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School of Humanities | Department of English | Department of Foreign Languages | Department of Philosophy

Department of English
Margaret P. Monteverde (chair), Cynthia Cox (director of writing), David Curtis (director of graduate studies), Corinne Dale, Carmen Gherman*, Linda Holt, Sandra Hutchins, Marcia McDonald, Douglas Murray, J. H. E Paine, Charlotte Pence*, Robbie C. Pinter, Annette Sisson, Andrea Stover, Susan Hayes Tully.
*Part-time.

Vision:

Reading and writing are acts of love and of survival – pursued for the sheer pleasure of creativity and imagination and for the human need to communicate. The English Department calls the student to explore the written word: the means by which we know our past, understand our present, and envision our future. Our courses on all levels foster the skills of critical, historical, and empathetic reading, focusing on texts from British, American, and World traditions. In our courses, students engage in and reflect on all facets of the English language and the writing process, discovering how language and writing shape identity and inform culture. Whether creating texts of their own or reading texts composed by others, students are encouraged to examine their lives and to appreciate the variety of human experience.

Purpose:

The Department offers the major and minor in English and the interdisciplinary minor in Writing. The department's faculty is committed to stimulating the intellectual curiosity and fostering the individual growth of its students – both in the classroom and beyond. Classes develop vital language, reading, and rhetorical skills, as well as an enhanced sense of aesthetic appreciation and a deeper understanding of literary traditions. Enrichment programs include study abroad, visiting writers and speakers, student research, literary journal, service learning, internships, student clubs, and independent study. Departmental awards and a research symposium celebrate excellence in student achievement. The English faculty prepares students for graduate and professional programs, and for careers in such fields as writing, publishing, teaching, business, law, marketing, and entertainment.

Goals:

The Department of English:

1. promotes effective, creative, and reflective reading, writing, and critical thinking;
   
2. presents literature and language within historical and cultural contexts;
   
3. introduces students to diverse strategies for interpreting literature;
   
4. explores with students the structures, complexities, and development of language;
   
5. assists students interested in developing as creative writers;
   
6. integrates local and global learning experiences into the curriculum.
   
7. requires students to develop web, technology, and research skills -- and to think critically about these tools and resources.

   Requirements for Teacher Licensure with a major in English

   Department majors seeking teacher licensure on either the elementary or secondary level must complete the Enhanced B.A. Core to fulfill licensure requirements outlined under Department of Education listings, pages 83-85. Students seeking elementary licensure must have a major and the specified Professional Education hours. Students seeking secondary licensure must have a major, a minor, and the specified Professional Education hours. In addition, students must be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program and to Student Teaching by a process outlined on pages 81-82. To ensure these requirements are met, students must notify their departmental advisor of their intent to seek licensure and must work closely with a major advisor as well as one from the Department of Education. Specific courses which fulfill requirements in the Enhanced B.A. Core and in the major program for English are listed as follows.

English

Directed Self-Placement for First Year Writing Courses

The Department of English administers the Belmont University Directed Self-Placement for all new students who have not successfully completed ENG 110 or its equivalent. The guided self-placement determines the best course for students: English 100 (International English), English 110 (The Writing Seminar), or English 103 (Composition Writing Lab). See full course descriptions listed below.

Advanced Placement and CLEP Credit Policy for First Year Writing Seminar

Students with a score of 5 on the AP Language and Composition or Literature and Composition exams receive 3 hours of credit towards ENG 110; to complete their General Education composition requirement these students must complete two sections of ENG 210 or ENGW 251. Students with a score of 4 on either of these tests receive 3 hours of general elective credit. Students who take both AP composition tests receive 3 additional hours of general elective credit for the second test if they score at least a 4 on both tests. No CLEP credit will be awarded for ENG 110.

English Courses (ENG)

ENG 100. International English (6). All students for whom English is a second language must take this course in their first semester, unless they demonstrate proficiency on the Belmont University English Placement Test. Develops the academic skills, aural and written, necessary for performing in the American university and university system. Graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Any student missing five class meetings in English 100 will be involuntarily dropped with a grade of “WF”. Appeal is to the Provost. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENG 103. Composition Writing Laboratory (1). Uses literature, rhetorical essays, or content material from the student's major area as a basis for writing. Recommended for students who lack requisite English Composition credit or who wish additional composition practice. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENG 110. First Year Writing Seminar (4). A first-year writing course that offers systematic instruction in communicating effectively in writing, in demonstrating knowledge of a topic, and in accessing and using information effectively. Purposes include enhancing critical reading abilities and development skills in evaluating and using source material. Along with ENG 210, the course fulfills the general education writing requirement. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENG 195-495. Studies Abroad (3-18). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Study through the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA), beginning through advanced level. Individual titles will be assigned to each course taken, indicating place of study and subject matter. Courses may count toward major, minor, core, and/or elective credit. Students must consult with the CCSA representative prior to enrollment to determine credit within the program of study.

ENG 199-499. Special Studies (1-3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. ENG/ENGW 199 does not fulfill general education humanities requirement. (Note: Final sentence only applies to ENG/ENGW 199).

ENG 200. Critical Reading and Writing About Literature (3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. A close analysis of several major literary works from a variety of critical approaches. Writing-intensive. Required of all English majors, who are expected to take this course in their sophomore year, prior to enrolling in 300-level English courses. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENG 203. The Writing Studio (1). (Pass/Fail). An elective course that offers intensive and individualized one-on-one writing instruction, including an emphasis on, and development of, critical reading abilities, diction, sentence and paragraph control, and writing processes. May be repeated for credit. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENG 210. Writing Affiliate (1). Prerequisite: ENG 110. An intermediate writing course that builds on fundamentals of expository writing set forth in ENG 110. ENG 210 works on writing projects linked to the paired course in the general education curriculum, and on developing students' general writing skills in the general education curriculum to help students in developing topics pertaining to the general course, and writing in general. Students will keep a writer's portfolio to be turned in to the instructor at semester's end. May be repeated for credit. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENG 211, 212. British Literature I, II (3, 3). Prerequisites: Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. A survey of representative works through the 18th century in the first semester. The second semester studies the literature of the 19th and 20th centuries.

ENG 221, 222. American Literature I, II (3, 3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. The first semester surveys representative works from the colonial period to the Civil War. The second semester includes readings from the Civil War to the present.

ENG 231, 232. Continental Literature I, II (3, 3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. In the first semester, a study of masterworks of the ancient world, the medieval world, and the Renaissance. In the second semester, a study of masterworks of neo-classicism, romanticism, realism, and the twentieth century, excluding Anglo-American literature.

ENG 233, 234. World Literature I, II (3, 3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. In the first semester, this course presents important works of literature of the world from their earliest beginnings to 1650. Content may vary, but these courses establish a historical perspective while seeking to encourage both comparative perspective and common ground among works from European tradition and several non-Western cultures. Each semester may be taken independently of the other.

ENG 240. Literature Survey Special Topics (3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. This writing-intensive survey course involves literature from periods and/or countries of origin which extend beyond the delineations of our traditional survey courses, combining the study of literature in a historical/cultural context with a focused refinement of writing skills developed in Freshman Composition. Students may repeat this course, under different topics, once, for a total of six (6) hours credit.

ENG 300. Junior English Seminar (0). (Pass/Fail). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110, 200. This requirement for all English majors, though open to English minors as well, is designed to be taken late in the junior year or early in the senior year. Students prepare for their future, considering such issues as preparation for graduate school, teaching, and other professional tracks. Guest speakers and graduates of the program will help introduce students to a variety of career paths. Fall semester only.

ENG 330. Classical Mythology (3). Prerequisite: ENG 110. (See CLA 330 for course description.)

ENG 331. Special Topics in Classical Literature (3). Prerequisite: ENG 110. (See CLA 331 for course description.)

ENG 344. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (1-3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110; and permission of instructor. This course will examine the various strategies in the teaching of EFL as well as review English syntax and pronunciation. Does not count for English or language majors or minors, or fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENG 350. History of the Language and Linguistics (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Traces the development of English from Anglo-Saxon to modern English in the context of history, linguistic theory, and the Indo-European family of languages.

ENG 352. Special Topics in Medieval Literature (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. An in-depth study of subjects relative to medieval literature, British and Continental. Possible topics include allegory, Arthurian romance, Old English poetry, religious drama. One topic will be chosen for focus each time the course is offered.

ENG 354. Chaucer (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. A survey of Chaucer's major works and selected shorter poems in the philosophical and historical setting of the Middle Ages.

ENG 360. Special Topics in Early Modern British Literature (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. An in-depth study of sixteenth and seventeenth century writers. Each offering of the course will focus on a specific topic; topics may include for example, a genre, a limited historical period, an interdisciplinary topic, a single writer such as Spenser or Milton.

ENG 362. Shakespeare: Representative Plays (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Traces the development of Shakespeare's career through the study of representative tragedies, histories, comedies, and romances.

ENG 366. Restoration and Eighteenth-Century English Literature (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. A study of poetry, drama, and non-fictional prose of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century England, with emphasis on Dryden, Pope, Swift, and Johnson, and with attention to concurrent trends in music, art, philosophy, and social history.

ENG 372. Romanticism in England (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Covers the transition from neo-classicism to Romanticism, with emphasis on Burns, Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley and Keats.

ENG 374. Victorian Literature (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Traces major developments of the Victorian Age as background for the study of writers from Carlyle to Yeats, with special emphasis on Tennyson, Arnold and Browning.

ENG 376. The Novel (3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. Each offering of this course will focus on a specific topic related to the development of the novel.

ENG 378. Modern Irish Literature (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. A study of Anglo-Irish literature since 1880 with emphasis on Yeats, Joyce, drama, and the short story in the context of social and political developments.

ENG 380. Special Topics in World Literature (3). Required of all English majors. Intensive study of non-western literature through exploration of a theme, genre, and/or culture.

ENG 381. Folklore Studies (3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. This course examines folklore methodologies and genres. Seminar topics may include ethnographic research (fieldwork) and the study of folk groups; folk narratives (fairy tales, legends, etc.); folk ballads and poetry; customs and rituals; folklore and literature.

ENG 384. Twentieth Century Poetry (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Significant trends in twentieth century poetry will be explored through the study of primarily British and/or American poets.

ENG 385. The Short Story (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. This course considers the modern short story and short narrative fiction from Poe to the present, including numerous texts and authors from non-Anglo-American literatures and cultures.

ENG 386. Modern Fiction (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. A study of major works in fiction, mostly in British and American literature of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

ENG 387. Ethnicity and Literature (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. This course will probe the impact of ethnic difference on literature by studying representative texts from a variety of ethnic groups.

ENG 388. Gender Studies. (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. An introduction to the ways in which femininity and/or masculinity have been represented in literature and constructed in culture. Individual offerings of this course may focus on specific eras and nationalities and/or on particular issues in the study of gender and sexuality.

ENG 389. African-American Literature (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Reviews the contribution made by African-American authors, canvassing the traditions from slave narratives to contemporary works.

ENG 390. Introduction to Literary Criticism (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Explores various critical approaches to literature, past and present.

ENG 391. Early American Literature (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Studies of authors and/or major literary and cultural trends from the first explorations of America through the revolution and early national period.

ENG 392. American Renaissance (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. A study of the major American writers of the mid-nineteenth century, including Emerson, Hawthorne, Melville, Thoreau, and Whitman.

ENG 393. American Realism (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. This course examines the development of Realism (and Naturalism) in American fiction, focusing on major writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

ENG 394. American Southern Literature (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Deals with fiction, and perhaps some poetry of the modern South. Authors may include Faulkner, Porter, O'Connor, Welty, Percy, Price, Tyler, Taylor, and Mason, among others.

Advanced Studies in Literature (3-9). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Studies of authors and works or major trends, genres, and patterns not covered in regular course listings.

ENG 435. British

ENG 436.American

ENG 437. World

ENG 438. Genre

ENG 490. Seminar in English Studies (3). Prerequisite: ENG 200. Required of all English majors in their senior year. Each offering of the course will focus on a specific literary problem; students will synthesize their experience as English majors by engaging the current critical conversation surrounding the chosen topic and by completing a researched project. Students will also complete their major portfolio as a requirement of this course. Does not fill core Humanities requirements.

English Courses (ENGW)

ENGW 195-495. Studies Abroad (3-12). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Study through the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA), beginning through advanced level. Individual titles will be assigned to each course taken, indicating place of study and subject matter. Courses may count toward major, minor, core, and/or elective credit. Students must consult with the CCSA representative prior to enrollment to determine credit within the program of study.

ENGW 199-499. Special Studies (1-3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. ENG/ENGW 199 does not fulfill general education humanities requirement. (Note: Final sentence only applies to ENG/ENGW 199).

ENGW 200. Theories of Writing (3). Prerequisite: ENG 110. This course closely examines theories of writing and the writing process. Students will experiment with a wide variety of writing practices over the course of the semester; they will respond to each other's work and to that of professional writers. Required of all English majors following the "Writing Emphasis" program; to be taken the sophomore year, before enrolling in 300-level ENGW courses. Does not fulfill general education Humanities requirement.

ENGW 241. Intermediate Creative Writing: Fiction (3). Prerequisite: ENG 110. Introduces students to the theory and practice of fiction writing. Students may read exemplary fiction in the course; they will craft their own works of fiction, taking their stories through multiple drafts.

ENGW 242. Intermediate Creative Writing: Poetry (3). Prerequisite: ENG 110. Introduces students to the theory and practice of poetry writing. Students may read exemplary poetry in the course; they will craft their own poetry, taking their poems through multiple drafts.

ENGW 251. Intermediate Composition (3). Prerequisite: ENG 110. An expository writing course in which students gain experience with reading and writing essays and/or creative nonfiction. Designed as preparation for students who are interested in taking advanced-level writing courses and for students who have taken ENG 110/210 but desire further writing instruction or practice.

ENGW 305. Writing and Learning: The Peer Tutor Seminar (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. This course focuses on theories and practices involved in the writing and editing process, including invention, writing strategies, issues of editing and grammar, and revision, and the student's own composing process. Each person enrolled in this course will be required to tutor ten hours for the semester and observe other writing classes and tutorials.Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENGW 341. Creative Writing: Fiction (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110; and three hours of literature beyond English 102 or permission of instructor. Devoted to studying the theory and practice of fiction and to writing and revising several drafts of stories, one of which is to be submitted for publication.

ENGW 342. Creative Writing: Poetry (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110; and three hours of literature beyond English 102 or permission of instructor. Devoted to the theory and practice of poetry and to writing and revising several drafts of poems.

ENGW 351. Advanced Composition (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Stresses the writing of both formal and informal essays and the analysis of prose style.

ENGW 352. Reading and Writing (3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. Each offering of this course will focus on the creative process as it has been addressed by well-known authors an/or their biographers. Seminar topics may include, for example, Writers on Writing, in which students will read both literary works and reflections on writing by the same group of authors, or Writers on Film, in which students will analyze depictions of authors in the movies. Courses may be repeated given a different topic.

ENGW 353. Writing About Place (3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. Each offering of this course will concern writing that is centered on particular locations. Students will both read and write about appropriate places of interest to them. Seminar topics may include, for example, Writing (About) Nashville, Writers in the Community, and Travel Writing. Course may be repeated given a different topic.

ENGW 355. Exploratory Writing (3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. This course introduces the art of writing and rewriting exploratory prose. Possible topics include Nature Writing; Writing and Spirituality; Journal Writing. Courses may be repeated given a different course topic.

ENGW 356. Reading and Writing (3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. Each offering of this course will focus on the writing of literature in a specific genre. Students will both read and write in the genre under sonsideration. Seminar topics may include, for example, Reading and Writing Memoir, Reading and Writing Ethnography, Reading and Writing Children'sLiterature, Reading and Writing Biography, Reading and Writing 'Zines, or Reading and Writing for the World Wide Web. Course may be repeated given a different topic.

ENGW 357. Professional Writing (3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. An introduction to the art of writing in business and technology. Course topics include Technology and Writing, and Technical and Professional Writing. Course may be repeated, given a different course topic.

ENGW 358. Writing in the Community (3). Prerequisites: ENG 110. An upper-level service-learning course. Students in this class will write for (and with) local organizations in ways that serve both the needs of the organization and the students. Emphasis will be placed on the ways in which context and audience shape writing and the writing process. The particular nature of the writing projects will depend on what the students and the organizations determine to be essential goals.

ENGW 396. Internship (1-3). Prerequisites: ENG 110 and ENG 210, and junior standing. A formal intern education assignment with a publisher or other organization involved with the production of writing.Students who work on the staff of the Belmont Literacy Journal or another Belmont publication are eligible to register to count their service as an ENGW 396 internship. The internship can be undertaken only with the prior approval of a faculty member in English and supervisor of the sponsoring publication/ organization, who will also oversee the production of a written reflective component assessing the value of the experiential learning experience. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENGW 397. Journal Workshop (1-3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Students who work on the staff of the Belmont Literary Journal may receive 1 to 3 hours per semester. The criteria for credit is established by the adviser. No student may earn more than 6 hours credit. Does not count for core literature credit. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENGW 401. Writing Seminar: The Portfolio (1). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. This course serves as the capstone for students completing the Writing Minor. Students will compile a professional portfolio of their best writing for public exhibition.

ENGW 396. Internship (1-3). Prerequisites: ENG 110 and ENG 210, and junior standing. A formal intern education assignment with a publisher or other organization involved with the production of writing.Students who work on the staff of the Belmont Literacy Journal or another Belmont publication are eligible to register to count their service as an ENGW 396 internship. The internship can be undertaken only with the prior approval of a faculty member in English and supervisor of the sponsoring publication/ organization, who will also oversee the production of a written reflective component assessing the value of the experiential learning experience. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENGW 397. Journal Workshop (1-3). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. Students who work on the staff of the Belmont Literary Journal may receive 1 to 3 hours per semester. The criteria for credit is established by the adviser. No student may earn more than 6 hours credit. Does not count for core literature credit. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.

ENGW 401. Writing Seminar: The Portfolio (1). Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102; or ENG 110. This course serves as the capstone for students completing the Writing Minor. Students will compile a professional portfolio of their best writing for public exhibition.

ENGW 490. Senior Seminar in Writing (3). Prerequisite: ENG 200. Required of all English majors following the "Writing Emphasis" program; to be taken in the senior year. Each offering of this course will focus on a specific writing project that will provide students with the opportunity to synthesize their experiences as writing majors. Students will also complete their major portfolio as a requirement of this class. Does not fulfill general education humanities requirement.