English Courses
(GP) indicates that the course satisfies the Global Perspective Elective requirement in the General Education core.
ENG 1000 ENGLISH FUNDAMENTALS (3 credits)
A preparation course for ENG 1010 that helps students develop as college writers and readers through discussion, workshops, grammar instructions, and reading and writing assignments. Students who place into ENG 1000 must pass the course before taking ENG 1010, except in the case of the Accelerated Composition (AC) track, in which students may choose to take ENG 1000AC concurrently with ENG 1010AC.
Prerequisite: Placement test or standardized test scores
Offered: fall and spring
ENG 1010 COMPOSITION (3 credits)
Introduces students to basic rhetorical conventions and critical reading strategies. Students review grammar and mechanics, produce texts in several different genres, and practice integrating their own ideas with those from appropriate sources.
Prerequisite: ENG 1000 (if required)
Offered: fall and spring
ENG 1040 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC (3 credits)
Develops students’ ability to produce logical, persuasive arguments; to critically examine their own and others’ ideas; to locate appropriate sources and integrate these effectively in their writing; to understand the concept of intellectual property; and to practice applying the citation conventions governed by that concept.
Prerequisite: ENG 1010
ENG 2410 DEATH AND DYING IN LITERATURE (3 credits)
Mortality is the common condition of all humanity. How humans cope with death and dying—both their own and other people’s—is as diverse as humanity itself. This course explores death, dying, and the responses to it across multiple time periods, languages, and/or cultures. A variety of texts, including poetry, short fiction, novels, drama, essays, non-fiction, and film and television may be included.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: Fall or Spring
ENG 2420 LOVE IN LITERATURE (3 credits)
Love is a common condition of humanity across time and culture. How we love; who we love; what love is; are questions that concern all people. This course explores love in its many forms: romantic, familial, companionate, etc. across multiple time periods, languages and/or cultures. A variety of texts, including poetry, short fiction, novels, drama, essays, non-fiction, and/or film and television may be included.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: Fall or Spring
ENG 2430 THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN LITERATURE (3 credits)
The natural environment has been a constant source of inspiration for humans since before written language first developed. From prehistoric cave paintings, to ancient epic poetry, to current “green” initiatives and ecocriticism, the effects of the natural environment on humans and the effects of humans on the natural environment all have wide-ranging implications. This course explores the natural environment in terms of those effects, across multiple time periods, languages and/or cultures. A variety of texts, including poetry, short fiction, novels, drama, essays, non-fiction, and/or film and television may be included.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: Fall or Spring
ENG 2440 LEGAL STUDIES IN LITERATURE (3 credits)
Lawyers, judges, clerks, politicians, criminals, prison workers, and the settings in which they work and live will provide the subject matter for this course. Legal documents, materials, and precedents will be explored, as this course explores the legal in works across multiple time periods, languages and/or cultures. A variety of texts, including poetry, short fiction, novels, drama, essays, non-fiction, and/or film and television may be included.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: Fall or Spring
ENG 2450 SCIENCE IN LITERATURE (3 credits)
Disease, medicine, and health workers (including doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, etc.) have provided the subject matter and characters in a broad range of texts, this course explores the health sciences in works across multiple time periods, languages, and/or cultures. A variety of texts, including poetry, short fiction, novels, drama, essays, non-fiction and/or film and television may be included.
Prerequisite: ENG 1020 or1040
Offered: Fall or Spring
ENG 2460 WORK AND THE WORKPLACE IN LITERATURE (3 credits)
Whether it be in the office, in the factory, at home, or on the farm, work is an important part the human experience. This course explores literary perspectives on work across multiple time periods, languages and/or cultures. A variety of texts, including poetry, short fiction, novels, drama, essays, non-fiction, and/or film and television may be included.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: Fall or Spring
ENG 2850 SPECIAL STUDIES IN ENGLISH (3 credits)
(GP) To be determined. In-depth study involving research or research/travel and writing.
Prerequisite: permission of the department chair
Offered: as needed
ENG 2950 STUDY ABROAD (1-3 credits)
(GP) The academic side of a Study Abroad trip, the course includes readings and written assignment in support of the academic goals of the trip and in line with the academic goals of the English department. Credits available at the discretion of the instructor.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor.
ENG 3201 BUSINESS WRITING (3 credits)
Practical written business communications – letters, memoranda, reports, proposals, and resumes. One hour of CAC lab per week at discretion of instructor. Creditable to one program only: Business, English, Mass Communications, or Writing
Prerequisites: ENG 1010 ; 1020 or 1040
Cross-listed: BUS 3201
Offered: spring
ENG 3210 TECHNICAL WRITING (3 credits)
Development of writing skills necessary in technical and scientific fields. One hour of CAC lab per week at discretion of instructor.
Prerequisite: ENG 1020 or 1040
Cross–listed: WRI 3210. Creditable towards one program only: Business, English, Mass Commnications, or Writing.
Offered: as needed
ENG 3220 ADVANCED GRAMMAR (3 credits)
The history of the English language; an analysis of the structure of English grammar: sounds, parts of speech, sentence patterns, prose style, and the new grammars.
Prerequisite: ENG 1020 or 1040
Offered: spring (even years)
ENG 3310 GOTHIC STUDIES (3 credits)
This course will focus on classic eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Gothic texts, as well as classic and contemporary film adaptations of those texts, and works of Gothic architecture and art. Furthermore, this course will explore the concept of the Gothic from its origins through the twentieth century and beyond, including its influence on various forms of popular culture.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: fall (odd years)
ENG 3420 WOMEN’S LITERATURE (3 credits)
(GP) Concentrated study of literature written by women. The course emphasizes the historical context of women’s poetry, prose, and fiction; introduces students to major figures in women’s literary history; identifies recurrent themes in writings by women; and introduces students to feminist literary theory.
Prerequisite: ENG 1020 or 1040
Cross-listed: WST 3420
Offered: fall (odd years)
ENG 3500 AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE (3 credits)
The study of literature by or about African-Americans. This course may focus on specific themes, periods, or authors within the field.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: Even spring semesters
ENG 3520 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES IN LITERATURE (3 credits)
(GP) This course will present a comparative study of literature from all over the world, including a variety of genres and time periods and drawing on non-Western as well as Western texts.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: Odd spring semesters
ENG 3530 SLAVE NARRATIVES (3 credits)
An exploration of slave narratives and other testimonial literature, including antebellum, postbellum, and neo slave narratives.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: odd spring semesters
ENG 3540 AMERICAN IDENTITY (3 credits)
A study of literary texts exploring a variety of answers to the question: “What does it mean to be an American?” Readings will draw on writers from a variety of backgrounds and time periods.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: Even Fall Semesters
ENG 3550 SPECULATIVE FICTION (3 credits)
A study of a major author, genre, theme or period in speculative fiction. Speculative fiction includes any genre that deals with non-reality, including but not limited to: alternative history, fantasy, science fiction, monsters, horror, ghost stories, magical realism, dystopian, afro-futurism, and eco-fiction.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: Odd spring semesters
ENG 3560 SOCIAL JUSTICE AND LITERATURE (3 credits)
This course will explore the concept of social justice in relation to works of literature, as well as other relevant written, multimedia, and interdisciplinary works. Social justice will be discussed in terms of its social, political, economic, historical, as well as gendered and racial contexts across a variety of texts and genres, and may focus on a specific time period, language, or culture.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: even Spring semesters
ENG 3710 CHAUCER (3 credits)
(GP) The English medieval period with particular emphasis on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Troilus and Criseyde, and minor poems.
Prerequisite: ENG 1020 or 1040
Offered: spring of alternate years
ENG 3730 LITERATURE OF MEDIEVAL ENGLAND (3 credits)
(GP) This course will explore the writings of major authors of medieval England, with a focus on the major themes including feudalism, Arthurian legend, romances, the Catholic Church, heresy, mysticism, medieval drama, and/ or love poetry. This will also expose students to the major works outside of those of Chaucer, and may discuss connections to be made between the middle ages and our own culture today.
Prerequisite: ENG 1020 or 1040
Offered: fall (even years)
ENG 3740 SHAKESPEARE (3 credits)
(GP) Representative Shakespearean plays with attention to historical background and cultural setting.
Prerequisite: ENG 1020 or 1040
Offered: alternate years
ENG 3850 SPECIAL STUDIES IN ENGLISH (3 credits)
(GP) To be determined. In-depth study involving research or research/travel and writing.
Prerequisite: permission of the department chair
Offered: as needed
ENG 3920 VICTORIAN LITERATURE (3 credits)
(GP) A study of major genres, authors, and/or themes of Victorian Britain (circa 1837-1901).
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: even fall semesters
ENG 3950 STUDY ABROAD (1-3 credits)
(GP) The academic side of a Study Abroad trip, the course includes readings and written assignment in support of the academic goals of the trip and in line with the academic goals of the English department. Credits available at the discretion of the instructor.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor.
ENG 4020 MODERNIST LITERATURE (3 credits)
(GP) British and American fiction, drama, and/or poetry from the early twentieth century, emphasizing principal trends and representative works.
Prerequisite: ENG 1020 or 1040
Offered: spring (even years)
ENG 4030 CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE (3 credits)
(GP) Fiction, drama, and/or poetry written since World War II, emphasizing principal trends and representative works.
Prerequisite: ENG 1020 or 1040
Offered: spring (odd years)
ENG 4160 ENGLISH/WRITING INTERNSHIP 1-(3 credits)
Experiential learning. An opportunity for an upper-level Writing or English major to work either in the public or private sector at a position involving writing, editing, or research. The student is assigned duties approved by the Department Chair, a supervising English or Writing instructor, and an on-site supervisor. Written reports by the student are required. For elective credit. Not creditable toward either the 18 credits at the 3000 level or above in English or the 18 credits at the 2000-level or above in Writing required by those majors.
Prerequisites: Junior or Senior status, a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all Writing and English classes, and permission of the supervising instructor
Offered: as needed
ENG 4170 JANE AUSTEN (3 credits)
(GP) This course will explore selected written works authored by Jane Austen, as well as selected adaptations.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: odd spring semesters
ENG 4180 CHARLES DICKENS (3 credits)
(GP) This course will explore selected written works authored by Charles Dickens, as well as selected adaptations.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: even spring semesters
ENG 4550 SENIOR SEMINAR IN LITERARY STUDIES (3 credits)
A capstone course required for all English majors nearing graduation, English 4550 offers a thorough review of current research methodologies, citation practices, the use of print and electronic resources, literary theory, and career and/or academic work after MU graduation. It provides each student with the opportunity to engage in a lengthy, semester-long research project on a single literary topic or text(s) of the student’s choosing. A research paper of at least 20 pages and utilizing at least 10 electronic or non-electronic sources will be required as well as a 20-minute oral presentation involving the integration of visual aids and demonstrating each student’s computer literacy.
Prerequisite: ENG 1040
Offered: Spring
ENG 4850 SPECIAL STUDIES IN ENGLISH (3 credits)
(GP) To be determined. In-depth study involving research or research/travel and writing.
Prerequisite: permission of the department chair
Offered: as needed
ENG 4990 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ENGLISH (TBA)
An opportunity for a well-qualified, upper-division student to engage in special research in his/her major. Prerequisites: Requires approval by the faculty advisor, the supervising professor, the department chair, and the college dean before approval by Provost. Credit to be determined.