Department of English

ENG 500. The Discipline of English Studies. 3 Credits.

An introduction to key analytical/paradigmatic concepts shared across the discipline and to the academic skills/methods appropriate to graduate level study in English.
Typically offered in Fall.

ENG 501. Critical Theory. 3 Credits.

Study of various methods of theoretical analysis and critique associated with the discipline of literary, cultural, and rhetorical analysis and the application of these methods to specific literary and cultural texts.
Typically offered in Spring.

ENG 503. Manuscript, Print, and Digital Cultures. 3 Credits.

This course studies the history of the creation, production, distribution, circulation, and reception of the written word. As it traces how authorship, reading, publishing, and the physical properties of texts have altered over time, the course examines, both historically and analytically, the intellectual, social, and cultural impact of changing communications technologies against the backdrop of our current digital age. This historical perspective uniquely equips students with the skills and knowledge to navigate effectively the transformations affecting the publishing and related media industries.
Distance education offering may be available.

ENG 504. Methods & Materials of Publishing. 3 Credits.

This course is designed both to familiarize publishing certificate and graduate students with the components of contemporary publishing and to afford them the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in proofreading and copyediting.
Distance education offering may be available.
Typically offered in Spring & Summer.

ENG 506. Critical Pedagogies & Literacies. 3 Credits.

This course introduces student to two complementary bodies of literature: critical literacy and critical pedagogy. Students will analyze the educational system's role in maintaining or challenging diverse values, policies, and interests. To do so, students will ask questions about what we teach, how we teach, who we teach, and who we are as teachers: questions designed to frame the educational system socially, politically and institutionally.
Typically offered in Spring.

ENG 508. Writing Seminar. 3 Credits.

Experience in nonfiction prose writing; discussion and development of major projects.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 509. Writing Seminar in the Novel I. 3 Credits.

A course in the writing and preparing of book-length manuscripts (novels, novellas, and 'nonfictional' novels) with the intention of submission for publication. Also includes coverage of fictional aspects and techniques used in writing memoirs, biography, and current history.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 515. Technical, Scientific, and Medical Editing. 3 Credits.

This online graduate course will provide an introduction to the rhetorical principles and practices of editing in technical, scientific, and medical contexts. Though you may not yourself become a professional or technical editor, you will most likely be asked to edit and provide actionable feedback on the writing of others. In this course, we will study what technical, scientific, and medical editing is, how the terrain of editing is shifting today, what roles editors play in various kinds of organizations, and the diverse processes used to get the work of editing done.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.
Distance education offering may be available.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

ENG 516. Publishing and Media Internship. 3 Credits.

This internship is designed to provide onsite, supervised experience in publishing or media work specific to the student's focus of study (e.g., editorial, marketing, production). In conjunction with the internship, students will complete a capstone project in which they produce a paper analyzing how the internship has contributed to their professional development and a portfolio documenting the work completed . The portfolio is intended to demonstrate professional skills and competencies You must meet with the Certificate Program Director the semester previous to taking this course to select desired placements, apply for internships, and complete the internship agreement form.
Pre / Co requisites: ENG 516 requires prerequisites of ENG 503 and an additional 12 credits of certificate track electives.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

ENG 518. Medieval English Literature. 3 Credits.

This course is a variable-topics offering. It may study a particular period in the Middle Ages, a particular genre, or a particular theme. Readings in Old and/or Middle English, along with needed translations, will be assigned as well as critical readings and research assignments.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

ENG 522. English Drama To 1642. 3 Credits.

A survey of English drama (exclusive of Shakespeare) from its medieval beginnings to the closing of the theatres in 1642.

ENG 525. Shakespeare. 3 Credits.

This course introduces students to Shakespeare's plays and poetry, the conventions of early modern drama, and the history of Shakespearean performance and criticism. Attention to the original theatrical and literary conditions under which Shakespeare worked will include a survey of early modern culture and the contexts relevant to the current study of the plays. A full range of genres will be covered, and students will have the opportunity to read, analyze, and compare texts across the Shakespearean canon and reflect on the enduring legacy of the works.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

ENG 526. Shakespeare's Comedies & Poems. 3 Credits.

The comedies analyzed. The poems read in relation to Shakespeare's developing dramatic and poetic power.

ENG 530. British Literature and Culture of the Long Eighteenth Century. 3 Credits.

Covering the period from the Restoration through the beginnings of Romanticism, this course is a variable-topics offering. It may examine a particular genre such as the novel, drama, non-fiction prose, or poetry; study generic development overall; or be organized on a theme, such as crime and punishment, order and disorder, material culture, liberty and property, gender and sexuality, fame and fortune, transatlantic exchange, media transformations, or city vs. country. Research, criticism, and work with primary texts will be assigned.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

ENG 535. Culture & Society In The 19th Century. 3 Credits.

A study of Victorian literature against its social and intellectual background.

ENG 544. Seminar In English Literature. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.
Distance education offering may be available.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 548. Early American Literature. 3 Credits.

Studies in early American literature and culture. For example, 'contact zones', spiritual narratives, belle-lettrism, the revolutionary public sphere.

ENG 549. 19th Century American Literature. 3 Credits.

An investigation of 19th-century literature and its cultural context. For example, Romantic writers and reform movements, realism and reconstruction.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

ENG 550. History, Form, & Ideology. 3 Credits.

Study of critical approaches to literary texts that focus on the relationship between literary form and society and the involvement of representation in shaping subjectivity.

ENG 552. 20th Century Native American Literature. 3 Credits.

This course investigates the Native American novel and the struggle of Native Americans for self representation.

ENG 558. 20th Century American Writers. 3 Credits.

One or more major prose writers and literary movements from 1900 to the present.

ENG 560. Locating Literature. 3 Credits.

Study of critical approaches to literary texts that focus on the historical construction of literary value, canonicity, and norms of reading, including the idea of national literature and cross-cultural approaches to literature (postcolonial, transnational, multiethnic).

ENG 562. Modern Afro-American Literature. 3 Credits.

An intensive study in themes and trends in modern African-American literature.

ENG 564. Seminar In American Literature. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.
Distance education offering may be available.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 566. Comparative Literature: The Greek Myths. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.

ENG 569. Teaching English Language Learners (ELLs) PK-12. 3 Credits.

Graduate-level study of issues and the application of techniques, strategies, materials for meeting the needs of English Language learners (ELLs) in inclusive classrooms. Emphases include: sociocultural issues in educational contexts, TESOL through the content areas, linguistics, second language acquisition, the integration applications of the PA English Language Proficiency Standards PK-12 (ELPs) and current trends in second language teaching, learning and assessment. Includes a field component.
Distance education offering may be available.

ENG 570. Feminist Film. 3 Credits.

This course covers the diverse genres of feminist film, exposes students to feminist film theory, and enables students to interpret feminist aesthetic practice.

ENG 571. Colonialism and the 20th Century Novel. 3 Credits.

An examination of the relationship of the colonialist theme and modernist techniques in the novel.

ENG 578. Modern English. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.

ENG 579. History & Dialects Of American English. 3 Credits.

Historical processes in the development of American and British English. Regional and social dialects of American English. Usage and sociolinguistics.

ENG 580. English Language Workshop. 1-4 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 583. Second Language Acquisition. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.

ENG 588. ESL Practicum II. 1-3 Credits.

This course is designed for graduate students and ESL professionals who desire additional practical experience in ESL contexts. Special topics covered include some of the following: program design, teacher development and supervision, and materials writing.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 590. Independent Study. 1-3 Credits.

Research projects, reports, and specialized readings.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 591. Modern Techniques For The Teaching Of English. 3 Credits.

Techniques of teaching language arts, composition, and literature in the secondary school. Practice in planning and designing units and courses of study. Exploration into the latest research in teaching English.

ENG 592. Literature For The Elementary School. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.

ENG 593. Young Adult Literature. 3 Credits.

A critical examination of the Young Adult genre including current theoretical research in YA literature and the application of this research for teaching, writing, and literary analysis.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

ENG 594. Directed Studies In Composition & Rhetor. 3 Credits.

Offers students systematic guidance and instruction in a specially formulated project involving scholarly or empirical research in composition.

ENG 595. Teaching Composition. 3 Credits.

A survey of developments and research in composition. Focus on the writing process, grading and evaluation, case approaches to writing assignments, writing across the curriculum, and remedial and developmental writing.

ENG 596. Composition & Rhetoric. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.

ENG 600. Tutoring Composition. 3 Credits.

Theory and practice of teaching basic writing in the tutoring environment.

ENG 601. Creative Writing Seminar. 3 Credits.

A specialized writing seminar. Topics announced when offered. Longer prose works, short story, fantasy/ science fiction, narrative verse, lyric/meditative verse, etc. A portfolio is required at the end of the course.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 602. Creative Writing: Directed Studies. 3 Credits.

A course of individual study for students who have completed two workshops in a single genre. Concentrated work in a special poetry or prose topic.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 605. Poetry Workshop I. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 606. Poetry Workshop II. 3 Credits.

Extended work in poetic forms with additional emphasis on contemporary poetry in translation. A critical paper on contemporary poetry and poetics and a completed portfolio are required.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 608. Short Story Workshop I. 3 Credits.

Techniques of composing the short story with emphasis on its elements of form: point of view, diction, characterization, and dialogue. Readings in traditional and contemporary criticism and short stories. Completed portfolio of revised works is required.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 609. Short Story Workshop II. 3 Credits.

Extended work in the short story form with opportunities for exploring more experimental forms of short fiction. Additional readings in short fiction and criticism. A critical paper on a contemporary short story writer is required.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 614. Capstone Writing and Research Seminar. 3 Credits.

This course creates a space where graduate students form a community of writers to work on their capstone projects as they heighten their rhetorical awareness and explore writing in the myriad areas that comprise English Studies and the profession.
Pre / Co requisites: ENG 614 requires prerequisites of ENG 500 and ENG 501.
Typically offered in Fall.

ENG 615. Special Topics. 3 Credits.

Variable topics, usually interdisciplinary, incorporating issues related to publishing, media studies, literary fields, genres, historical periods, and theoretical approaches.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.
Distance education offering may be available.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 616. Research Methods for Writing, Teaching and Criticism. 3 Credits.

Research class in which students design independent research projects derived from their prior interests, expertise, and coursework in areas of writing, teaching, and criticism. Class includes instruction in research methodologies and collaborative critiquing and workshopping.
Typically offered in Spring.

ENG 617. Writing Diverse Discourses-Classroom. 3 Credits.

This course will take up theories and practices of cultural diversities in written classroom discourses. Reading assignments cover theories of representation and examples of classroom pedagogies and research, all of which offer various ways to think about diversity in the classroom and the rich, varied discourses that develop from it. Individual research and writing projects will utilize ethnographic and teacher research methods to look at issues of diversity in the written discourses of the classrooms in which we participate as either teachers or students. Other writing assignments will include memoir and journal writing.

ENG 619. Cultural Studies: Pedagogy & Politics. 3 Credits.

Cultural studies asks us to carefully consider the relationships among people interpreting texts, people producing texts and the cultural contexts in which we find text. This course will introduce students to cultural studies as a framework for the critical interpretation of cultural texts, as a philosophical basis for teaching, and as an object of study in its own right.

ENG 620. M.A. Essay. 3 Credits.

Required final extended paper (about 40 pages) written under the direction of an adviser. Further details available in the Graduate English Studies Handbook. Oral defense required.
Repeatable for Credit.

ENG 622. The Rhetorics of Masculinities and Men's Studies. 3 Credits.

This course introduces students to the literature, both theoretical and popular, that examines how males are represented in and socialized by contemporary language and culture. Students read, discuss, and write about a variety of written and visual texts concerning men's experiences and masculine identities, as they relate to both men and women.

ENG 626. Rhetoric, Culture, Identity. 3 Credits.

This course offers varying topics through which to explore the rhetorics and ideologies of race, gender, sexuality, and class. Participants will analyze representations of and by members of disenfranchised groups in historical, literary, critical, and cultural texts, and with particular attentions to the discursive nature and social bases of representations within and in response to structures of power. Course titles may include, for example, "Reading/Writing Asian American Women"; "African American Rhetorics".
Typically offered in Fall.

PWP 502. Teacher as Writer. 3 Credits.

The best teachers of writing are teachers who write. This course is designed for teachers and future teachers who would like to grow as writers. This course is for teachers K-16+ in any content area. It consists of ongoing participation in a reading/writing workshop where participants experience and experiment with writing in the major modes (expository, narrative, persuasive/argument), poetry, and the many forms those modes take in the world outside the classroom. This course is designed to enable teachers to understand writing from the inside out, feel confident about sharing skills with their students, and feel comfortable facing any blank page.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

PWP 503. Strategies for Teaching Writing. 3 Credits.

Using The Six Traits of Writing Framework, participants will learn fresh, practical strategies for teaching writing. They will explore their own writing style and share strategies for writing instruction with peers. In this course participants will experience community building, pre-writing techniques, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing activities and will also work with a response group to polish writing and to take on the role of teacher as writer.
Typically offered in Summer.

PWP 508. Digital Literacies. 3 Credits.

This course provides hands-on technology instruction, including digital video production, web-based technology, and podcasting. These technologies will focus on current and future teachers of English or anyone interested in using technology in an educational setting.
Typically offered in Summer.

PWP 510. Content Area Literacies. 3 Credits.

Rationale and strategies for critical language experiences in all subjects. This course is designed to help the prospective secondary school teacher use effective techniques to improve students' reading and writing, both generally and in specific content areas.
Typically offered in Fall.

PWP 511. Writing Assessment. 3 Credits.

The purpose of this course is to explore large- and small-scale writing assessment strategies, both summative and formative. Topics covered include the 6 Traits Writing Guide, the PA Writing Domains, Common Core Writing requirements, holistic assessment, portfolio assessment, responding to writing, and developing writing assessment systems. Participants will also explore types, purposes, audiences, and advantages of portfolio assessment. As part of the course, teachers will experience keeping their own portfolios and design systems for their classrooms as they examine the best practices and rationales for this assessment tool.
Typically offered in Fall & Summer.

PWP 514. Grammar Matters. 3 Credits.

This course will help participants become more comfortable and confident in grammar instruction. They will have the opportunity to design lessons that embed the teaching of grammar into the writing process. They will learn where to find answers to the more obscure questions about the rules of the English language as well as create and contribute to an online reference library of rules.
Typically offered in Summer.

PWP 516. Reading and Writing Argumentative Texts. 3 Credits.

Participants will study methods for teaching students how to read and critically interpret nonfiction texts in order to better write and support their own claims. They will also experiment with strategies that encourage deeper thinking and reasoning about topics through the lens of the National Writing Project's College, Career, and Community Writing Program (C3WP).
Typically offered in Summer.

PWP 520. Finding Writing Mentors: Grades K-5. 3 Credits.

Welcome to the world of picture books - hundreds of texts in one room for students to examine and enjoy. The course facilitators share their love of children's literature and passion for writing in a relaxed, highly motivating setting. Learn how to connect story elements and literary devices to specific activities, use scaffolds to develop students' writing, and create strategic mini-lessons that link rich literature to the teaching of writing. Expand your knowledge of mentor texts for models of exemplary writing and reader-response activities designed for various purposes, audiences, and genres. Learn how to select and evaluate culturally authentic mentor texts that reflect a variety of experiences and voices.
Typically offered in Summer.

PWP 521. Finding Writing Mentors: Grades 6-12. 3 Credits.

The course facilitators share their love of middle grade and young adult literature and passion for writing in a relaxed, highly motivating setting. Learn how to connect story elements and literary devices to specific activities, use scaffolds to develop students' writing, and create strategic mini-lessons that link rich literature to the teaching of writing. Expand your knowledge of mentor texts for models of exemplary writing and reader-response activities designed for various purposes, audiences, and genres.
Typically offered in Summer.

PWP 597. Invitational Writing Institute. 6 Credits.

The signature experience of the National Writing Project where an interdisciplinary cohort become National Writing Project Teacher Leaders. A critical space for reflection, where we utilize the 'teachers teaching teachers' model that is a core component of NWP. Participants learn best practices from experts in the field including guest speakers, active Teacher Leaders, and most importantly, each other. Participants immerse themselves in the art and craft of writing, while also embracing a writer's identity themselves. This experience helps teachers develop advanced skills in the teaching of writing and develop relationships with other writing teachers who seek to improve their practice.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.
Typically offered in Summer.
Repeatable for Credit.

PWP 599. Special Topics in Teaching. 3 Credits.

Topic varies. Each workshop will focus on specific issues and problems in the teaching of writing or literature and will introduce appropriate instructional materials and techniques.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.
Repeatable for Credit.