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SFA Home / Bulletin / College of Liberal and Applied Arts

Department of English and Philosophy

Barbara Carr, Chair

Vera Dugas Liberal Arts North 203
(936) 468-2101
Fax: (936) 468-2614
bcarr@sfasu.edu
http://www.sfasu.edu/academics

Faculty

Professors
Terry J. Box, Barbara Carr

Associate Professor
Marc Guidry, Tracy Johnson

Assistant Professors
Norjuan Austin, Matthew Batt, Kirsten Escobar, Michael Given, Jill Hernandez, David Howard, Steven Marsden, Michael Martin, Christine McDermott, John McDermott, Daniel Norton, Charles Padron, Matthew Ramsey, Kelly Salsbery, Anne Smith, Owen Smith, Kenneth Untiedt, Kevin West

Lecturer
Sue Whatley

Areas of Study & Degrees
B.A. in English, Second major in English
B.A. in Philosophy, Second major in Philosophy
B.F.A. in Creative Writing
Secondary School Certification, English Language Arts and Reading, Grades 8-12
Minors:

Objectives

Courses in English develop effective, appropriate use of English, present the literary heritage of English-speaking and other people, and improve the understanding of practical and literary discourse. In language and literature, then, English supplies essential education for all students. Some students, however, have particular interests and require a broader-than-average background in literature and the English language. The department meets these requirements on both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Philosophy courses offered through the English Department fulfill general education requirements in the humanities. These courses provide intellectual breadth not only for prospective teachers and liberal arts students but also for students planning careers in other professional and vocational fields.

Courses in Greek and Latin offered under departmental auspices may be used to satisfy the general education language requirement and the B.A. requirements for the College of Liberal and Applied Arts. These courses are particularly recommended for students with interests in the humanities as well as for students who are preparing for careers in law, health and medicine, science, and other professional areas.

Definition of Majors & Minors

Bachelor of Arts in English

Honors students may substitute the following:

Three hours of 133H. Composition Rhetoric: Exposition and Argument for Freshman Composition
OR
235H. College English for Selected Students (six hours) for variable literature credit.

Second major in English

Minor in English

Most film studies courses do not count toward either the English major or minor. Please consult with an adviser in the Department of English and Philosophy for more information.

Minor in Writing*

The purpose of this program is to prepare college graduates, regardless of major, to communicate clearly, coherently and logically in writing at a level of skill beyond that provided by freshman composition.

*BCM 247 (Business Communications) or other writing courses taught outside English could be approved by the department.

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

Philosophy (love of wisdom) explores fundamental issues that have intrigued and perplexed human beings for millennia, including the nature of reality, human knowledge and truth, mind and personal identity, and the application of ethical principles to moral problems. The study of philosophy fosters the ability to think critically, to identify and analyze complex problems, to use higher-order reasoning skills through the consistent application of deductive and inductive logical principles, to comprehend multiple perspectives on a specific topic, to communicate effectively and persuasively, and to formulate solutions and evaluate possible outcomes on a wide range of subjects. Students of philosophy learn the value of living an examined life, not only by studying the great thinkers of the past, but also by articulating and defending their own carefully formulated ideas.

The major in philosophy consists of 36 semester hours with at least 15 semester hours of advanced courses (six-nine semester hours at the 300-level and six-nine semester hours at the 400-level). Students completing the philosophy major must take the following courses:

Students must fulfill the semester hour requirement for the philosophy major by taking at least four courses drawn from the advanced philosophy course offerings. With the approval of the adviser, the following courses also may be used to fulfill this semester hour requirement:

Second Major in Philosophy

The second major in philosophy consists of 24 semester hours with at least 12 semester hours of advanced courses. Students completing the second philosophy major must take the following courses:

In addition, students completing the second philosophy major must take at least one of the following two courses:

In fulfilling the semester hour requirement for the second philosophy major, students must take at least four courses drawn from the advanced philosophy course offerings, including at least six semester hours at the 300-level and at least six semester hours at the 400-level. With the approval of the adviser, two of the following courses also may be used to fulfill this semester hour requirement:

Minor in Philosophy

A minor in philosophy consists of 18 semester hours with at least nine semester hours in advanced courses. Students completing the philosophy minor must take the following courses:

Students must fulfill the semester hour requirement for the minor in philosophy by taking at least three courses drawn from the advanced philosophy course offerings. With the approval of the adviser, one of the following courses also may be used in fulfilling this semester hour requirement:

Minor in Classical Literary Studies

A minor is classical literary studies consists of 18 semester hours with at least nine semester hours in advanced courses. Students completing the classical literary studies minor must take the following courses:

In addition, students must take one of the following three courses:

Students must fulfill the semester hour requirement by taking at least one of the following courses:

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is for students who want the intensity of a conservatory education within a liberal arts degree. This program requires a capstone sequence of six hours of senior thesis culminating in the creation of a substantial work of original fiction, poetry, and/or creative non-fiction. BFA students are required to minor in literature.

Note: For BFA students with consent of your adviser, THR 463 also may be used to fulfill three hours of the 400-level creative writing courses.

Minor in Creative Writing

The purpose of the minor in creative writing is to allow students regardless of major to develop advanced skills in the creation of original fiction, poetry, and/or creative non-fiction.

A minor in creative writing consists of 18 semester hours. Students completing the creative writing minor must take a mix of the following courses. (NB: creative writing minors who are also English majors: writing credits taken to complete the minor do not count for English major credits. Students may take additional creative writing courses beyond the minimum 18 hours for the minor and apply them to the English major.)

With the consent of the director of the creative writing program, THR 463, playwriting, also may be used to fulfill credits for the creative writing minor.

The BFA Mandatory Minor in Literature

Minor in Film Studies

Film Studies is a field of inquiry devoted to the analysis of cinema as one of the most important art forms of the 20th and 21st centuries, a medium shaped by related fields such as literature, music and the visual arts. The film studies minor is interdisciplinary in nature and focuses on film analysis and cinematic criticism. Students enrolled in the film studies minor will gain an understanding of film language, the evolution of cinema as an art form, the international dimensions of the medium, and important film concepts, including genre, auteurs, adaptation, film movements, themes and theory.

A minor in film studies consists of 18 semester hours. Students completing the film studies minor must take the following courses:

In addition, students must take 6-9 semester hours from the following:

Students may take three hours from the following:

and other courses as approved by the director of film studies minor or the chair of the Department of English and Philosophy.

Minor in African-American Literary Studies

A minor in African-American Literature consists of at least 18 semester hours. Students will have some flexibility in choosing courses for the minor; however, the following courses must be taken:

With the approval of the director of African-American Literary Studies (and with permission from the chair of the department) a student may petition that three semester hours from outside departments be applied to the minor. Substitutions are not automatic and must be approved in writing by the director of African-American LIterary Studies or the department chair. Additionally, substitutions will take the place of only ENG 374 or ENG 378. Any substituted courses must be specifically relevant.

English as a Second Language Endorsement

The department offers courses which make up part of the requirements for the Endorsement in English as a Second Language. Please see the Department of Elementary Education in the College of Education section of this bulletin.

English Honor Society - Sigma Tau Delta

English majors or minors who have completed six hours of English literature (in addition to the Freshman English requirement) and who have a grade point average of 3.00 and an overall grade point average in English of 3.00 are eligible for membership in Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. Associate memberships also are available for non-English majors and minors who meet these scholastic requirements. Also, auxiliary memberships are available for students who are interested in the society’s activities but who do not meet the regular requirements.

Courses In English (ENG)

Course numbers have changed, effective August 2001.

099.

Developmental English – Course in critical thinking, reading, and writing, for students who have not yet passed the writing component of the Texas Success Initiative. Will not satisfy freshman English requirements or apply toward an English major or minor requirements. Will not count toward any degree requirement, including elective credit. Does count as part of student’s course load for the semester.

131.

Composition: Rhetoric and Argument (ENGL 1301) – Study and application of the writing process and the skills of writing with a focus on analytical reading and writing. Essay assignments address rhetorical analysis and evaluation and critical responses to close readings of texts. Required of all students who do not qualify for English 133H or 235H. Prerequisite: Pass or exemption from THEA or a C in English 099. Must earn a grade of C or higher to be admitted to English 132.

132.

Composition and Rhetoric: Critical and Analytical (ENGL 1302) – Continued study and application of the writing process and the skills of writing with a focus on the forms of argumentative writing and on research methods, such as gathering, evaluating, summarizing, synthesizing, and citing source information. Prerequisite: C in English 131. Must earn a C or higher to be admitted to any English 200 level course.

133H.  

Composition and Rhetoric: Exposition and Argument – Intensive study and application of academic writing with a focus on analytical reading and writing. Essay assignments that address rhetorical analysis, argumentative writing, and the incorporation of research. Prerequisite: 28 or above on ACT or 580 or above on SAT. Not open to students with credit in English 131.

200.

Introduction to Literature – Readings in literary genres, such as poetry, drama, short story, novel. Prerequisite: six hours of freshman English

210.

Readings in World Literature – World literatures, including European, Latin American, African, Asian; periods, genres, authors; depending upon instructor. Prerequisite: six hours of freshman English

211.

World Literature: Ancient through the Renaissance (ENGL 2332) – Survey in the first half of Western and non-Western literatures spanning the periods from the first written literature through 1650. Can fulfill requirement for non-Western literature when so designated in schedule of classes. Prerequisite: six hours of freshman English

212.

World Literature from the Renaissance to the Present (ENGL 2333) – Survey in second half of Western and non-Western literatures spanning the periods from 1650 to the present. Can fulfill requirement for non-Western literature when so designated in schedule of classes. Prerequisite: six hours of freshman English.

220.

Readings in British Literature – Periods, genres, authors, themes in British literature. May include special topics. Prerequisite: six hours of freshman English.

221.

Major British Writers: Before 1800 (ENGL 2322) – Survey of British literature from the Anglo-Saxon period through the 18th century. Prerequisite: six hours of freshman English.

222.

Major British Writers: After 1800 (ENGL 2323) – Survey of British literature from Romanticism (1798) to the present. Prerequisite: six hours of freshman English.

229.

Readings in American Literature – (ENGL 2327) – Survey of American literature from its beginning to 1865. Prerequisite: Six hours of freshman English.

230.

Readings in American Literature - (ENGL 2328) – Survey of American Literature from 1865 to the present. Prerequisite: six hours of freshman English.

233H.

Literary Genres – Generically based survey of literature covering a variety of periods and/or traditions. For students whose performance on the ACT or SAT examination qualifies them for accelerated and individualized study. Prerequisite: English 133H with a grade of A or B, or consent of department.

235.

College English For Selected Students – Six semester hours credit, six hours lecture per week. Comprehensive course for specially selected students (required scores: 31 or higher ACT, 650 or higher SAT).

240.

Classical Roots of English Vocabulary – Systematic study of Latin and Greek elements in the English language to help students improve general vocabulary and reading comprehension and prepare for graduate/professional school entrance exams. No knowledge of Greek or Latin required. May not be used to satisfy the foreign language requirement.

246.

Introduction to Narrative Film – An introduction to the concepts and terminology necessary to discuss and write about narrative film in complex and compelling ways; emphasis on film literacy; the language and grammar of film; critically reading and analyzing the cinematic text.

273.

Technical and Scientific Writing – Study of the rhetorical principles involved in technical and scientific workplace writing. Emphasis on the production of professional documents, such as analytical reports, in both traditional and online formats. Will not satisfy literature requirement; will not count toward an English major or minor (except for a minor in writing). Prerequisite: six hours of freshman English.

276.

Survey of African-American Literature – Survey of all major genres in African-American literature. An introductory course in African-American literature.

300.

Mythology – Study of Greek, Roman, and Hebraic mythology, emphasizing the role of myth in history, culture, and consciousness. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

302.

Folklore – Study of folk traditions of various societies. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

306.

Periods in World Literature - May concentrate on Classical literature, Medieval literature, Renaissance literature, Neoclassical or Enlightenment literature, Romanticisms, Realism, Naturalism, Decadence, or the various literary movements of the 20th century of the Western and non-Western world. May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

310.

Periods in British Literature – May concentrate on Medieval, Restoration and 18th-century, Romantic, Victorian and Edwardian, Modernist, or late 20th-century literature in Great Britain. May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

320.

Periods in American Literature – May concentrate on Colonial literature, Federalist literature, Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, late 20th century. May also be taught as a survey of American literature. May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

321.

Major Authors – Close study of major authors in Western or non-Western world literatures. May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

322.

Major British Authors – Close study of major writers of British literature, with the exception of Shakespeare. May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

323.

Major American Authors – Close study of major writers of American literature. May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

324.

Film Movements and Themes – Explorations into the theoretical and historical circumstances surrounding the development of trends and themes within narrative film. Movements and themes may include the French, new wave, German expressionism, neo-realism, film noir, Soviet montage, Hong Kong thrillers, new British cinema, the natural world, religion, masculinity and feminism, gender, race, crime and punishment and love and sexuality. May be repeated when topic changes. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

326.

Shakespeare – In-depth study of the poetry and plays of William Shakespeare. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

329.

Literary Movements – Study of literary movements that cross boundaries in British, American, and world literature. May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

335.

Introduction to Media and Visual Studies – Study of the rhetorical significance of visual and mass media in past and present society. Topics include consumer culture, advertising and propaganda, art and film, and electronic information technologies. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

336.

Literary Genres – Study of genres that cross boundaries in British, American, and world literature. May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

337.

Contemporary Literature – British, American, world literature after 1960. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

342.

History of the English Language – Broad survey of the history of the English language, beginning with English’s proto-Germanic roots and ending with an examination of post-colonial Englishes, focusing on structural, literary, and socio-political aspects of English. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

343.

Modern Drama – American, British, and continental. Prerequisite: Nine semester hours of English.

344.

Structures of English – Descriptive study of the structures of the English language, focusing on phonological, morphological, and syntactic structures as well as an examination of contemporary usage issues. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

346.

Film Topics: Genre and Auteur – Inensive study of developments in film categorization, classification and interpretation. Studies of genres such as the western, screwball comedy, film noir, musicals, horror, thrillers. Individual directors studied may include Hitchcock, Welles, Hawks, Ford, Sayles, Lee, Spielberg, Kubrick, Coen, Chaplin, Keaton, Cukor and Sirk. May be repeated when topic changes. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

348.

Travel and Literature – Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

349.

Gender and Literature – Introduction to gender as a critical tool for literary study. Topics will vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

350.

Children’s Literature – Study of the major genres of children’s literature. Focus on primary texts from each genre. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

356.

Young Adult Literature – Study of the major genres of literature published for a young adult audience. Focus on primary texts from each genre. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

365.

Adaptation: Literature and Film – Investigation of many of the current theories of adaptation. Students will learn the terminology necessary to discuss film and literature, will analyze literary and filmic texts and will grapple with several current strands of sophisticated (and sometimes difficult) film and narrative theory. May be repeated when topic changes. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

370.

Ethnic Studies – Introduction to the theory, topics, and methodology of ethnic studies. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

372.

Latin American Literature – Introduction to a particular region, national literature, period, or movement in Latin American literature. Topics may vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

374.

African-American Literature – Study of writers, movements, genres in African-American literature. May be repeated up to nine hours. May be taught as a survey. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of literature.

376.

The Harlem Renaissance – Study of major authors of the harlem renaissance period. Genres of literature will include poetry, short story, narrative, letter, play and novel.

377.

African-American Literature of the Civil Rights Era – Close reading and intensive study of works by civil rights authors and activists. Readings include, but are not limited to, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Huey Newton, George Jackson, Angela Davis, Eldridge Cleaver and Elaine Brown.

378.

African-American Cinema – Analysis of visual representations of African-Americans. Study of connections between textual representations of black faces in early, modern and post-modern fiction. Course traces the development of black cinema as a separate entity in the early 20th century.

379.

Literature of Africa – Intensive study of oral and written literature in the African diaspora. Sections will focus on such African literary traditions as storytelling done by Griots.

381.

Writing About Literature – Introduction to literary criticism, theory, and research for English majors and minors; close reading and scholarly written analysis of selected literary texts. Prerequisite: six semester hours of freshman English.

382.

Reasoning and Writing – Construction of argumentative critical analysis based on instructor- and student-selected topics. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

386.

Literary Theory – Introduction to theoretical study of literature. Overview of theories from antiquity to the present. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

390.

Special Topics in Literature – Various topics, such as humor and satire, mystery and imagination, science fiction, politics and literature. May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

396.

Independent Study – May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite: nine semester hours of English.

405.

Topics in Comparative World Literature – Advanced study of writers, periods, movements, genres, themes in world literature. Covers both Western and non-Western literature depending upon the topic. Prerequisite: 12 semester hours of English.

411.

Teaching English as a Second Language – Survey of pedagogical, language learning, and language development theories relevant to the teaching of English as a second language. Application of theories for particular language learning groups.

412.

Topics in British Literature – Advanced study of periods in British literature, such as the Middle Ages, Renaissance, 18th-Century, Romanticism, Victorian, or late 19th-century movements. May be repeated when topic changes. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English.

421.

Topics in American Literature – Advanced study of periods of American literature, such as Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, 20th-century movements. May be repeated when topic changes. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English.

423.

Topics in American Southwestern Literature – Advanced study of literature of the southwestern United States. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English.

424.

Advanced Topics: Word Cinema – Investigations of nation and identity in film approached in their specific cultural, historical and theoretical terms. Study of international film movements, individual directors and/or comparison between national cinemas. May be repeated when topic changes. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

425.

Topics in Shakespeare – Advanced study of aspects of Shakespeare’s poetry and drama. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English.

436.

Topics in Contemporary Literature – Advanced study of literature post-WWII, including British, American, Western, and non-Western world literatures. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English.

441.

Linguistic Theory – Introduction to current linguistic theory and some of its practical applications. Examination of the basic structures of language - phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic - as well as exploring select issues of sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, language classification, and language acquisition. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English.

442.

Topics in Linguistics – Advanced studies in linguistics. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English or English 344 or 441.

443.

Introduction to Literacy Studies – Study of textuality and the processes of language and literacy development for students who are planning to teach English. Prerequisite: English 344 or English 441 or permission of instructor.

444.

English in Secondary School – Theory and practice of language arts pedagogy in grades 8-12. Required for students planning to take English Language Arts and Reading 8-12 TExES (Texas Examination of Educator Standards). Prerequisite: English 335 and 443 or permission of instructor.

446.

Advanced Topics in Film Theory – Concentration on film theory either as general overview or focus on certain aspects, such as auteur, genre, realism/formalism, postmodernist, Marxist, feminist, spectatorship, etc. Prerequisites: Six hours of 300-level film courses or consent of instructor.

448.

Advanced Topics in Gender Studies – Study of literature with focus on issues relating to gender. May be repeated when topic changes. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English.

470.

Advanced Topics in Ethnic Studies – Prerequisite: 12 semester hours of English.

472.

Advanced Topics in African-American Literature – In-depth study of one or more authors or movements. Prerequisite: 12 semester hours of English.

473.

Advanced Technical Writing – Study of advanced principles of document design, collaborative writing environments, and editing skills. Focus on the production of documents typically created by technical/professional writers in industry and government. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English.

481.

Advanced Composition – Advanced study of rhetoric, composition, and editing. Prerequisite: 12 semester hours of English.

486.

Advanced Critical Theory – In-depth study of various approaches to the theoretical and critical study of literature. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English.

490.

Senior Seminar – Capstone course designed for majors and minors in their final year. Topics will vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: 12 semester hours of English and senior standing.

495.

Independent Study – Individual instruction, conference, research for advanced students. May be repeated up to six hours. Prerequisite 12 semester hours of English and consent of department.

Courses in Greek (GRK)

131.   

Elementary Greek I – Introductory study of the language of ancient Greece providing a firm grounding in grammar, syntax and vocabulary.

132.

Elementary Greek II – Continued introductory study of the language of ancient Greece providing a firm grounding in grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Prerequisite: GRK 131 or permission of the instructor.

231.

Intermediate Classical Greek I – Emphasis on acquiring a more sophisticated understanding of classical Greek grammar and style as well as a broader Greek vocabulary. Prerequisite: GRK 132 or permission of the instructor.

232.

Intermediate Classical Greek II – Continued emphasis on acquiring a more sophisticated understanding of classical Greek grammar and style as well as a broader Greek vocabulary; translation of selections from Greek texts. Prerequisite: GRK 231 or permission of instructor.

495.

Independent Study in Classical Greek – Advanced study of a text in classical Greek; emphasis on developing and improving translation skills. May be repeated for up to six hours. Prerequisite: GRK 232 or permission of the instructor.

Courses in Latin (LAT)

131.   

Elementary Latin I (LATI 1311) – Introduction to the grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of classical Latin, with attention to historical, cultural, and literary background.

132.

Elementary Latin II (LATI 1312) – Further development of Latin morphology, syntax, and vocabulary; reading of selected texts. Prerequisite: LAT 131 or permission of the instructor.

231.

Intermediate Latin I (LATI 2311) – Review and expansion of the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax learned in Latin 131 and 132, with an increased emphasis on translating Latin passages. Prerequisites: LAT 131 and 132 or permission of the instructor.

232.

Intermediate Latin II (LATI 2312) – A continuation of Latin 231. Prerequisites: LAT 131, 132, and 231, or permission of instructor.

495.

Independent Study: Latin – Reading and discussion of excerpts from the works of a classical author of the instructor’s choice; if the work chosen is poetry, scansion of Latin verse. Prerequisites: LAT 131, 132, 231, and 232, or permission of instructor.

Courses in Philosophy (PHI)

153.   

Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 1301) – In addition to a concern with the goals, nature and methods of philosophy, focus on issues concerning philosophical theories of knowledge and reality, drawing on ideas from a variety of disciplines. Possible topics: the nature of philosophy, the problem of skepticism and knowledge, mind and personal identity, and the nature and existence of God. Emphasis on the nature of philosophy and its relation to education, logic and critical thinking.

163.

Introduction to Logic (PHIL 2303) – Introductory course in logic with strong emphasis on critical thinking. Examination of the goals, nature and methods of philosophy, critical thinking and logic, as well as the nature of reason and the use of rational techniques. An overall focus on identifying and evaluating reasoning along with examining how reasoning can go wrong.

223.

Introduction to Ethics (PHIL 2306) – Focus on moral theories and issues, drawing on ideas from a variety of disciplines. Emphasis on moral reasoning and moral theories.

310.

Classical Philosophy – Development of Western philosphy from pre-philosophical mythology through the collapse of classical antiquity.

311.

Modern Philosophy – Development of Western philosophy from the Renaissance period through the 19th century.

320.

Philosophy of Love and Sex – Explores the philosophical foundations of our attitudes toward love, sex and related issues over a range of historical periods and through a range of theoretical perspectives.

333.

Philosophy in Science Fiction – Focus on philosophical ideas as explored in science fiction short stories, TV shows and movies.

350.

Medical Ethics – Application of ethical theories and moral principles to issues associated with medicine and health care.

360.

Philosophy of Religion – Analysis of the general philosophical problems that arise in connection with religion and religious beliefs. Topics may include the nature and existence of God, the problem of evil, mysticism and the meaning and validation of religious utterances.

390.

Special Topics in Philosophy – An upper-level course with a strong emphasis on critical thinking and writing. Addresses topics such as religion and the nature and existence of God; the philosophical underpinning and diverse expressions of human sexuality; philosophers such as Plato, Augustine, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard; and issues such as sadism/masochism, pornography, homosexuality; philosophy of the environment, the philosophy of biology, philosophy and animal rights, etc. May be re-taken when the topic changes.

400.

Philosophical Issues in World Religions – Surveys of the philosophical and theological foundations of the beliefs and practices of the major world religions.

410.

Philosophy of Science – Philosophical problems and issues concerning the methodologies of the natural sciences. Prerequisite: PHI 153 or permission of the instructor.

475.

Independent Study: Philosophy – Individual instruction, conference, research for advanced students. Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair.

490.

Advanced Studies in Philosophy – A course in the advanced study of periods, movements and philosophers from classical times to the present, such as classical philosophy of Greece and Rome, Medieval philosophy, 17th Century Rationalism, 18th Century Empiricism, 19th Century German Idealism, and 20th Century American Pragmatism.

Courses in Creative Writing

261.   

Introduction to Creative Writing – An introduction to the writing of poetry, fiction and non-fiction with opportunities for practice and peer workshop.

359.

Intermediate Poetry Workshop – Readings and discussions demonstrating the basic structural and technical elements of poetry with opportunities for practice and peer workshop. Prerequisite: ENG 261 or consent of instructor.

361.

Intermediate Fiction Workshop – Readings and discussion demonstrating the basic structural and technical elements of fiction with opportunities for practice and peer workshop. Prerequisite: ENG 261 or consent of instructor.

362.

Intermediate Non-fiction Workshop – Readings and discussion demonstrating the basic structural and technical elements of creative non-fiction with opportunities for practice and peer workshop. Prerequisite: ENG 261 or consent of instructor.

459.

Advanced Poetry Workshop – Classroom analysis and discussion of student writing. Prerequisites: Twelve hours of English including ENG 261 and ENG 359 or graduate standing or consent of instructor. May be repeated for up to six hours.

461.

Advanced Fiction Workshop – Classroom analysis and discussion of student writing. Prerequisite: Twelve semester hours of English, including ENG 261 and 361 or graduate standing or consent of instructor. May be repeated for up to six hours.

462.

Advanced Non-Fiction Workshop – Classroom a nalysis and discussion of student writing. Prerequisites: Twelve hours of English including ENG 261 and 362 or graduate standing or consent of instructor. May be repeated for up to six hours.

463.

Elements of Craft – Analysis of selected examples (either prose or poetry) with emphasis on technical, generic and aesthetic features. Prerequisites: Twelve hours of English including ENG 261, 359, 361, 362. May be repeated with change of topic.

467.

Senior Thesis – First semester of a two semester progression of senior thesis culminating in a well-crafted book-length creation of either poetry or prose. Prerequisite: 15 credits of creative writing, including ENG 459, ENG 461 or ENG 462, plus consent of faculty adviser.

468.

Senior Thesis II – Second semester of a two semester progression of senior thesis culminating in a well-crafted book-length creation of either poetry or prose. Prerequisite: 15 credits of creative writing, including ENG 459, ENG 461 or ENG 462, plus consent of faculty adviser.

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