English

302 Minné Hall
507.457.5440
English website
Ethan Krase, Chairperson

Faculty

James Armstrong, Professor; BA, Northwestern University; MFA, Western Michigan University; PhD, Boston University; 1999 -
Rob Brault, Associate Professor; BA, Macalester College; PhD, University of Minnesota; 2000 -
Chris Buttram, Professor; BA, Emory University; MA, MPhil, PhD, Columbia University; 2000 -
Jane Carducci, Professor; BA, Colorado College; MA, PhD, University of Nevada-Reno; 1992 -
Debra Cumberland, Professor; BA, Carleton College; MA, PhD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; 2002 -
Ann-Marie Dunbar, Associate Professor; BA, St. Olaf College; MA, PhD, Indiana University; 2009 -
Gary Eddy, Professor; BA, State University of New York-Brockport; MA, University of Texas-El Paso; MFA, University of Arizona; PhD, State University of New York-Binghamton; 1988 -
April Herndon, Professor; BA, MA, Radford University; PhD, Michigan State University; 2006 -
Andrew Higl, Associate Professor; BA, John Carroll University; MA, PhD, Loyola University; 2009 -
J. Paul Johnson, Professor; BS, Valley City State University; MA, University of North Dakota; PhD, University of Minnesota; 1987 -
Liberty Kohn, Associate Professor; BA, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; MA, PhD, University of Louisiana-Lafayette; 2009 -
Ethan Krase, Professor; BA, MA, Illinois State University; PhD, University of Tennessee; 2004 -
Ditlev Larsen, Professor; BA, University of Aalborg; MA, St. Cloud University; PhD, University of Minnesota; 2003 -
Gretchen Michlitsch, Professor; BA, Gustavus Adolphus; MA, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison; 2005 -
Elizabeth Oness, Professor; BA, James Madison University; MFA, University of Maryland; PhD, University of Missouri-Columbia; 2001 -
Wayne Ripley, Professor; BA, Michigan State University; MA, University of Tennessee; PhD, University of Rochester; 2006 -
Karen Schroeder, Assistant Professor; BA, Minnesota State University-Moorhead; MA, PhD, North Dakota State University, 2013 -
Holly Shi, Professor; BA, Shanghai International Studies University; MA, PhD, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; 1995 -
Myles Weber, Professor; BA, Augsburg College; MA, George Washington University; MA, Syracuse University; PhD, University of Maryland-College Park; 2007 -
Andrea Wood, Associate Professor; BA, McGill University; MSC, University of Edinburgh; PhD, University of Florida; 2010 -
Elizabeth Zold, Assistant Professor; BA, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; MA, PhD, University of Illinois; 2013 -

Purpose

The English Department is concerned with the English language as art and communication. At the lower academic levels, courses are designed to help students acquire competence in reading and writing, thinking critically, and understanding and responding to aesthetic values.

At the upper levels, the emphasis shifts increasingly to British and American literature and to more sophisticated forms of writing and linguistic studies. Students majoring in English should complete the lower-division requirements in English before registering for the upper-division courses.

English Programs (Majors and Minors)

See complete list of programs at the bottom of this page.

Teaching Majors

CALT (Communication Arts and Literature) Majors: Except in unusual circumstances, the English Department recommends for student teaching only those students who have a minimum 2.75 GPA and who have earned at least a “B” in each of the following courses: ◆ ENG 290 - Literary Studies ◆ ENG 290 - Literary Studies and ◎ ENG 402 - Teaching English in Middle School and Secondary School .
ESLT (TESOL) Majors: Except in unusual circumstances, the English Department recommends for student teaching only those students who have a minimum 2.75 GPA and who have earned at least a “B” in each of the following courses: ENG 328 - English Syntax and ◎ ENG 481 - TESOL Theory and Methods . Additionally, this major requires a minimum of two years of second/foreign- language instruction in a high- school setting or one year in a college setting or equivalent.

Dual Degree Program

Majors in English (Writing, CALT, and Literature/Language) have the opportunity to complete a Master’s degree in Literature and Language and majors in English TESOL/Applied Linguistics the opportunity to complete a Master’s degree in TESOL with one additional year of work beyond the undergraduate degree. Admission to the dual degree program is selective based on GPA and faculty recommendation. Once admitted, students may take 12 credits at the 500-level. Those 12 credits will count toward the undergraduate major (according to their 400-level equivalencies) and toward the 30 credits required in the Masters program. Students must receive a B or higher to receive graduate credit.

Prerequisites

ENG 111 - College Reading and Writing is a prerequisite for most upper-level courses in the ESLT, ENGA, ENGE, and EAPW major and minor programs.
ENG 111 - College Reading and Writing and ◆ ENG 290 - Literary Studies are prerequisites for most upper-level courses in other major and minor programs in English.

Prerequisites for individual courses are designated in the course descriptions.

Pass/No Credit (P/NC) Courses

Except for some internships, no courses in the department are open to declared English majors or minors on a P/NC basis. Students not majoring or minoring in English can take any course in the department on a P/NC basis (provided they have met the prerequisites) unless the course is designated as a grade-only course.

General Education Intensive Requirements

Students may use intensive courses to satisfy both General Education Program (GEP) and major requirements. Intensive courses will usually be in the student’s major or minor program. The following are offered as GEP intensive courses in the English Department.

Intensives

Oral (◎)

Math/Critical Analysis (◆)

Writing (△)

Intensive courses that can be used to satisfy major/minor requirements are identified in the lists of required courses and electives.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science - Teaching

Minor