Department Chair: Judith Petterson Clark, M.A., Ph.D.
English/Creative
Writing Faculty:
Tina Parke-Sutherland, M.F.A., Ph.D.
Kristine Somerville, M.A.
Kate Berneking Kogut, M.A., Ph.D.
- B.A. in English
- B.F.A. in Creative Writing
- Minor in English
- Minor in Creative Writing
- Minor in Language and Culture
- English and Liberal Studies Major
- Course Descriptions
Written language is a principal repository of the values of human civilization
and a continually evolving tool by which we construct our lives. The
English/Creative Writing curriculum articulates and embodies our understanding
of the knowledge students need in order to achieve the literacy essential
to engaged citizenship. The curriculum offers students the opportunity
to gain a historical perspective on literature as an institution and
to develop a sense of the uses of literary criticism and theory. In
addition, the curriculum provides excellent preparation in courses that
teach and encourage fluent writing, a skill which students in all areas
of study will find valuable. This curriculum also emphasizes the contributions
of women and minority voices to literature, criticism, and language,
and encourages students to continue to augment those contributions.
The English and Creative Writing Majors
Students
may earn a Bachelor of Arts in English or a Bachelor of Fine Arts in
Creative Writing. The English and Creative Writing majors prepare students
for graduate study and careers in a range of fields including but not
limited to literature, law, humanities, art history, political or social
sciences, philosophy, religion, women's studies, history, writing, professional
editing and production, and public relations.
Because the faculty represents a broad array of the specialities, majors
in English and Creative Writing allow students to complete the requirements
by combining studies in literatures, writing, language and women's creative
writing.
All English and Creative Writing majors will participate in the College
assessment of programs offering disciplinary majors.
Requirements for the B.A. Major in English
The bachelor
of arts major in English requires completion of the liberal arts requirements
and at least 39 hours in ENG, including the following: 3 hours to enter
the English/Creative Writing community; 6 hours in early American literatures,
6 hours in English literary traditions to build perspective; 3 hours
focusing on women's literatures in English to address issues of cultural
difference; 3 hours to understand modes of criticism, 3 hours to address
ethical issues, 3 hours to demonstrate mature, literate prose and a
3 hour senior capstone course in the form of an independent research
essay. In addition, the student chooses 9 to 15 hours from other ENG
offerings up to a total of 45 hours. At least 15 hours in the
major must be at or above the 300 level.
English majors must earn a C or better in the required courses, and
must maintain a C average over all courses in the major. If a student
earns less than a C in a required course, she must repeat it in order
to improve her grade. English majors are also required to attend
readings and presentations by departmental students, faculty and guests.
Required Courses
ENG 110: Conversations: Authors and Audiences (3 hrs.)
ENG 269: American Literatures I (3 hrs.)
ENG 270: American Literatures II (3 hrs.)
ENG 271: English Literary Traditions I (3 hrs.)
ENG 272: English Literary Traditions II (3 hrs.)ENG 305: Advanced Composition (3 hrs.)
ENG 308: Women Writers (3 hrs.)
ENG 340: Language: Uses and Abuses (3 hrs.)ENG 372: Criticism and Culture (3 hrs.)
ENG 490: Senior Essay (3 hrs.) (not Senior Project)
Plus 9 hours, chosen from literatures, creative writing, and writing and language
Requirements for the B.F.A. Major in Creative Writing
The bachelor of fine arts in creative writing requires completion of the liberal arts requirements, and at least 61 semester hours and no more than 75 hours in the major including a minimum of 18 hours of writing courses, 3 hours in WST, 27 hours in English, at least 9hours in English electives, 1-7 hours of internship and a 3 hour senior capstone course. At least 15 hours in the major must be at or above the 300 level. Creative writing majors must maintain a C average overall in courses in the major, and must earn a C or better in ENG 490: Senior Project. Creative writing majors are also required to attend readings and presentations by departmental students, faculty and guests.
Required
Writing Courses (minimum 18 hrs.)
(B.F.A. students must be continuously enrolled in at least 3 semester hours in any of the following genres for each semester after they declare the major. Students must take ENG 210, ENG 212 and a minimum of 3 genres.)
ENG 210: Introduction to Creative Writing (3 hrs.)
ENG 212: Introduction to Writing for Stage and Screen (3 hrs.)
ENG 240: Writing Creative Non-Fiction (3 hrs.)
ENG 242: Intermediate Creative Writing (3 hrs.)ENG 250: Screenwriting II (3 hrs.)
ENG 311: Fiction Workshop (3-6 hrs.)
ENG 312: Playwriting Workshop (3-6 hrs.)
ENG 313: Poetry Workshop (3-6 hrs.)
ENG 314: Autobiography Workshop (3-6 hrs.)
Required English Courses (27 hrs.)
ENG 110: Conversations: Authors and Audiences (3 hrs.)
ENG 269: American Literatures I (3 hrs.)
ENG 270: American Literatures II (3 hrs.)
ENG 271: English Literary Traditions I (3 hrs.)
ENG 272: English Literary Traditions II (3 hrs.)
ENG 305: Advanced Compostion (3 hrs.)ENG 308: Women Writers (3 hrs.)
ENG 340: Language: Uses and Abuses (3 hrs.)ENG 372: Criticism and Culture (3 hrs.)
Required Women's Studies Course
WST 210: Introduction to Women's Studies (3 hrs.)
English Electives
At least 9 hours required
Program Internships
Internship (1 hour required; 6 hours more may be elected)
ENG 396: Harbinger Editing Internships
Register other internships by independent study.
Required Capstone
ENG 490: Senior Project (3 hrs.) (not Senior Essay)
Requirements for a Minor in English
(Not open to Creative Writing majors.)
A minor in English requires completion of a minimum of 15 hours with a maximum of 24 hours.
- One must be chosen from the following:
ENG 269: American Literatures I (3 hrs.)
ENG 270: American Literatures II (3 hrs.)
ENG 271: English Literary Traditions I (3 hrs.)
ENG 272: English Literary Traditions II (3 hrs.)
- and
ENG 308: Women Writers (3 hrs.)
- plus
9 hrs of ENG electives including 3 hrs at or above 300 level.
Requirements for a Minor in Creative Writing
(Not open to English majors.)
A minor in Creative Writing requires completion of a minimum of 15 hours with a maximum of 24 hours.
- One must be chosen from the following:
ENG 269: American Literatures I (3 hrs.)
ENG 270: American Literatures II (3 hrs.)
ENG 271: English Literary Traditions I (3 hrs.)
ENG 272: English Literary Traditions II (3 hrs.)
- and
ENG 308: Women Writers (3 hrs.)
- plus
9 hrs of ENG electives chosen from creative writing courses,
including 3 hrs at or above 300 level.
Requirements for a Minor in Language and Culture
(Not open to English or Creative Writing majors.)
A minor in Language and Culture requires completion of a minimum of 18 hours with a maximum of 24 hours.
- One must be chosen from the following:
ENG 269: American Literatures I (3 hrs.)
ENG 271: English Literary Traditions I (3 hrs.)
ENG 342: World Mythologies (3 hrs.)
- and
ENG 240: Writing Non-Fiction (3 hrs.)
ENG 305: Advanced Composition (3 hrs.)
ENG 308: Women Writers (3 hrs.)
ENG 340: Language Use and Abuse (3 hrs.) *
ENG 372: Criticism and Culture (3 hrs.)
May take additional ENG courses up to a total of 24 hours.
*Legal Studies majors who choose this minor must take another ENG course to substitute for ENG 340 Language Use and Abuse as this is required in that major. Recommend LGS majors to take ENG 271 and ENG 269.
English and the Liberal Studies Major
In the residential program, the Department of English/Creative Writing offers two concentrations, English and Women's Studies, and Writing and Language, and three minors, English, Creative Writing, and Language and Culture, that are available for the liberal studies major. Only one of these concentrations or minors may be included in a liberal studies major. See the liberal studies section of the catalog for complete information about these concentrations and the major. Students including English or Creative Writing in a liberal studies major also participate in the departmental assessment of majors.
English/Creative Writing Courses
ENG 110:
Conversations: Authors and Audiences
(3 hrs.)
(Open to all students; required of ENG/CRW
majors; recommended for ENG/CRW minors.)
This course helps students discover and sharpen their own skills as
authors and audiences through writing workshops and conversations with
visiting writers. Students will also contract to participate as
authors and/or audiences in a number of literary events at the college
and in the Columbia community.
ENG 210: Introduction to Creative Writing
(3 hrs.)
(Open to all students; required of Creative
Writing majors.)
This course helps students discover and sharpen their skills as creative
writers, readers and editors. Concentrating on at least three of the
genres of nonfiction, poetry, fiction and drama, the class establishes
a creative writing community with each class member presenting her work
to the whole class, as well as to the instructor, for responses and
revision suggestions. Students whose skills and experience in creative
writing make a beginning-level course inappropriate may be advanced
upon recommendation of the English/Creative Writing faculty.
ENG 212:
Introduction to Writing for Stage and Screen
(3 hrs.)
(Open to all students; cross-listed as DFM 212; required
of Creative Writing majors.)
This course is designed as an introduction to Writing for Performance
in which students will explore a variety of ways to creatively express
themselves in dramatic form. The emphasis of this course is on
both the creative craft of the writing process, culminating in written
projects as well as learning the basic, traditional structure of story
and character.
ENG 230: Screenwriting
I
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: DFM 187 or DFM 188 or permission of instructor.
Cross-listed with DFM 230.)
This course is designed as an introduction to screenwriting, focusing
on the foundations of linear, visual storytelling for the screen.
ENG 240: Writing Non-Fiction
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208; or department recommendation)
(offered
alternate years)
The powerful expressive and persuasive impact of the essay has been
recognized and celebrated by many of the greatest writers of the past
and present. Women, especially, now publish substantial volumes of influential
and moving essays. This course studies contemporary essays and provides
practice (in a workshop setting) in the form and style of writing nonfiction
prose.
ENG 242: Intermediate Creative Writing
(3 hrs.)
(May be repeated, up to 9 semester hours in different genres)
(Prerequisite: ENG 210 or department recommendation)
This course provides an intermediate-level creative writing course,
focusing on craft and technique and helping prepare students with some
creative writing experience for the advanced, creative writing workshops.
Students sharpen their writing, reading and revision skills as well
as explore the structural and content possibilities of the studied genre.
ENG 250: Screenwriting II
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 212, or DFM/ENG 230 or permission of instructor.
Cross-listed with DFM 250.)
Screenwriting II is an intermediate-level course focusing on linear
storytelling for the screen. Students will deepen their knowledge
and experience of previously introduced screenwriting tools, including
structure, character, conflict, action, dialogue, and visual storytelling.
Adaptation and non-traditional story structures for film will be introduced.
ENG 255: Literary Studies
(3 hrs.)
(May be repeated for credit with different topic)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208)
This course presents a variety of topics that cut across national boundaries
and time limits with varying emphasis on themes, motifs, movements and
comparisons. Topics have included "World's Great Novels," "Chinese Literature,"
"Reading Poetry," "Biography and Autobiography," "Latin American Drama,"
and "World Drama."
ENG 257: Fairy Tales and Folklore
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208) (offered alternate years)
Fairy tales, urban legends, jokes and folksongs reveal the hearts and
minds of the people of the world. Folklore study introduces the student
to the tales, arts and traditions of the peoples and cultures of Asia,
Africa and South and Central America, as well as Europe and the United
States—complex materials to be classified and interpreted from
a folklorist's perspective. Students gain understanding of the methods
and meaning of folklore research and performance.
ENG 269: American Literatures I
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208; required
of English and Creative Writing majors.)(offered alternating Fall semesters)
This course, in a variety of ways, questions and explores the geopolitical
category "American" and the cultural category "literature" as they intersect
to locate a constantly changing set of texts called "American Literature."
The course introduces students to a range of primary texts in many genres,
both contemporary and historical, and challenges them to ask what kinds
of circumstances in the writing and the reading processes, as well as
in the culture at large, come together to make an "American Literature."
ENG 270: American Literatures II
(3 hrs.)
(May be repeated for credit with a different topic up to 6 semester
hours)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208; required
of English and Creative Writing majors.)
(offered
alternating Spring semesters)
Usually more narrowly focused than ENG 269, this course intensively
studies a particular American literature. Depending on the individual
instructor, the course will use an organizing principle such as a specific
time, place, cultural movement, or event to bring together a set of
related texts, often from a number of literary genres.
ENG 271: English Literary Traditions I
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208; required
of English and Creative Writing majors.)(offered alternating Fall semesters)
A study of early and early modern English literatures and language with
emphasis on three historical and cultural contexts selected in part
for their interest in light of new readings about women and popular
culture, such as those on the representation of the warrior woman or
the outsider.
ENG 272: English Literary Traditions II
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208; required
of English and Creative Writing majors.)(offered alternating Spring
semesters)
A study of Restoration and Post-Restoration English and Colonial literatures,
arranged to consider the cultural politics of canons. Readings include
both canonical and popular literature.
ENG 280: Topics in Writing, Language and Literatures
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208 and permission of instructor)
Topics courses are devoted to special subjects that may not be covered
in depth in other courses.
ENG 305: Advanced Composition
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208 with at least a grade of C- or department recommendation; required of English and Creative Writing majors.)(offered alternate years.)
This advanced course gives students opportunities to expand the writing, reading, and critical thinking skills explored in basic composition classes; to practice rhetorical strategies, including argument; and to learn the art and discipline of writing for publication in academic fields.
ENG 308:
Women Writers
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208 and one 3 hour 200-level
ENG or WST course; or permission of instructor; crosslisted as WST 308;
required of English and Creative Writing majors.)
(offered
alternating Spring semesters)
This course analyzes women's literatures in English of various cultures
and periods considering the history of critical attention given to them.
In addition to standard genres of poetry, fiction and drama, this course
may include reading in nontraditional genres: essays, diaries and letters,
and performance art.
ENG 311: Creative Writing Workshop: Fiction
(3 hrs.)
(May be repeated up to 6 semester hours)
(Prerequisite: ENG 210, ENG 240 or ENG 242 and permission of
instructor)
(offered
alternate years)
This course advances the experienced creative writer to more sophisticated
fictional projects. Reading published short fiction as well as each
other's work, students explore issues of form, craft and subject matter
from the perspective of the fiction writer's position in contemporary
culture.
ENG 312: Creative Writing Workshop: Playwriting
(3 hrs.)
(May be repeated up to 6 semester hours)
(Prerequisite: ENG 210, ENG 212 or permission of instructor)
(offered
alternate years)
This course advances the experienced creative writer to more sophisticated
dramatic projects. Reading works by professionals as well as by classmates,
students explore issues of form, craft, subject matter and performance
from the perspective of the playwright in contemporary culture.
ENG 313: Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry
(3 hrs.)
(May be repeated up to 6 semester hours)
(Prerequisite: ENG 210, ENG 240 or ENG 242 and permission of
instructor)
(offered
alternate years)
This course advances the experienced creative writer to more sophisticated
poetic projects. Reading published poetry as well as each other's work,
students explore issues of form, craft, subject matter and audience
from the perspective of the poet's position in contemporary culture.
ENG 314: Creative Writing Workshop: Autobiography
(3 hrs.)
(May be repeated up to 6 semester hours)
(Prerequisite: ENG 210, ENG 240 or ENG 242 and permission of
instructor)
(offered
alternate years)
This course advances the experienced creative writer to more sophisticated
projects focused on autobiographical subjects. Emphasis is on both theoretical
and craft issues surrounding the constitution of the gendered self through
autobiographical writing such as sketches, journals, memoirs, dream
cycles and autobiographical narratives.
ENG 319: Twentieth Century Poetry
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208 and one 3 hour 200-level
ENG course, junior standing; or permission of the instructor.)
Poets writing in the twentieth century make available to contemporary
readers the special sets of circumstances, assumptions, terrors, delights,
dreams and obsessions that came together during this century to shape
the poetic representation of what they thought it meant to be human.
ENG 340: Language: Uses and Abuses
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208, junior standing or permission
of instructor; required of English and Creative
Writing majors.) (offered alternate years)
Language and literacy have the power to inspire or to debase, to communicate
or to deceive, to liberate or to enslave. This course explores the ethical
implications of language use, especially in the realms of advertising,
politics, the arts and the professions, as well as private life, and
considers the impact of changing technologies on the role of language
in the present and the future.
ENG 342: World Mythologies
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208, junior standing or permission
of instructor)
(offered
alternate years)
The role of mythological thinking in contemporary life has forced reconsideration
of the great texts and bodies of belief associated with the myths of
past civilizations. This course explores selected mythological texts
and theories of mythic (as opposed to scientific or historical) thought.
ENG 345: Shakespeare
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208; and one 3 hour 200-level
ENG course, junior standing or permission of instructor)
A study of the plays of Shakespeare in their historical context and
in light of new readings of the representations of gender, race, class
and nationality. The class explores the ways in which Shakespearean
plays have been recreated through performance as well as in other geopolitical
and historical contexts.
ENG 360: Western World Literatures
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites:
ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208, and one 3 hour 200-level ENG course, junior
standing or permission of instructor)
Western women and men experienced and generated massive political, philosophical
and scientific revolutions that were, in effect, the forces that invented
the modern world. This course reads Western and Colonial literatures
from early modern to contemporary times with special reference to the
changing roles of women.
ENG 367: Development of the Novel
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208 and one 3 hour 200-level
ENG course, junior standing or permission of instructor)
A study of the novel from its early forms in England. Historically arranged,
the texts are explored with special attention to the representations
of gender, class, race and nationality, and to a variety of critical
approaches to the genre.
ENG 369: American Novels
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208 and one 3 hour 200-level
ENG course, junior standing or permission of instructor)
The compelling power of American novels comes from the ability to give
speech to the many and varied voices of American life and thus to provide
a space for the literary representation of cultural conflict. Organized
historically or thematically, this course explores the possibilities
and problems of the genre, both for writers and for readers, inside
an American cultural context. Readings may include works from North,
Central, and South America when thematically appropriate.
ENG 372: Criticism and Culture
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208, and junior standing or permission
of instructor; required of English and Creative
Writing majors.) (offered alternate years)
This course studies contemporary critical trends as they apply to literature,
film, fashion or other cultural patterns, and considers specifically
the numerous trends that have coalesced into "Cultural Criticism."
ENG 376: Contemporary Literature
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208 and one 3 hour 200-level
ENG course, junior standing or permission of instructor)
This course identifies and examines emerging trends in recent literature.
ENG 380: Topics in Writing, Language and Literatures
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208 and permission of instructor)
Topics courses are devoted to special subjects that may not be covered
in depth in other courses.
ENG 383: Major Author
(3 hrs.)
(May be repeated for credit with a different topic up to 6 semester
hours)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208 and one 3 hour 200-level ENG
course, junior standing or permission of instructor)
An intensive introduction to the range and depth of one or more writers
such as George Eliot, Emily Dickinson, Toni Morrison, James Joyce, Virginia
Woolf, Gertrude Stein and her circle, Margaret Atwood, Adrienne Rich
or Sylva Plath and Ted Hughes.
ENG
385: Digital Media and Electronic Publishing
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208, junior standing or permission
of instructor)
Students will develop textual editing and publishing skills and gain
familiarity with various forms of publishing on the World Wide Web as
it relates to their future career goals and specific interests.
ENG 396: Harbinger Editing Internships
(1 hr. fall term; 3 hrs. spring term)
(May be repeated up to 7 semester hrs.)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102/206 or LBA 108/208, and 1 course in Creative
Writing; and successful application)
Students learn to edit, design, produce and promote Harbinger,
a magazine that includes the creative accomplishments of Stephens' artists,
designers and writers. This course includes a study of the "little magazine"
as a genre.
ENG 490: Senior Essay or Project
(3 hrs.)
(Prerequisite: permission of department chair)
The BA student designs a major literary research project and the BFA
student designs a creative writing project in consultation with an evaluation
committee, workshops and completes the project, defends it during an
oral examination conducted by the committee, gives a solo reading or
presentation, and participates in capstone discussions of life after
graduation. Students aspiring to produce a chapbook in addition to a
creative writing project must register for ENG 490 in the fall semester.
Independent Study
Independent studies (special studies, tutorials,
readings and projects) may be proposed by students who need to meet
a degree requirement. Information about independent study may be obtained
in the Department of English/Creative Writing or in the Office of the
Registrar.
