Language Arts Education (B.A., B.S.)
Departments/Programs:
| Required Courses in English | 30 hours |
|---|---|
| ENG 100 Introduction to Textual Studies | 3 hours |
| ENG 101 Masterpieces of Literature | 3 hours |
| ENG 107 Literature of the U.S.: To 1865 or ENG 108 Literature of the U.S.: Since 1865 |
3 hours |
| ENG 105 British Literature: To 1800 or ENG 106 British Literature: Since 1800 |
3 hours |
| ENG 110 Advanced Composition | 3 hours |
| ENG 151 Introduction to Linguistics | 3 hours |
| ENG 200 Shakespeare | 3 hours |
| Creative Writing (choose one of the following): |
3 hours |
| Origins of English Language & Rhetoric (choose two of the following): |
6 hours |
| Required Courses in Communication | 12 hours |
|---|---|
| COMM 001 Fundamentals of Communication | 3 hours |
| COMM 040 Interpersonal Communication | 3 hours |
| COMM 130 Communication Theory | 4 hours |
| COMM 155 Mass Media | 3 hours |
| Required Courses in Theatre Arts | 17-19 hours |
|---|---|
| THTRE 001 Theatre Appreciation | 3 hours |
| THTRE 030 Stagecraft | 3 hours |
| THTRE 155 Directing I | 3 hours |
| THTRE 255 Directing II | 3 hours |
| THTRE 007 Acting I or THTRE 017 Practicum: Acting |
1-3 hours |
| THTRE 080 Approaching Scenography | 3 hours |
| THTRE 010 Practicum: Stagecraft | 1 hours |
| Additional Required Courses in Language Arts | 10 hours |
|---|---|
| EDUC 239 Methods for Teaching Reading and Writing in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 hours |
| JOURN 161 News Reporting | 3 hours |
| JOURN 169 Journalism Laboratory | 1 hours |
| Journ electives (select from the following): |
3 hours |
| Required Methods Courses | 9 hours |
|---|---|
| EDUC 169 Learning Resources for Young Adults or ENG 169 Learning Resources for Young Adults |
3 hours |
| EDUC 224 Methods for Teaching Communication and Theatre Arts in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 hours |
| EDUC 260 Methods for Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Grades | 1-3 hours |
| Senior Comprehensive: | |
|---|---|
| EDUC 287 Supervised Teaching in the Secondary School | 1 hours |
| EDUC 299 Student Teaching Seminar | 1 hours |
This course is designed to equip new English majors and minors with the textual expertise and vocabulary needed for the analysis and discussion of various texts. It will cover English prosody (including meter, sounds patterns, and traditional closed forms), and the technical vocabulary appropriate to the discussion of fiction and drama.
An introductory course designed to help students appreciate the literary record of human relationships with nature, the supernatural, and each other. Each course examines a particular question or condition as it is represented in a restricted number of literary works, with core readings from the Bible, Greek or Roman classical literature, Shakespeare, literature by women, and literature by writers of color. Current offerings include the following:
Encountering Others This course looks at texts that represent moments of contact, conflict, or exchange between different cultures, or between a society and those individuals the society has designated as 'different' in some crucial way.
Coming of Age-Becoming Women, Becoming Men This course looks at texts that represent the forces and processes that are part of maturation, especially those related to gender identity. This course focuses on gender issues and includes feminist perspectives. Note: This course also counts for Gender Studies credit.
Families and Relationships This course will examine how writers from different historical eras and cultural contexts write about family, in every sense of that word. Writing the Self 'Who am I?' This is the quintessential question that all human beings ask. This course examines how writers from different historical eras and cultural contexts use various narrative strategies to construct a sense of self. We will also examine numerous theories that seek to explain what constitutes the 'I' that locates the self as a palpable center of self-awareness, as well as how genre influences the accounting of personal history.
Sexualities This course is designed to help students appreciate the literary record of romantic relationships. Specifically, the course will explore how writers from different historical periods and cultural milieus address the issue of human sexuality. Note: same-sex relationships will be routinely read about and discussed in the class. Note: This course also counts for Gender Studies credit.
Law and Justice The courtroom is a place where one's telling and interpretation of stories can mean the difference between life and death, so the analysis of literature and the practice of the law are already intertwined. This course explores the connection further by focusing on literary works that deal with the principle of justice and the application of law.
Revolution This course looks at texts that represent moments of sudden change, upheaval, and transformation, both within societies and within individuals.
Religion and Spirituality Religion is a virtually universal constant in recorded human history, but with answers of different religions to humankind's big questions have varied enormously. What is the origin and purpose of evil? What is death? What things should be held sacred? What is the nature of the divine? How should we treat other people - and should we distinguish between those who share our beliefs and those who do not? This course will study some of the ways these questions have been answered, from most ancient times to the present.
The Environment How are nature and the natural world imagined through literary texts? In the western tradition, "nature" is usually considered separate from humanity - a passive landscape designed to be dominated and used by humans for human purposes. What is the origin of this cultural attitude? What alternative views do we find in the history of western literature? What does the literary record of nature look like in some non-western cultural traditions? Is nature best understood as a universal category apart from human culture or is the idea of nature created by human culture? This course will explore such questions by reading texts from different eras and cultural traditions.
War Virtually every culture has experienced war, and cultures often define and understand themselves through the memories of their wars. Literature about war, from western civilization's founding epic, Homer's Iliad, to blogs maintained by contemporary soldiers, provides us with not only some of our most memorable images of courage, loyalty, and self-sacrifice, but also compelling evidence of war's cruelty, horror, and senselessness; its themes encompass both enormous historical and cultural change and the most intimate, personal suffering.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing.
A survey course providing a historical perspective on the culture of the U.S. through the study of its literature from the colonial beginnings to the Civil War.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing and a Masterpieces of Literature course (ENG 101 Masterpieces of Literature, HIST 116 Western Civilization through Literature, MLANG 134 Masterpieces of European Literature, or THTRE 101 Masterpieces of Dramatic Literature).
A survey course providing a historical perspective on the culture of the U.S. through the study of its literature from the Civil War to the present.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing and a Masterpieces of Literature course (ENG 101 Masterpieces of Literature, HIST 116 Western Civilization through Literature, MLANG 134 Masterpieces of European Literature, or THTRE 101 Masterpieces of Dramatic Literature).
A survey of British literature is designed as a foundation course for majors. Its aim is to provide a historical perspective of British writers and genres, from the Anglo-Saxon beginnings to the end of the Neoclassic era.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing and a Masterpieces of Literature course (ENG 101 Masterpieces of Literature, HIST 116 Western Civilization through Literature, MLANG 134 Masterpieces of European Literature, or THTRE 101 Masterpieces of Dramatic Literature).
A survey of British literature designed as a foundation course for majors. Its aim is to provide a historical perspective of British writers and genres, from the beginnings of the Romantic Movement to the present.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing and a Masterpieces of Literature course (ENG 101 Masterpieces of Literature, HIST 116 Western Civilization through Literature, MLANG 134 Masterpieces of European Literature, or THTRE 101 Masterpieces of Dramatic Literature).
The focus of this course is on the writing process and its product, the central activity being to study the effects of writing on both writer and reader. The course is conducted as a workshop in which students read their own compositions to the class and respond to the compositions of their classmates.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing.
Students study principles of linguistic analysis and survey various theories of English grammar. Topics include: English phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and subfields of linguistics such as: sociolinguistics (regional and ethnic dialects, issues of gender), historical linguistics, and psycholinguistics (language acquisition, language and the brain).
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing and sophomore standing.
A systematic study of the outstanding literary artist of the English language: comedies, tragedies, and historical plays.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing and ENG 100 Introduction to Textual Studies or [course:THTR-002=l} and junior standing.
An introduction to the writing of fiction with an emphasis upon a variety of forms, techniques, and narrative voices. Discussion of student writing will take place in a workshop setting.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing or permission of the instructor.
An introduction to the writing of poetry with an emphasis upon a variety of forms and techniques. Discussion of student writing will take place in a workshop setting.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing or permission of the instructor.
An advanced course in the writing of fiction within a continued emphasis on a variety of forms, techniques, and narrative voices. Discussion of student writing will take place in a workshop setting. Specific topics will vary by semester. Course may be repeated for credit with the permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 117 Fiction Writing or permission of the instructor.
An advanced course in the writing of poetry with a continued emphasis on a variety of forms and techniques. Discussion of student writing will take place in a workshop setting. Specific topics will vary by semester. Course may be repeated for credit with the permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 119 Poetry Writing or permission of the instructor.
An introductory course in the historical and grammatical development of Modern English from Old English and Middle English.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing and sophomore standing.
Students will study the early history of rhetoric, drawing upon the Greek and Roman traditions and those of at least one additional culture. Students will focus on the major tenets of these rhetorical traditions, enabling them to analyze a variety of texts from multiple cultural perspectives.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing and sophomore standing.
A course in which students will concentrate in depth on one subfield or topic in the domain of linguistics. The particular subject will be determined each time the course is offered.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing, ENG 100 Introduction to Textual Studies and one 100-level language theory course.
(Normally offered every other year.)
A course in which students will concentrate in depth on one topic within the domain of rhetoric. The particular subject will be determined each time the course is offered.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 001 English Language and Writing, ENG 100 Introduction to Textual Studies and one 100-level language theory course.
(Normally offered every other year.)
This course is designed to help students develop the skills necessary to effectively communicate in a variety of settings. The course will focus on a broad base of communication concepts and skills and offer students the opportunity to apply those skills. Students will explore several models of communication, including: invitational, persuasive and dialogic. Once they have developed an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of effective communication, students will develop the skills necessary to overcome the anxiety associated with public speaking, analyze audience needs, prepare effective speeches, deliver engaging speeches, better participate in small group discussions, and improve listening and response skills.
An introductory study of theories, models, and key variables of communication within the context of interpersonal relationships. Using primarily an experiential approach, the course covers topics including verbal and nonverbal processes, listening and feedback, communication competence, and goals.
This course is intended to serve as a general introduction for majors and interested students to the theories and research questions investigated by social scientists interested in the processes of human communication.
A study of the development of types of media including books, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and film. The interaction of these media and their impact on society and the individual are included.
The basic course in theatre. The appreciation of theatre is facilitated by units in the history of theatre, acting, directing, dramatic literature, and technical theatre. Does not count toward Theatre Arts major or minor.
(Normally offered each semester.)
A course introducing students to all technical aspects of theatre production including scenery, properties, lighting, sound, makeup, and costuming. Particular emphasis is placed on practical knowledge of scenery, property construction techniques, and the materials used. Students must participate in a laboratory theatre experience.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)
A study of the theories and techniques of directing. Students will direct several short scenes.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 002 Script Analysis, THTRE 007 Acting I, and THTRE 030 Stagecraft.
Students will direct under supervision a one-act play or (with instructor's permission) a full-length play. This course may be repeated.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 002 Script Analysis, THTRE 007 Acting I,THTRE 030 Stagecraft, THTRE 107 Acting II, and THTRE 155 Directing I.
This introductory acting course focuses on building physical, vocal, intellectual, and intuitive foundations for actors. Through discovery exercises, students increase their awareness of the fundamentals of contemporary acting and apply these concepts to monologue and scene work.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)
Students earn credit for learning acting techniques and character portrayal while working on theatre productions under direct faculty supervision. Registration in the course does not guarantee casting.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.
This is an introductory course in the theory and practice of scenography for the theatre. The primary goal of this class is to provide access to terms, concepts, and design principle applications for theatrical scenery, costume, and lighting design.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)
Students earn credit for learning costume construction and maintenance, and learning theatrical lighting by working on theatre productions under direct faculty supervision.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 030 Stagecraft and permission of the Director of Technical Theatre. Open to Language Arts Education majors only.
A course focusing on the methodology, processes, and content of reading and writing at the secondary school level. Particular attention is given to strategies effective in teaching developmental reading and writing, content area reading and writing, and basic skills in diagnosis and remediation. Laboratory experiences are provided.
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Teacher Education Program or permission of the department chair.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)
An introductory course in journalism concentrating upon basic techniques of news gathering and writing, including a basic history of news media.
Working session during which staff members produce the weekly newspaper, The Reveille. May be repeated. Credit is limited to 4 hours.
Pass/Fail only.
Analysis of and practice in writing news feature stories for a variety of publications. The course will stress audience appraisal, interviewing, and research.
Study and practice of various print-media production skills including typography, layout design, and printing techniques. Students will learn several pagination and design computer programs.
On-the-job training with a newspaper or other sponsor involved with communications. Work may include writing, photography, or production. Each internship will be designed individually to benefit both student and sponsor. Sponsors may be secured either by the student or by the department.
Pass/Fail only.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.
A survey study of instructional materials of special interest to the junior and senior high school age. Examination of various sources of print and nonprint materials. Includes bibliotherapy, book-talk techniques, notable authors/producers, and prize winning materials. Discussion of censorship, controversial issues, selection criteria, and the tools to keep abreast of the field.
See EDUC 169 Learning Resources for Young Adults.
A survey of the methods for teaching communication in the classroom and of directing extracurricular activities.
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Teacher Education Program or permission of the department chair.
A diagnostic view of all elements pertinent to teaching English in middle and secondary schools. Strong practical emphasis will be placed on the proportional and organized development of middle and secondary English courses, realistic presentation of materials, and the practical and varied methods of testing appropriate to such courses.
Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Teacher Education Program or permission of the department chair.
Students work with one or more regular teachers in a secondary school. They attend the student teaching seminar and conference with their college supervisor as directed.
Prerequisite(s): Completion of preliminary student teaching requirements or approval of the department chair.
A capstone course that meets biweekly for two hours to focus on two areas: first, to provide a structured and safe environment to dialogue about student teaching successes and concerns; and second, invited speakers, students and the instructor will discuss topics most pertinent to student teaching, how to obtain a teaching position, and critical issues for the beginning teacher. Topics include educational law, morals and ethics, student/teacher/parent rights and responsibilities, establishing and maintaining positive communication with the staff and community, as well as interviewing and job search skills.
Corequisite(s): Student teaching or permission of the department chair.
(Normally offered each semester.)