http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/artscience/english/
Faculty
Barbara A. Kachur, Professor*
Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Chairperson
David Carkeet, Professor Emeritus*
Ph.D., Indiana University
Joseph Carroll, Professor*
Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley
Sylvia J. Cook, Professor*
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Charles Dougherty, Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., University of Toronto
Howard Schwartz, Professor*
M.A., Washington University
James E. Tierney, Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., New York University
Peter Wolfe, Professor, Curators' Professor*
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Jane Zeni, Professor*
Ed.D., University of Missouri-St. Louis
Deborah Aldrich-Watson, Associate Professor*
Ph.D.,
Columbia University
Richard M. Cook, Associate Professor*
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Sally Barr Ebest, Associate Professor*
Ph.D., Indiana University
Kathy Gentile, Associate Professor*
Ph.D., University of Oregon
Francis Grady, Associate Professor*
Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley
Bruce L. Liles, Associate Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Stanford University
Steven Schreiner, Associate Professor*
Ph.D., Wayne State University
Nanora Sweet, Associate Professor*
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Eamonn Wall, Jefferson Smurfit Professor of Irish
Studies and Professor
Ph.D., City University of New York
Jane Williamson, Associate Professor Emerita
Ph.D., Bryn Mawr College
Ruth Ellen Kocher,
Associate
Professor
Ph.D., Arizona State University
Mary Troy, Associate Professor*
M.F.A., University of Arkansas
John Dalton, Assistant Professor
M.F.A., University of Iowa
Tivoli Majors , Assistant Professor*
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Nancy Robb Singer, Assistant Professor
M. Ed., University of Missouri-Columbia
Dennis Bohnenkamp, Senior Lecturer
M.A., University of Missouri-Columbia
Ellie Chapman, Senior Lecturer Emerita
M.A., Murray State University
Susan Grant, Senior Lecturer
M.A., Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Nancy Gleason,
Senior Lecturer
M.A., University of Missouri-St. Louis
Judy Gurley, Senior Lecturer Emerita
M.A., University of Arkansas
William Klein, Senior Lecturer
Ph.D., Michigan Technological University
Judith Linville, Senior Lecturer
M.A., University of Arkansas
Jennifer MacKenzie, Senior Lecturer
M.A., Purdue University
Terence Martin, Senior Lecturer Emeritus
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
William Mayhan, Senior Lecturer
Ph.D., Washington University
Scott McKelvie, Senior Lecturer
M.A., University of Missouri-St. Louis
Lyman Peters, Lecturer
M.A., University of Missouri-St. Louis
David Rota, Senior Lecturer
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Barbara Van Voorden, Senior Lecturer
M.A., Washington University
Lynn Staley, Lecturer
Ph.D., St. Louis University
*members of Graduate Faculty
General Information
Degrees and Areas of Concentration
The English department
offers or participates in offering the B.A. in English, the B.A. in English
with certification for secondary teaching, and the B.S. in secondary
education with an emphasis area in English. The department also offers
a minor in English. Additionally, students with any major in the university
may earn a Certificate in Writing so that they may demonstrate evidence
of training in creative, journalistic, or technical writing.
The department has a graduate program leading to the master of arts
degree. Students may pursue a literature track where they acquire a broad
coverage in British and American writers or a writing track where half
of the course work deals with composition and writing theory. The department
also offers the master of fine arts in creative writing, in which half
of the courses are writing workshops and independent writing projects.
Departmental Honors Candidates for departmental honors
in English must achieve a 3.2 average in English at graduation and complete
an undergraduate or graduate seminar in English, the final paper for
which must be acceptable to the instructor as an honors thesis.
Undergraduate Studies
General Education Requirements
English courses may
be used to meet the university's humanities requirement, except the
following:
1100, Freshman Composition
1110, Freshman Composition for International Students
2120, Topics in Writing
2810, Traditional Grammar
3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About Literature
3100, Advanced Expository Writing
3110, Advanced Expository Writing for International
Students
3120, Business Writing
3130, Technical Writing
3140, News Writing
3150, Feature Writing
3160, Writing in the Sciences
3180, Reporting
3600, The Curriculum and Methods of Teaching English
4000, Writing in the Professions
4880, Writing for Teachers
4870, Advanced Business and Technical Writing
4860, Editing
4890, Independent Writing Project
The college's foreign language requirement may be met in any language.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option
A maximum of 6
satisfactory/unsatisfactory hours may be taken in the department. Majors
must complete at least 18 graded (i.e., not satisfactory/unsatisfactory)
hours in English courses at the 3000 level or above with a grade point
of 2.0 or better in these courses.
English majors may take any English course on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory
basis except the following:
1100, Freshman Composition
1110, Freshman Composition for International Students
3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About Literature
3100, Advanced Expository Writing
3110, Advanced Expository Writing for International
Students
3120, Business Writing
3130, Technical Writing
3140, News Writing
3150, Feature Writing
3160, Writing in the Sciences
3180, Reporting
3600, The Curriculum and Methods of Teaching English
4000, Writing in the Professions
4880, Writing for Teachers
4870, Advanced Business Writing
4860, Editing
4890, Independent Writing Project
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts in English
English majors must complete
at least 36, but no more than 45, hours in English exclusive of Eng
1100, Freshman Composition; Eng 1110, Freshman Composition for International
Students; and Eng 3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About Literature.
1) Students majoring in English must take:
2810, Traditional
Grammar--or test out
2310, English Literature I
2320, English Literature II
2710, American Literature I
2720, American Literature II
2) English 3090, Practical Criticism:
Writing About Literature. (For English majors, this course is a prerequisite
or corequisite for 4000-level courses in English.)
3) Students must also complete one course from five
of the following 10 areas:
Area 1 Medieval English
4250, Old
English Literature
4260, Chaucer
4270, Medieval English Literature
Area 2 Shakespeare
4370, Shakespeare:
Tragedies and Romances
4380, Shakespeare: Comedies and Histories
Area 3 The Renaissance
4320, Elizabethan
Poetry and Prose
4360, Tudor and Stuart Drama
4340, Early Seventeenth-Century Poetry and Prose
4350, Milton
Area 4 Restoration and Eighteenth-Century English
4410, Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Drama
4420, Age of Dryden and Pope
4440, Age of Johnson
4450, The Eighteenth-Century English Novel
Area 5 Nineteenth-Century English
4540, The Nineteenth-Century English Novel
4510, Early Romantic Poetry and Prose
4520, Later Romantic Poetry and Prose
4560, Prose and Poetry of the Victorian Period
4580, Literature of the Late Nineteenth and Early
Twentieth Centuries
Area 6 Nineteenth-Century American
4610, Selected Major American Writers I
4620, Selected Major American Writers II
4630, African American Literature Prior to 1900
4640, American Fiction to World War I
Area 7 Twentieth-Century English/American
4650, Modern American Fiction
4660, African American Literature Since 1900
4750, Modern British Fiction
4770, Modern Poetry
4760, Modern Drama
4740, Poetry Since World War II
Area 8 Literary Criticism
4000, History of Literary Criticism
4030, Contemporary Critical Theory
4050, Forms and Modes of Poetry
4070, The Two Cultures: Literature and Sciences
4080, Narrative, Cognition, and Emotion
Area 9 Special Topics
4060, Adolescent Literature
4920, Major Works of European Fiction
4930, Studies in Women and Literature
4900, Seminar
4910, Studies in African/African American Literature,
Criticism, and Diaspora
4940, Special Topics in Jewish Literature
4950, Special Topics in Literature
4960, Ethnic Literatures
Area 10 Linguistics
4800, Linguistics
4810, English Grammar
4820, History of the English Language
Work in 2000-level courses provides background in literary history
and forms, as well as the means for discussing literary issues, on paper
and orally. Thus, the department requires Eng 2310 or consent of
the instructor as a prerequisite for all courses in Areas 1-4 and Eng
2320 or consent of the instructor as a prerequisite for all courses in
Areas 5 and 7, except American literature courses. Eng 2710 or consent
of the instructor is a prerequisite for all courses in Area 6, and both
Eng 2710 and Eng 2720 or consent of the instructor are prerequisites
for Eng 4650. All survey courses (Eng 2310, 2320, 2710, and 2720)
must be taken before the major has completed 90 hours toward a degree.
Students majoring in English must complete a minimum of 12 graded hours
in English courses at the 4000 level or above in residence with a grade
point average of 2.0 or better in these courses or students must receive
special consent of the department.
Students should consult with faculty advisers to determine which upper-level
courses best satisfy their major needs and interests.
Bachelor of Arts in English with Certification for Secondary
Education
All candidates for certification to teach English must enroll in a
program in the College of Education involving Level I, Level II, and
Level III coursework plus student teaching. See the Division of Teaching
and Learning in this Bulletin for information.
In addition to the requirements for the B.A. in English, students must
meet the following requirements for secondary certification:
1) Two courses in American literature. This requirement
may be met by courses counted for the major.
a American literature must include a unit or course
in the literature of ethnic groups.
b American literature must include a unit or course
in literature for adolescents.
2) Twelve hours in composition and rhetoric:
Eng 1100, Freshman Composition, may be counted.
Eng 3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About Literature,
is required.
Eng 4880/Sec Ed 4880, Writing For Teachers, is required.
Recommended courses include creative writing, journalism, and business
writing.
3) English language requirements
a.Eng 2810, Traditional
Grammar
Students with sufficient background may gain exemption from the Eng
2810 requirement by passing the English-Education Test of Basic Grammar.
This test may be taken only twice. Certification candidates must pass
Eng 2810 or the Test of Basic Grammar before applying for student
teaching.
b.Eng4810, English
Grammar
c. Eng4800, Linguistics, or
Eng 4820, History of the English Language
4) Eng 3600, The Curriculum and Methods
of Teaching English. Prerequisite: Completion of Level II courses and
a near major in English. Must be taken concurrently with professional
internship, and before student teaching.
5) Eng 3700, English Student Teaching
Seminar, must be taken concurrently with Sec Ed. 3290, Secondary School
Student Teaching.
6) Candidates for certification in Missouri must have
a 2.5 cumulative GPA, computed from the beginning of freshman year and
including all colleges attended. They also need a minimum GPA of 2.5
in their English courses. All grades in professional education and in
required English courses must be C- or better.
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an Emphasis
Area in English
All candidates for certification to teach English must enroll in a
program in the College of Education involving Level I, Level II, and
Level III coursework plus student teaching. See the Division of Teaching
and Learning in this Bulletin for information.
The required courses in English and professional education are the
same as those for the B.A. with certification for secondary education.
However, students fulfill the general education requirements of the
College of Education rather than those of the College of Arts and
Sciences. For example, students seeking the B.S. in Education are
not required to study a foreign language.
Certification to Teach Secondary Speech and Drama
All candidates for certification to teach Speech and Drama must enroll
in a program in the College of Education involving Level I, Level II,
and Level III coursework plus student teaching. See the Division of Teaching
and Learning in this Bulletin for information.
In addition, undergraduates who wish to be certified to teach Speech
and Drama must meet the requirements for a major in Communication as
well as requirements set by the Theatre faculty.
Minor in English
A student may minor in English by taking at least 18 hours of English
courses exclusive of Basic Writing, Eng 1100, Freshman Composition,
and Eng 1110, Freshman Composition for International Students. Eng
3090 is required, and 12 of the 18 hours must be in literature courses,
9 of which must be in courses at the 3000 or 4000 level. Every student
taking a minor in English must consult with an adviser in the English
department to ensure a coherent program of studies. The GPA in courses
for the minor must be 2.0 or better. Nine of the 18 hours must be taken
in residence at UM-St. Louis. No more than 3 hours taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory
basis may be counted toward the 18-hour minimum.
Certificate Program in Writing A student may receive
the Certificate in Writing by completing a total of 18 hours in writing
courses chosen from the following list. The GPA in courses for the certificate
must be 2.0 or better, and 12 of the 18 hours must be taken at UM-St.
Louis. Courses may not be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Comm 2212, Broadcast Writing and Reporting
Comm 2217, Script Writing for Business and Industry
English 2030, Poetry Writing
English 2040, Short Story Writing
English 2050, Play Writing
English 2060, Introduction to the Writing of
Poetry and Fiction
English 2080, or Comm 1108 Advertising
Copywriting
English 2120, Topics in Writing
English 3030, Intermediate Poetry Writing
English 3040, Intermediate Fiction Writing
English 3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About
Literature
English 3100, Advanced Expository Writing
English 3110, Advanced Expository Writing for International
Students
English 3120, Business Writing
English 3130, Technical Writing
English 3140 or Comm 3214, News
Writing
English 3150, Feature Writing
English 3160, Writing in the Sciences
English 3180, Reporting
English 3280 or Comm 2228, Writing for Public Relations
English 4130, Advanced Poetry Writing
English 4140, Advanced Fiction Writing
English 4160, Special Topics in Writing
English 4850, Topics in Teaching Writing
English 4860, Editing
English 4870, Advanced Business and Technical Writing
English 4880, Writing for Teachers
English 4890, Independent Writing Project (This course
is required. It is to be taken as the last course a student will take
in the program, and it is to be used to generate an extensive final project
or internship.)
English 4985, Editing Litmag
Honors 3100, Writing the City
Technical Writing Emphasis
The technical writing emphasis provides a more career-specific strategy
for students enrolled in the Writing Certificate program. The technical
writing emphasis is composed of three required courses:
3130,
Technical Writing
4860, Editing
4870, Advanced Business and Technical Writing or
4890, Independent Writing Project
In addition, students take three electives for a total
of 18 hours chosen from the following:
Business Administration
1800, Computers and Computer Information
3100, Contemporary Business Communication
Communication
1065, Introduction to Information Technology
Computer Science
1250, Introduction to Computer Science (Prerequisite:
Math 1030, College Algebra)
English
3120, Business Writing
3140, News Writing
3150, Feature Writing
3160, Writing in the Sciences
3280, Public Relations Writing
4870, Advanced Business and Technical Writing (if 4890) is
taken as requirement)
4890, Independent Writing Project
(if 4870 is
taken as requirement)
Graduate Studies
Admission Requirements
A candidate should have a bachelor’s
degree, with at least 18 hours in English courses. Normally only students
with a grade point average of at least 3.0 in undergraduate English courses
and with an overall undergraduate average of 2.75 will be considered.
The graduate coordinator of the English Department with the advice
of the graduate committee will use the undergraduate record and the scores
of the GRE general test as the basis for a decision. We welcome letters
of recommendation from the applicant’s former English instructors,
but they are not required. Applications to the MA in English are considered
at all times. However, because spaces in graduate courses are limited,
it is strongly advised that prospective students submit their applications
well before the semester begins in order to gain admission into their
appropriate classes.
Teaching Assistantships
A number of teaching assistantships are available for qualified applicants.
In addition to the undergraduate record and the scores on the GRE general
test, applications should include two letters of recommendation from
former English instructors. Applications should be submitted to the graduate
coordinator of the English department no later than March 15 preceding
the academic year for which the appointment is desired.
Degree Requirements
Master of Arts in English
In addition to the Graduate School requirements, students must complete
at least 36 hours, 27 hours of which must be in 5000-level courses. Nine
hours may be taken in 4000-level courses approved by the department and
Graduate School.
At the outset of the program, students in both the literature and writing
theory tracks must take English 5000, Introduction to Graduate Study
in English, which focuses upon bibliography, research methods, and literary
criticism. Students must receive graduate credit for English 5000.
Students who choose a literature track must also take at least one
course in each of the following six areas:
Area 1, British literature
before 1660
Area 2, British literature between 1660 and 1900
Area 3, Twentieth-century literature (British, American, post-colonial,
or in translation)
Area 4, American literature
Area 5, Theories of writing, criticism, language, and/or culture
Area 6, Literature in translation, study of a particular literary
genre, or a course in another relevant discipline.
Students who choose the composition track must take 18 hours in literature
courses (including Eng 5000 and 18 hours in composition courses (including
Eng 5840). The literature courses should provide broad coverage, rather
than a narrow focus on a particular genre or historical period. If
students choose the thesis option (6 hours) they will take 15 hours
in literature and 15 hours in composition.
Thesis Option Students in literature or writing theory
may elect the thesis option, which requires a total of 6 hours of thesis
credit. The thesis should demonstrate original thought and substantial
research and may be a critical study of literary works, a theoretical
exploration of issues related to literature or writing, or a descriptive
assessment of fieldwork related to writing and pedagogy. The thesis must
be approved and assigned a grade by a thesis committee. The student will
select a major professor who, after consulting with the chair and the
graduate coordinator, will select two other members of the committee.
Further information may be found in The Master of Arts in English,
available from the English department.
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
The application process is identical to that for the master of arts
degree, with these exceptions: there is one annual deadline for all applications,
Feb. 15; a writing sample is required (15-20 poems or 20-40 pages of
fiction); the GRE test is required only if the applicant seeks financial
aid or a teaching assistantship.
In addition to the Graduate School requirements, students must complete
at least 39 hours, 30 of which must be in 5000-level courses. Nine hours
may be taken in 4000-level courses approved by the department and Graduate
School. Students will specialize in one genre, poetry or fiction. They
must complete the following course work: (a) 18-21 hours in creative
writing courses: 15 hours of workshops (at least one course outside the
genre), and 3-6 hours of English 6010; (b) 15 hours of courses in literature,
language, writing theory or literary journal editing offered by the department;
(c) 3-6 hours of electives: another workshop or literature/language/writing
theory/literary journal editing course or a relevant offering in another
discipline. Students may not take a 4000-level writing course in their
genre for graduate credit. At least two of the writing workshops and
English 6010 must be taken at UM-St. Louis. Complete information may
be found in The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing,
available from the English department.
Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing, Gateway Writing
Project.
Jointly housed in the Division of Teaching and Learning and the Department
of English, this Graduate Certificate prepares teachers at all levels
(K-12, college, adult) to improve their students’ performance in
writing. The program also emphasizes using writing as a means to promote
learning in all content areas. All courses provide opportunities for
teachers to write, revise, share feedback, and reflect on their own writing
development. Based on the National Writing Project’s core belief
that teachers of writing must themselves be writers, the Graduate Certificate
in the Teaching of Writing brings together sound pedagogy, composition
theory, and writing practice.
The Certificate is an 18-hour program through the Gateway
Writing Project (GWP); it may also be coordinated with other graduate
programs. Certificate courses may be applicable to the M.A. in English
with emphasis in composition or to various M.Ed. programs. The GWP
Certificate is especially appropriate for post-master’s candidates who wish to pursue a specialization
in teaching writing. The Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing
requires a 12 semester-hour core of courses developed by the Gateway
Writing Project: The GWP invitational institute (6 hrs), a designated “topics” course
(3 hrs.), and an exit course (3 hrs.). The Certificate requires a minimum
of 12 semester hours at the 5000 level or above. Electives (6 hrs.) may
be chosen from approved offerings in English or Education.
Admission:
Applicants must be admitted to Graduate School and be selected by the
faculty admissions committee for the Gateway Writing Project’s
Certificate in the Teaching of Writing. The committee will review candidates
on the basis of an interview, an application essay, and supporting documentation.
Criteria include experience teaching writing at any level and academic
record, especially in writing and the teaching of writing.
Prerequisites:
- Eng/SecEd 4880, “Writing for Teachers” or
an equivalent course in teaching writing
- Coursework or competency in basic computer application.
Required Core Courses (12 semester hours)
- Eng4850/TchEd 5850, Topics in the Teaching of Writing
(designated topics, 3 sem. hrs.)
- Eng 5880/SecEd 6880( future TchEd 6880, Gateway
Writing Project (Invitational Institute, 6 sem. hrs.)
- TchEd. 6890, Seminar in Professional Writing for
Teachers (exit course, 3 sem. hrs)
Electives (6 sem. hrs.)
Electives may be chosen from other Gateway Writing Project offerings OR from
courses offered by the appropriate academic department with advisor’s
approval. These electives must include at least one more 5000 level course.
Suggested electives applicable to an
MA in English with writing emphasis:
- Eng. 5840, Theories of Writing
- Eng. 5860, Writing/Reading Theory
- Eng. 5870, Composition Research
- Eng, 5890, Teaching College Writing
- Eng. 5800, Modern Linguistics
Suggested electives applicable to an M.Ed. in Elementary
or Secondary Education
- El. Ed. 4387, Lang. & Literacy
Needs of Diverse Children
- El. Ed. 6430, Problems in Teaching Language Arts
- Sec. Ed. 6430, Problems in Teaching English in
Sec. School
- El. Ed. 6432, Research in Language
Arts
- El. Ed. 6482, Problems & Research
in Elementary Reading
- Ed. REM 6714, Action Research
Courses in adult and higher education may also be appropriate. For
complete information, see The Gateway Writing
Project’s Graduate Certificate in Teaching
Writing, available from the English Department, from
the Division of Teaching and Learning, and from the GWP Director
via Continuing Education & Outreach.
Career Outlook
In addition
to traditional employment as teachers at the primary, secondary, and
community-college levels, recent UM-St. Louis graduates in English are
working in journalism, editing, advertising, public relations, and other
fields that place a premium upon creation and interpretation of the written
word. Numerous recent English majors have successfully entered law school.
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