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English

Shouhua Qi, Chair
qis@wcsu.edu
Berkshire Hall 210f, Midtown campus
(203) 837-9048
(203) 837- 8032 (fax)

Laurel Richards, Department Secretary
richardsl@wcsu.edu
Higgins Hall 205, Midtown campus
(203) 837-9041
(203) 837- 8249 (fax)

Faculty

M. Chappell D. Gagnon A. Govardhan
H. Levy M. Murray I. Pruss
S. Qi, Chair C. Usekes

Overview

Courses in the Department of English prepare students for success in a wide variety of careers. In literature, authors examine the challenges of human existence, and readers participate by discussing and writing about what makes texts and their ideas important and pertinent to new generations. We consider the English degree to be the “degree for life” because English courses develop three skills needed in any field:

  1. The ability to read analytically
  2. The ability to think critically
  3. The ability to write clearly

These skills are developed by close reading of literary texts and by exploring their personal and historical contexts. The English degree prepares students to enter fields where knowledge of texts, critical thinking, and written and oral communication are vital.

Mission

The English department at Western Connecticut State University seeks to promote the university’s mission by providing students with a high-quality education in English language and literature. We are committed to developing students’ powers of critical thinking, analysis, and writing as well as knowledge of important texts, contexts, traditions, and modern developments. We believe students who complete any of the department’s programs will be prepared to compete vigorously in the global marketplace and to pursue a variety of career paths or to seek further education.

As a department, our goals are to:

  • develop and maintain a solid curriculum in language and literature that stimulates student curiosity, rewards critical engagement, and is central to a valuable liberal arts education;
  • emphasize critical reading and writing as an integral component of success in our program, our university, and beyond;
  • build a community of scholars, professionals, and life-long learners and help initiate students in the profession(s) through regular events, faculty-student collaborative projects, and opportunities to tutor and to assist in the teaching of language and literature courses in the department;
  • encourage and support research, scholarship, and professional achievement that advance the field of study and enhance the programs and visibility of the university at large;
  • encourage interdisciplinary and interdepartmental initiatives to augment the intellectual vitality of the department and of the university and to help students develop an integrated approach to learning; and
  • serve the community through event programming and collaborative projects and to serve as a resource to local schools and other public institutions.

Alpha Lambda Epsilon

The department sponsors Alpha Lambda Epsilon, a local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. Sigma Tau Delta’s central purpose is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate and professional studies. Candidates for undergraduate membership must have completed at least three semesters of college work and a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in freshman English. Members must also have a minimum 3.0 grade point average in English and rank at least in the highest 35 percent of their class in general scholarship. Students may contact the department chair for more information on becoming a member of Alpha Lambda Epsilon.

DEGREE PROGRAMS IN ENGLISH

Bachelor of Arts

English
American Studies

Bachelor of Science

English: Secondary Certification

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH (B.A.)

(Also available evenings)

Requirements:

Students must complete all general education requirements, the courses and credits listed below and additional free electives to total a minimum of 120 semester hours, including a foreign language. Students must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or better in courses used to satisfy the major requirements. Applicants to the literature program with 45 or more credits must have 2.0 cumulative GPA and 2.0 in major courses. Seniors with 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 GPA in the major can take graduate courses for 400-level credit.

Required Courses:

ENG 130W English Seminar
ENG 209 American Literature to 1865
ENG 210 American Literature from 1865
ENG 211 English Literature to 1798
ENG 212 English Literature from 1798
ENG 213 Classics of Western Literature
ENG 307W Shakespeare I or ENG 308W Shakespeare II
ENG 315 Critical Theory
ENG 470 Senior Seminar
One 200-level literature course
Three 300-level literature courses
Three 400-level literature courses

Note: ENG 429 Children’s Literature and ENG 430 Literature for Adolescents may not be used toward the English major.

Course Restrictions
For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.

DEGREE PROGRAMS IN AMERICAN STUDIES

Bachelor of Arts: American Studies

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN AMERICAN STUDIES (B.A.)

This degree provides students with knowledge of the diverse ethnic societies which together comprise the United States of America. Students will graduate with a strong knowledge of America’s history, its people and its diverse cultures.

Learning Outcomes:

At the successful completion of the program, students will be able to

  1. Demonstrate familiarity with a wide range of significant American texts;
  2. Read, interpret, and analyze American literary, historical, cultural, and critical texts with rigor and depth in their appropriate contexts;
  3. Conduct valid research into both primary and secondary sources on American topics related to authors, texts, and associated issues;
  4. Develop viable, original arguments about American authors, texts, and related issues via primary and secondary sources;
  5. Create and present viable, original arguments clearly and effectively in polished prose, using field-appropriate documentation.

Requirements:

Students must complete all general education requirements, the courses and credits listed below and additional free electives to total a minimum of 120 semester hours, including exercise science and foreign language. Students must have an overall GPA of 2.67 or better in courses used to satisfy the major requirements.

Required Courses:

ENG 209 American Literature to 1865
ENG 210 American Literature from 1865
ENG 348 Early American Literature or
ENG 349 American Literature of Identity 1820-1920
AS/ENG/HIS/SS 217 The American Dream
HIS 148 American History to 1877
HIS 149 American History since 1877
ANT/SOC 350 Modern and Post-modern Societies
AS 400 American Studies Seminar
3 expansion courses (9 credits from approved list of expansion courses)
1 connection course (an American-oriented course selected in consultation with the student’s AS adviser)

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SECONDARY EDUCATION – WITH MAJOR IN ENGLISH (LITERATURE) (B.S.)

Learning Outcomes:

At the successful completion of this program, student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate familiarity with representative literary texts;
  2. Read, interpret, and analyze literary texts with in their proper historical, cultural as well as literary contexts;
  3. Conduct research into both primary and secondary sources on topics concerning authors, texts, and issues;
  4. Develop original positions/theses on authors, texts, and issues using both primary and secondary sources;
  5. Pursue and present their original positions/theses cogently in effective, polished prose with proper documentation using the MLA Style of citation.

Requirements:

The department’s programs in the English major may be combined with secondary certification. Students must complete all general education requirements, 35 hours in professional education coursework, the courses and credits listed below, and additional free electives to total a minimum of 120 semester hours, including exercise science and foreign language. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in English courses used to satisfy the major requirements. Applicants to the program with 45 or more credits must have 3.0 cumulative GPA and 3.0 in major courses. Seniors with 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 GPA in the major can take graduate courses for 400-level credit. Students must pass Praxis I (or receive a waiver) and Praxis II before they are eligible to enter the Professional Development Semester.  See School of Professional Studies for further information on education courses and application requirements.

Required Courses:

ENG 130W English Seminar
ENG 209 American Literature to 1865
ENG 210 American Literature from 1865
ENG 211 English Literature to 1798
ENG 212 English Literature from 1798
ENG 213 Classics of Western Literature
ENG 276 English Language Skills
ENG 307W Shakespeare I or ENG 308W Shakespeare II
ENG 315 Critical Theory
WRT 347W Teaching Writing in the Schools – High School
ENG 430 Literature for Adolescents
ENG 470 Senior Seminar
One 300-level literature course
One 400-level literature course

MINOR IN ENGLISH (18 Semester Hours)

Required Courses:

ENG 130 English Seminar
Two 200-level English courses
Two 300-level English courses
One 400-level literature course