DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
Chair: Sue B. Walker (251-460-6146)
Professors: Walker, White
Associate Professors: Beason, McIver, Payne
Assistant Professors: Coleman, Cohen Comstock, Guzy, Harrington, Hotchkiss, Matheson, McLaughlin, Wellington, West, Zeikowitz
Instructors: Alford, Amare, Nowlin, Spain
Emeritus: Hamner, McDonald, Varnado, Wilson
Department of English web site
Through its focus on the interpretation, analysis, and production of literary and other texts, the English Department teaches students how those texts are shaped by and in turn shape the world around them. In so doing, the Department helps students acquire the critical skills they need to analyze and participate in these interactions and contribute to the shaping of their worlds. The faculty’s teaching and research in literature, creative writing, and composition/rhetoric combine to foster excellence in critical reading, creative thinking, and effective writing.
For all students, the Department provides the composition skills essential for success at the University and offers courses introducing the cultural diversity and historical breadth of British, American, and world literatures. For students majoring or minoring in English, the Department teaches critical strategies needed for intensive study in creative writing, professional writing, and in diverse literatures in English. For students pursuing graduate study in English, the Department provides advanced training in creative writing, literary analysis, rhetoric, methods of scholarly research, and critical theory. In all cases, by asking students to read, discuss, and write about a wide variety of texts, the Department promotes an inclusive and evolving understanding of English Studies.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN ENGLISH
A minimum of 36 semester hours, exclusive of freshman English. The British survey courses (EH 215 and 216) are required of all majors. The two American Literature Survey courses (EH 225 and 226) and the two World Literature courses (EH 235 and 236) may be used in fulfilling the 36 hour minimum. Remaining hours must come from courses at the 300 level or above and must include:

1.	Two courses in literature prior to 1660. (EH 311, EH 321, EH 322, EH 323, EH 324, EH 460, EH 461, EH 465, EH 467, EH 470, EH 471, EH 472)
2.	Two courses in British or American literature from 1660-1900. (EH 331, EH 332, EH 334, EH 340, EH 342, EH 343, EH 351, EH 352, EH 353, EH 354, EH, 462, EH 474, EH 475)
3.	Two courses in twentieth-century literature. (EH 360, EH 361,EH 367, EH 368, EH 463, EH 468, EH 476, EH 478, EH 479)
4.	One literary criticism course, EH 421 or 422.
5.	A minimum of three courses at the 400-level, which may include courses also used to satisfy requirements 1-3, but not requirement 4. Appropriate seminar and “Studies in” courses can serve to fulfill these period requirements.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGLISH MAJORS

General Education Requirements for English are specified on the College of Arts and Sciences section. Note that Area II requirements are partially satisfied and Sequence Requirement fully satisfied by the major requirements specified above.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN ENGLISH WITH A CONCENTRATION IN CREATIVE WRITING

A minimum of 36 semester hours in English, exclusive of freshman English. The two British survey courses (215-216) are required. Remaining hours must include:

1.	Five creative writing courses. Choose from: EH 391, EH 392, EH 395, EH 396, EH 483-EH 488.
2.	Five literature courses at the 300 level or above, including an American novel course (EH 331 or EH 361) and a Shakespeare course (EH 322, EH 323, or EH 472). Choose remaining three literature courses from EH 300 and/or 400 level except EH 391, EH 392, EH 395, EH 396, EH 483-EH 488. Appropriate seminar and “Studies in” courses can serve to fulfill these requirements.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGLISH MAJORS

General Education Requirements for English with a concentration in creative writing are specified on the College of Arts and Sciences section. Note that Area II requirements are partially satisfied and Sequence Requirement fully satisfied by the major requirements specified above.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN ENGLISH

A minimum of 21 semester hours in English, exclusive of freshman English. The minor requires at least four courses at the 300 level or above.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN ENGLISH: PROFESSIONAL WRITING

The minor in English: Professional Writing provides students with the conceptual foundations and hands-on practice necessary for communicating and writing proficiently in technical and professional contexts. The minor is intended to prepare students for producing the forms of writing they will encounter in the workplace (feasibility studies, technical reports, business letters, and grants, for example), and to provide a broad understanding of the rhetorical dimensions of written communication, especially non-academic texts.

Requirements (21 hours)

Core Courses (9 hours):

1.	EH 372: Technical Writing (W) or EH 373: Writing in the Professions
	(W) EH 402: Rhetoric: Ancient & Modern (W) EH 481: Studies in Composition/Rhetoric (W)
2.	One of the following (3 hours):
	EH 371: Approaches to English Grammar (W) EH 372: Technical Writing (W) or EH 373: Writing in the Professions (W)* EH 401: Theory & Practice in Composition (W) EH 403: Art of the Essay EH 496: Professional Studies Internship
3.	Three additional 300- or 400-level English courses (9 hours):

Including but not limited to courses in the second section above.

*Students can take either or both of these two courses.

GRADUATE STUDIES

The Master of Arts degree program in English is designed to meet the needs both of students pursuing a terminal M.A. and those planning to work toward the Ph.D. and a career in university teaching. The terminal MA serves such career tracks as junior college or secondary-school teaching and writing or editing in the business or corporate community. Creative writers find the degree meaningful in careers both in and out of the academic community.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Students are admitted each semester. The following criteria supplement the Graduate School criteria (see Categories of Admission):

REGULAR ADMISSION

1.	For the Literature Concentration, an under- graduate major in English or at least 30 semester hours of course work in English beyond the freshman level. For the Creative Writing Concentration, at least 15 semester hours of course work in English beyond the freshman level.*
2.	A minimum GPA of 3.0 in junior and senior level courses presented in fulfillment of requirement 1.
3.	A score of at least 500 on the Verbal subtest of the GRE General Test.
4.	For applicants for whom English is a second language, a TOEFL score of at least 535 and a personal statement of no more than 500 words in their own handwriting outlining their interest in and goals for pursuing a master’s degree in English, an exercise that must be acceptable to the English Department’s Graduate Committee.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION

1.	For the Literature Concentration, a minor in English or at least 21 semester hours of course work in English beyond the freshman level, at least 12 of these hours in upper-division literature courses. Students lacking the literature component can qualify by completing additional upper-division courses in literature. For the Creative Writing Concentration, 15 semester hours of course work in English beyond the freshman level.* Provisional Admission with fewer semester hours than those stipulated requires specific approval of the Department’s Graduate Committee.
2.	A minimum GPA of 2.50 in junior and senior level courses presented in fulfillment of requirement 1.
3.	Applicants presenting a score of less than 500 on the Verbal subtest of the GRE General Test must enter in the Provisional category. Applicants may also be admitted provisionally without submitting a score, but one must be submitted before the student can advance to Regular Status.
4.	Same as requirement 4 for Regular Admission.

Students admitted provisionally may be required to make up deficiencies in their under-graduate course work in addition to the normal degree requirements listed below.

*Students must specify their concentration at the time of application and may not thereafter change concentrations without the specific approval of the English Department’s Graduate Committee.

NON-DEGREE ADMISSION

Applicants for non-degree status in English will normally be admitted only if they meet admission standards for provisional admission. That is, they must have a 2.5 GPA overall and in junior- and senior-level courses presented to meet the 21 hour (15 hours for creative writing) course work in English requirement. Following admission, non-degree students must have the permission of the Department Chair and the Director of Graduate Studies of the College for each course in which they wish to enroll. Enrollment will be on a space available basis with preference being given to degree students. Non-degree students must satisfy the same prerequisites as degree students to enroll in a course. Non-degree students may not enroll in directed studies courses.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS

The English Department awards both teaching assistantships and research assistantships. Teaching assistantships involve responsibility for freshman composition classes. Graduate students holding research assistantships are usually assigned tasks involving tutoring, research, editing, or administrative/clerical tasks. Awards are normally made for the academic year; occasionally, assistantships become available for Spring Semester. Applications are taken continuously; competition for appointments begins in May for the following year. See Coordinator for information and application. (See also Bulletin section on Graduate School, “Assistantships and Fellowships.”)

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREE

During the second semester in the program, each student must submit an individual plan of study with regard to adequate coverage of British and American literature, literary theory, language, development of writing skills, and the student’s individual needs and objectives. The plan must be approved by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in English.

1.	Concentration in British and American Literature

	a.	A minimum of thirty-six semester hours of credit is required beyond the bachelor’s degree with a grade of “A” or “B”, to include EH 501, Intro to Literary Theory, in the first year of course work, two courses from literary periods pre-1800, and two courses from literary periods post-1800. No more than twelve semester hours selected from the 400-level English courses may be used to meet the requirement of a minimum of thirty-six hours.
	b.	Comprehensive examination options now include a written exam, a thesis with oral exam, and a writing portfolio with oral exam. Please contact the coordinator of Graduate Studies for information.
	c.	Demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language is required (see 4 below).

2.	Concentration in Creative Writing

	a.	Thesis with oral exam option: A minimum of thirty-six hours credit in English course work, to include twenty-one hours of courses in literature, and fifteen hours of courses in writing, is required beyond the bachelor’s degree with a grade of A or B. No more than twelve semester hours selected from 400-level English courses may be used to meet the requirement of thirty-six hours minimum. The required thesis (six hours thesis credit to be granted on successful completion and oral defense of the thesis) will serve as the student’s exit evaluation along with an oral examination.
		Written and Thesis option: A minimum of thirty hours credit in English course work, to include eighteen hours of courses in literature and twelve hours of courses in writing, along with six hours of thesis credits to be granted on the successful completion and defense of the thesis, are required beyond the bachelor’s degree with a grade of A or B. No more than twelve semester hours selected from 400-level English courses may be used to meet the requirement of thirty hours minimum. At least one semester before graduation, students pursuing this option must pass one-half of the written comprehensive examination as described under the literature concentration.
	b.	Students may concentrate on fiction, non-fiction, or poetry writing.
	c.	This concentration is offered only as a thesis degree. For the thesis, a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry is required.
	d.	An oral defense of the thesis will be required at least four weeks prior to the anticipated graduation date. (For final submission of the thesis to the Graduate School, see the Bulletin section on General Information.)
	e.	At least one semester before graduation, students must pass a written comprehensive examination, normally offered between semesters, based on a uniform study guide suggesting representative works in the field of literature and literary criticism. The study guide should be obtained from the English Graduate Coordinator as soon as the student enrolls in the MA program. A student who fails the examination may retake the failed sections after six months have elapsed from the date of the first examination. The comprehensive examination may be taken only twice and must be passed in its entirety.
	f.	Demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language is required (see 4 listed below).

3.	MA in English with Alabama Class-A Professional Teaching Certification.

	Students holding Class-B Professional Teaching Certification may, in many cases, complete the regular graduate program in English with the literature emphasis in order to qualify for Class-A certification. Most students with an undergraduate degree in education will already have taken those education courses required for certification.
	Upon admission, however, all students planning to pursue this certification must have their transcripts reviewed by the records specialist in education in order to ascertain whether the education requirements have been met or will require further course work in education. Up to nine semester hours in education at the graduate level may be incorporated into the literature emphasis as electives.

4.	Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement

	All students pursuing the MA in English must demonstrate a reading proficiency in Spanish, French, German, or Latin before registering for the comprehensive exam. Foreign nationals for whom English is not native may offer their native language. Credit in reading courses in acceptable languages may not count toward the 36 hour credit requirement for the MA in English.

DESCRIPTION OF ALL ENGLISH (EH) COURSES

Department of Arts and Sciences