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English

Chair: Professor Hinnefeld 
Professors: Dougal, Hinnefeld; Associate Professors: Black, Shorr, Tabor; Assistant Professors: Fodrey, LaRue, Waller-Peterson; Emeritus Faculty: Diamond, Reid, Wingard; Instructor of Writing: Mikovits; Adjunct Faculty: Alu, Comfort, Crooke, Gal, Harris, Joella, Ward.

The Major in English

The field of English studies is one of the cornerstones of a liberal arts education and also offers a variety of approaches to specialized study. At Moravian College, students are invited to explore the rich, multi-dimensional nature of English studies through their engagement with creative expression and the study of culture and history, linguistics, literature, rhetoric, theatre and performance, and multimodal writing.

The English major consists of ten courses: a five-course core, four major electives, and a capstone experience.

Core (five courses):

  • English 225 (writing-intensive)
  • One of the 200-level writing courses that are designated as options for the required second English WI course
  • Two literary period courses
    • (British/Transatlantic or American)
    • (British/Transatlantic: English 240, 351, 352, 354, 355)
    • (American: English 340, 341, 342, 344)
    • Or a special topics course approved by the major advisor
      Note: one of the two period courses must be pre-20th century
      (English 340, 341, 351, 352, 355)
  • One genre course:
    • Drama (English 232, 233, 234, 360, 361)
    • Fiction (English 343, 353)
    • Poetry (English 320)
    • Or a special topics course approved by the major advisor
  • Four electives, numbered at the 200 level or above
  • Capstone experience: at least one of the following:
    • Senior Seminar (English 371)
    • Student teaching in an education certification program

Teacher certification students follow modified versions of the requirements listed above. Refer to the Teacher Certification in English section below.

Notes on the Major in English

  1. Students must take at least three courses at the 300 level.
  2. In preparation for creating an English major portfolio in the Senior Seminar, students must save digital and hard copies of their work in each course, including drafts with peer and instructor comments.
  3. Students must complete a Hands-On-Learning Assignment (HLA).  See https://www.moravian.edu/english/programs/hands-on-learning for more information.
  4. Internships (English 288 and 386-388) and study abroad strongly encouraged for all majors; an internship is required for all students completing the English major with Writing Arts Certification. Students should consult with Dr. Hinnefeld (English Department chair) regarding internships and with the Office of International Studies regarding study-abroad opportunities.
  5. Writing 100, Learning in Common 101, and the general literature courses (English 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105) may not be used to satisfy requirements for the major, minor, or interdepartmental major programs of the English Department. The general literature course restriction, however, does not apply to English majors pursuing early childhood, middle level, or secondary education certification programs.

English majors are encouraged to supplement required courses with elective courses in English, minors complementary to English Studies, independent studies, related courses from the Learning in Common curriculum, internships, and study abroad, as well as co-curricular involvement in theatre, The Manuscript, The Comenian, SOAR/undergraduate scholarship, and other relevant opportunities. Students are strongly advised to register for ENGL 225 early in their study.

The Minor in English

The minor in English consists of five courses: English 225; English 211 or 212 (or another course approved by the English major advisor or English Dept. chair); one literature course (200- or 300 level); and two electives (200- or 300-level).

The Interdepartmental Major

The six courses in Set I of the interdepartmental major include English 225, which should be taken in the year the student declares the major. The five other English courses, from the 200- and 300-level, and the six courses of Set II are selected by the student with the advisor’s approval.

English Major with Writing Arts Certification

English majors who seek Writing Arts Certification within the major must complete the following program:

I. English Major Core

  1. English 225 WI: Introduction to English Studies
  2. One of the 200-level writing courses that are designated as options for the required second English WI course*
  3. One literary genre requirement
  4. Two literary period requirements (one of which  must be pre-20th century:  English 340, 341, 351, 352, 355)

II. Internship Pre-Requisite

  1. A departmentally approved course in digital writing, professional writing, or journalism.

III. English Internship (at least one; a second internship may count as one of the Writing Electives [section IV below])

  1. ENGL 288 and/or ENGL 386 (at least one): English Internship**

IV. Writing Electives

Four writing courses (chosen from the following list of current English catalog and special topics courses), at least two of which must be at the 300 level. Note that students may complete an additional internship (386), following on the required internship listed under part III above, as one of these four required writing courses.

  1. 211 WI*: Creative Nonfiction
  2. 212 WI*: Introduction to Creative Writing
  3. 242: Environmental Writing
  4. 263: Writing as Activism
  5. 310: Business & Community Writing
  6. 311: Fiction Writing
  7. 313: Poetry Writing
  8. 386: Internship
  9. Other special topics courses may be used to fulfill this requirement. Please consult with an English advisor.

V. Capstone Experience

  1. 371: Senior Seminar

*Note that Writing Arts certification students may NOT “double-dip” with their chosen WI course (that is, a course taken as the core WI course may not also be included as one of the four required writing courses).

**English majors seeking certification in Writing Arts will be required to have a cumulative QPA of 2.7 or higher before enrolling in the English Internship (in keeping with the College-wide policy for internships).

Teacher Certification in English

Students seeking a major in English and certification in early childhood education (pre-K-grade 4) follow a modified version of the major that requires English 225, two period courses (one of which must be pre-20th century), a genre course, a writing course (one of the 200-level writing courses that are designated as options for the required second English WI course), the capstone experience (for certification students, student teaching serves as the capstone), and four courses selected in consultation with the advisor.

Students seeking a major in English and certification in middle level education (grades 4-8) follow a modified version of the major that requires English 221, 225, two period courses (one British and one American, one of which must be pre-20th century), a genre course, a writing course (one of the 200-level writing courses that are designated as options for the required second English WI course), the capstone experience (for certification students, student teaching serves as the capstone), and three courses selected in consultation with the advisor.

Students seeking a major in English and certification in secondary education (grades 7-12) follow a modified version of the major that requires English 221, 225, and 230; 330 or 350; two period courses (one British and one American, one of which must be pre-20th century); a genre course; a writing course (one of the 200-level writing courses that are designated as options for the required second English WI course); the capstone experience (for certification students, student teaching serves as the capstone); and one course selected in consultation with the advisor.

The advisors for teacher certification in English are John Black (early childhood and middle level) and Theresa Dougal (secondary). Students who intend to pursue teacher certification are strongly urged to contact the Education Department during their first year at Moravian.

Courses in English

Note: Writing 100, Learning in Common 101, or equivalent is a prerequisite for all courses in the English Department numbered 200 or above.

101. American Literature. Introduction to the development of the American literary heritage, with emphasis on analytical, written, and oral skills. (M2)           
Comfort, Crooke

102. British Literature. Introduction to distinctive British works, emphasizing analytical and communication skills. (M2)   
Black, Dougal, Tabor

103. Western Literature. Selected major works in the literature of the Western world, emphasizing analytical and communication skills through written and oral projects. (M2)    
Staff

104. The Experience of Literature. Introduction to major literary genres—fiction, poetry, and drama—from a variety of times and cultures, emphasizing analytical and communication skills through written and oral projects. (M2)           
Black, Gal, LaRue, Tabor, Staff

105. African-American Literature. Introduction to the poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and drama of the African-American tradition in literature from the beginnings of the Colonial period to the present day. Emphasis will be on identifying the uniqueness of this literature within the larger mainstream of American literature. (M2)       
Waller-Peterson

210.2. Business Writing. Introduction to writing for the business sector (correspondence, reports, proposals, presentations, other forms of business writing). Prerequisite: LinC 101 or equivalent. 
Staff

211. Creative Nonfiction. Guided practice in public and personal essay writing. Workshop setting. Prerequisite: LinC 101 or equivalent. Spring.        
Fodrey, Harris

212. Introduction to Creative Writing. Guided practice in the writing of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.  Prerequisite: LinC 101 or equivalent. (M6) 
Hinnefeld  

213.2. Tutorship I. One-half unit of credit given for completion of tutor training course: extensive practice with student writing samples, several writing assignments, full review of grammar. The practicum is three hours of tutoring per week, compensated at work-study wage. Interested students must apply to and be selected by the Writing Center director before registering. Prerequisites: LinC 101 or equivalent, interview with director, and approval of director.           
Mikovits

214.2. Tutorship II. One-half unit of credit given for self-guided study and four hours of tutoring per week. Student's written proposal for study must be approved by Writing Center director. Prerequisites: English 213.2, GPA of 3.00, and approval of director.     
Mikovits

221. The English Language. Introduction to phonology, grammar, lexicon, and other aspects of English from its beginning to the present, with an emphasis on current language issues. Fall.      
Black

225. Introduction to English Studies. Introduction to various aspects of the discipline, including analysis of literature, bibliographic and research techniques, critical thinking and writing, various literary approaches, literary theory, and history of the field. Writing intensive. Strongly encouraged as a prerequisite for upper-level English courses. Fall and spring. 
Black, Tabor

230. Public Speaking. Basic theory of public speaking with emphasis on developing skills essential to effective interpersonal communication in industrial, business, and academic settings. Fall.     
Staff

232. Art of the Theater. Aesthetic, historical, and production aspects of theater. Practical experience in production. Alternate years.   
Shorr

233. Modern Drama and Theater. Development of dramatic literature and theatrical practice in the 20th century.   
Tabor

234. American Drama and Theater. Development of dramatic literature and theatrical practice in America, 1665 to the present.        
Tabor

240. Post-Colonial Literature. Introduction to literature produced by 20th-century African, Asian, and Caribbean writers from former colonies of Western European empires, especially Britain. (M5) 
LaRue

242. Environmental Writing. This writing course will survey a broad spectrum of environmental literature, from Thoreau’s Walden to Cheryl Strayed’s recent bestsellerWild, as well as images, music, and cinema that address environmental themes. Through writing, class discussion, and other assignments, students will reflect on our changing relationship with the natural world and consider what the engagement has meant for both the planet and its human inhabitants. The course follows a workshop format, so reading and critiquing other students’ writing is required. Harris

261. Prophets of Doom and Gloom? Science Fiction, Science Fact, and the Contemporary World. (Also Interdisciplinary 261) Creators of science fiction often present dire warnings about the world to come in which science has subverted human values. By studying important developments in science and technology and significant works of science fiction, we can comprehend the nature of these warnings and attempt to formulate a civilized response to the dehumanizing forces afflicting the contemporary world. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. (U1)     
Staff

262. Literature and the Way We Live. (Also Interdisciplinary 262) This course considers such moral issues as the environment; identity, duties to kin; love, marriage and sex; racism and sexism; as posed within a variety of world literature that includes short stories, novels, poetry, and drama, ranging from the era of Sophocles' Antigone to the present. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. (U2)       
Dougal

263. Writing as Activism.  To what can extent can, or should, writing (and also reading) function as a kind of activism? Can written work change minds and hearts? Should it be designed to do so? Can writing be more than a hobby--but also more than a vocation? That is, can the acts of writing and reading be seen as moral acts, as part of living a fully engaged life? In this course we will examine these and other questions as we read, view, discuss, and emulate both factual/documentary and imaginative works (ranging from op-ed pieces and documentaries to poems and short stories). Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. (U2) 
Hinnefeld

310. Business and Community Writing. Writing for business and nonprofit sectors with required community service/consulting component in targeted agencies. Prerequisites: English 211,212, or other 200-level writing course approved by the English major advisor or English Dept. Chair, and permission of instructor. Alternate years. 
Hinnefeld

311. Fiction Writing. Focused study of contemporary fiction, writing of several complete fictional works. Workshop setting. Prerequisites: English 211,212, or other 200-level writing course approved by the English major advisor or English Dept. Chair. Spring. (M6)       
Hinnefeld

312. News and Feature Writing. Guided practice in writing news and feature articles for newspaper readers, with attention to news criteria and the state of newspapers in the United States. Prerequisites: English 211, 212, or other 200-level writing course approved by the English major advisor or English Dept. Chair. Alternate years.           
Staff

313. Poetry Writing. Focused study of contemporary poetry, writing of a range of complete poetic works. Workshop setting. Prerequisites: English 211, 212, or other 200-level writing course approved by the English major advisor or English Dept. Chair. Alternate years. (M6)         
Hinnefeld

320. The Art of Poetry. Designed to provide the student of literature with theories and techniques for understanding, appreciating, and evaluating poetry. Alternate years. 
Dougal

330. Shakespeare. The major plays. Spring, alternate years.   
Black

340. American Literature 1800-1865. A study of the range of literary voices that constitute "American literature" from 1800-1865, including works by Native and African Americans, Hispanics, women, and a variety of ethnic and minority groups, as well as by the better-known writers of the era—Irving, Emerson, Thoreau, Dickinson, Hawthorne, Poe, Melville, and Whitman. Alternate years. 
Dougal

341. American Realism. Development of realism in American literature from its late 19th-century beginnings to its height in the early to mid-20th century. Alternate years.
Waller-Peterson

342. 20th Century American Literature. Nonfiction prose, fiction, poetry to 1950. Fall, alternate years.   
Waller-Peterson

343. American Fiction after World War II. Works since 1950, with emphasis on living authors. Alternate years.
LaRue

344.  Contemporary Native American Literature.  This course will provide students with an opportunity to closely read poetry, fiction, drama, and essays written by and about Native Americans.  To truly understand these literary texts, we will need to learn about native peoples’ history, cultural contexts, oral traditions, and identity.  Developing and interrogating questions regarding Native American identity will complicate our understanding of fixed literary genres and the power relations they encode.  Our readings, discussions, and writing assignments will offer the opportunity to develop questions at issue for our discourse community.  Writing especially will provide the chance to develop your own line of inquiry regarding specific texts. 
Tabor

350. Chaucer. The Canterbury Tales and selected minor poems from the perspective of textual and source analysis, as well as feminist, psychological, and new historicist approaches. No previous study of Middle English required but English 221 recommended. Spring, alternate years.
Black

351. British Renaissance and Neoclassicism. British poetry, non-Shakespearean drama, and prose, 1500-1800. Alternate years.      
Black

352. British Literature 1780-1830. A study of literature by men and women of varying ethnicities and social classes, and of primary documents that reveal major historical conditions and social and cultural movements to which these writers responded. Some emphasis upon major Romantic poets. Alternate years.    
Dougal

353. The British Novel. A study of the English novel from its beginnings in the 18th century to the 20th century. Alternate years.
Tabor

354. 20th-Century British Literature. British and Irish poets and novelists, with some emphasis on writers who have gained recognition since World War II. Alternate years.   
Tabor

355. Literature and Culture of Medieval Britain. Study of selected major and minor texts (mostly in translation) from Old English and Middle English literature, with corresponding interdisciplinary study of their cultural contexts. Examination of the evolution of literary genres, styles, and audiences. Exploration of the approaches and perspectives of contemporary scholarship to topics and issues in medieval studies, with a consideration of the links between contemporary and medieval cultures. Fall, alternate years.
Black

360. Dramatic Literature and the Moral Life 1580-1642. Investigates issues of race, ethnicity, religion, and gender in the dramatic literature of the early modern period in England. Special attention to the plays of Shakespeare for their sensitivity to the diversity of the human condition. Earlier and later playwrights attuned to these issues will also be studied. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. Fall. (U2)     
Staff

361. Dramatic Literature and the Moral Life 1875-Present. Examines moral problems and resolutions in modern and postmodern dramatic literature. Issues of race, ethnicity, religion, and gender, as well as other concerns that are part of the modern moral life. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. (U2)       
Staff

370. Seminar. Detailed study of a single writer, school, genre, or theme in literature.
Staff

371. Senior Seminar. This course will synthesize and expand upon what students have learned throughout their major. Weekly meetings will consist of readings, discussion, and writing on topics within English Studies. Course requirements will include an extended written work in a student’s chosen genre, as well as a portfolio. Fall and Spring.                                                                    
Staff

190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.

286, 381-384. Independent Study.

288, 386-388. English Internship. Practical field experience in writing for mass media, business, industry, or nonprofits. Designed in consultation with director of internship program and field supervisor. By arrangement. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; for 288: 211,212, or other 200-level writing course approved by the English major or English Dept. Chair; for 386-388: 211, 212, or other 200-level writing course approved by the English major or English Dept. Chair; plus one additional English course.

400-401. Honors.