English
Undergraduate Programs
Description
The Department of English prepares students to study, understand, and use the English language in order to
- communicate through written composition
- comprehend and create written texts
- gain a critical and analytical understanding of texts
- prepare for careers in teaching, writing, editing, publishing, and other professions that value such knowledge and skills.
The department’s goals are:
- offering quality undergraduate education in creative writing, English education, film, linguistics, literature, and technical communication;
- offering general education and service courses that foster effective reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking, that promote an understanding of literature and film, and that promote an appreciation for the variety of cultures within our country and throughout the world;
- contributing to students’ education in writing and teaching by means of instruction in the effective use of communication technologies.
The department’s undergraduate programs prepare graduates for a wide variety of careers, including middle and high school English teaching, freelance writing, literary publishing and editing, and technical and professional writing, publishing, and editing. Some English majors choose to go on for master’s or doctoral degrees that will qualify them to teach at the college level. Others find careers in a wide range of fields in business, government, and nonprofit organizations. Still others find that their English degrees are ideal gateways into training for professions such as law.
Majors |
Program | Locations | Major / Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Writing BA | BA - Bachelor of Arts |
|
60 / 120 |
| English Creative Writing BFA | BFA - Bachelor of Fine Arts |
|
76 / 120 |
| English Literature BA | BA - Bachelor of Arts |
|
48 / 120 |
| English Studies BA | BA - Bachelor of Arts |
|
48 / 120 |
| Technical Communication BS | BS - Bachelor of Science |
|
37 / 120 |
Certificates |
Program | Locations | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Communication CERT |
|
24 |
Minors |
Program | Locations | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Writing Minor |
|
20 | |
| English Minor |
|
20 | |
| English Writing Studies Minor |
|
20 | |
| Linguistics Minor |
|
16 | |
| Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Minor |
|
16 | |
| Technical Communication Minor |
|
16 |
Policies & Faculty
Policies
Admission to Major is granted by the department. ENG 101: Composition must be completed before admission to the major.
GPA Policy. Candidates for the major degrees in the department must maintain a 2.5 grade-point average in all coursework in the major field, in addition to the 2.0 overall average required by the university for graduation. Students must earn a “C” or better for a course to apply to their major or minor.
P/N Grading Policy. Courses leading to a major or minor in English may not be taken on a P/N basis, except where P/N is mandatory.
Supporting Coursework. Since the different programs in English complement a wide range of different fields of study, English majors should consult regularly with their faculty advisors regarding choice of a minor and other elective courses beyond the major or minor. In consultation with faculty advisors, students may choose a second major instead of a minor.
English Majors and Minors. Students majoring in English may also elect one of the following minors: film studies, linguistics, and technical communication. However, a course used to meet the requirements of an English major, minor, or certificate cannot also be used to meet the requirements of another English major, minor, or certificate. Consequently, because the technical communications programs share so many required courses, students may elect only one of them: BA English Studies Technical Communications Emphasis, BS English Technical Communications Option, the Certificate in Technical Communications, or the Technical Communications Minor.
Residency Requirements. Students pursuing a major and/or minor in the Department of English must complete at least 50% (half) of the required credits for the major and/or minor at Minnesota State Mankato. Programs within the Department may establish more stringent residency requirements.
Credit for Prior Learning. Students pursuing a major and/or minor in the Department of English may receive no more than 33% (one-third) of the required credits for the major and/or minor through credit for prior learning. Programs within the Department may establish more stringent credit for prior learning requirements.
Independent Work. Students pursuing a major or minor in the Department of English may earn no more than 33% (one-third) of the required credits through supervised independent work such as independent studies or internships, not including capstone experiences. Programs within the Department may establish more stringent independent work requirements.
Contact Information
230 Armstrong Hall
Office 507-389-2117english.mnsu.edu
Faculty
Chair
- Geoffrey Herbach, MFA
Faculty
000 Level
Below 100-level courses are remedial courses and do not apply to a major or minor.
Credits: 2-4
This course offers instruction in and practice with critical reading and writing strategies. Credit does not apply toward graduation. P/N only.Prerequisites: none
100 Level
Credits: 4
Students in this course approach academic reading and writing as subjects of study.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Students in this course approach writing as a subject of study by investigating how writing works across a variety of contexts.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-1A
Credits: 4
Study and analysis of elements of prose, poetry and drama in English from earlier periods through contemporary. Emphasizes critical reading of literature. May include such genres as short story, novel, memoir, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, poem, play, screenplay.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-06
Credits: 4
Study and analysis of prose, poetry, drama, and film from various genres, time periods, and geographies. Emphasizes critical reading of and writing about literature.Prerequisites: ENG 101
Goal Areas: GE-06
Credits: 4
The course purpose is to increase students' knowledge of international children's literature that is written in English or translated into English. Students will be introduced to individual books, authors, and methods of responding to literature. This course studies children's literature set in countries such as Afghanistan, WWII Germany,and the Dominican Republic.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-08
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
This course will introduce students to Shakespeare's plays (histories, tragedies, and comedies) and sonnets. Students will read, analyze, and develop interpretations of these works, learning about Shakespeare's language, historical situations, and world views.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-08
200 Level
Credits: 4
Work on developing mastery of the rhetorical principles of planning, executing, and revising written texts. Emphasis on strengthening analytical writing, both expository and argumentative; valuable for writing on the job.Prerequisites: ENG 101
Goal Areas: GE-02
Credits: 1-4
Study of written and/or oral communication specific to international student needs in disciplinary or professional fields. Course may be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Courses will explore literary representations of, and literary contributions made by, under-represented peoples. Students will develop critical thinking, reading, and writing skills, and increased appreciation of the diversity of human experience. Potential topics include: Multi-Ethnic Literature, Literature and Disability. May be repeated as topics change.Prerequisites: ENG 101
Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-07
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
Courses will introduce students to works of literature from a variety of world cultures. Designed to increase knowledge of world cultures and appreciation and understanding of cultural differences in representation, and in seeing, believing, and being. Emphasizes critical thinking, reading, and writing. May be repeated with different topics.Prerequisites: ENG 101
Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-08
Credits: 4
Courses will focus on some characteristic ways in which literature addresses and explores the ethical dimensions of human society and the relationships between works and their cultural contexts. Emphasizes critical thinking, reading and writing. May be repeated as topics change.Prerequisites: ENG 101
Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-09
Credits: 2-4
Course will explore specialized topics in literature; may be repeated under a different topic.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-06
Credits: 1
This course operates as an independent study of those writers visiting campus for the Good Thunder Reading Series.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
An introduction to writing poetry and short prose. This course does not assume previous creative writing experience on the part of the student.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-11
Credits: 4
This class explores the history of story-focused games from ancient board games through contemporary mobile games and introduces visual, narrative, and audio techniques that create the story. Through software like Twine, class members will also have the opportunity to create a story game.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Introduction to learning the written and oral communication of technical information. Assignments include writing and presenting proposals, reports, and documentation. Emphasis on use of rhetorical analysis, computer applications, collaborative writing, and usability testing to complete technical communication tasks in the workplace.Prerequisites: ENG 101
Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-13
Credits: 4
Introduction to business communication. Assignments include writing and presenting proposals, reports, and documentation typical to a business/industry setting. Emphasis on use of rhetorical analysis, software applications, collaboration, and usability testing to complete business communication tasks. Fall, SpringPrerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-13
Credits: 4
Introduction to written and visual communication of technical information in agricultural contexts. Through rhetorical analysis, collaborative and independent writing, and usability testing, students will learn strategies to produce clear, concise, accurate, and effective documents and presentations.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
An introduction to literary genres and to the techniques of writing about literature.Prerequisites: ENG 101
Credits: 2
A review of traditional grammar designed to prepare students for advanced work in language and grammar. This course will run for a half-semester.Prerequisites: none
300 Level
Credits: 4
Expressive expository and argumentative writing. For anyone interested in developing advanced rhetorical skills such as invention, arrangement, and style in discourse. Especially recommended for students who plan to write as part of their careers or pursue graduate study.Prerequisites: ENG 101 and permission of instructor
Credits: 1-4
Topic-oriented course in literature. May be repeated with change of topic.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 2-4
Specific topics in multicultural literature with detailed study of a particular period, region, or group in the United States and their contributions to a diverse literature. Topics include African American Literature, American Indian Literature, Southern Writers of Color, and others. May be repeated as topics change.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
Animals and Literature is a required class for the Human-Animal Studies minor. The course examines literature focusing on animals from various time periods, genres, and geographical locations. By analyzing the role of animals in various literary texts, students will develop a greater understanding of human-animal interactions and relationships, will be exposed to ethical issues surrounding human-animal relationships, and will understand and engage in theoretical issues central to Human-Animal Studies. Topics may vary and the course can be repeated with change in content.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
Representative works from British literature encompassing Beowulf through the Eighteenth Century. Prereq: ENG 275Prerequisites: ENG 275W
Credits: 4
Representative works from British Literature, the Romantic Period to the present. Prereq: ENG 275Prerequisites: ENG 275W
Credits: 3
Introduction to authors, genres, illustrations, and works of literature published for elementary age children. Current and classic works.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
A survey of American Literature from its beginnings to the end of the Civil War. Prereq: ENG 275Prerequisites: ENG 275W
Credits: 4
A survey of American Literature from the end of the Civil War to the present. Prereq: ENG 275Prerequisites: ENG 275W
Credits: 4
Study of the technical underpinnings of fiction and creative nonfiction genres.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Study of the technical underpinnings of poetry.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Introduction to writing personal essays and literary journalism.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Introduction to writing short stories.Prerequisites: Select one course: ENG 340 or ENG 341.
Credits: 4
Introduction to writing poems.Prerequisites: Select one course: ENG 340 or ENG 341.
Credits: 4
Theory, practice, and materials for teaching English language arts in middle school and high school, with particular attention to literature.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Theory, practice, and materials for teaching English language arts in middle school and high school, with particular attention to language and writing.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
The English language considered structurally (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics) and sociolinguistically (geographical and social dialects, gender issues, acquisition of first and second language, standard and nonstandard forms).Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This course introduces students to the role of culture and language in education. Topics of study focus on diverse student populations, particularly language learners, in American schools, providing an understanding that every individual is a member of many communities and is influenced by a host of different cultural markers, such as language, race, ethnicity, regionalism, social class, gender, and other differences.Prerequisites: none
400 Level
Credits: 4
Selected topics course on literature about gender and gendered experiencesPrerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
Studies in selected authors. Specific authors change. May be repeated with content changes.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This course examines Shakespeare's poetry and dramatic works within their social and historical context. The plays will be considered as both literary texts and dramatic performances.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Study of literature from the 21st century, with an emphasis on how these works reflect contemporary concerns.Prerequisites: ENG 275W
Credits: 4
This course critically examines a wide array of literature, non-fiction essays and articles, film and art to explore the historical experiences of diverse Arab American communities. The course will begin by discussing major issues in the field, the history of immigration and citizenship, and developments in Arab American writing. Students will learn about waves of immigration from the 1880s onward, the literary communities that formed, and their contemporary legacy. The course will enable the students to better comprehend the historical and cultural contexts in which Arab American literature has evolved and the diverse perspectives of individual writers and artists.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 2-4
Topics have included genres such as fantasy or historical fiction and thematic topics such as survival or journeys. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 2-4
Selected periods of literary study.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Extensive reading in an area for which the student has had basic preparation.Prerequisites: Consent
Credits: 2-4
Content changes. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Topics on themes, issues, and developments in genres of the literatures of the world. Content changes. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
Topics on themes, issues, and developments in genres of the literatures of the world. Content changes. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 2-4
A study of selected novels from a variety of time periods and cultures, including Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This writing-intensive course surveys the earliest Native American literary works, from oral tradition and songs to contemporary works and authors, with a particular emphasis on tribal and cultural contexts that identify these works as Native American.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 2-4
This course surveys the origins and development of Chicana/o and Latina/o literature, from oral narratives, early poetry, and narrative fiction and memoirs, through the Chicano Movement and the emergence of Chicana/o literature and drama. The course also examines contemporary Chicana/o and Latina/o narrative fiction, including issues related to im/migration, the urban experience, Chicana/o and Latina/o subjectivity, and the reappropriation and reinterpretation of myths, legends, and cultural figures in transnational context.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
This writing-intensive course surveys the earliest African American literary works, including slave narratives, poetry, folklore, and oration, through 20th century movements such as the Jazz Age, Harlem Renaissance, and Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, to contemporary works and authors.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
Theories of literature and its production and use. Prereq: 6 semester credits in literature.Prerequisites: 6 semester credits in literature
Credits: 4
Advanced workshop in writing personal essays and literary journalism. May be repeated.Prerequisites: ENG 340 or ENG 342
Credits: 4
An advanced course in writing short stories and novels. May be repeated.Prerequisites: ENG 340 or ENG 343
Credits: 4
An advanced course in writing poems. May be repeated.Prerequisites: ENG 341 or ENG 344
Credits: 4
An advanced course in writing critical essays. May be repeated. Prereq: Writing course or consentPrerequisites: Writing course or consent
Credits: 4
Introduction to writing for the screen. May be repeated with new content.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This course enables BA and BFA Creative Writing students to bring their previous critical and creative study to bear in a final program project. It is generally the last course they take in their program.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
This course approaches works of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction from the past 30 years with a special focus on the craft issues that are central components of each work's success. English 448 is a required course for BA and BFA majors in creative writing.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 2-4
Topics in Creative Writing Form and Technique is a variable-title course that explores special topics relating to the technical mastery of one or more creative genres, or the technical achievement of one or more practitioners. May be repeated with different topics, some of which could fulfill either a major author or a workshop requirement.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Advanced writing course emphasizing major contemporary public issues. Practice in and study of: the logic by which writers construct arguments; the various means that writers use to persuade an audience; the conventions of evidence, claims, and arguments in persuasive discourses.Prerequisites: ENG 201W, ENG 301W
Credits: 4
Advanced interdisciplinary writing emphasizes critical reading and thinking, argumentative writing, library research, and documentation of sources in an academic setting. Practice and study of selected rhetorics of inquiry employed in academic disciplines preparing students for different systems of writing.Prerequisites: ENG 201W, ENG 301W
Credits: 2-4
Selected works of literature for students in grades 5-12 from a variety of countries and cultures.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
A survey of literature for students in grades 5-12, fiction, and non-fiction, and methods of teaching this literature.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Survey of books suitable for the Middle School classroom, covering a variety of topics and genres.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Introduces students to theories of usability and teaches students various methods to evaluate design for usability including heuristic evaluations, card-sorting, task-based evaluations, and fieldwork.Prerequisites: ENG 271W or ENG 272W
Credits: 1-4
Students learn how to research and write technical information for multiple cultures, both locally and internationally.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This course is designed to introduce students to technical project management. This introduction is achieved through participation in a simulated project management experience. Assignments include standard documentation associated with project management and reflective writing. Fall, SpringPrerequisites: ENG 271W
Credits: 1-4
Writing in an area and of a type for which the student has demonstrated ability. May be repeated. Pre: ConsentPrerequisites: Consent
Credits: 4
This course provides analysis and training focused on concepts and practices of visual design as they relate to technical and professional communication.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Overview of technical communication theory with emphasis on contemporary approaches. Hands-on workshop which implements the theories discussed.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Brief history of publishing and typography, conventions of desktop publishing, and hardware and software application tools for desktop publishing. Students need not have prior experience with DTP, but some word processing and microcomputer experience will be helpful.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Practice in writing various types of reports for a variety of purposes and audiences. Includes primary and secondary research methods, and data analysis of information to be used in reports.Prerequisites: ENG 271W or ENG 272W
Credits: 4
Editing the content, organization, format, style, and mechanics of documents; managing the production cycle of documents; and discovering and learning computer and software applications for technical editing tasks.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Creating both online and print documentation for products, with emphasis on computer software and hardware documentation for users. Attention also to policies and procedures as written for a range of uses (e.g., employee handbooks, manufacturing processes, usability testing).Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Reading and analysis of stories, novels, poems, essays, and nonfiction accounts that deal with scientific and technological topics. Focus on the role of technology in communication forms and tools.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Overview of prominent rhetorical theories, from classical to contemporary, which are applicable to technical communication. Practical application and implications of the theories emphasized. Additional attention given to current issues such as risk communication and ethics.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Practice in the development and production of proposals, focusing on the researching, writing, and management of proposals by technical communicators.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
The development of English from its origins as a dialect of Proto-Indo-European to its current form, with consideration of its social history as well as its formal development.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Introduction to theory and best practices of teaching second language listening and speaking to a variety of English learners in multiple contexts.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This course addresses the skills required for technical communication within the context of health and medicine. Students will discuss typical audiences, purposes, and genres of health and medical communication. Students will adapt complex health and medical information for audiences with varying levels of knowledge, demonstrating awareness of audience analysis, visual design, plain language, and ethics.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Introduction to theory and best practices of teaching second language grammar and vocabulary to a variety of English learners in multiple contexts - specifically focusing on content based teaching practices.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Introduction to theories and classroom practices that have shaped second language teaching and learning. Topics of study focus on prominent second language learning/acquisition theories, individual and sociocultural factors in language learning, technology-based resources that enhance language learning, as well as practical issues and applications of theory in a wide range of instructional contexts.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Introduction to theory and best practices of teaching second language reading and writing to a variety of English learners in multiple contexts.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This course explores state and federal legislation affecting EL programs, current models of EL program delivery, and Minnesota State Standards and standardized testing. Additionally, the course develops the ability to understand the needs of and communicate with students, families, and program members within the context of their environments such as school, family, and community.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Topics in learning and teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language. May be repeated for credit.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This course introduces education majors to teaching ELLs. Included in this course is an investigation of the attendant orthography, morphology, and snytax of English, and exposure to lesson planning, assessment, and differentiated instruction appropriate for ELLs in the mainstream classroom.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 2-4
Various topic-oriented courses in literature.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-6
Specialized workshops in topics such as computer-assisted writing, teaching the writing of poetry in the secondary school, or discipline-specific writing. May be repeated with change in topic. When offered as a creative writing workshop, the course may fulfill a workshop requirement.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Specialized, in-depth study of topics such as Holocaust literature, environmental literature, or regional literature. May be repeated with change in topic. WHEN OFFERED AS A CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP, this course may fulfill a workshop requirement.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-6
On-site field experience, the nature of which is determined by the specific needs of the student's program option. May be repeated with change in topic.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Extensive reading and writing in an area for which the student has had basic preparation. May be repeated with change in topic.Prerequisites: Consent
