Graduate Courses of Instruction
A list of graduate course rotations can be found here
EN 501. Chaucer. 3 semester hours.
The major and minor works of Chaucer, including The Canterbury Tales and Troilus and Creseyde. (Fall,
even-numbered years)
EN 502. Milton. 3 semester hours.
Although some prose works are studied, the emphasis is on John Milton as a poet, with special attention to
Paradise Lost. (Fall, odd-numbered years)
EN 505. African-American Literature. 3 semester hours.
An investigation of the development of African-American literature from the earliest works to the present.
Critical examination of selected writers of poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction. (Fall, odd-numbered
years)
EN 541. History of the English Language. 3 semester hours.
Development of the English language and of modern English usage. (Fall; Summer, odd-numbered years)
EN 542. Survey of Grammar. 3 semester hours.
A survey of approaches to English grammar based on approaches now used in most school
texts. Prerequisite: EN 441 or written permission of department chair. (Spring, odd-numbered years;
Summer, even-numbered years)
EN 543. Instruction of Composition. 3 semester hours.
Approaches to and practice in the instruction of English composition. (Fall, odd-numbered years; Spring)
EN 550. Studies in American Folklore. 3 semester hours.
Sources, backgrounds, and morphology of American folklore. Emphasis is given to research methods and to
fieldwork. (Spring, even-numbered years)
EN 551. The American Novel. 3 semester hours
From the beginning of the American novel to the twentieth century. (Spring, even numbered years)
EN 552. The American Novel. 3 semester hours
Intensive study of the works of selected American authors. (Offered on sufficient demand)
EN 553. The English Novel. 3 semester hours.
Representative works in the development of the English novel.(Spring, even-numbered years)
EN 554. The English Novel. 3 semester hours
Intense study of selected English authors.(Offered on sufficient demand)
EN 556. Advanced Creative Writing. 3 semester hours
A practical approach to literary techniques and writing for publication with special emphasis on structure, theme,
and characterization. Class discussion with be supplemented by conferences with the instructor.
Prerequisite: EN 455. (Spring, even-numbered years)
EN 560. Literature of the American Frontier 3 semester hours
An examination of the literature of the American frontier, beginning with authors such as James Fenimore
Cooper and moving forward to modern writers such as Cormac McCarthy. Emphasis is on the changing
perspective of the frontier as it progressed from the East coast to the West.
EN 565. Contemporary Poetry. 3 semester hours.
Extensive reading in the works of the contemporary British and American poets, with emphasis on their
relation to the literary traditions of the past and their innovations and experiments in matter and form.
(Spring, even- numbered years)
EN 572. Rhetoric: Argument and Style. 3 semester hours.
Examination of the ideas in writing and speech from classical Greek origins to modern times, with a focus
on composition and on analysis of essays and speeches. Also listed as COM 572W, but creditable only in
the field for which registered. (Spring, odd-numbered years)
EN 594. Selected Topics in Film Studies. 3 semester hours.
A study of a selected period or subject in film. Topics might include censorship in cinema; women in film;
avant-garde cinema; national cinemas; film movements, spirituality in film; race and cinema; film rhetoric;
or adaptation. (Spring, odd-numbered years or on sufficient demand)
EN 595. Selected Topics in Writing. 3 semester hours.
Concentrated study in specific areas of written composition. (Offered on sufficient demand)
EN 596. Selected Topics in English Literature. 3 semester hours.
Concentrated study in specific narrow areas of English literature. (Spring, odd-numbered years, if sufficient demand)
EN 597. Selected Topics in American Literature. 3 semester hours.
Concentrated study in narrow areas of American literature. (Fall, even-numbered years, if sufficient demand)
EN 598. Selected Topics in Literature. 3 semester hours.
Concentrated study in specific narrow areas of world literature. (Spring, even-numbered years, if sufficient demand)
EN 601. Introduction to Graduate Studies: Bibliography and Research. 3 semester hours.
Emphasis on contemporary methods and aims of literary research; special readings designed to familiarize
students with a wide range of available source materials and research techniques. Required of students
seeking a Master's degree in English. (Fall)
EN 611. Studies in American Literature to 1855. 3 semester hours.
Selected major authors in American literature, including Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, Poe, Hawthorne,
and Melville.
EN 612. Studies in American Literature 1855 to 1910. 3 semester hours.
Selected major authors in American literature between 1855 and the advent of World War I, including
such writers as Twain, Crane, Norris, Wharton, and DuBois.
EN 613. Studies in American Literature 1910 to 1950. 3 semester hours.
Selected major authors in American literature from World War I to the beginning of the Post-World-War II era, including such writers as Faulkner, Hemingway, Eliot, and Wright.
EN 614. Studies in American Literature 1950 to present. 3 semester hours.
Selected major authors in American literature from 1950 through the contemporary period.
EN 620. English Literature Before 1500. 3 semester hours.
The political, social, and intellectual aspects of the Medieval period as reflected in the major literary works.
EN 621. English Literature: Renaissance to Restoration. 3 semester hours.
The political, social, and intellectual aspects of seventeenth-century England as reflected in the major literary works.
EN 622. Early Modern Drama Excluding Shakespeare. 3 semester hours.
Selected major authors in Early Modern drama, excluding Shakespeare, form 1540-1800.
EN 623. Shakespeare. 3 semester hours.
Intense study of selected poetry and plays of William Shakespeare approached from a variety
of perspectives, including but not limited to historical, theoretical, critical, or generic
EN 630. Jane Austen and the Romantic Novel. 3 semester hours.
Study of the novels of Jane Austen and her contemporaries.
EN 631. English Literature: Restoration and Eighteenth Century. 3 semester hours.
The political, social, and intellectual aspects of England from the Restoration to the publication of
Lyrical Ballads, as reflected in the major literary works.
EN 632.Romantic Poetry and Prose. 3 semester hours.
An overview of Romanticism in English with readings from the expanding Romantic canon and an
introduction to recent scholarship and disputes.
EN 633. Modern and Contemporary English Literature. 3 semester hours.
Intensive study of major English writers since World War I.
EN 634. Victorian Poetry and Prose. 3 semester hours
Examination of Victorian novels, essays, and poems.
EN 641. English Linguistics. 3 semester hours.
Analysis of contemporary American English: syntax, phonology, morphology. Traditional, structural,
and transformational approaches.
EN 642. Cross-Linguistic Pragmatics. 3 semester hours.
A study in the analysis of similarities and differences in linguistic forms and patterns across diverse cultures.
EN 653. Studies in the Novel. 3 semester hours.
The novel as a literary genre approached from a variety of perspectives, including but not limited to
generic, historical, theoretical, and single-author approaches. Course content varies.
EN 655. Literary Criticism. 3 semester hours.
Major critical trends in literary theory, with emphasis on criticism since 1945, including structuralist,
cultural materialist, deconstructive, and feminist approaches to literature. Exploration of these theories and
analysis of selected works of literature. Required of students seeking a Master's degree in English. (Spring)
EN 690. Thesis. 6 semester hours.
Selection of a research problem, review of pertinent literature, collection and analysis of data, and composition
of a defensible thesis. Prerequisite: permission of the Director of Graduate Studies. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
EN 695. Thesis Defense. 0 Credit Hours
Orientation to and administration of a thesis defense for the MA in English program. A non-credit course
required of all candidates for the thesis option. The course is to be taken in the last term in which the student
is expected to complete all other program requirements. A grade of "S" indicating satisfactory performance
or a grade of "U" for unsatisfactory performance will be recorded on the transcript. A grade of "S" is
required for graduation; the course may be repeated once. Prerequisite: student must have completed all
other program requirements or be enrolled in the last course for program completion.
EN 696. Comprehensive Examination. 0 semester hours
Orientation to and administration of a written comprehensive examination for the M. A. in English program.
A non-credit course required of all candidates for the Non-Thesis option. The course is to be taken the
term in which the student expects to complete all other program requirements, or the term immediately
thereafter. A grade of "S" indicating satisfactory performance or a grade of "U" for unsatisfactory will
be recorded on the transcript. A grade of "S" is required for graduation; the course may be
repeated once. Prerequisite: student must have completed all other program requirements or be enrolled
in the last course(s) for program completion. (Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer).
EN 697. Independent Study. 3 semester hours
Independent study or research under departmental determination, supervision, and evaluation. A
student may take no more than two independent study courses. Prerequisite: permission of chair of
the department. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
EN 698. Selected Topics in Literature. 3 semester hours.
Study in a specific author, genre, or time period. Focus may be English literature, American literature,
literature of the western world, or other areas of world literature.
EN 699. Directed Readings and Research. 3 semester hours.
Individually supervised reading and research in a literary period, genre, or author. Prerequisite: permission
of the Director of Graduate Studies. (Fall, Spring)