2011-2012 Course Catalog

Required for the English major

  1. English 150 or its equivalent
    2. After English 150, students majoring in English are required to complete eight six-unit courses, distributed as follows:
  2. Two courses from the intermediate group:
      English 230, 240, 250
  3. One course in Shakespeare, normally English 425 or English 170 (London Centre course)
  4. Two courses focusing on periods before 1800:
      English 400, 420, 430, 435, 440, 445, 450, 470
  5. One course focusing on the nineteenth century:
      English 455, 460, 465, 472, 473, 474, 476
  6. One course focusing on the twentieth or twenty-first centuries:
      English 480, 483, 485, 490, 495, 498, 500, 501, 503, 510, 515, 516, 517, 518, 521
  7. One additional course in English
  8. Finally majors are also required to complete the English Department’s Senior Experience (see further explanation below).

    9. Required for the English minor
    Six six-unit courses in English, distributed as follows:

    1. Two courses from the following introductory and intermediate group: English 150, 170, 230, 240, 250
    2. One course focusing on periods before 1800: English 400, 420, 425, 430, 435, 440, 445, 450, 470
    3. One course focusing on the nineteenth century: English 455, 460, 465, 472, 473, 474, 476
    4. One course focusing on the twentieth or twenty-first centuries: English 480, 483, 485, 490, 495, 498, 500, 501, 503, 510, 515, 516, 517, 518, 521
    5. One additional course in English

    Graduate School
    Students considering graduate work in English are advised that, for the master’s degree, most graduate schools require demonstrated proficiency in at least one modern foreign language. For the doctorate, the usual requirement is demonstrated proficiency in two modern foreign languages, and, in some cases, also an ancient language. English 525: Contemporary Critical Theory is also an asset when preparing for graduate school. College work leading toward graduate study should be planned with these considerations in mind.

    Certification for Secondary teaching in English
    Students preparing to teach English in secondary schools should bear in mind that they must have from 30 to 40 semester hours of preparation in English for certification. Freshman Studies and Literary Analysis (English 150) count toward certification. Requirements for the major satisfy requirements for certification in Wisconsin, except that the student seeking certification must satisfactorily complete at least one course in advanced composition (e.g., English 350, 360, or 370); at least one course in linguistics or the English language (e.g., Linguistics 150 or 530); a tutorial in literature for adolescents; and either English 260, 500, or 510 or a tutorial in the literatures of minority groups in America. Please refer to the Department of Education listing for more detailed information on preparation for teacher certification.

    Departmental advisors
    When students officially declare themselves English majors, they should choose a departmental advisor who will be responsible for guiding them in planning and completing their major course of study. Questions about the advising of English majors should be addressed to the department chair

    Advanced Placement
    All students who have earned a 4 or better in the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Exam will be given credit for one course in English; for majors, this credit will fulfill the requirement of “one additional course in English.” All students who have earned a 4 or better in the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition Exam will be given credit for one course in English and will receive advanced placement in courses at the intermediate level (English 230, 240, 250); for majors, this credit will fulfill the requirement of English 150. Questions about exemption and placement should be addressed to the department chair. The application of AP credit towards the general education requirements for either the B.A. or the B.Mus. degrees will be determined by university policy. Please see the following link for more information about university credit for AP Examinations.
    AP Examination Information

    Senior Experience in English
    The English department's Senior Experience may be fulfilled through one of several options: (1) An honors project in English (or adequate progress toward completing an honors project as approved by departmental petition); (2) Eng 600: Senior Seminar in English: a seminar involving analysis of theoretical, historical, critical, and literary readings at an advanced level in conjunction with students' research and writing of an original, substantial paper (taken during the senior year or, in some cases, during spring term of the junior year); (3) An advanced course in creative writing with additional work determined by the instructor (taken during the junior or senior year); students should plan ahead so that they complete the necessary prerequisite for the advanced course in creative writing; (4) Student teaching in English, along with a paper co-directed by the student's academic advisor in English and a faculty member in the Education department.
    Students pursuing double majors or double degrees are encouraged to consult with faculty from the English department and the other major department prior to taking Eng 600 if they wish to undertake a research topic that draws upon both of their majors. Students pursuing double majors or double degrees also have the option of doing an honors project that is interdisciplinary in nature, as long as one of the directors of the project is a professor in the English department.