Mission Statement
The English Department’s mission is to offer the gifts of reading, writing, critical thinking, and interpretative analysis, context and imaginative awareness, and appreciation and value via literature, language, and writing. In practical terms, the Department provides an associate degree, as well as a major and minor in English, contributes substantively to the General Education core curriculum, and prepares students for a variety of important careers. This major presents students with both the critical experience necessary to appreciate and understand literature from a wide variety of times, places, and genres and the frequent opportunity to develop critical, creative, and professional writing abilities, including the use of electronic media.
Learning Outcomes
The successful student will:
- Demonstrate rhetorical knowledge – the ability to analyze and act on understandings of audiences, purposes, and contexts in creating and comprehending texts.
- Apply critical thinking – the ability to analyze a situation or text and make thoughtful decisions based on that analysis through writing, reading, and research.
- Demonstrate writing processes – multiple strategies to approach and undertake writing and research.
- Exhibit knowledge of conventions – the formal and informal guidelines that define what is considered to be correct and appropriate, or incorrect and inappropriate, in a piece of writing.
- Demonstrate abilities to compose in multiple environments – from using traditional pen and paper to electronic technologies.
Facilities
The English Department is located in Robert S. Wood Hall, which opened in September, 1989. Most English classes are taught in Wood Hall, which contains an auditorium, several general classrooms, seminar rooms, smart classrooms, and the Instructional Design and Media Center, which assists English faculty with online learning and additional technology. The offices of senior and adjunct English faculty members are on the second floor. The Jenkins Center for Student Success, located in the James A. Rhodes Student Center, directly supports English courses with an open computer lab, test- and note-taking skills, English tutoring, reading and learning strategies, time-management instruction, enhancement of writing skills, and accessibility support. The Jeanette Albiez Davis Library is essential to English research via the Library’s books, microforms, audiovisual materials, periodicals, government documents, online research databases, OhioLINK, and a traditional interlibrary-loan service. Campus Computing and Networking provides general and technical information and services to support English faculty and students.
Admission Requirements and Procedures
The University of Rio Grande has a policy of open admissions. All students who enjoy reading and/or writing or who plan a career in which these things would be helpful are extended a special welcome to take English courses and perhaps major or minor in English or earn an associate degree. New students at the University submit a writing sample to determine placement in the first English course. Without placement testing in writing, students are required to enroll in ENG 10503 ALP Integrated Developmental Reading and Writing.
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts – Major in English (14401)
The major in English is designed primarily for students who are interested in, or enjoy, writing, reading, language, and literature. This major develops analytical reading and writing skills and practice, which are useful in a variety of careers since many professions often require grammatical accuracy, writing expertise, and critical-analysis skills. The logical thinking and clear and exact communication developed through intensive study of literature in English and writing are typically required for many positions, such as personnel relations, sales, marketing, advertising, human resources, and social work. The English major is useful for jobs in teaching, publishing, advertising, public relations, law, ministry, banking, industrial organization, and retail, as well as being an excellent foundation for graduate work in several fields.
General Education must include:
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENG 24103 (TM) The Literary Imagination | 3 |
| (English majors should take this course within the first three semesters) | |
| Total General Education hours | 40 |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Major Area required courses | |
| ENG 24803 Comparative World Literature | 3 |
| ENG 25103 American Literature to the Civil War | 3 |
| ENG 25203 American Literature since the Civil War | 3 |
| ENG 26103 British Literature to the Romantic Era | 3 |
| ENG 26203 British Literature since the Romantic Era | 3 |
| ENG 33403 The English Language | 3 |
| ENG 37103 Literature and Media | 3 |
| ENG 44303 Genre Studies | 3 |
| ENG 44603 Literary Periods | 3 |
| ENG 36403 Shakespeare: From Script to Stage to Screen | 3 |
| ENG 38803 Selected Topics in English | 3 |
| ENG 45103 Major Authors | 3 |
| ENG 49003 Literature and Writing Seminar | 3 |
| Select one from the following two courses: | |
| ENG 22103 Creative Writing or ENG 38103 Professional Writing | 3 |
| Total major area hours | 42 |
| Selected minor and personal electives | 38 |
| Total required hours for degree | 120 |
Bachelor of Arts or Science – Minor in English (1430)
The minor in English is designed for students who are interested in, or enjoy, writing, reading, language, and literature, but do not wish to take a major in English. This minor develops analytical reading and writing skills and practice, which are useful in a variety of careers since most professions require grammatical accuracy, writing expertise, and critical-analysis skills. The logical thinking and clear and exact communication developed through the study of literature in English and writing are typically required for many positions, such as personnel relations, sales, marketing, advertising, human resources, and social work. The English minor is useful for jobs in teaching, publishing, advertising, public relations, law, ministry, banking, industrial organization, and retail, as well as being an excellent foundation for graduate work in several fields.
General Education must include:
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENG 24103 (TM) The Literary Imagination | 3 |
| Total General Education hours | 39-40 |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Minor Area required courses | |
| ENG 24803 Comparative World Literature | 3 |
| Select one from the following two courses: | |
| ENG 25103 American Literature to the Civil War or ENG 25203 American Literature since the Civil War | 3 |
| Select one from the following two courses: | |
| ENG 26103 British Literature to the Romantic Era or ENG 26203 British Literature since the Romantic Era | 3 |
| Select one from the following three courses: | |
| ENG 37103 Literature and Media or ENG 38803 Selected Topics in English or ENG 44603 Literary Periods | 3 |
| Select one from the following three courses: | |
| ENG 36403 Shakespeare: From Script to Stage to Screen or ENG 44303 Genre Studies or ENG 45103 Major Authors | 3 |
| Select one from the following two courses: | |
| ENG 22103 Creative Writing or ENG 38103 Professional Writing | 3 |
| ENG 49003 Literature and Writing Seminar | 3 |
| Total minor hours | 21 |
Associate of Arts – English (1420)
The Associate Degree in English is designed for students who are interested in, or enjoy, writing, reading, language, and literature. This degree develops analytical reading and writing skills and practice, which are useful in a variety of careers since most professions require grammatical accuracy, writing expertise, and critical-analysis skills. The logical thinking and clear and exact communication developed through the study of literature in English and writing are typically required for many positions, such as personnel relations, sales, marketing, advertising, human resources, and social work. The Associate Degree is useful for jobs in teaching, publishing, advertising, public relations, law, ministry, banking, industrial organization, and retail, as well as being an excellent foundation for bachelor degrees in several fields.
General Education must include:
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENG 24103 (TM) The Literary Imagination | 3 |
| Total General Education hours | 39-40 |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Major Area required courses | |
| Select two from the following four courses: | |
| ENG 22103 Creative Writing or ENG 27503 Introduction to Film or ENG 36403 Shakespeare: From Script to Stage to Screen | 3 |
| ENG 38803 Selected Topics in English | 6 |
| Select four from the following five courses: | |
| ENG 24803 Comparative World Literature or ENG 25103 American Literature to the Civil War or ENG 25203 American Literature since the Civil War or ENG 26103 British Literature to the Romantic Era or ENG 26203 British Literature since the Romantic Era | 12 |
| Total major area Hours | 18 |
| Personal Electives | 3-4 |
| Total required hours for degree | 60-62 |