English

http://www.whitworth.edu/english

The English department offers two majors – English and, especially for those double majoring in education, English/language arts. Students in both majors complete challenging courses in literature, writing and critical theory, so that all majors become careful and insightful readers, judicious and flexible researchers, and clear, imaginative writers. We aim to graduate students whose strong speaking, writing, analysis, and problem-solving skills make them extraordinary, resourceful professionals.

In addition to a general (and flexible) English minor, the department supports a rich set of minors designed to allow students to deepen their studies in one particular area of interest:

  • Creative Writing
  • Literature
  • Writing Studies
  • Editing & Publishing (interdisciplinary)
  • Film & Visual Narrative (interdisciplinary)
  • Medieval & Early Modern Studies (interdisciplinary)
  • U.S. Cultural Studies (interdisciplinary)
  • Women’s & Gender Studies (interdisciplinary)
  • Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL) (interdisciplinary)
  • English/Language Arts (for teaching majors outside the department)

Most students may easily complete both a major in English and a specialized minor supported by the English department, if they wish.

Each year we see graduates go on to excellent graduate programs or begin careers in a variety of fields, including teaching (at all levels, at home and abroad), marketing, professional writing, community outreach/nonprofit work, banking, management, and work in the film and publishing industries.  

The Whitworth English faculty includes Christian scholars and creators specializing in British and American literature, creative writing, and composition and rhetoric. Our students have the opportunity to take traditional literature and writing courses alongside courses that investigate subjects such as digital composition, public discourse and rhetoric, professional writing, community art, film and publishing. We are committed to mentoring and guiding our students through their studies, and we love to see the hallways, offices and student-lounge space in Westminster Hall (our departmental home) full of enthusiastic students. Our students complete a senior portfolio process during which they refine their professional documents, consider career pathways, and work directly with a mentoring faculty member to revise and reflect on major writing projects. As we work to prepare our students for professional success, we also hope to pass on to them our own love of reading, writing, language and storytelling in all forms. Through our teaching, our research and writing, and our shared community events, we hope to encourage our students to live lives of spiritual commitment, resolved to act as stewards of God’s creation while promoting civil and personal justice, at home and in the community.

The English major prepares students as follows:

Analytical/Critical Writing. Students who complete the English major will compose well-supported arguments that exhibit their sound judgments about the effects of literary/rhetorical choices within texts.

Creative Writing. Students who complete the English major will demonstrate knowledge of and capability with creative writing craft elements and techniques, including communal workshopping and self-editing practices.

Multimodal Composition. Students who engage in multimodal composing opportunities offered by the English department will apply design thinking as a writing process, demonstrating understanding of the affordances and constraints of visual, aural, spatial, gestural and/or linguistic modal choices made in contemporary composing contexts.

Professional Writing. Students who engage in professional writing opportunities offered by the English department will – with skillful attention to accuracy, brevity, clarity and design – adapt their writing for professional stakeholders.

Research. Students who complete the English major will research rigorously, systematically and ethically, developing projects that are appropriate in scope and situated within the larger field of English studies.

Critical Vocabulary. Students who complete the English major will demonstrate a grasp of key theoretical and technical vocabulary useful for textual analysis. 

Literary History. Students who complete the English major will demonstrate their knowledge of literary history.

Community Engagement. Students participating in department-sponsored service-learning and professionalization opportunities will apply their literacy and writing skills to support community building.

Faith. Students who complete the English major will take faith and worldview into account as they produce and/or analyze complex texts. 

Professionalization. Students who complete the English major will make a strong case for their skills and preparation as they enter their careers and vocations. 

Teacher Professionalization. Students who complete the English/language arts major (in combination with the secondary education certification/major in the education department) will practice professional development and curriculum development in the context of English language arts content and skills.

Teacher Certification. Students who complete the English/language arts major (in combination with the secondary education certification/major) will be prepared to take and pass the Washington state teacher certification exam for English language arts.

English for International Students (EIS)

The university offers advanced-level English courses to assist students in improving their reading and writing skills up to a level of proficiency for participation in other courses at Whitworth University. These courses require students to use an integrated set of skills for critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving and written communication. Each EIS course carries three semester credits and is creditable toward graduation.

EIS Courses

EIS 107 Reading in Academic Discourse3
Advanced reading course for international students. Emphasis on rhetorical patterns, inference, summary, synthesis, and critical response to academic texts and articles. Fall semester.
EIS 108 Writing in Academic Discourse3
Advanced writing course for international students. Emphasis on summary, paraphrase, rhetoric, and research strategies. Attention to grammar, style, and format as required. Fall semester.

EL Courses

EL 109 Introduction to Academic Writing3
Introduction to critical writing in response to reading and research. Practice in using writing processes (invention, drafting, revision, editing) to create effective academic arguments. Style and grammar issues and strategies for avoiding plagiarism presented as needed. Offered in the continuing-studies program only.
EL 110 Writing & Design3
An introduction to academic writing and research. Emphasis on revision and adaptation of writing for appropriate audiences. Practice in analyzing, synthesizing, and responding to academic readings focused on a topic. Workshop and discussion format. Does not count toward English majors or minors. Fall and spring semesters.
EL 110H Honors Writing & Design: Writing In the World3
An introduction to academic writing and research, with an emphasis on writing for real-world contexts and multimodal composition. Workshop and discussion format. Service learning. Recommended especially for honors students or students with advanced placement credit in English.
EL 115H Reading in Action3
This freshman level honors course explores a variety of reading practices beginning with our initial love of literature, moving into advanced scholarly reading, and engaging in service-learning with reading communities in Spokane.
EL 124 African American Literature3
Introduction to literary study through African American literature. Covers poetry, fiction, and drama. May also consider sermons, songs, and film by African Americans.
EL 125 Reading Literature3
An introduction to literary close reading and analysis in multiple genres: fiction, drama, and poetry. Attention to multicultural literature.
EL 126 Women Writers3
An overview of women's literary history and an introduction to feminist literary theory. Emphasis on reading, discussion and student response through written and oral assignments. Readings include poetry, fiction, and drama. Also listed as WGS 126.
EL 128 Multicultural American Literature3
A multicultural introduction to careful, appreciative reading of the major literary genres (fiction, poetry, drama). Students will read and analyze texts representing at least two (and often more) minority cultural perspectives from within the US cultural context. African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and/or Native American literary works are often featured.
EL 132 American Immigrant Literature3
Explores the American immigrant experience through stories, journals, poems, and plays written by explorers, colonists, and immigrants from the time of Columbus to the present. A multicultural introduction to the major genres (fiction, poetry, drama).
EL 157H Environmental Literature3
Explores questions of climate change and environmental justice, with a focus on 20th and 21st century literature. Texts may include fiction, poetry, drama, creative nonfiction, oral history, and documentary film.
EL 204 Film Noir Hardboiled Lit3
An introduction to major hardboiled fiction authors (Hammett, Chandler, Cain, Highsmith) and classic films noir (e.g., The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity). We will analyze these genres in their historical and ideological contexts, examining post-war paranoia, existentialism, literary modernism, etc. Also listed as FVNS 204.
EL 205 American Literature Before 18653
Overview of major periods, authors and representative works of American literature from the earliest writers through the Civil War. Preparation for upper division. Prerequisite: American Cultural Studies course strongly suggested. Fall semester.
EL 205H Honors American Literature Before 18653
Interdisciplinary overview of major periods, authors, and representative works of American literature from the earliest writers through the Civil War. Includes research and presentation component.
EL 206 American Literature After 18653
Overview of major periods, authors and representative works of American literature from end of the Civil War to present. Preparation for upper division. Prerequisite: American Cultural Studies course strongly suggested. EL 206 may be taken before EL 205. Spring semester.
EL 207 British Literature Before 18003
British literature from the Anglo-Saxon period through the Renaissance and 18th century. Major period characteristics, authors and representative works. Prerequisite: American Cultural Studies course strongly suggested. Also listed as EMS 207. Fall semester.
EL 208 British Literature Since 18003
British literature from the Romantic period through the 20th century. Major period characteristics, authors and representative works. Prerequisite: American Cultural Studies course strongly suggested. EL 208 may be taken before EL 207. Spring semester.
EL 211 Introduction to Professional Writing3
An introduction to professional writing, including business and technical writing. Emphasis on writing in context, project management, document design, teamwork, research, and technology. Prerequisite: Satisfaction of Written Communication requirement. Recommended freshman/sophomore years; Must be completed prior to senior year. Fall and spring semesters.
EL 211H Introduction to Professional Writing3
An introduction to professional writing, including business and technical writing. Emphasis on writing in context, project management, document design, teamwork, research, and technology. Prerequisite: Satisfaction of Written Communication requirement. Recommended freshman/sophomore years; Must be completed prior to senior year. Fall and spring semesters.
EL 218 Writing in the Community3
Students gain leadership experience by designing and facilitating writing exercises with different communities in Spokane. This course involves some off-campus travel, typically to high schools and senior living communities.
EL 220 Pilgrimage: Walking and Writing3
This course explores pilgrimage from a variety of eras, perspectives, and genres. Through reading, writing, multimedia, and research assignments, students consider a range of pilgrimage experiences, as well as contemporary uses and adaptations. Students will create their own pilgrimage, documenting and reflecting on their practice.
EL 222 Gender and Faith in Film and Literature3
Explores how religious beliefs shape our cultural and personal understandings of gender roles and gender identity. Also listed as WGS 122. Also listed as WGS 222.
EL 226H Arthurian Legends and the Holy Grail3
This course will examine Arthurian legends as recorded in the literary oeuvre of Chretien de Troyes. Students will read the original unfinished version of the quest of the Holy Grail and devise and film their own unique ending to this enduring legend. Periodic offering.
EL 238 Arthurian Literature3
This course studies Arthurian texts as well as more recent interpretations of the Arthurian stories. Cross-listed as HI 238. Also listed as HI/EMS 238.
EL 245 Creative Writing3
An introduction to creative writing, including multiple genres. Workshop approach. Prerequisite: American Cultural Studies course strongly recommended. Also listed as EP 245. Fall and spring semesters.
EL 245H Creative Writing3
An introduction to creative writing, including multiple genres. Workshop approach. Prerequisite: American Cultural Studies course strongly recommended. Also listed as EP 245. Fall and spring semesters.
EL 247 Shakespeare3
Survey of Shakespeare's poetry, comedies, tragedies, histories, and romances. Active learning through reading, discussing, studying, watching and performing plays. Also listed as EMS 247.
EL 248 Introduction to Editing3
Course introduces students to multiple disciplines within the editor's purview, including literary, journalistic, and web-based environments. Topics include aesthetics, magazine, newspaper, and web publishing, copyediting, and teaches significant textual analysis for contemporary rhetorical situation. Students will work on actual texts for final projects. Prereq: Written Com. gen ed, EL 245, or instructor permission. Also listed as EP 248.
EL 250 Introduction to Film Studies3
An introduction to film studies and film analysis with an emphasis on primarily US filmmakers. One evening per week for film viewing, in addition to regular class sessions. Also listed as FVNS 250. Film fee.
EL 251 Modern Global Literature3
Global literature, novels and short fiction, after 1945.
EL 252 Literature of the Americas in Translation3
Introduction to non-English-language literature of the Americas from outside the United States in translation, mostly 20th/21st centuries. Cultivate appropriate reading practices across linguistic and cultural boundaries. Works considered in light of historical and cultural contexts, with a focus on the role of translation in interpretation. Taught in English.
EL 257 Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Environmental and Nature Writing3
Students will read contemporary examples of environmental and nature writing. They will produce, workshop, and revise texts about experiences in nature and current environmental issues.
EL 266 Applied Editing: Rock & Sling1
Applied Editing puts students on the staff of Rock & Sling, a nationally-distributed literary magazine. Their work helps develop their resumes and provides a practical professional experience as editorial assistants. Students will attend one, if not both, of the weekly meetings, per instructor discretion.
EL 267 Introduction to Critical Strategies3
Introduction to the strategies and terminology of literary criticism and the discipline of literary studies. Emphasis on the theoretical, historical, and practical applications of both traditional and contemporary literary criticism. Also listed as EP 267. Fall and spring semester.
EL 279 J.R.R. Tolkien3
Introduction to the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Readings of his major literary works as well as folklore and medieval literature that influenced him and shaped his life as a scholar.
EL 279H J.R.R. Tolkien3
Introduction to the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Readings of his major literary works as well as folklore and medieval literature that influenced him and shaped his life as a scholar.
EL 300H Domain of the Arts3
Exploration of theater, literature, music, museums, and film. The arts in relation to society, economics, politics, values, faith. Taught in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other major US cities. Periodic Jan Term offering.
EL 301 Children's Literature3
Reading and evaluation of a broad range of literature for children. Periodic Jan Term offering.
EL 304 Fiction Writing3
Upper-division workshop in the crafting of narrative and the marketing of fiction. Students read several examples of contemporary fiction. Workshop format. EL 245 is recommended but not required before taking the course. Fall and spring semester.
EL 305W Contemporary American Poetry3
Study of American poets and movements, 1955 to present. Engagement with historical and cultural context. Reading includes mid-modern poets (such as Adrienne Rich, Elizabeth Bishop, and Robert Lowell) and contemporary poets (such as Louise Gluck, Li-Young Lee, Christian Wiman, D. D. Wright, Naomi Shihab Nye, and many others).
EL 310 Northwest Writers3
Readings from a diverse group of Northwestern poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, with consideration of central themes and concerns shared among them. Explores the relationship between these writers and their region. Also listed as ENS 310.
EL 311 Playwriting3
Fundamentals of playwriting. Students will learn to write monologues, scenes and short plays, how to analyze a script, and the differences between play-writing and screen-writing. Prerequisite: Writing I. Periodic offering.
EL 316W American Drama Since 19003
Examines a variety of American plays written and produced since 1900, with particular attention to how direction, staging, and performance factors affect the critical reading of dramatic texts.
EL 318 Writing in the Community3
Students gain leadership experience by designing and facilitating writing exercises with different communities in Spokane. This course involves some off-campus travel, typically to high schools and senior living communities.
EL 319 Writing in the Community Practicum1
Students will lead a creative writing workshop with a community group in Spokane. They will adapt and present writing exercises, and they will write along with the community group. Students will edit, design, and publish an anthology of participants' work. Students will develop professional skills while serving their community. Students should have completed or be currently enrolled in a 200 or 300-level creative writing workshop.
EL 320 Pilgrimage: Walking and Writing3
This course explores pilgrimage from a variety of eras, perspectives, and genres. Through reading, writing, multimedia, and research assignments, students consider a range of pilgrimage experiences, as well as contemporary uses and adaptations. Students will create their own pilgrimage, documenting and reflecting on their practice.
EL 321W The American Novel to 19003
Development of the novel in the U.S. from 1794 to the dawn of the 20h century. 10 - 12 novels, including writers such as Brown, Cooper, Hawthorne, Melville, Twain, James, Howels, Crane, Chopin.
EL 322 Gender and Faith in Film and Literature3
Exploration of how religious beliefs shape our cultural and personal understanding of gender roles and gender identity.
EL 325 Studies in American Literature3
Read and analyze a variety of American literary texts, including novels, written by a set of authors representing different times, places, perspectives, and experiences of American life and culture. Students will develop higher-level research skills while conducting research on course authors, and they will write about and respond to course authors and texts. Course includes the composition of a long analytical essay. Offered for School of Continuing Studies only.
EL 329 Visual Narratives3
Exploration of graphic novels, comics, and transmedia storytelling. Readings will include both exemplary visual narratives and relevant critical theory on such texts. Two evening screenings in addition to regular class meetings. Also listed as FVNS 329.
EL 330H The Book in America to 19003
This course engages the history of the book in colonial America and the United States before 1900. Understanding "the book" in the broadest possible sense of material texts intended for communication, this interdisciplinary course takes up foundational readings on the history of the book and media studies, focusing on the specific contexts of colonial America, the early Republic, and the age of the Industrial book, and providing a distinctive angle on literary and cultural history.
EL 335W Medieval Women Writers3
A general introduction to medieval European literature from the perspective of women writers from a variety of cultures, social backgrounds, and historical time periods. we will consider what lessons about faith, gender, hope, and community, these medieval texts can offer the modern world. (Periodic)
EL 336W French Literature Before 18003
French Literature from its earliest examples through the 18th century. Students will examine literature and other cultural productions as they reflect on historical realities. Periodic offering.
EL 337 French Literature After 18003
French literature of the 19th and 20th century. Students will examine novels, short stories, plays, and other cultural productions as they reflect on extreme historical realities. Taught in English. Periodic offering.
EL 337H Audio Storytelling3
Inspired by This American Life, The Moth Radio Hour, Story Corps, and other audio programs, students will build a portfolio of their own audio work. Topics will include elements of storytelling and narrative design, ethical obligations in handling other people's stories, and basic audio recording and editing.
EL 338 Arthurian Literature3
See EL 238. Also listed as EMS 338.
EL 339 Digital Storytelling3
Study of digital, multimodal writing/storytelling. Students create a variety of digital texts using freely available audio, video, and text editing tools. Two evening screenings in addition to regular class meetings. Prerequisites: EL 210, EL 245, COM 125, or instructor permission. Also listed as COM/FVNS 339. Jan term.
EL 339H Digital Storytelling3
Study of digital, multimodal writing/storytelling. Students create a variety of digital texts using freely available audio, video, and text editing tools. Two evening screenings in addition to regular class meetings. Prerequisites: EL 210, EL 245, COM 125, or instructor permission. Also listed as COM/FVNS 339. Jan term.
EL 340H Writing in Virtual Worlds3
An introduction to writing in, with, and about virtual worlds, including exploration of MUDs/MOOs, RPGs, MMORPGs, and others. Also listed as EP 340H.
EL 342 British Women Writers3
Examines the contributions of familiar (e.g., Austen, Bronte, Woolf) and less familiar women writers of Britain. Considers literary history in light of recent revisions of that history. Women's and gender studies elective; also listed as WGS 342. Please watch the following video for more information: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyELr10kws8& feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">EL-342</a>
EL 344 Autobiographical Writing3
Practical and theoretical approaches to autobiography writing, including the personal essay. Readings in literary autobiography. Workshop format. Prerequisite: EL 245.
EL 345 Poetry Writing3
Advanced workshop in poetry composition and revision. Study of forms and movements. Reading of contemporary American and International poets. Prerequisite: EL 245.
EL 346W Essay Writing3
Advanced workshop in writing contemporary essay genres including experimental critical writing and the literary essay. Reading of current literary essays. Prerequisite: written communication course and one other writing course strongly suggested.
EL 347 Creative Nonfiction Writing3
Advanced workshop in memory-based or fact-based writing that is literary, employing stylistic devices of fiction and lyrical narrative poetry. No prerequisite, though it is recommended that students take their written communications course before or concurrently with EL-347.
EL 348 Book Design and Publishing3
Exploration of print design and professional publishing. Extensive training in professional design software. Students produce a printed book and develop text-based print projects, as well as conduct significant research into contemporary publishing issues. Required: either sophomore status (or higher) or a declared editing and publishing minor. Also listed as EP 348.
EL 349W 20th Century American Fiction3
Significant American novelists from the World War I era to the contemporary era.
EL 350H American Literary Journals3
Study the history and development of significant literary journals across American history. Students will gain an understanding of the role of magazines in the development of American literature, and practical insight into the administration and aesthetic concerns of contemporary magazines. Students will also research new developments in periodic literary publishing, including online magazines, print zines, e-books, and other digital environments.
EL 351 Documentary/Avant Garde Film3
Focusing mostly on ethical and aesthetic issues in non-fiction film since Flaherty and Grierson in the 1930s, with emphasis on documentary filmmaking since the 1980s. A secondary emphasis on experimental short films (e.g. Maya Deren and Brakhage). One evening per week for film viewing, in addition to regular class sessions. Also listed as FVNS 351. Film fee.
EL 352 World Cinema3
Major movements and filmmakers from Europe, Asia and other regions (e.g., German Expressionism, French New Wave, Bergman, Kurosawa, Latin American film, Eastern European film). Also listed as FVNS 352. Film fee.
EL 357 Environmental and Nature Writing3
Students will read contemporary examples of environmental and nature writing. They will produce, workshop, and revise texts about experiences in nature and current environmental issues.
EL 358 Composition Theory3
In this course students will read and discuss landmark essays and studies about composing processes and theories. Attention will be given to intellectual foundations of composition studies and current practice in the teaching of writing.
EL 360W 20th Century British Literature3
The fiction of the British Isles from 1900 to the present.
EL 372W American Renaissance3
Major figures of the extraordinarily rich blossoming of American literature, 1835-1860 (e.g., Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, Whitman, and less lights). Please watch the following video for more information: <a href="https://youtu.be/HmkvDXHOdx0"> EL-372W</a>
EL 375W Victorian Literature3
Seminar focusing on literary figures and genres of 19th- century Britain, including fiction, prose, poetry, autobiography and drama. Explores Victorian visual media and other popular print culture.
EL 377W Modern Poetry3
The revolution of Modernism in American poetry, 1910-1940 (e.g., Eliot, Pound, Williams, Stevens).
EL 378 Jane Austen3
A seminar on Jane Austen's major works. Some literary background strongly suggested. Also listed as WGS 378.
EL 382 Rhetorical Methods and Approaches3
This course concerns the rationale, methods and applications of both classical and contemporary rhetorical theory. Includes a survey of historical and contemporary rhetorics and their effect on both the analysis and production of texts, including digital media. Prerequisite: completion of written communication requirement and one other writing course recommended. Also listed as EP 382.
EL 388 The Sentence3
This course explores the relationship between grammar and rhetoric, with particular attention paid to the teaching of style. Designed for prospective teachers. Also listed as TES 388.
EL 390 English Internship1-3
English Internships are off-campus experiential learning activities designed to provide students with opportunities to make connections between the theory and practice of their academic study, and the practical application of that study in a professional work environment. Designed to be a capstone experience for students, the internship offers students the opportunity to gain relevant experience and build professional connections.
EL 390H Honors English Internship1-3
Honors English Internships are off-campus experiential learning activities designed to provide students with opportunities to make connections between the theory and practice of their academic study, their broader liberal arts education, and the practical application of those studies in a professional work environment. In addition to its investment in interdisciplinary learning, all Honors internships likewise have a public-facing component, meaning that students must present to a public audience evidence of their learning experiences. Designed to be a capstone experience for students, the internship offers students the opportunity to make connections across their liberal arts education, to gain relevant experience, and to build professional connections.
EL 396H This Whitworth Life: Audio Storytelling3
Inspired by This American Life, The Moth Radio Hour, Story Corps, and other audio programs, students will build a portfolio of their own audio work. Topics will include elements of storytelling and narrative design, ethical obligations in handling other people's stories, and the technical components of this kind of work, including recording and editing. Also listed as EP 396H. Jan Term. Periodic Offering. Please watch the following video for more information: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgRoISfAxmI& feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">EL-396H</a>
EL 401W Moby Dick3
A close study of Herman Melville's famous whale story in its literary and historical context. Periodic Jan Term offering.
EL 404 Novel Writing and Long-Form Fiction3
Advanced-level workshop in the crafting of a novel or other long-form fiction. Students will be introduced to avenues towards publication. Students read several examples of contemporary novels. Workshop format. Students will be helped by taking EL 304 first but that is not required. Prerequisite: EL 245(H) or permission of instructor. Fall and spring semester.
EL 420 Writing Center: Theory and Practice3
Initial training for Whitworth Writing Center consultants. Includes writing center theory and philosophy along with development of analytical insight into papers and interpersonal skills necessary for consulting. Prerequisite: faculty nomination and then completion of application and selection process. Spring semester.
EL 421 Writing Center Ii: Theory & Practice1-2
Further class work in addition to consulting hours in the Writing Center. Prerequisite EL 420. Spring or Fall semesters.
EL 444 Advanced Writing Workshop3
Workshop/seminar for serious, self-motivated students who have completed EL 245, EL 304 and EL 345. Introduction to the major contemporary literary journals, on-line publications, writer's markets, and contemporary theory. Much of course devoted to developing a single substantial writing project.
EL 449W Postmodern Literature and Culture3
Readings in postmodern literature and theory, with attention to the break from aesthetic Modernism and to cultural dilemmas commonly informing postmodern texts. Any lower-division literature course recommended as preparation. Also listed as EP 449W.
EL 460 Irish Literature3
Fiction, drama, poetry, and film by Irish artists (e.g., Joyce, Yeats, Bowen, Beckett) along with study of political and cultural contexts.
EL 466 Applied Editing: Rock & Sling1
For assistant editors of Rock & Sling, indicating leadership role. Students will attend one, if not both, of the weekly meetings, per instructor discretion.
EL 480 Field Studies1-4
EL 494 Track III Portfolio0
EL 497 Medieval and Early Modern Studies Senior Portfolio1
Students will submit a portfolio by April 15 of their final year (or midway through their final term). The portfolio will include a selection of work from 3 to 4 courses in the minor. Also listed as HI/EMS 497. Spring semester.
EL 498 Senior Portfolio1
Capstone colloquium for English majors, including revision and submission of their best work in portfolio form. Fall semester.

Requirements for English Major, B.A. (45-46)
1. Introduction to Critical Reading and Cultural Studies3
Choose one course from the following:
Reading in Action
African American Literature
Reading Literature
Women Writers
Multicultural American Literature
American Immigrant Literature
Environmental Literature
Film Noir Hardboiled Lit
Gender and Faith in Film and Literature *
Arthurian Legends and the Holy Grail
Arthurian Literature *
Shakespeare
Modern Global Literature
Literature of the Americas in Translation
2. Introduction to Creative Writing3
Choose one course from the following:
Introduction to Creative Writing
Introduction to Creative Writing
3. Theoretical Foundations6
Take both of the following courses:
Introduction to Critical Strategies
Composition Theory
or EL 382
 Rhetorical Methods and Approaches
or EL 420
 Writing Center: Theory and Practice
4. Professionalization2-3
Take at least two credits from the following:
Introduction to Professional Writing
Introduction to Professional Writing
Introduction to Editing
Applied Editing: Rock & Sling **
Writing in the Community
Writing in the Community Practicum
English Internship
Writ Center II: Theory & Prac **
Applied Editing: Rock & Sling **
Exploring Teaching
Field Experience
5. Literary History9
Choose three courses from the following:
British Literature Before 1800
American Literature Before 1865
or EL 208
 British Literature Since 1800
American Literature After 1865
or EL 208
 British Literature Since 1800
6. Advanced Creative Writing Workshop3
Choose one course from the following:
Fiction Writing
Autobiographical Writing
Poetry Writing
Creative Nonfiction Writing
Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Environmental and Nature Writing
Advanced Writing Workshop
7. Advanced Writing Studies or Creative Writing6
Chose any two courses from the following:
Fiction Writing
Playwriting
Writing in the Community
Pilgrimage: Walking and Writing
Digital Storytelling
Digital Storytelling
Writing in Virtual Worlds
Autobiographical Writing
Poetry Writing
Essay Writing
Creative Nonfiction Writing
or EL 357
 Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Environmental and Nature Writing
Audio Storytelling
Book Design and Publishing
Composition Theory
Rhetorical Methods and Approaches
The Sentence
Writing Center: Theory and Practice
Advanced Writing Workshop
8. Advanced Literature Studies6
Choose any two courses from the following:
Children's Literature
Contemporary American Poetry
Northwest Writers
American Drama Since 1900
The American Novel to 1900
Gender and Faith in Film and Literature *
Visual Narratives
The Book in America to 1900
Arthurian Literature *
British Women Writers
20th Century American Fiction
20th Century British Literature
American Renaissance
Victorian Literature
Modern Poetry
Jane Austen
Moby Dick
Postmodern Literature and Culture
Irish Literature
9. Advanced Electives6
Choose any two courses from sections 7, 8, or 9.
Shakespeare
Introduction to Film Studies
Domain of the Arts
American Literary Journals
Documentary/Avant Garde Film
World Cinema
10. Senior Portfolio1
Senior Portfolio
One course in the major must be writing intensive
*

Starred (*) courses are offered at both the 200- and 300-level. Students may count only one or the other toward the major.

**

Course is repeatable for credit.

Requirements for English/Language Arts Major, B.A. (46)

This major is especially intended for undergraduate students who are simultaneously completing education certification through Whitworth's School of Education.

When taken alongside a teacher certification program through the School of Education, this major addresses all required English/Language Arts endorsement competencies for the State of Washington’s Residency Teacher Certificate. It is designed to be excellent preparation for the state-required content exam for the English/Language Arts endorsement and to strategically deepen the future teacher’s preparation for teaching literature, writing, and text production.

If interested, students in this major should consult with their advisors about coursework and experiences that might help prepare them to teach integrated humanities (for which a history minor is recommended) or to lead secondary school journalism, yearbook, debate, or drama programs.

All endorsements are subject to change; see School of Education for updated certification requirements.
1. Introduction to Critical Reading and Cultural Studies3
See Section 1 in the English Major, B.A., for course options.
2. Foundations
EL 245Introduction to Creative Writing3
or EL 245H Introduction to Creative Writing
EL 267Introduction to Critical Strategies3
EDU 387Teaching English Language Arts to Adolescents3
EL 388The Sentence3
Literary History9
Take three courses.
British Literature Before 1800
American Literature Before 1865
or EL 208
 British Literature Since 1800
American Literature After 1865
or EL 208
 British Literature Since 1800
Shakespeare3
Shakespeare
3. Writing Studies and Digital Humanities
Take one of the following composition/rhetoric-related courses:3
Composition Theory
Rhetorical Methods and Approaches
Intervention for Academic Learning Problems *
Second-Language Acquisition **
ELL Methods in Language Arts and Reading **
Take one of the following additional writing studies/digital humanities courses:3
Introduction to Editing
Visual Narratives
Audio Storytelling
Digital Storytelling
Digital Storytelling
Writing in Virtual Worlds
Book Design and Publishing
Composition Theory
Rhetorical Methods and Approaches
Take one of the following upper-division writing workshops:3
Fiction Writing
Writing in the Community
Autobiographical Writing
Poetry Writing
Creative Nonfiction Writing
Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Environmental and Nature Writing
Advanced Writing Workshop
Or, with advisor permission, take a different upper division writing workshop.
4. Advanced Literature Courses
Take one global literature course from the following list:3
Arthurian Legends and the Holy Grail ***
Modern Global Literature
Literature of the Americas in Translation
Take two additional upper-division literature courses.6
5. Capstone1
For students who are double majoring in Education and WILL be student teaching as part of the Education program:
Secondary Student-Teaching Seminar
For students NOT double majoring in Education:
Senior Portfolio
Any English student MAY choose to enroll in EL 498, but for students who are student teaching, it is not required.
*

Recommended option for special education minors.

**

Recommended options for those pursuing the Multi-Lingual Learners endorsement.

***

Starred courses are offered at both the 200- and 300-level. Students may count only one or the other toward the major.

The standard English minor allows students a wide range of choices, so that they can choose to focus their coursework on writing, literature or another desirable combination of courses from among our offerings. Focused minors in Creative Writing, Literature and Writing Studies allow students to deepen their studies in those areas. We also offer a language arts minor, intended for students who are completing education certification or for students who plan to apply to a master's in teaching program immediately after graduation. In addition to the standard minor and the language arts minor, English supports and encourages minors in editing & publishing, film & visual narrative, medieval & early modern studies, teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), and women's & gender studies. Links to the requirements for those minors have been provided below. 

Requirements for an English Minor (18)
Introduction to Critical Reading and Cultural Studies, Choose One:3
African American Literature
Reading Literature
Women Writers
Multicultural American Literature
American Immigrant Literature
Gender and Faith in Film and Literature *
English Electives15
15 English course credits (usually 5 courses), including at least two upper-division courses (which may have prerequisites).
Note: EL 110 (Writing I) does not count toward the English minor.
*

Starred courses are offered at both the 200- and 300-level. Students may count only one or the other toward the minor.

Creative Writing Minor 

This minor invites students to explore creative writing in a number of genres. Students will analyze and practice different writing styles, as well as different approaches to talking about the art of writing. Workshops are central to these courses. Students in the creative writing minor learn to give and receive specific, constructive feedback, a highly transferable and employable skill.

Requirements for a Creative Writing Minor (15)
Any two courses (or up to six credits) from this minor may also, if appropriate, count toward completion of a major in English.
1. Introduction to Creative Writing3
Introduction to Creative Writing
Introduction to Creative Writing
2. Creative Writing Electives12
Choose four courses from the following:
Fiction Writing
Playwriting
Writing in the Community
Writing in the Community Practicum
Pilgrimage: Walking and Writing
Poetry Writing
Essay Writing
Creative Nonfiction Writing
or EL 344
 Autobiographical Writing
or EL 357
 Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Environmental and Nature Writing
Audio Storytelling
Digital Storytelling
Digital Storytelling
Advanced Writing Workshop

Literature Minor 

This minor invites students to read and analyze a wide variety of literature, from different eras and different cultures. Upper division courses in the minor will be small, discussion-oriented seminars, typically limited to 16 students and demanding in depth analysis and research.

Requirements for a Literature Minor (15)
Any two courses (or up to six credits) from this minor may also, if appropriate, count toward completion of a major in English.
1. Introduction to Critical Reading and Cultural Studies3
Reading in Action
African American Literature
Reading Literature
Women Writers
Multicultural American Literature
American Immigrant Literature
Film Noir Hardboiled Lit
Gender and Faith in Film and Literature *
Arthurian Legends and the Holy Grail
Arthurian Literature *
Modern Global Literature
Literature of the Americas in Translation
2. Global Literature3
Arthurian Legends and the Holy Grail
Modern Global Literature
Literature of the Americas in Translation
3. Advanced Literature courses (9 credits)
a. Beginnings Through Renaissance3
Shakespeare
Arthurian Literature *
b. 18th-19th Century 3
The American Novel to 1900
The Book in America to 1900
British Women Writers
American Renaissance
Victorian Literature
Jane Austen
Moby Dick
c. 20th-21st Century3
Contemporary American Poetry
Northwest Writers
American Drama Since 1900
Visual Narratives
20th Century American Fiction
20th Century British Literature
Modern Poetry
Postmodern Literature and Culture
Irish Literature
*

Starred (*) courses are offered at both the 200- and 300-level. Students may count only one or the other toward the minor.

Writing Studies Minor 

This minor explores writing studies broadly – rhetoric, theories of composition, the intersection of culture and language, and contemporary approaches to composing in both traditional and digital spaces.

Requirements for a Writing Studies Minor (15)
Any two courses (or up to six credits) from this minor may also, if appropriate, count toward completion of a major in English.
1. Foundations6
Composition Theory
Rhetorical Methods and Approaches
2. Writing Studies electives9
Choose any three from the following:
Digital Storytelling
Digital Storytelling
Writing in Virtual Worlds
The Sentence
Writing Center: Theory and Practice
Writ Center II: Theory & Prac *
*

Course is repeatable for credit. 

English/Language Arts Minor 

This minor will familiarize students with basic English/Language Arts teaching competencies and content via courses in literature, creative writing, and language arts pedagogy. It is helpful for those looking to add English/Language Arts as a second content area endorsement.   Students choosing this minor should consult with advisors in both the School of Education and the department of English about their plans. All endorsements subject to change; see School of Education for updated certification requirements.

When taken alongside a teacher certification program through the School of Education, this minor addresses all required English/Language Arts endorsement competencies for the State of Washington’s Residency Teacher Certificate. Based on those official competencies, and in the context of a Whitworth undergraduate education (which will include a course in Written Communication and courses devoted to cultural studies), the minor is designed to prepare students for the state-required content exam for the English/Language Arts endorsement.

Students choosing this minor should consult with advisors in both the School of Education and the Department of English about their plans.

Students interested in additional coursework to deepen their preparation for the certification exam or for teaching in the English/Language Arts area should consult with an English department advisor about strategically enrolling in additional coursework covering cultural studies, the history of literature, global literature, critical theory, and/or writing studies.

All endorsements subject to change; see School of Education for updated certification requirements.

Requirements for an English/Language Arts Minor (18)
1. Language Arts Education (6 Credits)
EDU 387Teaching English Language Arts to Adolescents3
EL 388The Sentence3
2. Literature (9 Credits)
EL 206American Literature After 18653
EL 207British Literature Before 18003
Any literature course at the 300 or 400 Level *3
3. Writing (3 Credits)
EL 245Introduction to Creative Writing3
or EL 245H Introduction to Creative Writing
*

Other courses may be substituted in consultation with an English advisor.

TESOL Minor

Requirements for a TESOL Minor (16)
TES 361/EDU 361Second-Language Acquisition3
TES 362/EDU 362ELL Methodology3
TES 388/EL 388The Sentence3
TES 372/EDU 372Refugee and Immigrant Experiences3
or SO 220 Race and Ethnicity
One of the following:3
Introduction to Sociology
Intercultural Communication
TES 364/EDU 364TESOL Field Experience1

Editing & Publishing (21 Credits)

Requirements for the Editing & Publishing minor are listed on the Editing & Publishing page.
http://catalog.whitworth.edu/undergraduate/interdisciplinarystudies/editing_and_publishing/
The Editing & Publishing (EP) minor provides focused engagement and practical experience with text production, editorial discernment, and multiplatform design and publishing. EP students study the aesthetics and ethics of editorial work and multiple methods of textual production. They will create portfolio- and resume-worthy projects, and they will undertake significant professional internships. The EP Minor provides students with a unique opportunity to directly apply their humanities education to professional situations and future careers.

(EP Requirements)

Film & Visual Narrative (18-20 Credits)

Requirements for the Film & Visual Narrative Minor are listed in the Film & Visual Narrative page
http://catalog.whitworth.edu/undergraduate/interdisciplinarystudies/film_and_visual_narrative/
The Film & Visual Narrative Minor is designed for students who are interested in focused engagement with film, visual storytelling, and emerging forms of digital narrative. FVN students study the history and aesthetics of film and related sequential visual media. While the minor focuses mainly on analyzing and responding to media, rather than on production, some electives in the minor give students the chance to experiment in various ways with media production.

(FVN Requirements)

Medieval & Early Modern Studies (19-20 Credits)

Requirements for the Medieval & Early Modern Studies minor are listed at the Medieval & Early Modern Studies page
http://catalog.whitworth.edu/undergraduate/interdisciplinarystudies/medieval_early_modern_studies/
The Medieval & Early Modern Studies (MEMS) Minor is designed for students interested in early time periods (from the fall of Rome in 450 CE to about 1800). The minor draws from many different fields on campus, including English, History, Music, and Art. Students will study these fields and time periods using interdisciplinary approaches.

(MEMS Requirements)

Women's & Gender Studies (18 Credits)

Requirements for the Women's & Gender Studies minor are listed at the Women's & Gender Studies page.
http://catalog.whitworth.edu/undergraduate/womensgenderstudies/
The Women's & Gender Studies program provides students with an intellectual framework for analyzing the role of gender in all aspects of their lives. It empowers each minor to imagine a world in which equality and freedom are possible for all people, and it invites them to take action to bring that world into being. Whether students hope to launch a business with women in developing countries, minister from a lens of equality, study environmental law, write novels, practice obstetrics, or pursue elected office, Women's and Gender Studies will allow them to frame a course of study to help find a path best suited to their interests.

(WGS Requirements)

Dean

ERICA SALKIN

Chair

THOMAS CARAWAY

Professors

CASEY ANDREWSJESSICA CLEMENTSJOHN PELL

Associate professors

THOMAS CARAWAYD. BERT EMERSONPETER MOENICOLE SHEETS

Visiting Assistant Professor

NICOLE BOUCHARD

Director of the Composition Commons

JESSICA CLEMENTS

Director of University Writing Program

PETER MOE