2018-2019 UG Catalog

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Hardin-Simmons University 2018-2019
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
Head of Department
Dr. Traci S. Thompson
325-670-1305
HSU Box 16035
Faculty
Larry E. Fink, Ph.D., Professor
Robert A. Fink, Ph.D., Professor
Jason King, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Laura Pogue, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Traci S. Thompson, Ph.D., Professor
Jana Wesson-Martin, Ph.D., Professor
Michael Whitehorn, Ph.D., Professor
Objectives - The Department offers courses in literature
and the English language. Courses in composition and
language provide training in the techniques and skills
requisite for accurate and effective written expression.
Courses in the literature of America, England, and other
countries familiarize students with specific writers,
movements, periods, and literary issues; prepare students
to recognize, to analyze, and to evaluate the various types
of literature; build reading and other language skills; train
students to do independent thinking and research; and
develop understanding of aesthetic and cultural
dimensions in the human experience. The Department
offers a major and minor in English.
A bachelor's degree in English thus provides excellent
preparation for the professional world beyond the university
years and is a powerful degree for any area where sharp
critical thinking skills are highly valued. English graduates
are especially qualified for careers in communication,
journalism, public relations, business, technology, and
education as well as further study in law, library science,
literature, or creative writing.
Members of the department are available to assist the
student during any phase of this study at the University.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the Writing
Center, located in Abilene Hall, Room 313, for help with
problems in written expression.
The student should note that the Bachelor of Arts degree
requires 12 credits of one foreign language. The
department considers foreign language courses extremely
beneficial to students, especially those planning to teach
English because they understand their own language better
when they know at least one other language. In addition,
those students planning to attend graduate school will find
it especially beneficial to meet the foreign language
requirement as part of the bachelor degree.
Freshman English - All degree candidates in the
University, regardless of the degree sought, are required to
receive three semester credits of English composition
credit (ENGL 1301, 1302, or BSAD 1301). Research
papers are required.
Sophomore English - All University curricula requires
students to receive at least three semester credits in
literature credit. The student may satisfy this requirement
by taking a literature course numbered in the 2300
sequence. Three semester credits of freshman and three
credits of sophomore English are prerequisite to all English
courses numbered 3000 or above. A student seeking a
teaching certificate for English Language Arts in grades 4-
8 or 7-12 or majoring in English, must take six credits at the
sophomore level. Research papers are required.
Writing Proficiency - TheWriting Proficiency Exam (WPE)
is required on all HSU undergraduate degree plans. The
fee for the Exam is non-refundable. Students taking the
Exam must have completed 75 hours, including 3 hours in
English Composition. As soon as the prerequisite is met,
Juniors should register for PROF 3000. Announcements
and grades are posted on Canvas Sample prompts and
preparation guidelines are also posted on Canvas. Each
student receives “Credit” (CR) or “No Credit” (NC).
Students receiving “NC” should register for the WPE the
following semester. Graduating seniors who receive a
grade of “NC” must register for ENGL 3101, a composition
seminar.
Teacher Preparation Program - Students seeking teacher
certification in English should refer to the Irvin School of
Education section of this catalog for Texas certification
requirements. English majors seeking certification for
grades 4-8 or 7-12 must meet the following requirements to
be eligible to student teach and to take the TExES prior to
graduation:
Cumulative GPA of 2.80 in English courses;
Pass Writing Proficiency Exam;
Obtain written consent of the Head of
Department of English.
Additionally, students seeking certification need to attend a
practice session for the TExES exam. These sessions are
sponsored regularly by the Irvin School of Education and
more information can be obtained in that office.
For certification plans in English Language Arts, see
pages 104 (4-8) and 106 (7-12.)
Advanced Placement/CLEP Credit - If another university
granted AP credit for a score of less than 3, that credit will
NOT transfer to HSU. If CLEP credit was granted by
another university, that credit will only transfer to HSU if the
original exam included the essay portion. CLEP credit
requires both objective and essay portions of the exam be
taken. CLEP is available for English 1301, 1302, and 2300
level courses.
NOTE: CLEP accepts requests for sending scores ONLY if
such requests come from the student. Educational
institutions are not permitted to make such requests. Thus,
the student is responsible for contacting CLEP and
requesting scores be sent to HSU.
There is no departmental exam for English credit at HSU,
and departmental exam credits from other universities will
NOT transfer.
Writing Proficiency Exam – See page 28.
Technological Competency:
The department accepts CSCI 1303.
Courses in English (ENGL)
1301 Freshman Writing I
1302 Freshman Writing II
2099 (1-4 credits) Special Topics
2301 World Literature
2302 English Literature
2303 American Literature
3099 (1-4 credits) Special Topics
3101 Composition Review
3300 Writing as Discovery
3305 Theoretical Approaches to Literature
4099 (1-4 credits) Special Topics
4101 Teaching English in High School
4110 Capstone Course
4302 Issues in Grammar
4304 The Medieval Period
4305 The American Novel
4306 Shakespeare