ENGLISH CORE

Take the following courses:

EN-120 Forms of Literature

An introduction to the study of literary forms, including poetry, drama, short story, novel, novella, and essay. Students will read texts from a wide variety of genres and historical periods, to examine how litereay forms developed and gain/lost popularity over time. Students will learn the vocabulary and technique of literary analysis.

3 CreditsH 

EN-122 Interpreting Pop Literature

Utilizing Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, World War Z, and other popular works of fiction for class, this introductory course will engage students in the fundamental terms and approaches needed to analyze, appreciate and discuss works of fiction at the college level. Students will study introductory elements of literary theory, emphasizing using various social and theoretical perspectives, as a means of learning how to identify cultural and literary meaning within texts.

4 CreditsH 

EN-170 World Literatures

Studies works of African, Asian, Latin American, South American,Caribbean and Native American literature. Discussions focus on ways literature reveals cultural perspectives and philosophies.

3 CreditsH, I 

EN-200 History of the Language

Like other languages, English is not monolithic, and it is always on the move. This course examines how English functions now, both in its Standard form and in many of its varieties around the world; how its sounds and structures have changed from its Proto-Indo-European beginnings; and what major factors have influenced those changes.

3 CreditsH, IPrerequisites: FYC101, EN110, or EN109.

EN-204 English Colloquium

The English Colloquium prepares students for academic expectations in the English department and introduces them to professional opportunities within the discipline. This colloquium is intended for students with English, Secondary Education/English or Professional Writing POEs, individualized POEs with foundation in literature or writing, or students with secondary emphases in English.

1 CreditHPre-requisites: sophomore standing, one EN course beyond EN110, or instructor's permission.

EN-341 Shakespearean Drama

Examines historical moments, cultural perspectives, and theatrical constructs that shaped the writing, acting, and reception of Shakespeare's comedies, tragedies, and history plays.

3 CreditsHPrerequisite: EN110 or EN109.


AMERICAN LITERATURE COURSES

Take one of the following courses:

EN-211 Pennsylvania Literature

Pennsylvania is a rich and storied landscape featuring a large rural area bookended by two historic cities, all serving as the backdrop for this course. Using literature and film, as well as articles, musical selections, and local engagement activities, this course will examine stories portraying various cultures, lifestyles, and people in Pennsylvania. This course will also consider how many of the different communities and peoples that make up the Keystone State have been represented historically and in fiction. Students will also explore some of the complex social, political, and economic contexts that have shaped the state's history as well as the lived experiences of its people.

4 CreditsH,SW-USPre-Req: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109.

EN-238 Unnatural Acts

From the Puritans to tree-huggers, America has been divided between those who see Nature as moral and liberating, and those who see society as the taming of savage, godless wilderness. This course will examine that tension in writers from Hawthorne and Melville to Faulkner.

3 CreditsH 

EN-239 Bloody Murder

The United States has always been a violent nation, and American writers have used that violence to explore questions of justice, truth, and human nature. This course will examine the portrayal of violence in writers from Poe to Cormac McCarthy.

3 CreditsH 

EN-250 African American Literature

A survey of African American literature from the mid-18th century to the present, with emphasis on both the vernacular/oral and written traditions of African American literature and attention to the historical and cultural contexts in which the literature was created. Readings include folktales, slave narratives, autobiographies, poetry, stories, novels, essays, sermons and speeches, hymns and spirituals, as well as blues and gospel music and works by such writers as Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Dubois, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Amiri Baraka, and others.

3 CreditsCA, HPrerequisites: EN110.

EN-251 Slave Narratives

The personal autobiographies of American slaves are the foundational works of the African American literary tradition, and they have influenced generations of American authors. Originally written as a means of promoting the abolition of slavery, contemporary writers have taken this historical form and transformed it to reflect upon the past and engage with problems of the present. Neo-slave narratives are a reminder that, as Faulkner writes, " The past is never dead. It's not even past. " In this course, we will read a variety of original slave narratives and put them in dialogue with contemporary fictionalized slave narratives. In doing so, we will explore topics such as the boundaries between fact and fiction, the political uses of literature, the afterlife of slavery, and many others.

4 CreditsH, CWPrerequisites: EN110 or EN109.

EN-253 Literature of the Jazz Age

Called the " Jazz Age " by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the 1920s were marked by great cultural change. In response to the trauma of the First World War, the " lost generation " broke traditional social barriers while embracing radically new forms of art. Beginning in 1920 (the year both women's suffrage and prohibition were passed as constitutional amendments) and concluding with the 1929 stock market crash that signaled the start of the Great Depression, we will examine the role of the Harlem Renaissance in inspiring and sustaining domestic and expatriate American modernism. With special emphasis on the interplay of art, music, and literature, this class will examine the literature of the Jazz Age across genre " and racial " boundaries, concluding with two contemporary works that evaluate the lasting significance of this era on American culture.

3 CreditsHPrerequisite: EN110 or EN109.


BRITISH LITERATURE COURSES

Take one of the following courses:

EN-258 Funny Pages

Everyone loves comedy--even college professors. But comedy isn't just pratfalls and punchlines. It's a distinctive literary form with its own conventions, traditions, and variety of approaches. There's wit, parody, farce, satire, black comedy, and all the things in between. In this course we'll look at some of the greatest comedy ever written (and filmed, too), all brought to you by the greatest humorists the English language has ever produced--the British.

3 CreditsH 

EN-262 Unhappily Ever After

Deaths. Betrayals. Loves lost. Falls from grace. These calamities, and those that suffer them, have captivated dramatists, novelists, philosophers, and theoreticians since the first tragedy was staged in ancient Athens over 2,500 years ago. This course will explore how literary cultures have understood and expressed notions of tragedy in different historical periods. By examining the ways in which we inflict and endure suffering, we will consider how literary tragedy informs our understanding of the human condition.

3 CreditsH 


WRITING COURSES

Take one of the following courses:

EN-247 Writing for Change

This course immerses students into the study and practice of writing that strives to bring about social change. Students will explore the argumentative tactics of writing in the service of advocacy, activism, and non-profit organizations, as well as its circulation across audiences and platforms. In addition to crafting public-facing genres like op-eds, persuasive articles, and posters, students investigate the process of grant-writing and the strategies of media campaigns. (Previously titled Writing for Social Change)

H,SW-USPrerequisite: FYC-101

EN-272 Introduction to Professional Writing

This course covers the types of writing used in the professional and business world, with attention to deciding when to use which type, or whether to use writing at all. Also concentrates on effectively addressing different audiences. The course will also cover the use of graphics, from basic concepts through effective design and adjusting to audience and situation. 

4 CreditsH, CWPrerequisite: First-year or sophomore standing. Juniors and Seniors by instructor permission.

EN-273 Visual Literacy

This course explores how visuals and text are used for purposes of identification, information, and persuasion. It looks at many visual modes such as comics, ads, maps, graffiti, film, art, scientific images, and web sites. Students have the option to create arguments using only text, only images, or a combination of both. 

4 CreditsHPrerequisite: EN110 or EN109.

EN-305 Fiction Writing

In this course, we will work to develop skills in the art of writing fiction. Students will study fiction as a craft, read and discuss fiction by major writers, critique each other's work, and write and revise extensively.

4 CreditsF,H,WK-CEPrerequisite: FYC 101

EN-306 Creative Nonfiction Writing

An experience in creating forms of nonfiction prose ranging from analytical essay to the familiar essay to satire. First-year students need the instructor's permission to enroll.

4 CreditsH, CWPrerequisite: EN110 or EN109.

EN-311 Professional News and Feature Writing

This advanced writing course introduces students to the genres and techniques of journalism. Students will write a number of news and feature stories. The writing process involves interviewing, note taking and other forms of data gathering on campus and local news events, creating multiple story drafts and participating in peer-editing workshops: work culminates in a portfolio of stories written throughout the semester. Students need not plan to become professional media writers to benefit from the course.

4 CreditsH, CWPrerequisite: EN110 or EN109.

EN-315 Technical Writing

An examination of writing for the real world: as such it concentrates equally on content and practice. The course builds around various document designs and waysto present those designs in expressions appropriate to audience and purpose. While sophomores are allowed to register they may be removed from the course if the demand by upperclassmen is high.

4 CreditsH, CWPrerequisites: EN110 or EN109 and Sophomore, Junior or Senior standing.

EN-378 Video Production Writing

Writing for Video Production is a course that combines contemporary rhetoric, creative inquiry, design thinking, media authorship, self-reflection, and social engagement. Students complete directed writing such as journal entries, scripts, storyboards, and shotlists in concert with video production, facilitating an integrated process of thinking, creating, and problem-solving. 

4 CreditsH,CW,CTDH,WK-CETake FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109

EN-379 Professional Editing

This course provides a broad understanding of editing and its role in document development, publication, and use. Students will learn to edit effectively on a range of editing tasks and documents and edit documents for a community partner project. These skills will prepare students for a variety of professional editing positions.

3 CreditsH,SW-LEPrerequisite: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109.


LITERATURE COURSES

Take two of the following courses:

EN-162 Women and Literature

Studies literature by and about women; looks at the rich history of women's literature and the variety of traditional and non- traditional approaches women have used to describe their experience, from poetry, plays, and novels to letters and diaries; explores the effect of culture on women's writing.

4 CreditsH 

EN-188 Bad Literature

Theodore Sturgeon, science fiction writer of the mid-twentieth century, famously said: " 90% of everything is crap. " He was right, too: there's a lot of crap out there. And we'll be reading some of it in this class. But-what do we mean when we say literature is " crap " ? Isn't it just a matter of taste? And if it isn't, how can we tell crap from genius? And who decides? And if 90 percent of everything is in fact crap, does the crap serve any useful function in society? All of these questions and many more, as we enter the wonderful world of bad literature.

3 CreditsH 

EN-207 Heaven or Hell on Earth

In this course we will examine the ways in which specific novels, short stories and films explore various perspectives on nightmarish or ideal societies through alternative political and social ideologies. The class will introduce various literary theories (including Marxism, approaches to feminism and New Historicism) as well as the genre and history of utopian and dystopian literature. V for Vendetta, Sir Thomas More's Utopia, Plato's Atlantis writings, Children of Men and other works will be covered during the semester.

3 CreditsHPrerequisites: EN110 or EN109.

EN-212 Sports Literature

Students will consider ways in which sports literature written over the last eighty years reveals the developing and shifting American ideologies concerning subjects such as race, gender, sexuality, and justice, over that same time period. Students will also develop an understanding of the genres and purposes in various forms of sports literature, including newspaper articles, magazine feature articles, short stories, and novels.

3 CreditsHPrerequisite: EN110 or EN109.

EN-213 Zombie Nation

In this course students will read a variety of novels and review media that inspires and reflects our cultural fixation with zombies. Through critical thinking, analysis, and discussion, students will explore the intersections between fictional zombies and actual cultural practices that reflect the mindlessness of a zombie culture.

4 CreditsCA, HPrerequisites: EN110 or EN108 & EN109.

EN-215 Boys Will Be Boys

This course explores the experiences of men and boys as represented through works of fiction and analyzed via cultural, economic and social contexts. The course considers " maleness " as a social construct and how perceptions within American society influence men's actions and the ways in which they perceive themselves, other men, women, and social situations.

3 CreditsH 

EN-217 Disability in Fiction

This course considers how various texts portray individuals with disabilities. Via short stories, novels, theoretical articles, films, and memoirs we will explore ways that stereotypical portrayals can stigmatize and discriminate against people with disabilities. The class will also examine narratives and voices that question the definition of 'normal' as well as reinterpret traditional representations of disability. We will consider key concepts such as ableism, justice, access, and the medical and social models of disability. The course will also introduce some of the ways that disability intersects with other aspects of identity such as gender, sexuality, race, and class.

3 CreditsH 

EN-236 Dirty Books

An examination of works of literature that have been labeled obscene. Using examples from the comedy of Aristophanes to the poetry of Allen Ginsberg, the course looks at why and how serious writers deploy scandalous and offensive elements in their work.

3 CreditsH, CW 

EN-237 Constructing Identities

Applying various cultural and theoretical perspectives, students will view and read works from Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, Kurt Vonnegut, Salman Rushdie, David Foster Wallace and others to examine ways that consumerism, technology, social institutions and other facets of modern culture and society shape identities and influence the human condition. 

4 CreditsCAPrerequisites: EN110 or EN109.

EN-301 Young Adult Literature

Students will read & analyze a variety of literature from the Young Adult Lit category. Students will engage in class discussions and make presentations based on individual research.

3 CreditsH 

EN-302 The Literature of Social Protest

In this course, we will explore the use of literature as a means of protesting social injustice throughout U.S. history. How have American authors used novels, poems, stories, and essays to illustrate social problems, create empathy, and advocate for social change? What are the boundaries between art and politics? How might literary aesthetics inspire social action? How has literature shaped social progress and vice versa? Questions of literary form, merit, and content will guide our search, as will questions of representation, politics, and economics. Though topics will range widely (but often intersect), we will ask how each literary work engages with the foundational statement of American dissent, " The Declaration of Independence. "

4 CreditsSW-US 

EN-307 Mythology in Film

This course will explore how film communicates the myths of a various societies to its members. By combining theoretical approaches to myth with film analysis, we will explore the ways in which cinema both influences and reflects the way we think, what we value, fear, and aspire to achieve. Focusing on some of the most prevalent themes in this genre, students will be introduced to Classical and contemporary adaptations of myths and their historical and cultural contexts, examining how those narratives provide meaning today via cinema.

4 CreditsHPrerequisites: EN110 or EN108 and EN109.

EN-312 Literature of Revenge

Students will examine the various functions revenge plays in human culture by tracing its role as a literary device from the bloodbaths of popular Greek tragedies to the more psychological retaliation of contemporary works. Engaging in a focused study of the historical and cultural influences that have shaped human notions of revenge over centuries, students will contemplate the often complicated distinctions humans make between perceptions of retribution and justice.

4 CreditsHPrerequisite: EN110 or EN109.

EN-313 Firing the Canon

When talking about the canon in literature, we are usually gesturing towards the classics-works of art that have stood the test of time as culturally significant. How did those books become classic in the first place? We will study the histories of canon formation before debating what works to include in a self-designed literary anthology.

4 CreditsH 

EN-385 Queer Literature

By applying queer theory frameworks to a variety of texts, we will examine literary representations of LGBTQ identity. Readings will include works by James Baldwin, John Rechy, Audre Lorde, Leslie Feinberg, Tony Kushner, and others. Topics will include: biological essentialism vs. the social construction of gender and sexual identity; authenticity and performance; social and legal forms of identity categorization and boundary maintenance; the role of literature in social reform; and more.

4 CreditsCA, HPrerequisites: EN110 or EN109.

EN-388 Heroes and Villains

Heroes-yay! Villains-hiss! All our lives we've learned to think in terms of good guys and bad guys. But why do we think in those categories? And what exactly do we mean by good guys and bad guys? And should we even be in the business of separating good guys from bad guys? This course will take a detailed look at heroes and villains in literature, movies, and television, and ask you to think about the whole duality, and what it means for the stories we tell.

3 CreditsHPrerequisites: EN110 or EN109.

EN-392 Crossing the Border

This class will examine the many meanings of " border crossing " in 20th- and 21st-century literature about immigration to the United States. Using critical race theory, this class will put works of fiction and autobiography in historical context to better investigate the influence of immigration law on U.S. national literature. Beginning with short texts from the turn of the twentieth century, we will focus primarily on contemporary works dealing with the post-1965 (or " new wave " ) immigrant experience. Topics will include: " American Dream " mythology, social mobility, generational conflict, acculturation and assimilation, hyphenated identity, nativism, barriers to full citizenship, and more.

4 CreditH,CW,SW-USPrerequisites: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109


OTHER COURSES

Complete each category below:


COMMUNICATION

CM-200 Art of Public Speaking

Seeks to develop and improve fundamental principles and methods of selecting, organizing, developing, and communicating a line of reasoning and evidence for constructive influence in speaking situations. Students make three formal presentations, analyze messages, and improve their listening skills

3 CreditsCS, HPrerequisites: Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing.


MATHEMATICS

Complete six credits from the MA - Mathematics Department.


EDUCATION CORE

Take the following courses:

ED-110 Foundations of Education

Discusses the historical and contemporary bases of major political, economic, legal, sociological, and psychological issues affecting public school systems. Students review current issues in education and write a personal philosophy statement.

3 CreditsSCorequisite: ED111.

ED-111 Foundations of Education Field Experience

Provides a classroom experience for freshmen and students who are interested in education to explore teaching as a career and observe the application of multiple philosophies, theories, and teaching strategies.

1 CreditSCorequisite: ED-110

ED-130 Adolescent Development

Examines human physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development from preadolescence through emerging adulthood. Topics include: identity, sexuality, and gender issues; emotional and behavioral challenges of adolescence, the impact of culture, language, and disability on adolescents, and the role of family, schools, and peers on development.

3 CreditsSEnrollment priority in this course is given to Education POEs.

ED-240 Introduction to Students With Exceptionalities

Introduces the culture of exceptionalities within the public special education system. Historical, philosophical, educational, and legal perspectives will be presented. Students will learn the categories of exceptionalities, general characteristics of individuals with exceptionalities eligibility criteria, and the referral process for special education services. Professional and community resources, inclusion and other current issues will be discussed.

3 CreditsSPrerequisites: ED110 and ED111 and ED120 and ED121 or ED130.

ED-314 English Language Learners

Focuses on the historical, legal, and cultural issues pertaining to meeting the educational needs of English language learners. Students are be introduced to research based best practices in instruction and assessment strategies for working with English language learners in the general education classroom setting.

1 CreditSPrerequisite: ED120 or ED130.

ED-341 Adaptations for Students With Exceptionalities

The purpose of this course is to learn how to develop and manage effective inclusive learning environments for students with disabilities at the secondary level. Content will focus on the knowledge and skills necessary to create an instructional environment that communicates challenging expectations to students while utilizing and modifying research based instructional strategies/resources/technologies. Students will learn the critical components of effective collaboration with parents and professionals. Successful completion of a field experience in an educational setting is also a requirement.

4 CreditsCW, SPrerequisites: ED110, ED111 and ED240.

ED-419 Pre-Student Teaching Field Experience

Secondary pre-student-teaching practicum is a required 80-hour minimum practicum in the linked placement where you will be going for student teaching. Students should plan to spend four consecutive hours in their placement each week.Reliable transportation is REQUIRED.

1 CreditSCo-Requisite: ED-420.

ED-420 General Secondary Methods

Requires the application and practice of evaluation and assessment of learning and classroom management. Students are required to complete a field experience in their upcoming student teaching placement.

3 CreditsSPrerequisites: ED341 and junior or senior standing. Corequisite: ED419. Note: Students must have reliable transportation. (3.0 overall GPA required).


CAPSTONE

Take the following courses:

ED-450 Student Teaching

Student teaching is the capstone experience for students preparing for certification to teach in their content area(s). Students synthesize and apply knowledge of developmental theory, content, and teaching methodology as they design, implement, and evaluate learning experiences in an intensive internship in the classroom. Corequisite: ED451 and completion of all clearances and requirements. Note: A special fee is assessed. Secondary level student teaching is in the fall semester; PreK-4th, and foreign language education student teaching is in the spring semester. Students must have access to reliable transportation.

14 CreditsS,SW-LE 

ED-451 Student Teaching Seminar

In conjunction with student teaching, students attend weekly seminars that are led by the college supervisors. These meetings focus on professional topics and allow students to reflect upon and share their student teaching experience. In addition, students develop interviewing techniques, become familiar with employment seeking strategies, and develop a portfolio that includes but is not limited to a resume, a philosophy of education statement, lesson plans, and documentation of professional experiences.

1 CreditSCorequisite: ED450.


**ED 450 & ED 451 (Student Teaching and Seminar) may be taken only in the FALL semester of the senior year. Secondary Foreign Language Education majors take ED 450 & ED 451 in the SPRING semester. ED 450 requires students' full-time participation and no other courses may be taken during this semester without the education advisor's approval. Students must have reliable transportation.


NOTE: It is imperative that students work closely with their advisors to met all current certification requirements. All students are required to take six credits of English composition (or equivalent) and literature (or the equivalent) and two college level mathematics courses (or the equivalent) prior to being admitted to a certification program. See Section I of the Education Department Student Handbook for explanation of all certification requirements.


 Students must have an advisor who is a member of the English Department faculty and Dr. Kathleen Jones in the Education Department.


POE Credit Total = 79-85

Students must complete at least 18 credits at the 300/400-level.  Any course exception must be approved by the advisor and/or department chair.