Department of English

Department of English Home Page

Faculty

Richard M. Cook, Professor Chairperson
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Joseph Carroll, Curators’ Professor
Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley
Eamonn Wall, Jefferson Smurfit Professor Of Irish Studies and Professor
Ph.D., City University of New York
Peter Wolfe, Professor, Curators' Professor
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
David Carkeet, Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Indiana University
Sylvia J. Cook, Professor
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Charles Dougherty, Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., University of Toronto
Sally Barr Ebest, Professor
Ph.D., Indiana University
Francis Grady, Professor
Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley
Barbara A. Kachur, Professor
Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Howard Schwartz, Professor
M.A., Washington University
James E. Tierney, Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., New York University
Jane Zeni, Professor Emerita
Ed.D., University of Missouri-St. Louis
Deborah Aldrich-Watson, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Columbia University
Suellynn Duffey, Associate Professor
Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Kathy Gentile, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Oregon
Bruce L. Liles, Associate Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Stanford University
Steven Schreiner, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Wayne State University
Nanora Sweet, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Mary Troy, Associate Professor
M.F.A., University of Arkansas
Jane Williamson, Associate Professor Emerita
Ph.D., Bryn Mawr College
John Dalton, Assistant Professor
M.F.A., University of Iowa
Kurt Schreyer, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Nancy Robb Singer, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Missouri-St. Louis
Benjamin Torbert, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Duke University
Eric Turley, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Nebraska
Nancy Gleason, Teaching Professor
M.A., University of Missouri-St. Louis
William Klein, Teaching Professor
Ph.D., Michigan Technological University
Susan Grant, Associate Teaching Professor
M.A., Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
David Rota, Teaching Professor
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Jennifer MacKenzie, Associate Teaching Professor
M.A., Purdue University
William Mayhan, Associate Teaching Professor
Ph.D., Washington University
Scott McKelvie, Associate Teaching Professor
M.A., University of Missouri-St. Louis
Barbara Van Voorden, Associate Teaching Professor
M.A., Washington University
Deborah Maltby, Assistant Teaching Professor
Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City
Lynn Staley, Assistant Teaching Professor
Ph.D., St. Louis University
Drucilla Mims Wall, Assistant Teaching Professor
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ellie Chapman, Senior Lecturer Emerita
M.A., Murray State University
Judy Gurley, Senior Lecturer Emerita
M.A., University of Arkansas
Judith Linville, Senior Lecturer Emerita
M.A., University of Arkansas
Terence Martin, Senior Lecturer Emeritus
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Allison, Jeanne, Lecturer
M.A., University of Missouri-St. Louis

General Information

Degrees and Areas of Concentration
The English department offers or participates in offering the B.A. in English, the B.A. in English with certification for secondary teaching, and the B.S. in secondary education with an emphasis area in English. The department also offers a minor in English. Additionally, students with any major in the university may earn a Certificate in Writing so that they may demonstrate evidence of training in creative, journalistic, or technical writing.

The department has a graduate program leading to the Master of Arts degree. Students may pursue a literature track where they acquire a broad coverage in British and American writers or a writing track where half of the course work deals with composition and writing theory. The department also offers the Master of Fine Arts in creative writing, in which half of the courses are writing workshops and independent writing projects.  In addition, the department of English participates in a Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing.

Learning Outcomes
Recipients of the undergraduate degree will demonstrate the following outcomes:

Departmental Honors
Candidates for departmental honors in English must achieve a 3.2 average in English at graduation and complete an undergraduate or graduate seminar in English, the final paper for which must be acceptable to the instructor as an honors thesis.

Undergraduate Studies

General Education Requirements
English courses may be used to meet the university's humanities requirement, except the following:

1100, Freshman Composition
1110, Freshman Composition for International Students
2120, Topics in Writing
2810, Traditional Grammar
3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About Literature
3100, Advanced Expository Writing
3110, Advanced Expository Writing for International Students
3120, Business Writing
3130, Technical Writing
3140, News Writing
3150, Feature Writing
3160, Writing in the Sciences
3180, Reporting
4000, Writing in the Professions
4860, Editing
4870, Advanced Business and Technical Writing
4880, Writing for Teachers
4885, The Curriculum and Methods of Teaching English
4890, Independent Writing Project

The college's foreign language requirement may be met in any language.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option
A maximum of 6 satisfactory/unsatisfactory hours may be taken in the department. Majors must complete at least 18 graded (i.e., not satisfactory/unsatisfactory) hours in English courses at the 3000 level or above with a grade point of 2.0 or better in these courses.

English majors may take any English course on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis except the following:

1100, Freshman Composition
1110, Freshman Composition for International Students
3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About Literature
3100, Advanced Expository Writing
3110, Advanced Expository Writing for International Students
3120, Business Writing
3130, Technical Writing
3140, News Writing
3150, Feature Writing
3160, Writing in the Sciences
3180, Reporting
4000, Writing in the Professions
4860, Editing
4870, Advanced Business Writing
4880, Writing for Teachers
4885, The Curriculum and Methods of Teaching English
4890, Independent Writing Project

Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in English
English majors must complete at least 36, but no more than 45, hours in English exclusive of ENGL 1100, Freshman Composition; ENGL 1110, Freshman Composition for International Students; and ENGL 3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About Literature.

1) Students majoring in English must take:
2310, English Literature I
2320, English Literature II
2710, American Literature I
2720, American Literature II
2810, Traditional Grammar--or test out

2) ENGL 3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About Literature. (For English majors, this course is a prerequisite or corequisite for 4000-level courses in English.)

3) Students must also complete one course from five of the following 10 areas:

Area 1 Medieval English
 4260, Chaucer
4270, Medieval English Literature

Area 2 Shakespeare
4370, Shakespeare: Tragedies and Romances
4380, Shakespeare: Comedies and Histories

Area 3 The Renaissance
4320, Elizabethan Poetry and Prose
4340, Early Seventeenth-Century Poetry and Prose
4350, Milton
4360, Tudor and Stuart Drama
4931, English Women Writers, 1300-1750

Area 4 Restoration and Eighteenth-Century English
4410, Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Drama
4420, Age of Dryden and Pope
4440, Age of Johnson
4450, The Eighteenth-Century English Novel

Area 5 Nineteenth-Century English
4510, Early Romantic Poetry and Prose
4520, Later Romantic Poetry and Prose
4540, The Nineteenth-Century English Novel
4560, Prose and Poetry of the Victorian Period
4580, Literature of the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries
4934, Austen and the Brontës
4935, Women Heroes and Romantic Tales

Area 6 Nineteenth-Century American
4610, Selected Major American Writers I
4620, Selected Major American Writers II
4630, African American Literature Prior to 1900
4640, American Fiction to World War I

Area 7 Twentieth-Century English/American
4650, Modern American Fiction
4660, African American Literature Since 1900
4740, Poetry Since World War II
4750, Modern British Fiction
4760, Modern Drama
4770, Modern Poetry
4937, Irish and Irish-American Women Writers
4938, American Women Poets of the 20th/21st Centuries

Area 8 Literary Criticism
4000, History of Literary Criticism
4030, Contemporary Critical Theory
4070, The Two Cultures: Literature and Science
4080, Narrative, Cognition, and Emotion

Area 9 Special Topics
4060, Adolescent Literature
4900, Seminar
4910, Studies in African/African American Literature, Criticism, and Diaspora
4920, Major Works of European Fiction
4930, Studies in Gender and Literature
4932, Female Gothic
4933, Female Novel of Development
4936, Tales of the Islamic East
4940, Special Topics in Jewish Literature
4950, Special Topics in Literature
4960, Ethnic Literatures

Area 10 Linguistics
4800, Linguistics
4810, English Grammar
4820, History of the English Language

Work in 2000-level courses provides background in literary history and forms, as well as the means for discussing literary issues, on paper and orally. Thus, the department requires ENGL 2310 or consent of the instructor as a prerequisite for all courses in Areas 1-4 and ENGL 2320 or consent of the instructor as a prerequisite for all courses in Areas 5 and 7, except American literature courses. ENGL 2710 or consent of the instructor is a prerequisite for all courses in Area 6, and both ENGL 2710 and ENGL 2720 or consent of the instructor are prerequisites for ENGL 4650. All survey courses (ENGL 2310, 2320, 2710, and 2720) must be taken before the major has completed 90 hours toward a degree.

Students majoring in English must complete a minimum of 12 graded hours in English courses at the 4000 level or above in residence with a grade point average of 2.0 or better in these courses or students must receive special consent of the department.

Students should consult with faculty advisers to determine which upper-level courses best satisfy their major needs and interests.

Bachelor of Arts in English with Certification for Secondary Education
All candidates for certification to teach English must enroll in a program in the College of Education involving Level I, Level II, and Level III coursework plus student teaching. See the Division of Teaching and Learning in this Bulletin for information.

In addition to the requirements for the B.A. in English, students must meet the following requirements for secondary certification:

1) Two courses in American literature. This requirement may be met by courses counted for the major.

a. American literature must include a unit or course in the literature of ethnic groups.
b. American literature must include a unit or course in literature for adolescents.

2) Twelve hours in composition and rhetoric:

ENGL 1100, Freshman Composition, may be counted.
ENGL 3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About Literature, is required.
ENGL 4880/SEC ED 4880, Writing For Teachers, is required.
Recommended courses include creative writing, journalism, and business writing.

3) English language requirements

a. ENGL 2810, Traditional Grammar Students with sufficient background may gain exemption from the ENGL 2810 requirement by passing the English-Education Test of Basic Grammar. This test may be taken only twice. Certification candidates must pass ENGL 2810 or the Test of Basic Grammar before applying for student teaching.
b. ENGL 4810, English Grammar
c. ENGL 4800, Linguistics, or ENGL 4820, History of the English Language

Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an Emphasis Area in English
All candidates for certification to teach English must enroll in a program in the College of Education involving Level I, Level II, and Level III coursework plus student teaching. See the Division of Teaching and Learning in this Bulletin for information.

The required courses in English and professional education are the same as those for the B.A. with certification for secondary education. However, students fulfill the general education requirements of the College of Education rather than those of the College of Arts and Sciences. For example, students seeking the B.S. in Education are not required to study a foreign language.

Certification to Teach Secondary Speech and Drama
All candidates for certification to teach Speech and Drama must enroll in a program in the College of Education involving Level I, Level II, and Level III coursework plus student teaching. See the Division of Teaching and Learning in this Bulletin for information.

In addition, undergraduates who wish to be certified to teach Speech and Drama must meet the requirements for a major in Communication as well as requirements set by the Theatre faculty.

Minor in English
A student may minor in English by taking at least 18 hours of English courses exclusive of Basic Writing, ENGL 1100, Freshman Composition, and ENGL 1110, Freshman Composition for International Students. ENGL 3090 is required, and 12 of the 18 hours must be in literature courses, 9 of which must be in courses at the 3000 or 4000 level. Every student taking a minor in English must consult with an adviser in the English department to ensure a coherent program of studies. The GPA in courses for the minor must be 2.0 or better. Nine of the 18 hours must be taken in residence at UMSL. No more than 3 hours taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis may be counted toward the 18-hour minimum.

Professional Writing Certificate
Students earn the Professional Writing Certificate by completing 18 hours in selected writing courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Twelve of the 18 hours must be taken at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Courses may not be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

MEDIA ST 2212, Broadcast Writing and Reporting
MEDIA ST 2217, Script Writing for Business and Industry
ENGL 2810, Traditional Grammar
ENGL 2030, Poetry Writing
ENGL 2040, Short Story Writing
ENGL 2050, Play Writing
ENGL 2060, Introduction to the Writing of Poetry and Fiction
ENGL 2080 or MEDIA ST 2080, Advertising Copywriting
ENGL 2120, Topics in Writing
ENGL 3030, Intermediate Poetry Writing
ENGL 3040, Intermediate Fiction Writing
ENGL 3090, Practical Criticism: Writing About Literature
ENGL 3100, Advanced Expository Writing
ENGL 3110, Advanced Expository Writing for International Students
ENGL 3120, Business Writing
ENGL 3130, Technical Writing
ENGL 3140 or MEDIA ST 3214, News Writing
ENGL 3150, Feature Writing
ENGL 3160, Writing in the Sciences
ENGL 3180, Reporting
ENGL 3280 or MEDIA ST 2228, Writing for Public Relations
ENGL 4130, Advanced Poetry Writing
ENGL 4140, Advanced Fiction Writing
ENGL 4160, Special Topics in Writing
ENGL 4810, English Grammar
ENGL 4850, Topics in Teaching Writing
ENGL 4860, Editing
ENGL 4870, Advanced Business and Technical Writing
ENGL 4880, Writing for Teachers
ENGL 4890, Writing Internship (This course is required. It is to be taken as the last course a student will take in the program, and it is to be used to generate an extensive final project or internship.)
ENGL 4892, Independent Writing Project
ENGL 4985, Editing Litmag
HONORS 3100, Writing the City

Creative Writing Certificate

Students earn the Certificate in Writing by completing 18 hours in selected writing courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.  The creative writing emphasis focuses the students’ efforts toward producing original fiction or poetry and can include other literary endeavors such as writing creative nonfiction, editing, feature writing, and copywriting. The specific requirements for the Creative Writing emphasis are listed below.

Courses for the certificate should be chosen with the guidance of the Writing Certificate Coordinator. If the student elects to complete English 4890 as one of the courses for the certificate, he or should schedule a meeting with the coordinator to make arrangements for the internship.

When the student has completed requirements for the certificate, the coordinator will notify the university registrar and the college from which the student will graduate. Upon the student’s graduation, completion of the Certificate in Writing will be noted on the official transcript and a certificate will be mailed to the student’s residence. Students who have graduated before completing the Certificate in Writing will receive the certificate in the mail and will have the certificate entered on their official transcripts.

To receive this certificate, the student must take 18 hours chosen from the courses listed below. Students must take at least two of the following: 3030, 3040, 4130, 4140, 4895, 4890 and at least one must be a 4000-level course.

2000-Level Courses (Students may take no more than two 2000-level courses)
ENGL 2030, Beginning poetry writing workshop (CW)
ENGL 2040, Beginning fiction writing workshop (CW)
ENGL 2330, Introduction to poetry (Lit)
ENGL 2340, Introduction to fiction (Lit)
ENGL 2350, Introduction to drama (Lit)

Creative Writing and Literature Courses
ENGL 3030, Poetry workshop: lyric and form
ENGL 3040, Fiction workshop: narrative structure
ENGL 3090, Practical criticism: writing about literature
ENGL 3100, Advanced expository writing
ENGL 4130, Advanced poetry writing
ENGL 4140, Advanced fiction writing
ENGL 4160, Special topics in writing
ENGL 4890, Writing Internship
ENGL 4892, Independent Writing Project
ENGL 4895, Editing Litmag

Professional Writing Courses (Students are encouraged to take at least one professional writing course, but no more than two.)
ENGL 2080, Advertising Copywriting (or MEDIA ST 2080)
ENGL 3150, Feature Writing (or MEDIA ST 3150)
ENGL 4860, Editing

This capstone course may be 4895, 4890, 4140, or 4130. If 4890 is used, it will be an internship in literary publishing, feature writing, or advertising copywriting. To use 4130 or 4140, the student must obtain the teacher’s permission and do extra work in the course. The editing Litmag course, 4895, may also be used as the final course for this  certificate.

Technical Writing Emphasis
The technical writing emphasis provides a more career-specific strategy for students enrolled in the Writing Certificate program. The technical writing emphasis is composed of three required courses:

3130, Technical Writing
4860, Editing
4870, Advanced Business and Technical Writing or
4890, Writing Internship

In addition, students take three electives for a total of 18 hours chosen from the following:

Business Administration
1800, Computers and Computer Information
3100, Contemporary Business Communication

Communication
1065, Introduction to Information Technology

Computer Science
1250, Introduction to Computer Science (Prerequisite: MATH 1030, College Algebra)

English
3120, Business Writing
3140, News Writing
3150, Feature Writing
3160, Writing in the Sciences
3280, Public Relations Writing
4870, Advanced Business and Technical Writing (if 4890) is taken as requirement)
4890, Independent Writing Project (if 4870 is taken as requirement)

Graduate Studies

Admission Requirements
To enter the graduate program in English a candidate must satisfy the requirements both of the Graduate School and the Department of English. A candidate should have a bachelor’s degree, with at least 18 hours in English above the freshmen level, 12 of which must be in literature. Normally, only students with a grade point average of 3.0 in undergraduate English courses and an overall undergraduate average of 2.75 will be considered. Though the English department welcomes scores from the Graduate Record Aptitude Exam and letters of recommendation, it does not require either of these. (Students applying for Teaching Assistantships, please see “Financial Aid and Teaching Assistantships.”)

The graduate coordinator of the English Department with the advice of the graduate committee will use the undergraduate record and, and if available, the scores of the GRE general test as the basis for a decision. We welcome letters of recommendation from the applicant’s former English instructors and a sample of expository prose. Applications to the MA in English are considered at all times. However, because spaces in graduate courses are limited, it is strongly advised that prospective students submit their applications well before the semester begins in order to gain admission into their appropriate classes.

Teaching Assistantships
A number of teaching assistantships are available for qualified applicants. In addition to the undergraduate record and the scores on the GRE general test, applications should include two letters of recommendation from former English instructors. Applications should be submitted to the graduate coordinator of the English department no later than March 15 preceding the academic year for which the appointment is desired.

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts in English
In addition to the Graduate School requirements, students must complete at least 36 hours, 24 hours of which must be in 5000-level courses. Twelve hours may be taken in 4000-level courses approved by the department and Graduate School.

At the outset of the program, students in both the literature and writing theory tracks must take ENGL 5000, Introduction to Graduate Study in English, which focuses upon bibliography, research methods, and literary criticism. Students must receive graduate credit for ENGL 5000.

Students who choose a literature track must also take at least one course in each of the following six areas:

Area 1, British literature before 1660
Area 2, British literature between 1660 and 1900
Area 3, Twentieth-century literature (British, American, post-colonial, or in translation)
Area 4, American literature
Area 5, Theories of writing, criticism, language, and/or culture
Area 6, Literature in translation, study of a particular literary genre, or a course in another relevant discipline.

Students who choose the composition track must take 18 hours in literature courses (including Eng 5000 and 18 hours in composition courses (including Eng 5840). The literature courses should provide broad coverage, rather than a narrow focus on a particular genre or historical period. If students choose the thesis option (6 hours) they will take 15 hours in literature and 15 hours in composition.

Thesis Option
Students in literature or writing theory may elect the thesis option, which requires a total of 6 hours of thesis credit. The thesis should demonstrate original thought and substantial research and may be a critical study of literary works, a theoretical exploration of issues related to literature or writing, or a descriptive assessment of fieldwork related to writing and pedagogy. The thesis must be approved and assigned a grade by a thesis committee. The student will select a major professor who, after consulting with the chair and the graduate coordinator, will select two other members of the committee.

Further information may be found in The Master of Arts in English, available from the English department.

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
The application process is identical to that for the master of arts degree, with these exceptions: there is one annual deadline for all applications, Feb. 15; a writing sample is required (15-20 poems or 20-40 pages of fiction); the GRE test is required only if the applicant seeks financial aid or a teaching assistantship.

In addition to the Graduate School requirements, students must complete at least 39 hours, 30 of which must be in 5000-level courses. Nine hours may be taken in 4000-level courses approved by the department and Graduate School. Students will specialize in one genre, poetry or fiction. They must complete the following course work: (a) 18-21 hours in creative writing courses: 15 hours of workshops (at least one course outside the genre), and 3-6 hours of ENGL 6010; (b) 15 hours of courses in literature, language, writing theory or literary journal editing offered by the department; (c) 3-6 hours of electives: another workshop or literature/language/writing theory/literary journal editing course or a relevant offering in another discipline. Students may not take a 4000-level writing course in their genre for graduate credit. At least two of the writing workshops and ENGL 6010 must be taken at UMSL. Complete information may be found in The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, available from the English department.

Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing, Gateway Writing Project.
Jointly housed in the Division of Teaching and Learning and the Department of English, this Graduate Certificate prepares teachers at all levels (K-12, college, adult) to improve their students’ performance in writing. The program also emphasizes using writing as a means to promote learning in all content areas. All courses provide opportunities for teachers to write, revise, share feedback, and reflect on their own writing development. Based on the National Writing Project’s core belief that teachers of writing must themselves be writers, the Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing brings together sound pedagogy, composition theory, and writing practice.

The Certificate is an 18-hour program through the Gateway Writing Project (GWP); it may also be coordinated with other graduate programs. Certificate courses may be applicable to the M.A. in English with emphasis in composition or to various M.Ed. programs. The GWP Certificate is especially appropriate for post-master’s candidates who wish to pursue a specialization in teaching writing. The Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing requires a 12 semester-hour core of courses developed by the Gateway Writing Project: The GWP invitational institute (6 hrs), a designated “topics” course (3 hrs.), and an exit course (3 hrs.). The Certificate requires a minimum of 12 semester hours at the 5000 or 6000 level or above. Electives (6 hrs.) may be chosen from approved offerings in English or Education.

Admission:
Applicants must be admitted to Graduate School and be selected by the faculty admissions committee for the Gateway Writing Project’s Certificate in the Teaching of Writing. The committee will review candidates on the basis of an interview, an application essay, and supporting documentation. Criteria include experience teaching writing at any level and academic record, especially in writing and the teaching of writing.

Prerequisites:

Required Core Courses (12 semester hours)

Electives (6 sem. hrs.)
Electives may be chosen from other Gateway Writing Project offerings or from courses offered by the appropriate academic department with advisor’s approval. These electives must include at least one more 5000-6000 level course.

Suggested electives applicable to an MA in English with writing emphasis:

Suggested electives applicable to an M.Ed. in Elementary or Secondary Education

Courses in adult and higher education may also be appropriate. For complete information, see The GatewayWriting Project’s Graduate Certificate in Teaching Writing, available from the English Department, from the Division of Teaching and Learning, and from the GWP Director via Continuing Education & Outreach.

Career Outlook

In addition to traditional employment as teachers at the primary, secondary, and community-college levels, recent UMSL graduates in English are working in journalism, editing, advertising, public relations, and other fields that place a premium upon creation and interpretation of the written word. Numerous recent English majors have successfully entered law school.