Department of English Literatures and Writing

Department Chair: Dr. Grant F. Scott
Professors: Bloom, Cartelli, Coppa, Gold, Marsh, Rosenwasser, Stephen
Associate Professor: Miller
Assistant Professors: Kucik, Lonsinger

The major in English at Muhlenberg offers an exciting and flexible curriculum for the study of diverse literatures written in the English language. We offer an array of courses in British, U.S., Caribbean, and Postcolonial literatures across written, dramatic, filmic, and visual “texts.” From “Reading Alice in Wonderland” to “The Death of the Sun,” there is something to pique every intellectual curiosity. English majors develop into nuanced thinkers, astute readers, and adept writers who are able to reflect on complex problems and see them in new ways.

Careers that English majors characteristically pursue include law, teaching, journalism and publishing, sales and marketing, advertising and public relations, digital media, management and administration, public service, religion, and research. The program in English is designed to prepare students for a lifetime of attentive and articulate civic and cultural engagement.

General Academic Requirements

200-level ENG courses have no prerequisites and satisfy either the HU (for literature classes) or the AR (for creative writing) general academic requirements. 200-level courses are designed for both majors and non-majors. Students seeking literature courses specifically designed for the non-major may wish to choose among: ENG 113 - British Writers and ENG 115 - American Writers which do not count towards the major or minor. Students interested in more focused thematic or writing courses and/or majoring in English should consider beginning with ENG 275 - Reading Analytically or any of those 200 level courses listed below under Reading X, Genres, Connections, and Ethnic & Regional Literatures.

Special Programs

Honors Program

The English Honors program is designed for students of demonstrated ability and commitment. Students in the English Honors Program spend the senior year working closely with a faculty mentor to research and write an Honors Thesis, a scholarly research essay of about 50-70 pages. Graduates with Honors in the English major are well-prepared for a number of post-graduate careers, including graduate study in English, publishing, journalism, advertising, the law, social justice/advocacy work, and anywhere else where analytic ability and strong writing and communication skills are valued.

Honors Program Requirements:

Students wishing to enter the honors program generally maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and a major GPA of at least 3.75, and will take a minimum of eleven courses in the English department, including the two honors independent studies devoted to thesis work. Below is a rough timeline for honors work.

Spring Junior Year: Early in the spring of the junior year, the Director of the Honors program will hold an informational meeting for students interested in pursuing honors, at which current honors students and faculty will be available to discuss the program. Interested juniors who are studying abroad at this time may ask to be included via Skype or Zoom or to consult with individual professors.

Interested students should also attend the presentations of the current honors students, which take place early in April.

Students should then consult with faculty members to find one who will serve as a mentor for his/her/their project. As faculty are not required to mentor students, and are not remunerated for the work, students should leave plenty of time to find a mentor who is sufficiently interested to take on the project.

By April 15 of the junior year, the student must submit a preliminary proposal to the Director of the Honors Program. This proposal should be roughly 3-5 double-spaced pages (750-1250 words), must include a working bibliography of primary and secondary resources, and must be accompanied by a letter of endorsement from a faculty mentor. Guidelines for what this proposal should include and examples of successful proposals from prior years may be found on the department website.

If any part of the proposal is missing, a member of the Honors Committee will contact the student by the end of April, and the student will be asked to remedy the omission before the end of finals week. During this time, the student should meet with the faculty advisor to make a plan for ongoing work and to address any concerns expressed by the Honors Committee.

A student wishing to pursue honors must also arrange and register for an honors independent study with the faculty mentor for the fall of senior year.

Summer following Junior Year: An honors student will generally work with the faculty mentor in the spring of junior year, to decide on a course of summer study designed to facilitate fall semester’s work.

Fall Senior Year: During this time, the honors student should work with the faculty mentor to develop a more detailed prospectus and bibliography. This prospectus must be submitted to the Honors Committee by November 15. Guidelines for what the prospectus should include may be found on the department website.

After the November prospectus is submitted, the Honors Committee, in consultation with the faculty mentor, will determine whether the student may proceed with the Honors Program. Any student who is not cleared to pursue honors in the spring will finish the fall, receiving credit for an application-based, graded Honors Independent Study. Similarly, any student whose work has taken other directions may opt to exit the program at this point. Students planning to complete the honors program should arrange a second honors Independent study with their mentor for the spring of senior year.

Spring Senior Year: Honors students present their work at a public forum, usually in early April, submit their work to their advisors and two additional faculty readers (of which, one may be from outside the English department) by May 1 of the senior year, and defend it in a year-end conversation with these three faculty members, who determine the degree of honors to be awarded (none, honors, high honors, or highest honors).

Programs

Major

English, leading to a B.A. degree

Minor

Courses

English General Literature

Note: 100 level courses may NOT be counted toward the English major or minor.

Foundation Course for Majors and Minors

ENG 275 - Reading Analytically

Reading X

Genres

Connections

Ethnic and Regional Literatures

Medieval and Early Modern Literatures

Note: All 300-level courses require the prerequisite of a 200-level ENG course.

Nineteenth Century

Note: All 300-level courses require the prerequisite of a 200-level ENG course.

Twentieth and Twenty-First Century

Note: All 300-level courses require the prerequisite of a 200-level ENG course.

Tutorials and Seminars

Admission to these courses requires prior arrangement, instructor permission, or advanced class standing.

Introductory Writing Courses

Advanced Writing Courses

Other Courses