Course Descriptions and Offerings

508. The Development of the English Language.  Credit 3 hours. Study of Modern English in historical perspective.

 

517. Independent Study in English. Credit 3 hours. The course offers the individual student an opportunity to engage in a creative, critical, or reading project with an English professor of his or her choice. This course maybe repeated for a total of six [6] hours credit.

 

518. Writing Workshop. Credit 3 hours. For advanced undergraduates and new graduate students in all disciplines. Instruction, practice, and group-based support in planning, development, and completion of individualized writing projects. Possible individual emphases include such areas as academic research, creative nonfiction, professional/technical writing, theses, and writing for publication.

 

522. Chaucer. Credit 3 hours. Readings from Chaucer's major works, chiefly The Canterbury Tales.

 

523. Milton. Credit 3 hours. Critical study of Milton's major poetry and selections from the prose works. Emphasis on Paradise Lost. Consideration of religious and intellectual milieu.

 

524. Introduction to Linguistics.  Credit 3 hours. Survey of major elements and schools of modern linguistics. Special attention to the applications of linguistic knowledge to writing, the teaching of first and second languages, and the study of literature.

 

527. Gender Studies and Literature. Credit 3 hours. Representations of gender and sexuality in literature. Readings in identity construction and gender epistemology, as well as feminist philosophy and scholarship.

 

528. African American Literature Since 1900. Credit 3 hours. A study of African American literature since 1900 with special attention to critical and historical contexts.

 

530. 18th Century Literature.  Credit 3 hours. Literature from 1660 to the late 18th Century; representative of authors and their works.

 

535. Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances.  Credit 3 hours. A close reading of selected comedies and romances as drama, as literature, and as documents of Elizabethan culture.

 

536. Shakespeare: Tragedies and Histories.  Credit 3 hours. A close reading of selected tragedies and histories as drama, as literature, and as documents of Elizabethan culture.

 

537. Major Periods in Drama.  Credit 3 hours. A variable-content course. Study of dramatic literature in one important period, such as Restoration/18th Century England, or contemporary Africa. A variable-content course. May be repeated if content is different.

 

538. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Literature.  Credit 3 hours. Introduction to interdisciplinary approaches through the study of selected texts.

 

539. Louisiana Literature.  Credit 3 hours. A survey of the best and most representative writers from Louisiana.

 

548. Advanced Professional and Technical Writing.  Credit 3 hours. Designed for students in all disciplines. A practical study of writing for professional audiences, with emphasis on genres specific to professional and technical writing (feasibility studies, proposals, reports, and professional correspondence). Individualized instruction and a choice of writing topics.

 

549. History of the Book.  Credit 3 hours. Prerequisites: ENGL 102 or 122H and junior standing or permission of Department Head. Designed for students in all disciplines. A survey of the physical and cultural constructions of the book from tablet to World Wide Web; projects in analysis and creation of book design, both print and digital.

 

555. Old English.  Credit 3 hours. Study of the Old English language, with selected readings from the literature of the period.

 

556. Medieval England.  Credit 3 hours. Literature in the British Isles from the early Anglo Saxon period to 1485.

 

557. Early Modern Non-Dramatic Literature.  Credit 3 hours. Non-dramatic English literature from 1485 to 1660; representative authors and their works.

 

558. Major British Authors. Credit 3 hours. A study of selected authors, singly or in small related groups, from 1660 to the present. A variable content course. May be repeated if content is different.

 

559. 19th Century British Literature.  Credit 3 hours. Literature from the Romantic movement in the late 18th Century through 1890's; representative authors and their works.

 

564. The Teaching of Literature.  Credit 3 hours. This course prepares English Education majors to become effective teachers of literature at the secondary level. Students will explore the methods and literary texts vital to a secondary school curriculum in Language Arts. Students will also develop teaching materials appropriate for use in the high school classroom. Significant field experiences will include educational interactions with students. One to two hours of laboratory per week.

 

565. Literary Criticism.  Credit 3 hours. An examination of the development of critical theories from classical times to the present, with an emphasis on the reading of the major texts; a study of the trends in 20th Century Criticism and examples of their application.

 

567. The Teaching of Writing.  Credit 4 hours. For prospective and returning teachers. Theory and methods for teaching writing. Emphasis on students' own writing development through hands-on creation of original teaching materials. Students gain practical experience by serving as writing consultants for two hours per week in area schools and/or in SLU Writing Center. Three hours lecture, and two hours of laboratory per week.

 

575. Introduction to Contemporary Criticism.  Credit 3 hours. Preparation for advanced study in English, including bibliographic and critical skills. Instruction in bibliography centers on contemporary theoretical methods. English 575 is a requirement for students in the M.A. Program in English.

 

576. The Rhetorical Tradition.  Credit 3 hours. A survey of key texts from the rhetorical tradition, from Plato to Derrida. An examination of the relevance of this tradition to students' needs as writers (including professional/technical and creative writers), as teachers of writing, and as students of literature and modes of public discourse.

 

577. Foundations in Language and Literacy.  Credit 3 hours. Introduces students to the scholarship, research methods, instructional practices, and professional opportunities in the related disciplines of grammar and linguistics (including the teaching of English to speakers of other languages, or TESOL), composition and rhetoric, and literacy studies. Successful completion of the course will give students preliminary grounding in these areas needed to pursue graduate course work in the Language and Literacy concentration and to pursue meaningful careers in the disciplines following graduation.

 

582. Intermediate Poetry Workshop.  Credit 3 hours. Writing of poetry of literary quality and intermediate study of poetry theory and technique with emphasized study of contemporary poetry. Intensive discussion of student manuscripts in group meetings and in conferences with instructor. *May be repeated once for credit.

 

583. Intermediate Fiction Workshop.  Credit 3 hours. Writing of fiction of literary quality and intermediate study of technique and theory of fiction writing with emphasis on contemporary fiction. Intensive discussion of student manuscripts in group meetings and in conferences with instructor. *May be repeated once for credit.

 

584. Topics in Creative Writing. Credit 3 hours. Prerequisites: ENGL 370, 371, or 372 depending on corresponding genre of special topic, Junior standing or permission of Department Head. A variable genre creative writing course emphasizing writing of literary quality in a specific genre such as poetry, fiction, drama, or new and hybrid forms. Intermediate study of technique and theory as appropriate to the genre. Intensive discussion of student manuscripts in group meetings and in conferences with instructor. *May be repeated once for credit.

 

585. Foundations in Professional Writing.  Credit 3 hours. Designed to introduce students to the theoretical issues and bibliographic skills fundamental to an advanced study of Professional Writing. Includes the use, evaluation and organization of both traditional and on-line bibliographic materials, with emphasis on the Internet, World Wide Web, and on-line catalogs. Instruction focuses on theoretical issues necessary to the study of Professional Writing.

 

586. Document Production and Design.  Credit 3 hours. Designed for students from all disciplines. A study of documents, both printed and electronic. Emphasis on visual rhetoric, desk top publishing, hypertext, web page authoring, and electronic presentations. Individualized instruction and assignments relevant to the students' needs and interests.

 

587. Major World Authors.  Credit 3 hours. A study of selected authors, singly or in small related groups, from the ancient periods to the present. A variable content course. May be repeated if content is different.

 

588. Modernism.  Credit 3 hours. Representative writers from the 1890's to 1945 with attention to trends and innovations in the major literary genres.

 

589. Postmodern and Contemporary Literature.  Credit 3 hours. World, and/or American, and/or British literatures' representative writers from 1945 into the 21st Century with attention to trends and innovations in the major literary genres. A variable-content course. May be repeated if content is different.

 

590. 19th Century American Literature.  Credit 3 hours. A study of works organized to highlight the intellectual grounds of selected literary movements (i.e. transcendentalism, romance, realism), the aesthetic principles of major genres (novel, poetry, essay), or the literary interactions of authors whose work led intellectual, cultural, and/or aesthetic innovation.

 

591. Major American Authors.  Credit 3 hours. A study of selected authors, singly or in small related groups, from the colonial period to the present. A variable-content course. May be repeated if content is different.

 

592. Introduction to Literary and Technical Editing.  Credit 3 hours. Prerequisites: ENGL 102 or 122H and junior standing or permission of Department Head. This workshop class will acquaint students with current literary and technical editing and publishing practices, including online publishing. Students will practice editing texts to make the texts readable and conform to the norms of professional editing. Students will also have some chance to design, lay out, and produce small publications in print and online, utilizing professional software.

 

593. Practicum in Humanities Print Publishing.  Credit 3 hours. Prerequisite: ENGL 492/592 or COMM 341; or permission of Department Head. Advanced application of editorial, design, and production skills to a major print humanities publishing project, such as a journal, magazine, chapbook, book, etc., from manuscript acquisition to printed product. Students develop design and advanced editing abilities along with professional facility with industry-standard publishing software.

 

594. Publishing in Digital Humanities.  Credit 3 hours. Prerequisites: ENGL 102 or 122H and junior standing or permission of Department Head. Designed for students in all disciplines. A workshop course in publishing digital texts, principally online. Theoretical readings on digital forms of the book; HTML, XML/TEI, and creation of digital texts using industry-standard web design software; analysis of emerging trends and platforms in digital publication.

 

595. Internship.  Credit 3 hours. Prerequisites: Junior standing and permission of Department Head. Supervised field experience in English with local, state, national, and international businesses, agencies, institutions (including colleges and universities), and organizations. This internship will allow students to utilize skills learned in the classroom and hone them in the modern workplace. Students will work with the internship supervisor to secure their own internships. All internship students will meet occasionally (either face to face or via Moodle) during the semester to examine issues associated with the experience. May be repeated for up to 6 hours.

 

600. Studies in Medieval Literature.  Credit 3 hours. In-depth study of selected works of medieval literature. A variable-content course. May be taken twice if content is different.

 

601. Studies in Early Modern Literature.  Credit 3 hours. In-depth study of selected works of literature from the British Isles during the early modern period. A variable-content course. May be taken twice if content is different.

 

606. Studies in British Literature.  Credit 3 hours. In-depth study of selected works of British literature excluding the medieval and early modern periods. A variable-content course. May be taken twice if content is different.

 

610. Studies in Performance.  Credit 3 hours. In-depth study of selected works of drama, film, and/or related performance arts. A variable-content course. May be taken twice if content is different.

 

617. Studies in World Literature.  Credit 3 hours. In-depth study of selected works of literature outside North America and the British Isles. A variable-content course. May be taken twice if content is different.

 

620. Studies in Language and Literacy.  Credit 3 hours. Studies in composition, rhetoric, literacy studies, or linguistics. A variable-content course. May be repeated if content is different.

 

621. Studies in English Education.  Credit 3 hours. In-depth study of selected topics in English Education. A variable-content course. May be taken twice if content is different.

 

630. Studies in American Literature.  Credit 3 hours. A variable content course in American literature. Emphases may include literary movements, authors, genres, and themes. May be taken twice if content is different.

 

632. Modern Literary Criticism.  Credit 3 hours. The methods used and the philosophies reflected in modern criticism; trends and issues in interpretation; reading and writing critical essays.

 

645. Creative Writing Workshop.  Credit 3 hours. Theories and methods of creative writing. Includes workshop discussion of student work.

 

646. Workshop in the Teaching of Writing.  Credit 3 hours. Advanced work in composition theory, research, and practice, with emphasis on students' writing and on instructional applications. Permission required when offered as part of the Southeast Louisiana Writing Project. A variable-content course. May be repeated if content is different.

 

648. Graduate Studies Seminar. Credit 3 hours. Intensive writing focused on promoting knowledge of the discipline of English studies, the various genres and forms of writing appropriate to Graduate Study in English, and training in advanced critical reading of literary scholarship and literary history.

 

651. Studies in Professional Writing.  Credit 3 hours. In-depth study of selected topics in professional writing. A variable-content course. May be taken twice if content is different.

 

760. Internship Research. Credit 1-6 hours. Prerequisite: ENGL 595 or permission of Department Head. A portfolio and research course for students who have completed all other degree coursework and need to complete the comprehensive exam. This course is graded Pass/Fail.

 

770. Thesis Research and Thesis.  Credit 1-6 hours each semester, with 6 hours needed for graduation. The student must enroll in the thesis course each semester the thesis is in progress. The thesis is graded Pass/Fail.