Kentucky Wesleyan College
Academic Bulletin

English

The study of English provides students the wisdom and experience which comes through reading great literature; improves students' critical thinking and aesthetic appreciation; increases students' proficiency in speaking, reading and writing; and provides students opportunities to master the content, methodologies and skills in an area of specialization. Thus, English offers students a comprehensive and flexible major for a variety of career fields and pre-professional studies. In addition, English remains a valuable choice as a second major, or as a minor, for students whose main areas of study are in other disciplines.

The English major requires 39 hours to earn a bachelor of arts degree. These hours are distributed among the core requirements, required of all English majors, and the hours necessary to complete an emphasis selected by the student. Students may choose an emphasis in literature, creative writing or business and professional writing. Senior English majors may be invited to undertake a senior honors project and earn the title of English Honors Student. English 4390: Senior Honors Project outlines criteria for this option.

Note: Students who major in English are not required to take English 2300 for General Education credit. Instead, they may apply one survey course in literature towards humanities credit for the General Education program.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN ENGLISH -- 48-58 HOURS (INCLUDING CORE AND SUPPORTING REQUIREMENTS)

In addition to the core requirements, students must complete an emphasis in literature, business and professional writing, or creative writing.

CORE COURSES REQUIRED OF ALL ENGLISH MAJORS -- 21 HOURS

Six hours of 2000 level literature courses in English
Six hours of 3000-4000 level British literature course offerings
Six hours of 3000-4000 level American literature course offerings
Three hours of 3000-4000 level from among non-traditional or world literature

REQUIRED SUPPORTING COURSES --18 HOURS

Demonstration of computer proficiency (0-3 hours)
Demonstration of intermediate proficiency in a foreign language (6-12 hours)
Demonstration of oral communication proficiency: Students may meet this requirement by completing CART 2343 Oral Interpretation of Literature or another course approved by the student's advisor.

LITERATURE EMPHASIS --18 HOURS

Three additional hours of 2000 level literature courses in English
PHIL 3395 History of Philosophy I: Classical & Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 3396 History of Philosophy II: Modern & Contemporary Philosophy
Three hours of 3000-4000 level English from non-traditional or world literatures*
Six hours of electives from 3000-4000 level English courses

Note: Students may count an upper level literature course in a foreign language towards credit for a course in world literatures.

Students who choose the literature emphasis are encouraged to supplement their program by taking additional courses in history, philosophy, communication arts and the fine arts.

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING EMPHASIS -- 19 HOURS

ENG 3345 Topics in Business and Professional Writing
MATH 1400 Probability and Statistics
ART 2377 Basic Photography and Darkroom Techniques
Three hours of computer science beyond Introduction to ComputerS
Six hours of practicum

Students who choose the business and professional writing emphasis are encouraged to complete an additional nine hours from among course offerings in business, the sciences or the social sciences.

CREATIVE WRITING EMPHASIS -- 18 HOURS

Six hours of topics in creative writing courses
Three additional hours from writing course offerings
Six additional hours of 3000-4000 level literature courses
Three hours of practicum or independent study

Students who choose the creative writing emphasis are encouraged to complete additional hours chosen from among course offerings in theatre and the communication arts.

Note: Students who desire teacher certification must complete English 3332 Introduction to Linguistics.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR -- 21 HOURS

Six hours in either British literature survey courses or American literature survey courses
15 hours in upper level English courses

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

English 1301 -- Writing Workshop: Exposition and Rhetoric -- 3 hours.
Intense study of the principles of exposition leading to good writing habits. The course concentrates on diction, sentence patterns, rhetorical structures, and language. Limited in size, classes function as workshops with close individual instruction and frequent writing conferences.

English 1302 -- Writing Workshop: Composition and Investigation -- 3 hours.
Practice and application of writing, editing, and research techniques necessary for college level coursework. In addition to various writing projects, students produce a term investigative essay demonstrating their ability to use both print and electronic resources.

English 2300 -- Approaching Literature -- 3 hours.
Introduction to reading good literature intelligently, appreciatively. Emphasis on basic critical principles applied to outstanding works of literature. Prerequisite: English 1301 and English 1302.

English 2306 -- American Literature Survey -- 3 hours.
A study of significant American writers and survey of American literary traditions from pre-colonial settlement to the present time.

English 2307, 2308 -- English Literature Survey I, II -- 3, 3 hours.
A study of major poets and prose writers accompanied by a survey of the history of British literature from the beginnings to the present.

English 2311 -- Readings in Contemporary Literature -- 3 hours.
Selected readings from twentieth-century literature. The schedule of course offerings will specify the genre that a given section will consider. Recent offerings: ``Life Styles in Contemporary Fiction,'' ``Jewish American Fiction,'' ``Contemporary Southern Writers.''  

English 2320 -- Practical Writing & Editing Skills -- 3 hours.
Intensive application of writing and editing principles and skills to increase mastery of diction, sentence and paragraph patterns, and larger rhetorical units. Class is limited in size and functions as workshop. Intended for transfer students as well as Wesleyan students who seek further development of writing skills. Prerequisite: Eng. 1301 and 1302 or equivalent.

English 2330 -- Readings in World Literature -- 3 hours.
Concentration on some aspect of world literature from ancient times to the present. The schedule of course offerings will specify the geographical origin, period, and genre of literature a given section will treat. 

English 3140-3340 -- Topics in Literature -- 1-3 hours.
Subject matter in the course varies depending on the instructor and student interests. The schedule of course offerings will specify the subject of the course. Recent and current offerings: ``Literature and the Film;'' ``Studies in Black Literature;'' ``20th Century British Fiction.''

English 3145-3345 -- Topics in Business and Professional Writing -- 1-3 hours.
Subjects in this course vary, depending on program and student needs. Typically, topics will include courses or workshops in business and professional writing, editing, technical reports, writing for the health sciences, advanced report writing, public relations writing, and special problems in professional writing.

English 3301 -- Non-Dramatic Literature of the English Renaissance -- 3 hours.
Examination of sixteenth-century non-dramatic literature, concentrating on writings of the humanists, religious controversy, courtly love, popular prose, and voyage literature. Among writers considered are Skelton, More, Wyatt, Surrey, Spenser, Drayton, Shakespeare (the poems), Donne, Jonson, Marvell, Sidney, Lodge, and Bacon.

English 3303 -- Shakespeare -- 3 hours.
A critical reading of at least twelve Shakespeare dramas (chronicles, comedies, tragedies, romances) designed to form a sound basis for understanding Shakespeare's development as England's supreme literary artist.

English 3305 -- Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Literature -- 3 hours.
Poetry, prose fiction, and essay. Emphasizes Dryden, Pope, Swift, Addison, Steele, and Samuel Johnson.

English 3308 -- Romantic Literature -- 3 hours.
The Romantic movement (1780-1832), emphasizing Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, Keats, and prose writers. Interpretation of each writer's most significant work, with attention to historical and literary influences.

English 3309 -- Victorian Literature -- 3 hours.
The Victorian period, emphasizing Tennyson, Browning, Arnold, Hardy, and Hopkins. Consideration also of other influential literary figures such as Swinburne, Macauley, Carlyle, Newman, Mill, Ruskin, Huxley, and Pater.

English 3311 -- Modern British Poetry and Drama -- 3 hours.
Major British poets and dramatists from 1900 to present, emphasizing main currents of contemporary social and aesthetic thought and feeling.

English 3313 -- British Novel -- 3 hours.
Artistic, historical, and analytical study of the British novel from Richardson to the present. Readings and discussion of major novelists and representative works.

English 3315 -- Modern American Poetry -- 3 hours.
American poetry from 1950 to the present, emphasizing contemporary themes, attitudes, and values as reflected in the works of principal poets.

English 3316 -- Modern Native American Literature -- 3 hours.
This course focuses on those writers of the modern period who have contributed to the ``Native American Renaissance,'' from 1930 to the present time. Students will examine ways in which Native Americans have lived in two cultures simultaneously, the ways they have maintained traditional beliefs and practices, the compromises they have made in traditional ways, and the effects of each on Indian peoples.

English 3317 -- American Novel -- 3 hours.
Development of the American novel as a literary form based on reading and study of representative novels from the late eighteenth century to the present, particularly emphasizing the modern period.

English 3321 -- English Drama -- 3 hours.
An historical survey of the development of English drama (exclusive of Shakespeare) from the early miracle, mystery, and morality plays to the present age.

English 3323 -- American Drama -- 3 hours.
Development of American dramatic literature with attention to historical perspective. This course focuses on significant contributions of modern American dramatists to world dramatic literature.

English 3332 -- Introduction to English Linguistics -- 3 hours.
Analysis of the structure of the English language through study of phonemics, morphemics, and an introduction to modern theories of English grammar. Required of all students for Kentucky Commonwealth Teacher Certification in English.

English 3342 -- A Literary Tour of England -- 3 hours.
A tour of literary sites in England during the last two weeks in May. Involves discussion of works by authors whose homes the class will visit, reports, and written work.

English 3346 -- Topics in Creative Writing -- 3 hours.
Practice in types of writing including fiction, poetry, and personal essay. Opportunity to experiment in various literary forms. Selected work by students will be read and discussed in class. Attention to editing and publishing. Qualified students by permission of instructor.

English 3350 -- Women's Literature/Women's Studies -- 3 hours.
This course focuses on a literary examination of women -- the ways the world structures them and the voices that articulate these structures. Students will consider women's history, women's language, women's work, and women's ways of knowing and creating.

English 3390 - The New York City Trip - 3 hours. 
An intensive travel-study course that looks at the city of New York as a writer’s territory. Students will visit key places for writers and literary buffs, but the bulk of the work focuses on researching the city itself. Focus and subject varies depending on instructor and student interest. Topics include, “Travel Writing in New York.”

English 4160-4360 -- Independent Study -- 1-3 hours.
For advanced students, this course might follow the form of (1) a reading course in literature, with individual assignments and conferences, or (2) a special project within any English Emphasis to enrich the student's background in that area. Prerequisite: Consent of chairperson of the Department of English.

English 4310 - Topics in American Literature - 3 hours.
Subject matter in the course varies depending on instructor and student interests. The schedule of course offerings will specify the subject of the course. Offerings include such topics as “The Supernatural in Literature” and “American Expatriates.”

English 4311 -- Major American Writers -- 3 hours.
Comprehensive study of the works of a major figure or figures in American literature. Attention to literary criticism and biographical study as well as consideration of the works. The author or authors to be considered in the course will be announced in the annual schedule of course offerings. Recent and current offerings: ``Melville and Hawthorne''; ``American Transcendentalists''; ``American Naturalists''; ``Hemingway and Fitzgerald''; and ``Faulkner.''

English 4312 -- Major English Writers -- 3 hours.
Comprehensive study of a major figure or figures in English literature, with emphasis on the works, biography, and literary criticism pertaining to the author. The author or authors to be considered in the course will be announced in the schedule of course offerings. Recent and current offerings: ``Chaucer''; ``Arnold, Hardy, and Hopkins''; ``Coleridge''; ``Milton''; and ``Conrad, Lawrence, and Joyce.''

English 4370 -- English Practicum -- 3 hours.
Students majoring in certain Emphases may apply for a Practicum, which enables students to apply in business or professional settings theories and techniques learned in the classroom. Prerequisites: Usually, at least junior standing; completed application (thirty days prior to the practicum semester); approvals from the department, the department chairperson, and the academic dean.

English 4375, 4376 -- Practicum: Cooperating Teacher Program I, II -- 3, 3 hours.
Senior students majoring in English may co-teach two writing workshops in fall and spring semesters. Students in this program also participate fully in weekly staff meetings devoted to writing workshop program review and planning, in a weekly meeting with the faculty co-teacher to apply staff planning to the two workshops, and in reading selected materials designed to enrich the student co-teacher's preparation and understanding of the instructional process. Prerequisites: English 1301-1302 at Kentucky Wesleyan and unanimous election by the department faculty.

English 4380 -- English Internship -- 3-12 hours.
Students majoring in certain emphases may apply for an internship, which enables students to apply in business or professional settings--at advanced levels--theories and techniques learned in the classroom. Prerequisites: Usually, senior standing; successful completion of one English practicum of three hours credit; completed application (thirty days prior to internship semester); approvals from the department, the department chairperson, and the academic dean. (NOTE: Internships normally compensate monetarily the student as if the student were employed by the agency or firm.)

English 4390 -- Senior Honors Projects -- 3 hours.
Senior students majoring in the department are invited to undertake a senior honors project and to earn the title of English Honors Student. Criteria for election to the project include the following: A 3.5 GPA within the major and overall as well, and election by the English faculty. Projects may include research, original work (poems, plays, fiction, criticism, film, photojournalism, radio/TV projects), interpretation of significant works, consideration of significant problems within an Emphasis. A student seeking election to the Honors Project should notify the advisor during the spring of the student's junior year and complete the application form. Students may obtain from the department chairperson the brochure, ``The Senior Honors Project in English.''

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11/10/00
dschmied@kwc.edu