why study English at North Central College?

In the Classroom

Coursework topics:

  • Advanced Fiction
  • Black Narrative
  • Creative Writing for Self-Discovery
  • Foundations of Language Study
  • Gender and Literary Feminisms
  • Global Shakespeare
  • Graphic Narratives
  • Introduction to Film & Screen Studies
  • Latina/o/x Literature
  • The Novel Across Time
  • Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies

Beyond the Classroom

As an English major, you can:

  • Apply for internships and jobs through robust faculty and alumni networks or the Center for Career and Professional Development.
  • Join Sigma Tau Delta, a national English honor society.
  • Join the staff of The Kindling and 30 N to learn about publishing, marketing and editing.
  • Meet and learn from established writers through the Visiting Writers Series.
  • Visit or join the staff of the Writing Center.

Visit the English Department on social media on Instagram and Facebook.

More Department information

English, Writing, B.A.

The English Writing Major is a comprehensive plan of study offering a diverse range of courses. Students may seek proficiencies across five distinct genres: poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting or rhetoric. By carefully calibrating coursework from 100-levels through a senior capstone writing project, students will be well-prepared for a variety of professional opportunities. Writing majors participate in either the College literary magazine, 30 North, the humor magazine, The Kindling or the College newspaper, The Chronicle, gaining leadership as editors and practical new media skills. Internships are encouraged for real-world experience.

Writing majors find work in publishing, the law, corporate and non-profit settings, teaching, the arts and many other fields that seek persons trained to ask powerful questions, research and organize complex information, and synthesize that information with careful attention to detail. A B.A. in English-Writing fosters a citizen-critic concerned for what is ethical, inclusive and humane in public and private spheres.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see English.

Core Courses

  • ENGL 200 - Gateway: Introduction to English

    ENGL 200 - Gateway: Introduction to English

    4.00 credit hours

    This gateway course introduces critical and creative methods with a focus on close reading and effective writing. Theoretical and imaginative approaches are explored and practice given in reading, writing and analyzing a variety of texts. Students are introduced to disciplinary conventions and basic research strategies in English.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 492 - Capstone Seminar in English

    ENGL 492 - Capstone Seminar in English

    4.00 credit hours

    All majors in English or English-Writing complete a capstone seminar. Following reflection on what was learned across English courses, students propose and write an extended, professional quality final project. In collaboration with peers, students conduct research, or develop a creative work, then draw on habits of mind and skills as they produce a thesis or project. All students present this work publically. Students also consider what it means to be a professional in the discipline, exploring ethical dimensions of work as they plan for life after graduation.

    Schedule Of Classes

Thematic Courses

One course from each of the following designations:

Literature Across Time

  • ENGL 202 - British Literature to 17th Century: Beowulf and Milton

    ENGL 202 - British Literature to 17th Century: Beowulf and Milton

    4.00 credit hours

    Close reading focused on Continental traditions and socio-political contexts that influenced Beowulf, di Pizan, Chaucer, Spencer, Shakespeare, Milton and more. Students trace the figure of the monster in literature produced between the 8th–17th centuries.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 204 - Literature and Culture of the Long 18th Century

    ENGL 204 - Literature and Culture of the Long 18th Century

    4.00 credit hours

    Students study texts before and just after the so-called "Age of Reason," from the late 17th to early 19th centuries, in both British and Early American contexts. Focus on the rise of individualism, science and colonial expansion, with slavery and genocide in its wake. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 206 - British Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 206 - British Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore 19th–21st century texts, a time of contradictions, with progress in science, industry, the expansion and then losses of the British Empire, and the rise of democratic movements (suffrage, labor, anti-imperial resistance) in and beyond England. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 208 - American Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 208 - American Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore 19th–21st century American literature and culture through a survey of poets, essayists, fiction writers, playwrights and filmmakers who grappled with principles and practices of American democracy. Romantic, realist, modern and postmodern writers offer diverse perspectives on what it means to live in relation to the promise of "we the people."

    Schedule Of Classes

World Literatures

  • ENGL 222 - Global Literature

    ENGL 222 - Global Literature

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore literature from the erstwhile colonies in South Asia, Africa and Australia to examine the relation between representation and nationalism. Students focus in particular on identity, gender, resistance and reconciliation.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 322 - Cosmopolitan 20th–21st Century England: Global Identities in British Literature and Culture

    ENGL 322 - Cosmopolitan 20th–21st Century England: Global Identities in British Literature and Culture

    4.00 credit hours

    Students focus on British literature after WWII. The world wars and the Kinder Transport; Cold War and defections from the former U.S.S.R.; the rise of the U.S. as a global superpower as England's empire faded; and the immigration of populations from former colonies—all profoundly affect England's identity. Students explore the literature, theatre, dance and films produced by these new generations of immigrant British as they negotiate their dual heritage. World Literatures.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 390 - Special Topics

    ENGL 390 - Special Topics

    4.00 credit hours

    Topics vary depending on instructor, but may focus on a single writer; a theorist or theoretical perspective; a period of time and place. If writing-focused, varying topics such as hybrid and digital genres; the rise of the chapbook; writing Y.A. fiction; novella writing; the ethics of workplace writing; truth in writing in an age of "fake" media, and so on. If language-focused, varying topics such as language and gender, language in politics, education or media; or a consideration of the ways class, race and nations use language in the struggle for legitimacy and control.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    4.00 credit hours

    Students examine postcolonial rewritings of European and indigenous texts and genres to examine how changes in the cultural and political context affect aesthetic choices. Students experience a number of challenging literary and theoretical texts.

    Schedule Of Classes

Identity and Culture

  • ENGL 232 - Black Narrative

    ENGL 232 - Black Narrative

    4.00 credit hours

    From slave narratives to folk tales to fiction, storytelling has played a role in asserting the value of black lives and challenging oppression. Students examine black narratives as channels for creative expression and social intervention. Discussions focus on how historical contexts and literary traditions interact; how racism shapes the social map and personal experience; and how gender, sexuality and class intersect.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore gender's place in literature from a variety of cultures, time periods and genres. Discussions focus on representations of gender; how creative writing links to political work to challenge inequality; how writers interrogate the category "woman"; and how gender intersects with race, class, sexuality and religion.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 332 - Multicultural American Literature

    ENGL 332 - Multicultural American Literature

    4.00 credit hours

    Emerging from a history of colonization, slavery and mass immigration, American culture is multiple and its literary landscape diverse. Students explore that diversity through the works of Latinx, Asian-American, African-American and/or Indigenous writers, examining the complexity of "American" identity as it is defined and contested. What happens when different cultures collide? How do historical, linguistic, philosophical and artistic traditions shape literary form and content? Culture and Identity.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    4.00 credit hours

    Students examine postcolonial rewritings of European and indigenous texts and genres to examine how changes in the cultural and political context affect aesthetic choices. Students experience a number of challenging literary and theoretical texts.

    Schedule Of Classes

Professional and Public Writing Courses

One of the following:

  • ENGL 216 - Place and Travel Writing

    ENGL 216 - Place and Travel Writing

    4.00 credit hours

    A workshop-based public and professional writing course focusing on writing about travel; nature and ecology; and immersion or experiential writing. Place, setting and location inspire in myriad ways; mindful of this, students read and collaboratively analyze professional and peer practitioners for craft. Students also write, edit and revise original place-based and travel writing for workshop.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 250 - Writing for Social Change

    ENGL 250 - Writing for Social Change

    4.00 credit hours

    A workshop-based writing course emphasizing the close reading and production of equity-minded texts that challenge existing power structures. Studying writing of social change movements of the past, students learn the arts of writing to change the world through individual and collaboratively designed projects for publics. Writing and Rhetoric.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 314 - Writing Commentary and Cultural Criticism: The Public Intellectual

    ENGL 314 - Writing Commentary and Cultural Criticism: The Public Intellectual

    4.00 credit hours

    A workshop-based public and professional writing course for student-critics who want to learn the art and craft of opinion commentary for publication. Reading for content and craft, students propose, pitch, write and edit shorter, timely pieces such as op-eds, first person essays, humor/satire, polemics, jeremiads and arts or other reviews, as well as longer essays of cultural criticism. Writing and rhetoric.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 380 - Professional and Grant Writing

    ENGL 380 - Professional and Grant Writing

    4.00 credit hours

    Students study the mechanics of proposal writing and the complex aspects of "grantsmanship" as they develop skills in identifying sources of grant funding, conducting research for applications, and crafting proposals to readers' interests. Other advanced professional writing genres practiced. Collaborative final project.    
     

    Schedule Of Classes

Genre Electives

Eight credits from the following:

  • ENGL 212 - Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies: Text/Technologies

    ENGL 212 - Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies: Text/Technologies

    4.00 credit hours

    Students examine theoretical, stylistic and ethical issues connected with writing in various rhetorical situations, including digital environments. Focus on writing about ethically charged issues such as artificial intelligence, digital technology, biotechnology and transhumanism.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 240 - Beginning Poetry

    ENGL 240 - Beginning Poetry

    2.00 credit hours

    Practice in the writing of poetry, with attention paid to the various techniques, approaches—free verse or formal verse—and the close reading of contemporary poets. Introduction to workshop-based peer critique and a regular writing and revision practice.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 242 - Beginning Creative Nonfiction

    ENGL 242 - Beginning Creative Nonfiction

    2.00 credit hours

    An introduction to creative nonfiction emphasizing memoir, personal essays and narrative nonfiction. Students read and collaboratively analyze the work of professional and peer practitioners for craft, and write, edit and revise original creative nonfictions for workshop.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 244 - Beginning Fiction

    ENGL 244 - Beginning Fiction

    2.00 credit hours

    An introduction to literary fiction emphasizing micro, flash and short fiction. Students read and collaboratively analyze the work of professional and peer practitioners for craft, and write, edit and revise original short fictions for workshop.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 246 - Beginning Playwriting

    ENGL 246 - Beginning Playwriting

    2.00 credit hours

    An introduction to stage drama emphasizing monologues, ten-minute plays, short sketches and performance pieces. Students read and collaboratively analyze the work of professional and peer dramatists for craft, and write, edit and revise original scripts for class performance and workshop.

    Schedule Of Classes

Advanced Electives at the 300-level

Three of the following:

  • ENGL 312 - Multimedia Authoring

    ENGL 312 - Multimedia Authoring

    4.00 credit hours

    Students focus on writing for computer-based media and engage new rhetoric of information technology. Emphasis is on learning not just a particular application, but understanding theoretical and practical skills in interface and narrative design; typography; layout; color; imagery; and media integration. Students work collaboratively and present their final projects. Writing and Rhetoric.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 340 - Advanced Poetry

    ENGL 340 - Advanced Poetry

    4.00 credit hours

    A workshop-based class in which students explore traditional and experimental writing techniques to understand what a poem is and/or does. Students analyze and evaluate their own work and that of contemporary poets through critical writing. A portfolio of poems is required as the final project.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 342 - Advanced Creative Nonfiction

    ENGL 342 - Advanced Creative Nonfiction

    4.00 credit hours

    An advanced workshop-based course in which students propose, write and edit an extended creative nonfiction manuscript, and, with peer and professor support, write and revise the first two chapters of a proposed manuscript. Students research publication venues and learn to prepare and pitch longer-form nonfiction manuscripts.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 344 - Advanced Fiction

    ENGL 344 - Advanced Fiction

    4.00 credit hours

    An advanced workshop-based course in which students propose, write and edit a thematically linked short literary fiction collection for potential submission and publication.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 346 - Advanced Playwriting

    ENGL 346 - Advanced Playwriting

    4.00 credit hours

    An advanced workshop-based course in which students propose, write and edit an extended one-act play, dramatic series or thematically linked sequence of sketches. Working with peers to develop longer-form comedies and dramas, scriptwriters learn to polish their plays and performance pieces for potential submission.

    Schedule Of Classes

Advanced Electives at the 400-level

One of the following:

  • ENGL 412 - Persuasion

    ENGL 412 - Persuasion

    4.00 credit hours

    Intensive study in the ways people aim to persuade one another in different contexts, recognizing that audiences and situations are multiplied by technology. Students critique current presentation techniques with attention to how each succeeds or fails. The class collaboratively creates multimodal projects for real- world purposes such as a personal or professional website, persuasive video or audio essay; promotional project for local advocacy group or public performance. Formal presentations follow inquiry-guided research.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 440 - Poetic Forms and Poetics

    ENGL 440 - Poetic Forms and Poetics

    4.00 credit hours

    Workshop class focuses on analytical skills in reading and writing poetry, especially in relation to craft, form and theory of the genre. Students situate their own work within poetic theory, imitate other poets, perform scansion, thoroughly revise their work and present on poets or poetry. Varying themes around poetic devices such as lines and sentences, rhythm and sound, received forms and prosody.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 442 - Narrative Form and Practice

    ENGL 442 - Narrative Form and Practice

    4.00 credit hours

    Theory and practice in experimental and fabulist forms that resist and respond to the norms of conventional literary realism through structural, stylistic or thematic innovation, and via the artful use of collage, unreliable narration, cut-up techniques, stream-of-consciousness, mixed genre, word/image hybrids and meta-fiction and nonfiction.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 446 - Playwriting Form and Practice

    ENGL 446 - Playwriting Form and Practice

    4.00 credit hours

    Theory and Practice in nontraditional and/or experimental forms that transcend traditional stage drama, to include researching, writing, editing and performing works of devised theatre, documentary theatre, autobiographical drama, absurdist theatre, abstract theatre, historical/period drama and/or stage adaptation.

    Schedule Of Classes

Practica Experience

Two credits from the following:

  • ENGL 118 - College Humor Magazine Practicum

    ENGL 118 - College Humor Magazine Practicum

    2.00 credit hours

    Students micro-publish a complete humor magazine from conception to production and distribution to campus community. Exposure to holistic publication process, though individual content contributions may vary. Discussion of the fine line between innovative and offensive commentary. Students produce a portfolio of professional work.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 120 - College Literary Magazine Practicum

    ENGL 120 - College Literary Magazine Practicum

    2.00 credit hours

    The practicum provides experience in the running of a literary journal, with opportunities for work in management, editing, design, production, and marketing. Students may specialize in one area but be called upon to help in others. Students learn about the contemporary literary landscape, the larger world of publishing and its cultural ramifications, all while developing skills that will transfer easily to a number of workplace settings.

    Schedule Of Classes

    • ENGL 297, ENGL 397 or ENGL 497 approved writing-based internship

Special Topics

One of the following:

  • ENGL 390 - Special Topics

    ENGL 390 - Special Topics

    4.00 credit hours

    Topics vary depending on instructor, but may focus on a single writer; a theorist or theoretical perspective; a period of time and place. If writing-focused, varying topics such as hybrid and digital genres; the rise of the chapbook; writing Y.A. fiction; novella writing; the ethics of workplace writing; truth in writing in an age of "fake" media, and so on. If language-focused, varying topics such as language and gender, language in politics, education or media; or a consideration of the ways class, race and nations use language in the struggle for legitimacy and control.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 490 - Special Topics

    ENGL 490 - Special Topics

    4.00 credit hours

    Topics vary depending on instructor, but may focus on a single writer; a theorist or theoretical perspective; a period of time and place. If writing-focused, varying topics such as hybrid and digital genres; the rise of the chapbook; writing Y.A. fiction; novella writing; the ethics of workplace writing; truth in writing in an age of "fake" media, and so on. If language-focused, varying topics such as language and gender, language in politics, education, or media; or a consideration of the ways class, race, and nations use language in the struggle for legitimacy and control.

    Schedule Of Classes

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

English, Writing Minor

For additional programs and courses in this department, see English.

A minimum of 20 credit hours in English, including:

  • ENGL 200 - Gateway: Introduction to English

    ENGL 200 - Gateway: Introduction to English

    4.00 credit hours

    This gateway course introduces critical and creative methods with a focus on close reading and effective writing. Theoretical and imaginative approaches are explored and practice given in reading, writing and analyzing a variety of texts. Students are introduced to disciplinary conventions and basic research strategies in English.

    Schedule Of Classes

    • Eight credit hours of English Writing at the 200-level
    • Four credit hours of English Writing at the 300-level
    • One additional course in English Writing or Literature at the 300-level or above

English, Literature, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see English.

A minimum of 42 credit hours to include:

Core Courses

  • ENGL 200 - Gateway: Introduction to English

    ENGL 200 - Gateway: Introduction to English

    4.00 credit hours

    This gateway course introduces critical and creative methods with a focus on close reading and effective writing. Theoretical and imaginative approaches are explored and practice given in reading, writing and analyzing a variety of texts. Students are introduced to disciplinary conventions and basic research strategies in English.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 272 - English Grammar, Usage and Style

    ENGL 272 - English Grammar, Usage and Style

    2.00 credit hours

    Students explore the rules native English speakers employ in daily language use. Drawing on grammatical theories, the focus is on sentence structures and the classification of words. Students examine rhetorical grammar and issues of "correctness," learning skills for analyzing sentences.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 492 - Capstone Seminar in English

    ENGL 492 - Capstone Seminar in English

    4.00 credit hours

    All majors in English or English-Writing complete a capstone seminar. Following reflection on what was learned across English courses, students propose and write an extended, professional quality final project. In collaboration with peers, students conduct research, or develop a creative work, then draw on habits of mind and skills as they produce a thesis or project. All students present this work publically. Students also consider what it means to be a professional in the discipline, exploring ethical dimensions of work as they plan for life after graduation.

    Schedule Of Classes

Thematic Courses

One course from each of the following designations:

Literature Across Time

  • ENGL 202 - British Literature to 17th Century: Beowulf and Milton

    ENGL 202 - British Literature to 17th Century: Beowulf and Milton

    4.00 credit hours

    Close reading focused on Continental traditions and socio-political contexts that influenced Beowulf, di Pizan, Chaucer, Spencer, Shakespeare, Milton and more. Students trace the figure of the monster in literature produced between the 8th–17th centuries.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 204 - Literature and Culture of the Long 18th Century

    ENGL 204 - Literature and Culture of the Long 18th Century

    4.00 credit hours

    Students study texts before and just after the so-called "Age of Reason," from the late 17th to early 19th centuries, in both British and Early American contexts. Focus on the rise of individualism, science and colonial expansion, with slavery and genocide in its wake. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 206 - British Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 206 - British Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore 19th–21st century texts, a time of contradictions, with progress in science, industry, the expansion and then losses of the British Empire, and the rise of democratic movements (suffrage, labor, anti-imperial resistance) in and beyond England. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 208 - American Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 208 - American Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore 19th–21st century American literature and culture through a survey of poets, essayists, fiction writers, playwrights and filmmakers who grappled with principles and practices of American democracy. Romantic, realist, modern and postmodern writers offer diverse perspectives on what it means to live in relation to the promise of "we the people."

    Schedule Of Classes

World Literatures

  • ENGL 222 - Global Literature

    ENGL 222 - Global Literature

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore literature from the erstwhile colonies in South Asia, Africa and Australia to examine the relation between representation and nationalism. Students focus in particular on identity, gender, resistance and reconciliation.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 322 - Cosmopolitan 20th–21st Century England: Global Identities in British Literature and Culture

    ENGL 322 - Cosmopolitan 20th–21st Century England: Global Identities in British Literature and Culture

    4.00 credit hours

    Students focus on British literature after WWII. The world wars and the Kinder Transport; Cold War and defections from the former U.S.S.R.; the rise of the U.S. as a global superpower as England's empire faded; and the immigration of populations from former colonies—all profoundly affect England's identity. Students explore the literature, theatre, dance and films produced by these new generations of immigrant British as they negotiate their dual heritage. World Literatures.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 390 - Special Topics

    ENGL 390 - Special Topics

    4.00 credit hours

    Topics vary depending on instructor, but may focus on a single writer; a theorist or theoretical perspective; a period of time and place. If writing-focused, varying topics such as hybrid and digital genres; the rise of the chapbook; writing Y.A. fiction; novella writing; the ethics of workplace writing; truth in writing in an age of "fake" media, and so on. If language-focused, varying topics such as language and gender, language in politics, education or media; or a consideration of the ways class, race and nations use language in the struggle for legitimacy and control.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    4.00 credit hours

    Students examine postcolonial rewritings of European and indigenous texts and genres to examine how changes in the cultural and political context affect aesthetic choices. Students experience a number of challenging literary and theoretical texts.

    Schedule Of Classes

Writing and Rhetoric

  • ENGL 212 - Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies: Text/Technologies

    ENGL 212 - Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies: Text/Technologies

    4.00 credit hours

    Students examine theoretical, stylistic and ethical issues connected with writing in various rhetorical situations, including digital environments. Focus on writing about ethically charged issues such as artificial intelligence, digital technology, biotechnology and transhumanism.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 214 - Graphic Narratives

    ENGL 214 - Graphic Narratives

    4.00 credit hours

    An introduction to foundational concepts in visual design, narrative structure and multimodality. From 1200 AD to the present, illuminated manuscripts, broadsides, comic books and websites have combined words and images, playing a part in literature and pop culture. Students explore the history of the word/image interface through critical and creative work.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 250 - Writing for Social Change

    ENGL 250 - Writing for Social Change

    4.00 credit hours

    A workshop-based writing course emphasizing the close reading and production of equity-minded texts that challenge existing power structures. Studying writing of social change movements of the past, students learn the arts of writing to change the world through individual and collaboratively designed projects for publics. Writing and Rhetoric.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 280 - Introduction to Professional Writing

    ENGL 280 - Introduction to Professional Writing

    4.00 credit hours

    Using a reader-centered approach, students are introduced to strategies for writing effectively in the workplace. Rhetorical theories and practices join multimodal writing and presentation skills to help students transfer from school-to-work contexts.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 312 - Multimedia Authoring

    ENGL 312 - Multimedia Authoring

    4.00 credit hours

    Students focus on writing for computer-based media and engage new rhetoric of information technology. Emphasis is on learning not just a particular application, but understanding theoretical and practical skills in interface and narrative design; typography; layout; color; imagery; and media integration. Students work collaboratively and present their final projects. Writing and Rhetoric.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 314 - Writing Commentary and Cultural Criticism: The Public Intellectual

    ENGL 314 - Writing Commentary and Cultural Criticism: The Public Intellectual

    4.00 credit hours

    A workshop-based public and professional writing course for student-critics who want to learn the art and craft of opinion commentary for publication. Reading for content and craft, students propose, pitch, write and edit shorter, timely pieces such as op-eds, first person essays, humor/satire, polemics, jeremiads and arts or other reviews, as well as longer essays of cultural criticism. Writing and rhetoric.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 390 - Special Topics

    ENGL 390 - Special Topics

    4.00 credit hours

    Topics vary depending on instructor, but may focus on a single writer; a theorist or theoretical perspective; a period of time and place. If writing-focused, varying topics such as hybrid and digital genres; the rise of the chapbook; writing Y.A. fiction; novella writing; the ethics of workplace writing; truth in writing in an age of "fake" media, and so on. If language-focused, varying topics such as language and gender, language in politics, education or media; or a consideration of the ways class, race and nations use language in the struggle for legitimacy and control.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 412 - Persuasion

    ENGL 412 - Persuasion

    4.00 credit hours

    Intensive study in the ways people aim to persuade one another in different contexts, recognizing that audiences and situations are multiplied by technology. Students critique current presentation techniques with attention to how each succeeds or fails. The class collaboratively creates multimodal projects for real- world purposes such as a personal or professional website, persuasive video or audio essay; promotional project for local advocacy group or public performance. Formal presentations follow inquiry-guided research.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 414 - Classical Rhetoric and Democracy in Composition

    ENGL 414 - Classical Rhetoric and Democracy in Composition

    4.00 credit hours

    The origin and development of the arts of rhetoric from the Greek Sophists through Aristotle, through Cicero and Quintilian, to the Medieval trivium. The second half of the course turns to the renewed flourishing of the liberal arts and later reemergence of democracies around the world. Students consider what it means to read, write and speak as ethical citizens who hope to nurture and sustain democratic values.

    Schedule Of Classes

Identity and Culture

  • ENGL 232 - Black Narrative

    ENGL 232 - Black Narrative

    4.00 credit hours

    From slave narratives to folk tales to fiction, storytelling has played a role in asserting the value of black lives and challenging oppression. Students examine black narratives as channels for creative expression and social intervention. Discussions focus on how historical contexts and literary traditions interact; how racism shapes the social map and personal experience; and how gender, sexuality and class intersect.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore gender's place in literature from a variety of cultures, time periods and genres. Discussions focus on representations of gender; how creative writing links to political work to challenge inequality; how writers interrogate the category "woman"; and how gender intersects with race, class, sexuality and religion.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 332 - Multicultural American Literature

    ENGL 332 - Multicultural American Literature

    4.00 credit hours

    Emerging from a history of colonization, slavery and mass immigration, American culture is multiple and its literary landscape diverse. Students explore that diversity through the works of Latinx, Asian-American, African-American and/or Indigenous writers, examining the complexity of "American" identity as it is defined and contested. What happens when different cultures collide? How do historical, linguistic, philosophical and artistic traditions shape literary form and content? Culture and Identity.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    4.00 credit hours

    Students examine postcolonial rewritings of European and indigenous texts and genres to examine how changes in the cultural and political context affect aesthetic choices. Students experience a number of challenging literary and theoretical texts.

    Schedule Of Classes

Time Period and Nationality

One course from each of the following designations:

Pre-1800 Literature

  • ENGL 202 - British Literature to 17th Century: Beowulf and Milton

    ENGL 202 - British Literature to 17th Century: Beowulf and Milton

    4.00 credit hours

    Close reading focused on Continental traditions and socio-political contexts that influenced Beowulf, di Pizan, Chaucer, Spencer, Shakespeare, Milton and more. Students trace the figure of the monster in literature produced between the 8th–17th centuries.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 302 - Shakespeare and His Contemporaries

    ENGL 302 - Shakespeare and His Contemporaries

    4.00 credit hours

    An intensive study of the plays and poetry of William Shakespeare. Depending on the instructor, the focus may include Shakespeare's works in relation to the period; world literatures that influenced Early Modern plays; queering Shakespeare; or, Shakespeare's ethics and values in response to the social and political world he and his contemporaries engaged. Other instructors may approach Shakespeare's plays in relation to their more recent representations in film, or on television or stage. Credit may not be earned for both ENGL*304 AND ENGL*302.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 402 - Seminar in Selected Writers and Topics in Literature

    ENGL 402 - Seminar in Selected Writers and Topics in Literature

    4.00 credit hours

    An intensive study of (a) selected writer(s) and topics in literature. Depending on the instructor, the seminar may focus on a group of writers in an historical period-for example, Latinx novelists or poets of the late 20th-early 21st centuries, or LGBT poetry and novels across time. Other offerings may include non-canonical writers of the 19th century, while others focus on emerging genres such as graphic novels or horror fiction. Whatever the writer(s) or topic(s), this seminar challenges students with rigorous reading and writing, as well as an extensive final research project.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 414 - Classical Rhetoric and Democracy in Composition

    ENGL 414 - Classical Rhetoric and Democracy in Composition

    4.00 credit hours

    The origin and development of the arts of rhetoric from the Greek Sophists through Aristotle, through Cicero and Quintilian, to the Medieval trivium. The second half of the course turns to the renewed flourishing of the liberal arts and later reemergence of democracies around the world. Students consider what it means to read, write and speak as ethical citizens who hope to nurture and sustain democratic values.

    Schedule Of Classes

19th Century Literature

  • ENGL 204 - Literature and Culture of the Long 18th Century

    ENGL 204 - Literature and Culture of the Long 18th Century

    4.00 credit hours

    Students study texts before and just after the so-called "Age of Reason," from the late 17th to early 19th centuries, in both British and Early American contexts. Focus on the rise of individualism, science and colonial expansion, with slavery and genocide in its wake. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 206 - British Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 206 - British Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore 19th–21st century texts, a time of contradictions, with progress in science, industry, the expansion and then losses of the British Empire, and the rise of democratic movements (suffrage, labor, anti-imperial resistance) in and beyond England. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 208 - American Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 208 - American Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore 19th–21st century American literature and culture through a survey of poets, essayists, fiction writers, playwrights and filmmakers who grappled with principles and practices of American democracy. Romantic, realist, modern and postmodern writers offer diverse perspectives on what it means to live in relation to the promise of "we the people."

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore gender's place in literature from a variety of cultures, time periods and genres. Discussions focus on representations of gender; how creative writing links to political work to challenge inequality; how writers interrogate the category "woman"; and how gender intersects with race, class, sexuality and religion.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 308 - American Dreaming

    ENGL 308 - American Dreaming

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore writers and/or topics across 19th–21st American literature and culture. Topics, genres and time periods vary by instructor, but may include themes such as the American Dream; embodiment and social class; a single writer or several studied for comparison and contrast; a movement or school in American literature; a particular region; or a recurring theme such the American Dream, LGBTQ literature or Latinx writers. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 324 - Popular Genres of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 324 - Popular Genres of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Advanced study in literary and cultural studies across time and place. With the rise of mass media comes a proliferation of multimedia pop genres: books, movies, TV shows, video games and memes. The most robust include adventure stories, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, sci-fi, western, post-human and weird tales. Content varies depending on instructor. Identity and Culture.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    4.00 credit hours

    Students examine postcolonial rewritings of European and indigenous texts and genres to examine how changes in the cultural and political context affect aesthetic choices. Students experience a number of challenging literary and theoretical texts.

    Schedule Of Classes

20th-21st Century Literature

  • ENGL 206 - British Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 206 - British Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore 19th–21st century texts, a time of contradictions, with progress in science, industry, the expansion and then losses of the British Empire, and the rise of democratic movements (suffrage, labor, anti-imperial resistance) in and beyond England. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 208 - American Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 208 - American Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore 19th–21st century American literature and culture through a survey of poets, essayists, fiction writers, playwrights and filmmakers who grappled with principles and practices of American democracy. Romantic, realist, modern and postmodern writers offer diverse perspectives on what it means to live in relation to the promise of "we the people."

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore gender's place in literature from a variety of cultures, time periods and genres. Discussions focus on representations of gender; how creative writing links to political work to challenge inequality; how writers interrogate the category "woman"; and how gender intersects with race, class, sexuality and religion.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 308 - American Dreaming

    ENGL 308 - American Dreaming

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore writers and/or topics across 19th–21st American literature and culture. Topics, genres and time periods vary by instructor, but may include themes such as the American Dream; embodiment and social class; a single writer or several studied for comparison and contrast; a movement or school in American literature; a particular region; or a recurring theme such the American Dream, LGBTQ literature or Latinx writers. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 324 - Popular Genres of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 324 - Popular Genres of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Advanced study in literary and cultural studies across time and place. With the rise of mass media comes a proliferation of multimedia pop genres: books, movies, TV shows, video games and memes. The most robust include adventure stories, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, sci-fi, western, post-human and weird tales. Content varies depending on instructor. Identity and Culture.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 404 - The Novel Across Time

    ENGL 404 - The Novel Across Time

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore the novel as a genre with an emphasis on its history, on representations of self, other, nation and on the material history of socio-cultural issues. Course content, region, single or multiple authors, and historical focus varies depending on instructor, though the focus remains the novel—with its champions, critics and profound effects on readers. Literature Across Time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    4.00 credit hours

    Students examine postcolonial rewritings of European and indigenous texts and genres to examine how changes in the cultural and political context affect aesthetic choices. Students experience a number of challenging literary and theoretical texts.

    Schedule Of Classes

American Literature (200-level or above)

  • ENGL 204 - Literature and Culture of the Long 18th Century

    ENGL 204 - Literature and Culture of the Long 18th Century

    4.00 credit hours

    Students study texts before and just after the so-called "Age of Reason," from the late 17th to early 19th centuries, in both British and Early American contexts. Focus on the rise of individualism, science and colonial expansion, with slavery and genocide in its wake. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 208 - American Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 208 - American Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore 19th–21st century American literature and culture through a survey of poets, essayists, fiction writers, playwrights and filmmakers who grappled with principles and practices of American democracy. Romantic, realist, modern and postmodern writers offer diverse perspectives on what it means to live in relation to the promise of "we the people."

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 232 - Black Narrative

    ENGL 232 - Black Narrative

    4.00 credit hours

    From slave narratives to folk tales to fiction, storytelling has played a role in asserting the value of black lives and challenging oppression. Students examine black narratives as channels for creative expression and social intervention. Discussions focus on how historical contexts and literary traditions interact; how racism shapes the social map and personal experience; and how gender, sexuality and class intersect.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore gender's place in literature from a variety of cultures, time periods and genres. Discussions focus on representations of gender; how creative writing links to political work to challenge inequality; how writers interrogate the category "woman"; and how gender intersects with race, class, sexuality and religion.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 308 - American Dreaming

    ENGL 308 - American Dreaming

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore writers and/or topics across 19th–21st American literature and culture. Topics, genres and time periods vary by instructor, but may include themes such as the American Dream; embodiment and social class; a single writer or several studied for comparison and contrast; a movement or school in American literature; a particular region; or a recurring theme such the American Dream, LGBTQ literature or Latinx writers. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 310 - Writers of the Americas in the New Millennium

    ENGL 310 - Writers of the Americas in the New Millennium

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore the literature and culture of the Americas—U.S., Latinx, Caribbean, Canadian and others since 2001. Focus is on novels, poetry or plays concerned with urgent contemporary themes, such as literature and trauma or post-humanism. Subjects vary depending on instructor. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 324 - Popular Genres of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 324 - Popular Genres of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Advanced study in literary and cultural studies across time and place. With the rise of mass media comes a proliferation of multimedia pop genres: books, movies, TV shows, video games and memes. The most robust include adventure stories, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, sci-fi, western, post-human and weird tales. Content varies depending on instructor. Identity and Culture.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 332 - Multicultural American Literature

    ENGL 332 - Multicultural American Literature

    4.00 credit hours

    Emerging from a history of colonization, slavery and mass immigration, American culture is multiple and its literary landscape diverse. Students explore that diversity through the works of Latinx, Asian-American, African-American and/or Indigenous writers, examining the complexity of "American" identity as it is defined and contested. What happens when different cultures collide? How do historical, linguistic, philosophical and artistic traditions shape literary form and content? Culture and Identity.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 404 - The Novel Across Time

    ENGL 404 - The Novel Across Time

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore the novel as a genre with an emphasis on its history, on representations of self, other, nation and on the material history of socio-cultural issues. Course content, region, single or multiple authors, and historical focus varies depending on instructor, though the focus remains the novel—with its champions, critics and profound effects on readers. Literature Across Time.

    Schedule Of Classes

British Literature (200-level or above)

  • ENGL 202 - British Literature to 17th Century: Beowulf and Milton

    ENGL 202 - British Literature to 17th Century: Beowulf and Milton

    4.00 credit hours

    Close reading focused on Continental traditions and socio-political contexts that influenced Beowulf, di Pizan, Chaucer, Spencer, Shakespeare, Milton and more. Students trace the figure of the monster in literature produced between the 8th–17th centuries.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 204 - Literature and Culture of the Long 18th Century

    ENGL 204 - Literature and Culture of the Long 18th Century

    4.00 credit hours

    Students study texts before and just after the so-called "Age of Reason," from the late 17th to early 19th centuries, in both British and Early American contexts. Focus on the rise of individualism, science and colonial expansion, with slavery and genocide in its wake. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 206 - British Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 206 - British Literature and Culture of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore 19th–21st century texts, a time of contradictions, with progress in science, industry, the expansion and then losses of the British Empire, and the rise of democratic movements (suffrage, labor, anti-imperial resistance) in and beyond England. Literature across time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 232 - Black Narrative

    ENGL 232 - Black Narrative

    4.00 credit hours

    From slave narratives to folk tales to fiction, storytelling has played a role in asserting the value of black lives and challenging oppression. Students examine black narratives as channels for creative expression and social intervention. Discussions focus on how historical contexts and literary traditions interact; how racism shapes the social map and personal experience; and how gender, sexuality and class intersect.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    ENGL 234 - Gender and Literary Feminisms

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore gender's place in literature from a variety of cultures, time periods and genres. Discussions focus on representations of gender; how creative writing links to political work to challenge inequality; how writers interrogate the category "woman"; and how gender intersects with race, class, sexuality and religion.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 302 - Shakespeare and His Contemporaries

    ENGL 302 - Shakespeare and His Contemporaries

    4.00 credit hours

    An intensive study of the plays and poetry of William Shakespeare. Depending on the instructor, the focus may include Shakespeare's works in relation to the period; world literatures that influenced Early Modern plays; queering Shakespeare; or, Shakespeare's ethics and values in response to the social and political world he and his contemporaries engaged. Other instructors may approach Shakespeare's plays in relation to their more recent representations in film, or on television or stage. Credit may not be earned for both ENGL*304 AND ENGL*302.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 322 - Cosmopolitan 20th–21st Century England: Global Identities in British Literature and Culture

    ENGL 322 - Cosmopolitan 20th–21st Century England: Global Identities in British Literature and Culture

    4.00 credit hours

    Students focus on British literature after WWII. The world wars and the Kinder Transport; Cold War and defections from the former U.S.S.R.; the rise of the U.S. as a global superpower as England's empire faded; and the immigration of populations from former colonies—all profoundly affect England's identity. Students explore the literature, theatre, dance and films produced by these new generations of immigrant British as they negotiate their dual heritage. World Literatures.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 324 - Popular Genres of the 19th–21st Centuries

    ENGL 324 - Popular Genres of the 19th–21st Centuries

    4.00 credit hours

    Advanced study in literary and cultural studies across time and place. With the rise of mass media comes a proliferation of multimedia pop genres: books, movies, TV shows, video games and memes. The most robust include adventure stories, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, sci-fi, western, post-human and weird tales. Content varies depending on instructor. Identity and Culture.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 402 - Seminar in Selected Writers and Topics in Literature

    ENGL 402 - Seminar in Selected Writers and Topics in Literature

    4.00 credit hours

    An intensive study of (a) selected writer(s) and topics in literature. Depending on the instructor, the seminar may focus on a group of writers in an historical period-for example, Latinx novelists or poets of the late 20th-early 21st centuries, or LGBT poetry and novels across time. Other offerings may include non-canonical writers of the 19th century, while others focus on emerging genres such as graphic novels or horror fiction. Whatever the writer(s) or topic(s), this seminar challenges students with rigorous reading and writing, as well as an extensive final research project.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 404 - The Novel Across Time

    ENGL 404 - The Novel Across Time

    4.00 credit hours

    Students explore the novel as a genre with an emphasis on its history, on representations of self, other, nation and on the material history of socio-cultural issues. Course content, region, single or multiple authors, and historical focus varies depending on instructor, though the focus remains the novel—with its champions, critics and profound effects on readers. Literature Across Time.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    ENGL 424 - Postcolonial Rewriting of Western Texts

    4.00 credit hours

    Students examine postcolonial rewritings of European and indigenous texts and genres to examine how changes in the cultural and political context affect aesthetic choices. Students experience a number of challenging literary and theoretical texts.

    Schedule Of Classes

Theory

Consult with the English Department for an approved list of Theory courses

Note:

*A course may count for more than one designation

Upper Level Electives

  • 8 additional credit hours of elective Literature courses (300-level or above)
  • 8 additional credit hours of elective Literature courses (400-level or above)

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

English, Literature Minor

The Literature minor provides practice and support for students' reading, writing and critical thinking skills. Study Young Adult Fiction, Black Narrative, Detective Fiction or have another go at Shakespeare. This flexible 20 credit hour minor supplements any major with valued and sought-after skills across a range of professions.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see English.

A minimum of 20 credit hours in Literature, including:

  • ENGL 200 - Gateway: Introduction to English

    ENGL 200 - Gateway: Introduction to English

    4.00 credit hours

    This gateway course introduces critical and creative methods with a focus on close reading and effective writing. Theoretical and imaginative approaches are explored and practice given in reading, writing and analyzing a variety of texts. Students are introduced to disciplinary conventions and basic research strategies in English.

    Schedule Of Classes

    • Eight credit hours of 200-level Literature
    • Four credit hours of 300-level Literature
    • Four credit hours of 300- or 400-level Literature

English, Language Arts and Linguistics Minor

For additional programs and courses in this department, see English.

A minimum of 20 credit hours, including:

  • ENGL 270 - Foundations of Language Study

    ENGL 270 - Foundations of Language Study

    4.00 credit hours

    An introduction to linguistic principles through a study of modern English. Students examine approaches to language and linguistics: morphology, syntax, phonetics and phonology and semantics. Child language acquisition, adult second language acquisition and recent developments in neuroscience and computer science are also introduced.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 272 - English Grammar, Usage and Style

    ENGL 272 - English Grammar, Usage and Style

    2.00 credit hours

    Students explore the rules native English speakers employ in daily language use. Drawing on grammatical theories, the focus is on sentence structures and the classification of words. Students examine rhetorical grammar and issues of "correctness," learning skills for analyzing sentences.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 370 - Sociolinguistics: Language/Social Context

    ENGL 370 - Sociolinguistics: Language/Social Context

    4.00 credit hours

    The principles and methods used to study language as a social and cultural phenomenon, examined from the linguistic viewpoint—the search for social explanations for language use—and the social scientific viewpoint analyzing facts about language to illuminate social structure.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 372 - History of the English Language

    ENGL 372 - History of the English Language

    4.00 credit hours

    A study of the external and internal history of the English language from Old English to contemporary English. Students explore the historical evolution of major regional and social varieties of English and examine the question of usage in the context of sociocultural change.

    Schedule Of Classes

Electives

A minimum of six credit hours from the following:

  • ENGL 390 - Special Topics

    ENGL 390 - Special Topics

    4.00 credit hours

    Topics vary depending on instructor, but may focus on a single writer; a theorist or theoretical perspective; a period of time and place. If writing-focused, varying topics such as hybrid and digital genres; the rise of the chapbook; writing Y.A. fiction; novella writing; the ethics of workplace writing; truth in writing in an age of "fake" media, and so on. If language-focused, varying topics such as language and gender, language in politics, education or media; or a consideration of the ways class, race and nations use language in the struggle for legitimacy and control.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • LANG 384 - TESOL Methodologies

    LANG 384 - TESOL Methodologies

    4.00 credit hours

    A review of language teaching methods and classroom materials for English language learners in settings outside U.S. public schools. Methods of teaching listening, speaking, reading and writing skills are presented and practiced, as well as methods of incorporating Anglophone culture in classroom activities. Includes the development, implementation and evaluation of lesson plans and materials. Taught in English.

    Schedule Of Classes

    • Any course from ARAB, CHNS, FREN, GRMN, GREK, JAPN, LATN, SPAN

English, Professional and Technical Writing Minor

The Professional and Technical Writing minor provide students from any major at the College with the multimodal writing and design skills needed to succeed as a writer, communications manager, or STEM and business professional, whatever the workplace.

Drawing on professional and technical writing theories and their practical applications, students learn to create, revise and deliver effective documents and presentations across a range of genres in the sciences, applied health or business environments. Focused on writing persuasively with the needs of real stakeholders in mind, the study of Professional and Technical Writing gives students practice and support in the composing process and in document design, audience/ reader analysis, as well as strategies for collaborative writing, editing and revising and multimodal presentations. Students learn to identify grant funding and develop persuasive funding proposals. Not least, they examine case studies of "wicked problems" in workplaces to identify and solve real-world issues that can be better understood through excellent writer/designer communication.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see English.

A minimum of 20 credit hours, including:

  • ENGL 280 - Introduction to Professional Writing

    ENGL 280 - Introduction to Professional Writing

    4.00 credit hours

    Using a reader-centered approach, students are introduced to strategies for writing effectively in the workplace. Rhetorical theories and practices join multimodal writing and presentation skills to help students transfer from school-to-work contexts.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 282 - Writing in STEM Professions

    ENGL 282 - Writing in STEM Professions

    4.00 credit hours

    An exploration of the conventions, genres and ethical issues involved in writing within STEM fields. Students read field-specific texts to analyze and evaluate effective writing. Workshops and collaborative, multimodal final projects.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 380 - Professional and Grant Writing

    ENGL 380 - Professional and Grant Writing

    4.00 credit hours

    Students study the mechanics of proposal writing and the complex aspects of "grantsmanship" as they develop skills in identifying sources of grant funding, conducting research for applications, and crafting proposals to readers' interests. Other advanced professional writing genres practiced. Collaborative final project.    
     

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 382 - Multimodal Professional and Technical Writing

    ENGL 382 - Multimodal Professional and Technical Writing

    4.00 credit hours

    Students become proficient multimodal media creators, able to analyze, evaluate and revise professional and technical documents. A collaborative final project is developed with any program or office at the College, or with potential community partners.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ENGL 384 - Wicked Writing Problems at Work

    ENGL 384 - Wicked Writing Problems at Work

    4.00 credit hours

    Students examine workplace writing problems, drawing on case studies and researching potential areas of conflict uncertainty, and opportunity for professional writers. Collaborative final project and public presentation.

    Schedule Of Classes

Elective

Two credit hours of English elective in Professional Writing (ENGL 212 - Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies: Text/Technologies is recommended).

English Studies Internships and Jobs

A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead.

Internships

Current students and recent graduates in English have secured internships in:

  • Journalism
  • Technology
  • Podcasting
  • Social Media
  • Non-profits
  • Literary magazines
  • Digital Media
  • Television Production
  • Media Relations
  • Marketing
  • Grant Writing


Graduate Schools

Recent graduates in English have been accepted at:

  • Northwestern University
  • McGill University
  • Loyola University
  • University of Texas
  • University of Minnesota
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Creighton University
  • Butler University
  • University of Montana
  • University of South Dakota
  • West Virginia University

Careers

Recent graduates in English include:

  • Director of marketing and communications, American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, Chicago
  • Art gallery owner, Arnould Gallery, Marblehead, MA
  • Assistant professor of English with an emphasis on digital literacy, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
  • High school teacher at East Aurora High School
  • Administrator for The Center for Cultural Exchange
  • Lawyer at Raymond G. Wigell, Ltd.
  • Senior Associate Defense Attorney
  • Director of Development, TriCity Family Services
  • Associate Director of Writing Center and Lecturer, University of Kansas
  • Advocacy Assistant, Prairie State Legal Services
  • Principal, Brand Partner at Intention
  • Global Manager, Content and Marketing Campaigns, Videojet
  • Managing editor for John Wiley and Sons Publishers
  • Youth Librarian, Glen Ellyn Public Library
  • Associate Editor, Neighborhoods.com
  • Senior Entertainment Relations Officer, Oxfam America
  • International Services Coordinator, UIC

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