English (ENGL)

Jason McEntee, Head
Department of English
Scobey Hall 014
605-688-5191
e-mail: jason.mcentee@sdstate.edu

Faculty

Associate Professor McEntee, Head; Distinguished Professor Woodard; Professors Brandt, Danker, Donovan, Keller, Taylor; Professors Emeriti Alexander, Brown, Duggan, Evans, Flynn, Kildahl, O’Connor, Ryder, Williams, Witherington, West, Yarbrough; Associate Professor Emerita Mary Haug; Associate Professor Nagy; Assistant Professors Baggett, Smith, Stewart, Wingate; Instructors Andersen, Bielfeldt, Biever, Brown, Ferrell, Halverson, Michael Haug, Horsley, Hublou, Kluck, Myrick, Nordquist, Serfling

Programs

The English Department offers instruction in clear thinking and expression; in the history and use of language; in literature (British, American, World, Native American, Women’s, Ethnic, etc.); in literary criticism; and in creative writing and technical and professional communication. Courses in the English Department are divided into two areas: English (ENGL) and Linguistics (LING); see the Course Descriptions section of this catalog.  Students may major or minor in English. The English Major leads to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in one of three ways:

English Major  The English major prepares students for teaching careers; for writing and editorial work; for professional schools of law, business, theology, library science, and social work; and for any endeavor in which facility in the use of language is essential.

English Education Specialization  English Education Specialization majors also register with the College of Education and Human Sciences before beginning Education courses, usually in the Sophomore or Junior year, and fulfill the Education Curriculum for Teachers of Academic Subjects.

Writing Specialization  Students with a writing specialization receive a well-rounded background in literature, but with more intensive work in Creative and/or Professional writing than is provided by the English Major. It will serve students seeking careers in creative or professional writing. 

All English majors must take either World Civilizations I and II (HIST 111 and 112) or Western Civilization I and II (HIST 121 and 122), ENGL 151, and ENGL 479 (the “capstone” course), as well as the modern language courses required for the B.A. ENGL 101, 201, and 283 fulfill SGE requirements, but do not count towards the English majors or minors, nor does non-honors Engl 210. Minimum college and university requirements are given in the appropriate sections of this catalog and are incorporated in the curriculum plans listed in the Requirements Section. Advisors assist students to ensure that all department, college, and university requirements are met. The department requires a minimum grade of “C” in courses used to count toward a major or minor.

English Minor  The minor in English requires 20 credits in English (not counting ENGL 101 and 201), of which 9 hours must be in British literature, and 6 hours in American literature. Minors must also take one of the following courses: ENGL 379, 383, LING 203, 425, 420, 443, 452.

Professional Writing Minor  The Minor in Professional Writing requires 18 credits. Four courses are required: LING 203, ENGL 277 (for Engineering majors) or ENGL 379 (for all other majors), MCOM 161, and ENGL 492 Topics: Issues in Professional Writing: Visual Rhetoric. An additional six credits are required from the following list of electives: ARTD 202, ENGL 383, ENGL/GLST 380; LING 420, LING 452, MCOM 220, MCOM 225, ENGL 492 Topics: Issues in Professional Writing: Writing for the Professions in the Sciences and Humanities, and ENGL 494.

Peace and Conflict Studies Minor  The Minor in Peace and Conflict Studies requires 18 credits.  Three courses are required: ENGL 125, ENGL 470, and SPCM 470.  An additional nine credits are required from the following list of electives: POLS 253, POLS 350, POLS 454, HIST 469, HIST 460, GLST 201, GLST 480, and ENGL 380. The Peace and Conflict Studies minor prepares students to be globally informed citizens of a diverse world–supportive of their own culture and of other cultures by respecting their social amenities, rights, abilities, and racial, religious, and cultural attributes. The minor ensures that graduates have come to understand the overriding importance of what SDSU refers to as “the fellowship of many.”

The Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree. The Department offers the Master of Arts in English. For details consult the Graduate Catalog.