English

College of Arts and Sciences, Department of English
John Roach Center for the Liberal Arts (JRC) 333, (651) 962-5600
Muse (Chair), Batt, Bouwman, Brorby, Callaway, Chowdhury, Craft-Fairchild, Davis, Gardiner, Ghimire, Herrera, James, Larson, Lawrence, Li, MacKenzie, Pane, Renee, Scheurer, Tankersley, Wilkinson, Zebuhr

English Department website

In the English program at St. Thomas, students find joy in studying literature and writing while honing their skills as critical and creative thinkers. They work with top-notch faculty who are master teachers and engaged scholars. Mentoring students is the keystone of our department.

Our graduates have excellent job placement rates in the fields of editing, publishing, marketing, business, and communication. Their success reflects broader trends in the labor market. At St. Thomas, English majors have opportunities to gain practical experience through tutoring, participating in internships, engaging in collaborative research with faculty, and editing our literary magazine, the Summit Avenue Review. Our students have high rates of acceptance into law school and other graduate programs.

We offer undergraduate specializations in Creative Writing, Literature & Writing, Professional Writing, and English with a Secondary Education Emphasis (5-12), as well as minors in English, Creative Writing, Professional Writing, and Narrative Medicine. Students can also apply for admission to our accelerated BA/MA Program, which enables them to receive both degrees in five years. A major, co-major, or minor in English signals to employers that graduates have advanced communication skills and can solve problems creatively. These are exactly the skills that are most prized by employers in the modern workplace (National Association of Colleges and Employers, Job Outlook Survey, 2023).

The Department of English offers four concentrations.

1. The Major in English with a Literature and Writing Emphasis provides students with broad exposure to literature in historical contexts, within and across national traditions and theoretical frameworks, and in relation to other intellectual and artistic disciplines, along with writing for scholarly and professional purposes in both traditional and digital forms.
2. The Major in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis gives students a foundation of study in literary history and genre along with a sequence of writing courses focused on poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and other creative writing genres in both traditional and digital forms.
3. The Major in English with a Professional Writing Emphasis gives students a foundation of study in rhetorical concepts and the ethics, methods, and genres of professional writing. They gain instruction and practice in writing in a wide range of genres and media, and for purposes and audiences within organizational settings such as nonprofits, for-profits, government, and grassroots organizations.
4. The Major in English with a Secondary Education Emphasis (5-12) prepares students for teaching middle and secondary school through coursework in literature, linguistics, writing, and writing pedagogy. This major also requires additional coursework from the Department of Teacher Education and the Department of Communication Studies. Successful completion of these requirements will lead to eligibility for a 5-12 Communication Arts and Literature license in the state of Minnesota.

In addition to its four major concentrations, the department also offers 16-credit minors in (1) English, (2) Creative Writing, (3) Professional Writing, and (4) Narrative Medicine.

The four major concentration areas consist of 44 credits each, including the core curriculum English course. The department offers courses for non-majors to fulfill various core areas, including Integrations in the Humanities; Fine Arts; Global Perspectives; Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice; and Signature Work.

English majors and minors are encouraged to study abroad. Specific courses taken abroad may substitute for St. Thomas requirements. For program options, see the chair of the department, a study abroad advisor in the Office of Study Abroad, or International & Off-Campus Programs in the front section of this catalog.

Sigma Tau Delta, the national English honor society, brings together students and faculty with a love of literature, language, and writing; it sponsors a variety of scholarships, holds regional and national conventions, and provides a forum for both creative and critical writing. Students who have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in English courses, rank at least in the highest 35 percent of their class in general scholarship, and have completed at least three semesters of college are eligible to apply for membership.

• ENGL 121: Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing (4 credits)
  or ENGL 190 Advanced Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing (4 credits)*

* Open to students with qualifying standardized test scores or high school GPA.

• ENGL 280: Introduction to English Studies(4 credits)
• ENGL 405, 481 or ENGL 482: Capstone Seminar (4 credits)

• Select an Emphasis in:
  • Literature and Writing
  • Creative Writing
  • Professional Writing
  • Secondary Education Emphasis (5-12)

All English majors should complete 44 credits in English and maintain a GPA of 2.0 in their English coursework. A minimum of 16 credits in English at or above ENGL 201 must be taken at St. Thomas.

44 credits

All English with Creative Writing emphasis majors should complete 44 credits in English and maintain a GPA of 2.0 in English. A minimum of 16 credits in English at or above ENGL 201 must be taken at St. Thomas.

Eight credits of required coursework:

• ENGL 121: Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing (4 credits) or ENGL 190: Advanced Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 280: Introduction to English Studies (4 credits)

Sixteen credits from the following writing courses:

• ENGL 255: Introduction to Creative Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 321: Writing Poetry (4 credits)*
• ENGL 322: Writing Fiction (4 credits)*
• ENGL 323: Writing Creative Nonfiction (4 credits)*
• ENGL 326: Topics in Creative Writing (4 credits)*
• ENGL 405: Advanced Poetry, Fiction, or Creative Nonfiction Writing (4 credits)**
• ENGL 421: Literary Magazine Practicum, Part I (2 credits)**
• ENGL 422: Literary Magazine Practicum, Part II (2 credits)

*Prerequisite: ENGL 255
**Prerequisite: ENGL 321, 322, 323

Note: The creative writing sequence normally includes:

• first – ENGL 255
• then – ENGL 321 and/or ENGL 322 and/or 323 and/or ENGL 326
• then – ENGL 405

Four credits from Historical Perspectives

• ENGL 211: British Authors I (4 credits)
• ENGL 212: British Authors II (4 credits)
• ENGL 214: American Authors I (4 credits)
• ENGL 215: American Authors II (4 credits)
• ENGL 217: Multicultural Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 218: Women in Literature: Critical History (4 credits)
• ENGL 220: The Classical Tradition (4 credits)
• ENGL 221: The Modern Tradition (4 credits)
• ENGL 222: Catholic Literary Tradition (4 credits)

Four credits from Genre Studies

• ENGL 324: Genre Studies (4 credits)
• ENGL 325: Special Topics in Genre, Region, or Theme [some sections or topics only] (4 credits)
• ENGL 327: Major Literary Genre (4 credits)
• ENGL 390: Major Literary Figures in Context (4 credits) [some sections and topics only]
• ENGL 395: Issues in Literature, Language, and Culture (4 credits) [some sections and topics only]

Four credits from the following Literature Courses

• ENGL 201 or above (includes ENGL 202, 203, 204, 211, 212, 214, 215, 217, 218, 220, 221, 222, 230, 231, 232, 297, 324, 325, 327, 334, 337, 341, 360, 361, 362, 364, 365, 366, 367, 370, 371, 372, 373, 390, and 395)
• Eight Elective ENGL Courses
• Any ENGL class not taken above

Course-level requirements

• At least 12 credits numbered ENGL 201-299 (note: 4 of these credits must be from ENGL 280)
• At least 16 credits numbered ENGL 300-399
• At least 4 credits numbered ENGL 400-499

44 credits

Twelve credits of required coursework:

• ENGL 121: Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing (4 credits) or ENGL 190 Advanced Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 257: The Literary Imagination (4 credits) or ENGL 280: Introduction to English Studies (4 credits)
• ENGL 481 or ENGL 482: Capstone Seminar (4 credits)

Approaches and Methods Requirements:

Four credits of Historical Perspectives

• ENGL 211: British Authors I (4 credits)
• ENGL 212: British Authors II (4 credits)
• ENGL 214: American Authors I (4 credits)
• ENGL 215: American Authors II (4 credits)
• ENGL 217: Multicultural Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 218: Literature by Women: Critical History (4 credits)
• ENGL 220: The Classical Tradition (4 credits)
• ENGL 221: The Modern Tradition (4 credits)
• ENGL 222: Catholic Literary Tradition (4 credits)

Four credits of Contexts and Convergences

• ENGL 325: Special Studies in Genre, Region, or Theme (4 credits)
• ENGL 334: Literature from a Christian Perspective (4 credits)
• ENGL 337: The Literature of Human Diversity (4 credits)
• ENGL 341: Literature by Women: Critical Questions (4 credits)
• ENGL 360: Chaucer and the Medieval Period (4 credits)
• ENGL 361: Shakespeare and the Early Modern Period (4 credits)
• ENGL 362: Milton and Seventeenth-Century British Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 364: Eighteenth-Century British Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 365: Romantic Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 366: Victorian Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 367: Twentieth-Century British Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 370: Colonial and Early American Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 371: Nineteenth-Century American Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 372: Modern American Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 373: Contemporary American Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 390: Major Literary Figures in Context (4 credits)
• ENGL 395: Issues in Literature, Language, and Culture (4 credits)

Four credits in Genre Study

• ENGL 255: Introduction to Imaginative Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 321: Writing Poetry (4 credits)*
• ENGL 322: Writing Fiction (4 credits)*
• ENGL 323: Writing Creative Nonfiction (4 credits)*
• ENGL 324: Genre Studies (4 credits)
• ENGL 325: Special Studies in Genre, Region, or Theme [some sections or topics only] (4 credits)
• ENGL 326: Topics in Creative Writing (4 credits)*
• ENGL 327: Major Literary Genres (4 credits)
• ENGL 390: Major Literary Figures in Context [some sections and topics only] (4 credits
• ENGL 395: Issues in Literature, Language, and Culture [some sections and topics only] (4 credits)

*Prerequisite: ENGL 255

Four credits in Theory and Practice

• ENGL 300: Theory and Practice of Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 304: Analytical and Persuasive Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 305: Linguistics (4 credits)
• ENGL 311: Theory and Practice of Literary Criticism (4 credits)
• ENGL 314: Professional Editing (4 credits)
• ENGL 315: Topics in Professional Writing (4 credits)

Area literature requirements:

Four credits in Early American Literature

• ENGL 214: American Authors I (4 credits)
• ENGL 370: Colonial and Early American Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 371: Nineteenth-Century American Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 390: Major Literary Figures in Context [some sections and topics only] (4 credits)
• ENGL 395: Issues in Literature, Language, and Culture [some sections and topics only] (4 credits)

Four credits in Early British Literature

• ENGL 211: British Authors I (4 credits)
• ENGL 360: Chaucer and the Medieval Period (4 credits)
• ENGL 361: Shakespeare and the Early Modern Period (4 credits)
• ENGL 362: Milton and Seventeenth-Century British Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 364: Eighteenth-Century British Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 365: Romantic Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 390: Major Literary Figures in Context [some section and topics only] (4 credits)
• ENGL 395: Issues in Literature, Language, and Culture [some sections and topics only] (4 credits)

Four credits in Diversity Literature

• ENGL 217: Multicultural Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 218: Literature by Women: Critical History (4 credits)
• ENGL 337: The Literature of Human Diversity (4 credits)
• ENGL 341: Literature by Women: Critical Questions (4 credits)
• ENGL 390: Major Literary Figures in Context [some sections and topics only] (4 credits)
• ENGL 395: Issues in Literature, Language, and Culture [some sections and topics only] (4 credits)

Students should take 16 credits in literature, chosen from among the following: 201, 202, 203, 204, 211, 212, 214, 215, 217, 218, 220, 221, 222, 230, 231, 255, 297, 298, 324, 325, 327, 334, 341, 337, 341, 360, 361, 362, 364, 365, 366, 367, 370, 371, 372, 373, 390, 395.

44 credits

Twenty credits from the following

• ENGL 121: Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing (4 credits) or ENGL 190: Advanced Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing (4 credits)*
• ENGL 256: Introduction to Professional Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 280: Introduction to English Studies (4 credits)
• ENGL 350: Tech Writing: Practice & Research (4 credits)
• ENGL 482: Capstone Seminar: Pre-Professional Emphasis (4 credits)

Plus eight credits from the following

• ENGL 314: Professional Editing (4 credits)
• ENGL 315: Topics in Professional Writing (4 credits) (Credit may be earned more than once for different emphases)

Four credits in Diversity Literature

• ENGL 217: Multicultural Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 218: Literature by Women: Critical History (4 credits)
• ENGL 337: The Literature of Human Diversity (4 credits)
• ENGL 341: Literature by Women: Critical Questions (4 credits)
• ENGL 390: Major Literary Figures in Context [some sections and topics only] (4 credits)
• ENGL 395: Issues in Literature and Culture [some sections and topics only] (4 credits)

Four credits in Creative Writing

• ENGL 255: Introduction to Creative Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 321: Writing Poetry (4 credits)*
• ENGL 322: Writing Fiction (4 credits)*
• ENGL 323: Writing Creative Nonfiction (4 credits)*
• ENGL 326: Topics in Creative Writing (4 credits)*

*Prerequisite: ENGL 255

Four Elective Credits from any of the Following or an Appropriate Course of the Student's Choice Approved by the Department Chair

• ENGL 201 or above (4 credits)
• CISC 120: Introduction to Programming & Problem Solving: Sciences (4 credits)
• CISC 130: Introduction to Programming & Problem Solving (4 credits)
• COMM 212: Communication Criticism (4 credits)
• COMM 320: Organizational Communication (4 credits)
• COMM 370: Intercultural Communication (4 credits)
• DIMA 232: Visual Media Theory & Practice (4 credits)
• ECON 110: Exploring Economics with Data Visualization (2 credits)
• ECON 120: Data Management for Economic Analysis (2 credits)
• ENTR 340: Social Entrepreneurship (4 credits)
• JPST 250: Introduction to Justice and Peace Studies (4 credits)
• MKTG 200: Introduction to Marketing (2 credits)
• MKTG 201: Application in Marketing (2 credits)
• SOCI 350: Social Inequality (4 credits)
• SOWK 430: Leadership, Advocacy & Fundraising (4 credits)

Additional Requirements

• Four credits in additional English coursework

Course-Level Requirements

• At least 12 credits numbered ENGL 201-299 (note: 8 of these credits must be from ENGL 280 and ENGL 256)
• At least 16 credits numbered ENGL 300-399
• At least 4 credits numbered ENGL 400-499

All English with Professional Writing emphasis majors should complete 44 credits in English and maintain a GPA of 2.0 in English. A minimum of 16 credits in English at or above ENGL 211 must be taken at St. Thomas.

• ENGL 121: Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing (4 credits)
  or ENGL 190: Advanced Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 211: British Authors I (4 credits)
  or ENGL 212: British Authors II (4 credits)
• ENGL 214: American Authors I (4 credits)
  or ENGL 215: American Authors II (4 credits)
• ENGL 217: Multicultural Literature (4 credits)
  or ENGL 218: Literature by Women: Critical History (4 credits
• ENGL 220: The Classical Tradition (4 credits)
  or ENGL 221: The Modern Tradition(4 credits)
• ENGL 280: Introduction to English Studies (4 credits)
• ENGL 300: Theory and Practice of Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 305: Linguistics: English Language (4 credits)
• ENGL 327: Major Literary Genres (4 credits)
• ENGL 361: Shakespeare and the Early Modern Period (4 credits)

Four additional credits:

EITHER in English at the 300 or 400 level, or COMM 326: Communication and Pop Culture or COMM 328: Communication of Race, Class, and Gender.

Students seeking licensure in Communication Arts and Literature (5-12) must also complete the following courses in Communication Studies: COMM 212, COMM 326, COMM 366, and the EDUC courses listed under Teacher Education for Communication Arts and Literature (5-12)*. Students who also take COMM 100 will obtain a minor in Communication Studies. See Education.

The English Department offers a combined Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts degree program for exceptional current English majors. Students in the program begin taking graduate-level coursework during the spring semester of their senior year and complete their B.A. and M.A. in just five years. This program is available for both the Literature and Writing and Creative Writing concentrations in the English major. For more information, contact the English Department Chair.

Our most flexible minor option, the Minor in English, allows students to explore their curiosity and build their knowledge through their choice of any four English courses numbered ENGL 201 or above. (Note: some courses have prerequisites.)

The minor in English consists of twenty credits:

• ENGL 121 or 190
• Sixteen credits numbered ENGL 201‐490

A minimum of eight credits in English at or above ENGL 201 must be taken at the University of St. Thomas

16 credits

Narrative Medicine humanizes healthcare by training professionals to listen to the stories of human beings: stories of the patient, the healthcare professional, and the cultures and systems in which they live. It is designed to improve the quality of care for patients and to deepen healthcare professionals’ empathy and understanding. This minor complements students’ science curriculum with a set of four courses in literature, creative writing, and professional writing or communication. The courses teach practices of narrative medicine: close reading of and attentive listening to trauma and illness narratives and the stories of those marginalized by institutions and social policies; reflective and analytical writing in healthcare contexts; creativity and expressive writing; and communicating across cultures with empathy and compassion.

• ENGL 230: Narrative Medicine (4 credits)
• 12 credits in literature, creative writing, professional writing, and/or communication studies

Literature:

• ENGL 217: Multicultural Literature (4 credits)
• ENGL 218: Literature by Women: Critical History (4 credits)
• ENGL 337: Literature of Human Diversity (4 credits)
• ENGL 341: Literature by Women: Critical Questions (4 credits)

Creative writing:

• ENGL 255: Introduction to Creative Writing (4 credits)

Professional writing:

• ENGL 317: Writing for Health and Human Sciences (4 credits)

Communication Studies:

• COMM 220: Interpersonal Communication (4 credits)
• COMM 242: Health Communication (4 credits)
• COMM 328: Communication of Race, Class and Gender (4 credits)
• COMM 370: Intercultural Communication (4 credits)

Other courses may be substituted with approval of the chair of English / Communication Studies.

*This minor is only available for non-English majors.

The minor in Creative Writing allows students to cultivate writing skills in multiple genres. Along with rigorous coursework in creative writing and literature, we offer opportunities to study the full range of English studies, including professional writing, editing, and publishing.

In addition to studying a variety of literary forms, students take a three-course sequence focusing on the development of their own creative work. Students may choose from courses in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as special topics courses such as writing for children and young adults, creative writing and new media, and a practicum course in design and publication of a literary magazine.

16 credits

At least 12 credits from the following writing courses:

• ENGL 255: Introduction to Imaginative Writing: Writing Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction (4 credits, fall/spring)
• ENGL 321: Writing Poetry (4 credits)
• ENGL 322: Writing Fiction (4 credits)
• ENGL 323: Writing Creative Nonfiction (4 credits)
• ENGL 326: Topics in Creative Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 405: Advanced Poetry, Fiction, or Creative Nonfiction Writing (4 credits)
• ENGL 421: Literary Magazine Practicum, Part I (2 credits)
• ENGL 422: Literary Magazine Practicum, Part II (2 credits)

plus 4 credits

• any English course at or above the 200 level (this may be another creative writing class)

Creative Writing Majors are not eligible for a minor in Creative Writing.

Professional Writing is clear, usable writing that helps others get work done in the world, and it’s everywhere! With the professional writing minor, students develop the foundational skills needed to craft writing that audiences can easily understand and use, no matter what discipline or career field they're interested in. They have many opportunities to apply their skills writing a diverse array of documents for diverse audiences. This might include genres like one-page explainers, reports, proposals, promotional materials, social and digital content, and more. They will also identify how research, like usability testing or content auditing, can make writing and reading experiences better for users. 

In addition to the required gateway course, ENGL 256: Introduction to Professional Writing, students choose two courses that cover specialized topics in professional writing and one elective course to expand the skills in their writing toolbox. Some courses may partner with an organization in the community, giving students experience navigating a real-world writing situation.

The Professional Writing Minor (20 credits)

• 4 credits in ENGL 121 or 190
• 4 credits in ENGL 256 Introduction to Professional Writing
• 8 credits from the following courses
  • ENGL 314: Professional Editing (4 credits)
  • ENGL 315: Topics in Professional Writing (4 credits) (Credit may be earned more than once for different emphases)
  • ENGL 317: Writing in the Health and Human Sciences (4 credits)
  • ENGL 318: Business Writing (4 credits)
  • ENGL 350: Technical Writing: Practice & Research (4 credits)
• Plus 4 credits from any of the following:
  • ENGL 201 or above (4 credits)
  • CISC 130: Introduction to Programming & Problem Solving in the Sciences (4 credits)
  • CISC 131: Introduction to Programming & Problem Solving (4 credits)
  • COMM 212: Communication Criticism (4 credits)
  • COMM 320: Organizational Communication (4 credits)
  • COMM 370: Intercultural Communication (4 credits)
  • DIMA 232: Visual Media Theory & Practice (4 credits)
  • ECON 110: Exploring Economics with Data Visualization (2 credits)
  • ECON 120: Data Management for Economic Analysis (2 credits)
  • ENTR 340: Social Entrepreneurship (4 credits)
  • JPST 250: Introduction to Justice and Peace Studies (4 credits)
  • SOCI 350: Social Inequality (4 credits)