Department of English

Cherry Hall
Office 135, Phone: (270) 745-3043, Fax: (270) 745-2533

Dr. Karen Schneider, Head
e-mail: Karen.Schneider@wku.edu
Website: www.wku.edu/English

Kelly Reames, Graduate Advisor
Christopher Ervin, Director of Composition
Katherine Green, Undergraduate Advisor
Walker Rutledge, Honors Advisor

Professors: L. Davies, J. Hagaman, T. Hovet, D. Logan, M. Miller, J. Olmsted, K. Schneider, P. Taylor
Associate Professors: L. Crouther, L. Dill, N. Endres, J. Fife, K. Green, T. Hunley, D. LeNoir, L. Murrey, A. Poole, K. Reames, D. Rigby, L. Spears,  J. Szerdahelyi
Assistant Professors: D. Bell, W. Berry, C. Ervin, A. Ganze, S. Hughes, A. Jones, W. Rutledge, E. Weston, E. Weixel, E. Winkler
Instructors: F. Alvarez, T. Elliott, K. Epley, J. Hatchett, D. Hays, K. King, D. Rogers, M. Waters
Optional Retirees:   R. Eckard, J. Flynn, R. Moore

The Department of English offers four programs of study: a major in English with specialized options in literature, creative writing, and professional writing; a major in English and allied language arts; and minors in English, creative writing, and professional writing. In addition, the department sponsors an honors program for qualified students.

The English department also makes a significant contribution to the general education of all students through English 100, 200, and 300. The department serves other departments through its offerings in intermediate composition, technical writing, business writing, linguistics, film, women’s literature/gender theory, teaching English as a second language (TESL), and teaching English in the schools.

English majors and minors find that their training in close reading, analyzing, researching, and writing is valuable preparation for a broad range of business, governmental, and professional careers. Students desiring to teach in high school may be certified in English and Allied Language Arts.

When planning a program of study in English, each student should be aware of the academic requirements and regulations contained in this catalog in the chapter “Academic Information.” Specific attention should be given to the subsections entitled (a) Academic Programs, (b) General Education Requirements, and (c) Academic Requirements and Regulations. Students should also be aware that academic programs may have additional requirements not specified in the catalog. To obtain a copy of these requirements, students should contact the department head or the appropriate advisor.

For more information about our department, visit www.wku.edu/english

Major in English: Literature Concentration
The literature concentration in English (reference number 662) requires a minimum of 40 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. A minor or second major is required. Requirements for the major are as follows: ENG 299, 304, 381, 382, 385, 391, 392, 401, 492, four additional three-credit, upper-level literature courses and one additional elective from departmental offerings.  *A grade of “C” or higher is required in all courses applying to the major.

*With the approval of the English department head, courses from another department may be taken as electives to a maximum of 3 hours in the English: Literature major.

Major in English:  Creative Writing Concentration
The creative writing concentration (reference number 662) requires a minimum of 39 hours and leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. A minor or second major is required.  Requirements include ENG 299, 304, 381, 382, 385, 391, 392, and 413 (capstone, which should be taken in the final semester of coursework); any four of the following courses:  ENG 303, 305, 311, 358, 403, and 411; and one elective from department offerings.  Note:  ENG 203 is a required prerequisite to the upper-level creative writing courses.

Major in English:  Professional Writing Concentration
The professional writing concentration (reference number 662) requires a minimum of 39 hours and leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree.  A minor or second major is required.  Requirements include ENG 299, 304, 381, 382, 385, 391, 392, and 414 (capstone, which should be taken the final semester of coursework); any four of the following courses:  ENG 301, 306, 307, 401, 402, 412, and 415; and one elective from department offerings.  It is strongly recommended that students in the professional writing concentration also complete an internship (ENG 369).

Major in English and Allied Language Arts
The major in English and allied language arts (reference number 547) is intended for those seeking certification to teach in secondary schools in Kentucky. It requires a minimum of 52 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. No minor or second major is required. (Certification requires an additional 37 hours of education courses specified by the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.) Requirements for the major are as follows: ENG 104, 299, 304, 381, 382, 385, 391, 392, 401, 410, 492, two additional upper-level literature classes, and the following 15 hours of allied language arts courses: COMM 145 and 245; THEA 151; JOUR 202 and 427. THEA 425 is an optional elective recommended for those who wish to teach theatre/direct plays in high school.

Minor in Creative Writing
The minor in creative writing (reference number 348) requires a minimum of 21 semester hours.  Requirements include ENG 203 (prerequisite to the upper-level creative writing courses); any four of the following creative writing courses:  ENG 303, 305, 311, 358, 402, 403, 411, and 413; and any two of the following upper-level literature courses:  ENG 340, 360, 365, 370, 387, 393, 395, 396, 455, 457, 459, 489, 490, 493, 494, 495, 496, and 497. (English majors with a literature concentration or a professional writing concentration may apply 6 hours of the above upper-level literature courses in both their major and the minor in creative writing as long as the combined major and minor include at least 48 unduplicated hours.)

Minor in English
The minor in English (reference number 359) requires a minimum of 21 semester hours as follows: ENG 304, 381, 382, 391, 392, plus 3 hours of upper-level literature and 3 hours of writing beyond the composition requirements.

Minor in Professional Writing
The minor in professional writing (reference number 437) requires a minimum of 21 semester hours.  Requirements include either ENG 306 or ENG 307; ENG 401, 402, 412, 414, and 415; and one of the following courses:  ENG 301, 369, 410, or 411.  ENG 414 Professional Writing Capstone should not be taken before completion of at least 12 hours toward the minor.  No more than 6 hours taken from the English major (either the literature or the creative writing concentration) may apply toward the professional writing minor.

Honors
In cooperation with the  University Honors College, the Department of English offers a number of courses designed to challenge and reward honors-eligible students studying English. Participants enjoy opportunities for discussion and instruction in small classes, as well as for independent study and writing. Fostering a sense of community among outstanding students, the English honors courses also facilitate graduate school admission and job placement. For information, contact Walker Rutledge, English Honors Advisor (walker.rutledge@wku.edu).

Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of English also offers courses leading to the following graduate degrees: Master of Arts in English (with emphases in literature, rhetoric and composition, creative writing, English as a second language, or teaching), and Master of Arts in Education with a minor in English. All variations of the MA may lead to Rank II/I. Requirements for these degrees are described in the Graduate Studies Catalog.

Endorsement to Teach English as a Second Language (ESL)
Persons who have certification to teach in the elementary, middle, or secondary grades and who have completed six semester hours of a foreign language (or its equivalent) can add on to that certification an endorsement in teaching English as a Second Language by completing the following courses:

• ENG 407(G) Linguistic Analysis
• ENG 408(G) Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics
• ENG 565 Integrated Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
• ENG 566 Teaching and Testing ESL Grammar

The student must also complete a minimum of 30 clock hours of ESL teaching, and the ESL Praxis test (with a minimum score of 625).

A Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is also available, for persons who are not certified to teach in public schools and who wish to teach English abroad or in the private sector.