Undergraduate Course Catalog 2007-2008
College of Liberal Arts
» http://www.unh.edu/liberal-arts/
English (ENGL)
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Chairperson: Janet Aikins Yount
Professor: Thomas A. Carnicelli, Mary Morris Clark, Walter F. Eggers, Burt H. Feintuch, Michael K. Ferber, Lester A. Fisher, Diane P. Freedman, Elizabeth H. Hageman, Jane T. Harrigan, Rochelle Lieber, John S. Lofty, Lisa MacFarlane, Mekeel McBride, Andrew H. Merton, Thomas R. Newkirk, David H. Watters, Janet Aikins Yount
Associate Professor: Brigitte Gabcke Bailey, Monica E. Chiu, Margaret-Love G. Denman, Robin Hackett, Susan Margaret Hertz, James Krasner, Douglas M. Lanier, Lisa C. Miller, Naomi G. Nagy, Petar Ramadanovic, Siobhan Senier, Sarah Way Sherman, Sandhya Shetty, Rachel Trubowitz
Assistant Professor: Dennis Britton, Delia C. Konzett, Martin McKinsey, Sean D. Moore
Through studying a wide variety of literary materials, English majors deepen their understanding of history, culture, language, and human behavior. They also gain skill in writing, reading, and critical thinking. Upon graduation, English majors traditionally enter a broad range of vocational fields and areas of graduate study.
The Department of English offers four majors: the English major, the English Literature major, the English Teaching major, and the English/Journalism major. It also offers courses in writing nonfiction, fiction, and poetry; courses in linguistics; courses in film; courses in folklore; and courses for honors in English.
The English Major
The English major has two chief objectives: to provide all students with a common core of literary experience and to provide each student with the opportunity of shaping a course of study to suit individual interests.
The flexibility and freedom inherent in the second of these objectives places a responsibility upon students to devise a program that has an intelligent rationale. For example, students with a strong interest in creative writing or linguistics may wish to take only the minimum number of advanced literature courses required for the major and fill their upper-division requirements with courses in the writing of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, or in the study of the English language, language formation, and other areas of linguistics. Students who intend to pursue graduate study in literature written in English should choose more than the minimum number of advanced literature courses and should seek a broad historical background. For these students, the “English Literature major” would perhaps be a more appropriate choice than the standard “English major.” All students should secure the assistance and approval of their advisers in formulating an early plan for the major program.
For the English major, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits of major coursework with a grade of C- or better, with the exception of ENGL 419, which must be completed with a grade of C or better. Students must complete ENGL 419, two 500-level courses (or one 500-level course and ENGL/LING 405), and seven courses numbered 600 and above. In selecting these courses, students must be sure to meet the following distribution requirements:
1. Two courses in literature written before 1800: either two advanced courses (numbered 600 or above), or one advanced course and ENGL 513.
2. Two courses in literature written since 1800: either two advanced courses, or one advanced course and one course from the following list: ENGL 514, 515, or 516.
Students interested in majoring in English should consult Susan Dumais, coordinator of the Department of English, (603) 862-1313.
The English Literature Major
The English Literature major offers students the opportunity for a focused and comprehensive study of literature written in the English language. The English Literature major engages students in the range of approaches to literary study that now characterize the field: the historical study of national traditions, literary theory, the study of texts in cultural context, genre studies, and the critical analysis of representations of identity, especially in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality. It builds onto the existing English major a series of requirements that ensure students’ greater immersion in literature, and it foregrounds research. In these ways, the program will be especially useful to those students who wish to go on to graduate school in English and other fields, as well as various kinds of professional training, including law school.
For students planning other career paths, the English Literature major will help them gain the ability to read critically, write papers that synthesize research results in a sustained analysis, and develop familiarity with the historical and cultural contexts that inform written expression. Beyond these more practical career concerns, this major is ideal for students who are passionate about reading fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and other kinds of imaginative literature.
For the English Literature major, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits of major coursework with a grade of C- or better, with the exception of ENGL 419, which must be completed with a grade of C or better. Additional requirements include two 500-level courses, one of which must be a survey course; ENGL 619; and ENGL 787. Seven courses must be completed at the 600 level or higher. In selecting courses, students must be sure to meet the following distribution requirements. Please note that, in many cases, a single course may satisfy a requirement in two or more categories.
1. Two courses in literature written prior to 1800. Either two advanced courses (600 level and above) or one advanced course and ENGL 513.
2. Two courses in literature written since 1800. Either two advanced courses or one advanced course and one of the following: ENGL 514, 515, or 516.
3. One American literature course at the 600/700 level.
4. One British literature course at the 600/700 level.
5. Two courses that investigate and question representations of identity (ENGL 517, 540, 555, 581, 585, 586, 681, 685, 690, 738, 739, 740, 775, 777); genre, including film, with the exception of ENGL 533 (616, 618, 630, 631, 632, 777); and/or theoretical positions (ENGL 713, 714). Other courses may count, when relevant and with prior written approval of the adviser.
Students interested in majoring in English Literature should consult Susan Dumais, coordinator of the Department of English, or the director of the English Literature program.
The English Teaching Major
This major is designed for students wishing to teach English in middle or high schools. Completion of this undergraduate major does not in itself, however, meet state certification requirements. To meet these requirements, students should enroll in the undergraduate major and, by September 15 of their senior year, apply for the fifth-year teaching internship and master’s degree program. (For a full description of the program, see page 32.) Undergraduate English Teaching majors must pass the following English courses with an average of 2.50 or better: ENGL 419, 514, 516, 619, 657, 725-726 or 710 and 792, 718 or 791, and two additional literature courses numbered 600 or above. ENGL 513 may be substituted for one of these two courses. A writing portfolio is also required.
Students interested in majoring in English Teaching should consult Susan Dumais, coordinator of the Department of English, or the director of the English Teaching program.
The English/Journalism Major
The English/Journalism major is designed for students considering careers in print journalism or related fields. Students who complete the program are ready for entry-level writing or editing positions on newspapers or magazines.
The program allows students to develop their writing, reporting, and editing skills while developing a strong background in English literature. English/Journalism majors must complete ENGL 419 with a grade of C or better and the literature requirements of the standard English major. In addition, they must complete ENGL 501 (Creative Nonfiction) and ENGL 621 (Newswriting) with a grade of B or better; ENGL 622 (Advanced Newswriting); at least one other on-campus journalism course (ENGL 703, 704, 708, 711, 721, 722, 723); and a journalism internship (ENGL 720) approved by the director of the journalism program. Except where otherwise noted, major courses must be completed with a C- or better. Many journalism students work for the on-campus student newspaper, The New Hampshire. Many students hold summer jobs in journalism, and some have part-time journalism jobs during the school year.
Students interested in the English/Journalism major should see Susan Dumais, coordinator of the Department of English, or the director of the English/Journalism program.
Writing Programs
The Department of English offers courses for students interested in becoming writers. Up to four consecutive creative writing workshops can be taken in fiction or in poetry, as well as a course in form and theory of either genre. The instructors for these courses are professional writers. Interested students should inquire at the department office.
