Bachelor of Arts (B.A) Major in English/ Master of Arts (M.A.) Major in Technical Communication

ENG 1300. Developmental Writing.

Basic composition skills. For students who have not satisfied TSIP requirements or for those who need developmental work before taking English 1310. Credit earned for this course does not count toward any degree offered by the university.

ENG 1310. College Writing I.

This course provides the foundational oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable the exchange of messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, purpose, and audience. Emphasis is on critical reading and the improvement of essays through reading, drafting, collaborating, reviewing, revising, and editing. This course examines expository writing as a means of exploring and shaping ideas in order to produce rhetorically effective texts that include a thesis, defined as a presentation of a central idea, and competently-organized and well-supported supporting paragraphs.

ENG 1320. College Writing II.

This course is a continuation of English 1310, focusing on expository writing--the kind of objective, audience-directed prose used in college and beyond to explain and defend ideas. Emphasis is on conducting primary and secondary research; quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing sources; and using standard procedures of citation and documentation. All papers in the course are documented, with at least one requiring the use of several secondary sources. This course provides the foundational oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable the exchange of messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, purpose, and audience.

ENG 1321. Writing and Service Learning.

This course is a service-learning writing course that focuses on writing projects situated in local community-based contexts. Writing assignments reflect a variety of genres, including multimodal texts and group-authored projects. Emphasis is on the production of rhetorically effective texts that include a thesis, defined as a presentation of a central idea, and competently organized and well-supported paragraphs. This course provides the foundational oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable the exchange of messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, purpose, and audience. At least one paper incorporates and cites multiple secondary sources.

ENG 2310. British Literature before 1785.

This course examines representative authors and works of British literature from the beginnings through the Neoclassical Period. The course texts include works from a range of British authors and literary traditions prior to 1785. In the course, students read and analyze literary texts; examine literature as an art form; and gain an understanding of the role of literature in its historical, social, and cultural contexts. Individual literary texts are framed as part of broader literary, historical, and cultural movements. (WI).

ENG 2320. British Literature since 1785.

This course examines representative authors and works of British literature from the Romantic era through the present. The course texts include works from a range of British authors and literary traditions from the late eighteenth century onward. In the course, students read and analyze literary texts; examine literature as an art form; and gain an understanding of the role of literature in its historical, social, and cultural contexts. Individual literary texts are framed as part of broader literary, historical, and cultural movements. (WI).

ENG 2330. World Literature before 1600.

This course examines representative authors and works of literature from the ancient world to the early modern world. Readings may come exclusively from the Western tradition or from various literary traditions, including Africa and Asia. The course texts include works from a range of world authors and literary traditions prior to 1785. In the course, students read and analyze literary texts; examine literature as an art form; and develop an understanding of its role in historical, social, and cultural contexts. Individual literary texts are framed as part of broader literary, historical, and cultural movements. (WI).

ENG 2340. World Literature since 1600.

This course examines representative authors and works of literature from the ancient world to the early modern period. Readings may focus exclusively on the Western tradition or include texts from a range of literary traditions, including those from Africa and Asia. Students read and analyze literary texts, examine literature as an art form, and develop an understanding of the role of literature within its historical, social, and cultural contexts. Individual works are situated within broader literary, historical, and cultural movements. (WI).

ENG 2359. US Literature before 1865.

This course surveys representative authors and works of U.S. literature from its beginnings through the Civil War. Course texts include works from a range of American authors and literary traditions prior to 1865. Students read and analyze literary texts, examine literature as an art form, and develop an understanding of its role within historical, social, and cultural contexts. Individual works are situated within broader literary, historical, and cultural movements. (WI).

ENG 2360. US Literature since 1865.

This course surveys representative authors and works of U.S. literature from the Civil War to the present. Course texts include works from a range of American authors and literary traditions since 1865. Students read and analyze literary texts, examine literature as an art form, and develop an understanding of the role of literature within its historical, social, and cultural contexts. Individual works are situated within broader literary, historical, and cultural movements. (WI).

ENG 2371. U.S. Literature: Writing Identities.

This course surveys representative authors and works of U.S. literature from the colonial era to the present. Course texts include works from a range of U.S. authors and literary traditions and may include texts from both before and after the Civil War, with readings organized by region, theme, genre, or other analytical frameworks. Students read and analyze literary texts, examine literature as an art form, and develop an understanding of its role within historical, social, and cultural contexts. Individual works are situated within broader literary, historical, and cultural movements. (WI).

ENG 3301. Critical Approaches for English Majors.

This course introduces students to major critical methods and practices used in rhetorical and literary analysis across English Studies. Students examine how scholars formulate interpretive approaches, apply analytical tools, and engage in research-based inquiry. Emphasis is placed on developing reading, writing, and information literacy skills that support effective academic work in upper-division courses. The course provides structured opportunities to practice analyzing texts, evaluating arguments, and producing evidence-based interpretations within a variety of methodological frameworks. It also introduces students to key vocabulary and terminology within the field.

ENG 3302. Film and Video Theory and Production.

This course introduces students to major approaches in film and narrative theory alongside introductory production practices. Students examine key concepts such as framing, composition, sequencing, sound design, and narrative structure to understand how meaning is constructed in moving-image media. Through hands-on exercises, students apply theoretical concepts and foundational production techniques. The course treats both theory and production as objects of academic study, emphasizing analytical reasoning and technical competence. It highlights the interplay between conceptual frameworks and production choices, preparing students for further work in film studies.

ENG 3303. Technical Writing.

This course introduces students to the principles and practices of technical communication through clear, purposeful, and audience-driven writing. Students analyze communication situations, adapt information to user needs, and create well-designed documents across common professional genres such as instructions, résumés, and proposals. Emphasis is placed on usability, responsible communication, and the effective integration of textual and visual elements. (WI) Prerequisite: ENG 1310 or ENG 1320 or ENG 1321 any with a grade of "D" or better.

ENG 3304. Document Design.

This course introduces principles of expository writing and document design used in professional environments. Students examine how audience, purpose, and context shape workplace communication, and they apply design strategies to create documents such as reports, proposals, instructions, and professional correspondence. Emphasis is placed on clarity, usability, organization, and visual design conventions that support effective information delivery. Students also compile a portfolio of revised written work that demonstrates their proficiency with workplace genres and can be adapted for professional or graduate school applications.

ENG 3305. Life Writing.

This course examines theories and/or practices of life writing as understood in rhetoric and writing studies. Students study methods such as autoethnography, narrative inquiry, scholarly personal writing, and literacy narratives to understand how lived experience can function as a source of inquiry. The course emphasizes critical reading, methodological reflection, and the application of research techniques to personal narrative, and it foregrounds methodological reasoning and emphasizes student agency in forming interpretations. Readings and activities explore how writers document experience, make meaning from personal and cultural contexts, and apply systematic inquiry to lived events. Specific content and focus vary by section, and the course may be repeated once for credit when its topic varies.

ENG 3306. Writing for Film.

This course introduces students to the principles and practices of writing for film, integrating analysis of published cinematic texts with hands on exercises in screenwriting. Students learn key elements of cinematic storytelling, including structure, characterization, theme, tone, and the interplay between image and dialogue. Script readings introduce a range of styles, narrative strategies, and industry conventions. Writing workshops support students in generating original material and applying the formal techniques observed in professional scripts. The course offers a grounding in screenwriting as a professional and creative discipline while maintaining a focus on analytical and practical skill development.

ENG 3307. Introduction to the Study of Film.

This course provides an introduction to key basic film terms and concepts, to various theoretical approaches to the study of film, and to important debates within film theory. Its focus includes theories of spectatorship, the debate between formalism and realism, psychoanalytic and feminist theories, and cultural approaches to film. Emphasis is placed on understanding the interaction among film form, narrative, and viewer experience. By engaging with representative texts and theories, students develop foundational vocabulary and analytical skills necessary for advanced coursework in film and media studies.

ENG 3308. Advanced Topics in Film.

This course provides an in depth examination of film as a textual, cultural, and aesthetic medium. Students analyze cinematic works using critical, theoretical, historical, and stylistic approaches. Specific content and focus vary by section and may include areas such as classical Hollywood cinema, silent film, world cinemas, national film traditions, documentary modes, or genre based studies. Students engage with primary films and secondary scholarship to develop skills in close visual analysis and contextual interpretation. The course may be repeated once for credit when the topic varies.

ENG 3309. The Southwest in Film.

This course examines films set in and concerned with the Southwestern United States, considering questions of genre, form, and medium as well as how the region’s history and culture are represented on screen. Assigned films may include westerns, border narratives, and other cinematic genres. Course content engages with and considers how the Southwest has figured in the development of moving pictures and the creation of a national mythos. (WI).

ENG 3311. Practices in Writing and Rhetoric.

This course examines and applies advanced expository writing techniques with an emphasis on rhetorical dexterity, clarity, and effective communication. Students study a range of rhetorical situations and practice adapting style and structure to meet the demands of various contexts and audiences. Specific content and focus vary by section and may include topics such as Nature Writing, Travel Writing, Music Writing, or Writing in Online Environments. Through guided analysis and regular writing practice, students develop the ability to assess rhetorical situations and produce effective prose across genres. The course may be repeated once for credit when its emphasis varies.

ENG 3312. Internship in English Studies.

This course provides a supervised work experience that allows students to apply skills from English Studies in professional settings. Students engage in tasks related to writing, research, communication, editing, or other disciplinary competencies while observing workplace practices and expectations. Internship placements vary according to student interest and may include nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, businesses, cultural agencies, publishing environments, or other relevant contexts. Under faculty supervision, students complete reflective and analytical assignments that connect workplace experience to academic learning. The course supports exploration of potential career paths and development of transferable professional skills. Prerequisites: Instructor approval.

ENG 3313. Scientific Writing.

This course introduces students to strategies for effective written communication in scientific and social scientific contexts. Students learn techniques for planning, organizing, drafting, and revising documents for a range of professional and academic audiences. Students examine models of scientific communication and practice crafting documents such as abstracts, brief reports, and analytic summaries. Attention is given to clarity, concision, coherence, and ethical presentation of information. The course emphasizes adaptable writing skills that support students’ future work in research, laboratory, applied, or interdisciplinary environments. Students practice identifying audience needs, using evidence appropriately, and applying editing strategies that strengthen readability and accuracy.

ENG 3315. Introduction to Creative Writing.

This course introduces students to foundational practices in creative writing across genres such as fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Students examine craft elements including structure, imagery, voice, narrative development, and language choice while learning approaches to generating, revising, and refining original work. Workshops and guided discussions emphasize the ability to analyze texts, respond constructively to peer writing, and apply feedback to their own drafts. By exploring a range of techniques and models, students build adaptable writing skills that support continued study in creative composition and related fields.

ENG 3316. Film Adaptation Studies.

This course introduces students to the comparative study of film adaptations derived from a range of other media, including literature, drama, comics and graphic narratives, and more. Students explore how creators interpret, modify, and reimagine source material for the screen and analyze how narrative, style, genre, and audience expectations influence adaptation decisions and outcomes. In addition, students investigate how media strengths and limitations transform stories, characters, and concepts. Content and focus vary by section, allowing examination of different historical periods, media forms, or adaptation strategies. Emphasis is placed on analytical skills, film terminology, and comparative methodologies. This course may be repeated once for credit when the topic varies.

ENG 3318. Approaches to Writing and Rhetoric.

This course introduces students to major approaches in the study and practice of writing and rhetoric, emphasizing analytical, theoretical, and applied perspectives. Specific content and focus vary by section and may include topics such as Composition Theory, Political Rhetoric, or Literacy Studies. The course examines how rhetorical approaches develop, how they are applied, and how writing practices vary across professional, academic, and cultural contexts. Students engage with representative texts, analyze rhetorical methods, and develop skills for studying how writing functions across contexts. The course may be repeated twice for credit when its emphasis varies.

ENG 3319. The Development of English.

This course provides an introduction to the historical development of the English language from its earliest forms to the present. Students examine phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic changes that have shaped English over time. The course explores the evolution of dialects, the history of spelling and dictionaries, and the diverse sources that contribute to English vocabulary. Through readings and analytical activities, students gain an understanding of the processes and social contexts that influence language development.

ENG 3320. Studies in Theory and Criticism.

This course offers an in-depth exploration of one or more major theoretical and critical approaches used in literary, cultural, and/or rhetorical studies, such as ecocriticism, film theory, trauma theory, or disability studies. Students engage foundational texts, analyze contemporary debates, and apply theoretical frameworks to diverse works across national traditions, genres, or media. Specific content and focus vary by section, and emphasis is placed on understanding how these approaches shape interpretation and scholarly conversation. The course may be repeated once for credit when its specific topic or theoretical focus varies.

ENG 3321. The Short Story.

This course examines the international development of the short story as a literary form from the nineteenth century to the present, beginning with writers such as Edgar Allan Poe and Nikolai Gogol and extending across global traditions. Students study representative works to consider how authors use style, structure, theme, and narrative technique to shape short fiction and adapt the form to varied artistic, cultural, and historical contexts. Works from a range of periods and regions may be included to illustrate the diversity of the form. Students learn vocabulary for discussing short fiction and practice applying literary concepts through written analysis.

ENG 3322. The European Novel.

This course examines the European novel from its early modern emergence through contemporary innovations. Focusing on writers from a variety of regions, students consider how social change, artistic experimentation, and literary tradition shape the genre. Works are read in translation, and selections vary by instructor to include a range of national and stylistic influences. Students examine narrative structure, characterization, style, and thematic innovation as they investigate both canonical and influential lesser known works. Students gain practice in close reading, contextual interpretation, and understanding the evolution of narrative forms across European literary history.

ENG 3323. Modern Poetry.

This course introduces students to major developments in modern and contemporary poetry written in English and in English translation. Emphasis is placed on close reading, analysis of poetic technique, and understanding the historical and cultural contexts in and from which modern poetry emerged. Students examine a range of poets and movements to explore how form, voice, imagery, and thematic concerns evolved during the modern and contemporary period. Readings vary by instructor but will reflect the range and innovation characteristic of modern poetic expression.

ENG 3325. Literature in Translation.

This course examines significant works of literature from non-Anglophone regions of the world, read in English translation. Focusing on texts from the eighteenth century to the present, students analyze narrative structure, theme, characterization, and stylistic features while considering relevant cultural and historical contexts. The course may center one national tradition or compare several different literary genealogies and emphasizes interpretative and analytical skills. Students explore a range of genres and styles while examining how historical context, literary movements, and translation choices shape interpretation.

ENG 3326. US Drama on Film.

This course examines significant works of US drama and their film adaptations. Students analyze how plays are transformed when moved from stage to screen, considering narrative structure, performance, visual style, and audience expectations. The course emphasizes analytical tools from both drama and film studies, focusing on structure, characterization, mise en scène, and audience reception. Readings and viewings may include a range of periods and genres within US dramatic traditions. Students read selected plays and view corresponding films in order to analyze how medium, historical context, and production choices shape interpretation.

ENG 3327. Early Global Drama in English.

This course examines major works of global drama from antiquity to the nineteenth century. Students analyze dramatic structure, characterization, performance conventions, and the cultural and historical contexts that have shaped theatrical traditions across time. The course further explores how playwrights across eras and cultures use structure, dialogue, and staging to address artistic and social concerns. Through close reading and discussion, students consider the evolution of genres such as tragedy, comedy, and realism and develop skills in dramatic analysis, evaluating how theatrical forms evolve across different cultures and historical periods.

ENG 3328. Modern Global Drama in English.

This course examines major works of global drama from the nineteenth century to the present, either written in or translated into English. Students analyze dramatic techniques, thematic developments, and stylistic innovations, exploring questions of form and performance while examining how theatrical movements, historical contexts, and performance conventions shape dramatic works. Through close reading, comparative analysis, and discussion of performance contexts, students develop a broad understanding of modern dramatic forms. Readings vary by instructor to highlight the variety of global modern drama.

ENG 3329. Studies in Mythology.

This course examines mythological narratives from a range of cultures and time periods, including ancient traditions, contemporary retellings, and myths expressed through modern literature and popular culture. Students analyze how myths function within societies, how they evolve across history, and how they shape and reflect cultural values. Specific content and focus vary by section and may include mythic archetypes, heroic narratives, creation stories, and modern reinterpretations of traditional myths. This course may be repeated once for credit when the topic varies.

ENG 3330. The Story of Film.

This course introduces students to the development of narrative film from the medium’s inception to contemporary digital filmmaking. Students examine early cinematic experiments, the transition from an emphasis on spectacle to one on storytelling, and how cinematic elements such as editing, mise-en-scène, sound, and cinematography create and transform narrative traditions and conventions. Finally, it investigates how the ongoing impact of emergent technologies influences storytelling practices and cinematic form. Films and readings vary by section but focus on major developments in narrative cinema.

ENG 3331. Black Literature.

This course examines selected works of Black literature, including poetry, drama, fiction, and additional cultural texts from various historical periods and traditions. Students examine how writers use language, form, and narrative structure to develop themes and ideas, and they analyze how these works participate in broader literary movements. Texts may represent multiple regions or African diasporic communities, and selections vary by instructor. Students practice close reading and analytical writing in order to understand the contributions of Black literature to the wider literary landscape, and through reading, discussion, and analytical writing, students develop tools for interpreting Black literary traditions in diverse contexts.

ENG 3333. Early US Literature.

This course examines selected works of early US literature from the colonial period through the Civil War. Students analyze how authors respond to the cultural, political, intellectual, and artistic conditions of their historical moments. Readings may include sermons, autobiographies, political writings, captivity and exploration narratives as well as poetry, fiction, and early American prose. Students study how literary forms reflect the social and historical contexts of early America while learning methods of textual and contextual analysis. Text selections vary by instructor. Through reading, discussion, and analytical writing, students develop skills in literary analysis, historical contextualization, and argumentation.

ENG 3335. US Literature, 1865–1945.

This course examines selected works of US literature from the end of the Civil War through World War II. Students explore a range of genres, including fiction, poetry, drama, and essays, and analyze how authors responded to the cultural, social, and artistic changes of the period. Through close reading, contextual analysis, and discussion, students learn to evaluate how literary movements such as realism, naturalism, modernism, and regionalism shaped US literary expression. Text selections vary by instructor and may include authors from a variety of regions and traditions.

ENG 3336. US Literature, 1945 to the Present.

This course examines selected works of US literature from World War II to the present. Students explore a range of genres and movements, including postwar realism, postmodernism, and contemporary narrative experimentation, and analyze how authors use form, language, and narrative strategies to explore shifting historical and cultural contexts. The course emphasizes analytical reading, historical context, and interpretation of literary texts. Through close reading, discussion, and written analysis, students evaluate how authors respond to cultural, artistic, and technological developments that shape late twentieth and twenty first century literature. Text selections vary by instructor and may include authors from a variety of regions and traditions.

ENG 3338. The American Novel.

This course examines selected major American novels alongside pertinent literary criticism that addresses their form, themes, and cultural contexts. Students analyze how authors use narrative structure, character, and theme to address artistic and historical concerns and trace how novelistic traditions emerge, change, and influence later American writing. Text selections vary by instructor and may include representative works from different regions, movements, and cultural contexts. Coursework emphasizes close reading, contextual interpretation, and engagement with major critical debates.

ENG 3340. Special Topics in Language and Literature.

This course covers a variety of topics that reflect faculty expertise. Students pursue an in-depth examination of a given topic to develop their close reading, literary analysis, and scholarly writing skills. Specific content and focus vary by section. Emphases can include studies in genre, such as science fiction, horror, or chivalric romance; medium, such as comics, games, or illuminated manuscripts; or form, such as modernism, metafiction, or memoir. This course may be repeated twice for credit when its emphasis varies. (WI).

ENG 3341. Studies in Global Literature.

This course examines selected works of global literature from ancient, classical, and/or modern periods. Students analyze how texts from different regions and eras engage with narrative form, language, and cultural context and explore how authors across cultures use language and narrative to convey meaning and shape literary forms. Through close reading, comparative analysis, and discussion, students explore how literary traditions reflect and respond to their historical moments. Specific content and focus vary by section and may be organized around regional literatures, thematic groupings, or genre-focused approaches. The course may be repeated once for credit when its content varies.

ENG 3342. Editing.

This course provides an introduction to professional editing practices used in print and digital publication environments. Students learn to make editorial changes, prepare manuscripts for typesetting, and mark galley and page proofs accurately. The course covers fundamentals of layout and design, including typefaces, paper choices, headlines, and other elements that contribute to clear communication. Students also examine challenges and opportunities in desktop publishing and consider the current landscape of electronic publication. Instruction emphasizes accuracy, clarity, and professional standards while encouraging students to apply editing principles across a variety of texts.

ENG 3343. The Interdisciplinary Approach to Literature.

This course examines a selected literary topic using analytical tools drawn from multiple academic disciplines. Depending on the section, students may engage methodologies from history, sociology, psychology, visual studies, legal studies, or related fields. Students explore how various disciplinary lenses contribute to understanding literary texts and how multiple perspectives from outside the traditional boundaries of literary studies can enhance textual interpretation. Students practice close reading, contextual analysis, and comparative inquiry as they consider how different disciplines illuminate literary texts. Specific content and focus vary by section, and the course may be repeated once for credit when its emphasis varies.

ENG 3344. Chicana/o/x Narrative and Social History.

This course examines narratives created by people of Mexican descent living in the United States, focusing on how writers represent social, historical, and cultural experiences. Students analyze texts as literary and historical artifacts, considering the ways narrative form, genre, and context shape meaning, and study how writers use narrative techniques to depict community histories, social environments, and cultural identities. Instruction emphasizes close reading and evidence based interpretation. Works may span multiple genres and periods, reflecting the range of storytelling traditions and lived experiences of US communities of Mexican descent.

ENG 3345. Southwestern Studies I: Defining the Region.

This course is the first of two in a broad interdisciplinary survey of the geophysical, cultural, social, literary, and political history of the Southwestern United States. It investigates the foundational attributes of the Southwest, emphasizing how the region is defined through regional and ethnic expressions of culture in architecture, art, economics, law, literature, philosophy, and politics. As the first course in the sequence, this course establishes foundational vocabulary, skills, and historical frameworks relevant to Southwestern Studies.

ENG 3346. Southwestern Studies II: Consequences of Region.

This course is the second of a two-course sequence in a broad interdisciplinary survey of the geophysical, cultural, social, literary, and political history of the Southwestern United States. It explores the impact on the continuing representation of the region of regional and ethnic expressions of culture in architecture, art, economics, law, literature, philosophy, politics, popular culture, religion, social science, and technology. As the second course in a two-course sequence, it builds on foundational concepts while expanding the scope and complexity of interdisciplinary inquiry and evaluating how regional factors influence cultural and historical developments.

ENG 3347. American Poetry.

This course examines selected American poetry. Students analyze how poets use language, form, imagery, and sound to create meaning while exploring the historical, social, and artistic contexts that shape poetic expression. Readings may include works from a variety of movements and traditions across multiple time periods from the genre’s earliest forms to contemporary practice. Instruction engages with poetic language, structure, and technique and considers a variety of poetic traditions. Readings and themes vary by instructor to highlight the diversity of American poetic expression.

ENG 3348. Creative Writing: Fiction.

This course provides an intermediate-level seminar for writers of fiction. Students explore narrative techniques such as characterization, plot, setting, point of view, and dialogue while practicing strategies for generating ideas and developing creative work. Workshops and peer feedback support the development of critical reading and writing skills. The course emphasizes revision as an essential part of the writing process and encourages students to experiment with literary techniques. Instruction centers on skill development and analytic engagement with fiction, allowing students to refine their own writing practices. Prerequisite: ENG 3315 with a grade of "D" or better.

ENG 3349. Creative Writing: Poetry.

This course provides an intermediate-level seminar for writers of poetry. Students explore poetic techniques such as imagery, lineation, rhythm, sound, and figurative language while practicing strategies for generating ideas and developing creative work. Workshops and peer feedback support the development of critical reading and writing skills. The course emphasizes revision as an essential part of the writing process and encourages students to experiment with poetic techniques. Instruction centers on skill development and analytic engagement with poetry, allowing students to refine their own writing practices. Prerequisite: ENG 3315 with a grade of "D" or better.

ENG 3350. Global Medieval Literature.

This course examines medieval literature across Europe and beyond, exploring representative texts, genres, and cultural contexts. Students analyze how medieval authors use narrative, poetic, and dramatic forms to address social, philosophical, and artistic concerns. Readings may include epics, romances, devotional works, courtly narratives, and lyric poetry from a range of cultural traditions, and course texts vary by instructor. Students practice close reading, contextual research, and comparative interpretation to understand similarities and differences across medieval literary cultures and the influences that shaped medieval literary production.

ENG 3351. Early Medieval Literature of the British Isles.

This course introduces students to the literature and cultural contexts of the early medieval British Isles, with a focus on Old English texts presented in modern translation. Students examine representative works from early poetic traditions through Beowulf to understand their historical, linguistic, and cultural significance, analyzing how these works express themes such as community, heroism, spirituality, and cultural memory. The course then considers the influence of medieval literature on later traditions. Readings may include poetry, prose, monastic writings, and heroic narratives and vary by instructor.

ENG 3352. Medieval English Literature.

This course introduces students to medieval English literature beyond Chaucer, with selected texts provided in modern translation. Students analyze a diverse array of genres, including poetry, prose, and religious writings, to explore how writers from the Middle Ages addressed social, philosophical, and artistic concerns and engaged with themes such as heroism, community, spirituality, and cultural identity. The course investigates how medieval English literature reflects the linguistic, and artistic conditions of its period and prepares students to understand the complexity of medieval English literary traditions and their influence on later English literature.

ENG 3353. British Poetry and Prose of the Sixteenth Century.

This course examines selected poetry and prose from the sixteenth century in Britain, focusing on writers from Thomas More through Edmund Spenser. Students analyze how literary forms, genres, and themes reflect the linguistic, cultural, and political contexts of the Tudor period. Readings may include essays, dialogues, narrative prose, religious writings, and lyric or epic poetry, and the course explores diverse genres to analyze how authors use form, language, and literary technique in historical context. Texts are approached as literary artifacts, allowing students to investigate how writers respond to shifting cultural, intellectual, and political developments in the period.

ENG 3354. Early Shakespeare.

This course examines selected plays from Shakespeare’s early career through Hamlet, emphasizing close reading, dramatic form, and historical context. Students analyze how Shakespeare uses language, structure, and stagecraft to develop character, theme, and narrative, and consider how the plays reflect early modern social, cultural, and theatrical conditions. The course investigates dramatic techniques, thematic development, and the historical influences that shaped these plays, and analyzes how staging, language, and character function within early modern theater. Play selection varies by instructor.

ENG 3356. British Poetry and Prose of the Seventeenth Century.

This course surveys selected British poetry and prose of the seventeenth century, including works by authors such as Donne, Bacon, Milton, and Dryden. Students study literary forms, stylistic innovations, and the historical contexts that shaped this period, analyzing how writers use language, genre, and rhetorical strategies to address artistic, historical, philosophical, and religious questions of the time. Texts are approached as literary artifacts, allowing students to investigate how writers respond to shifting cultural, intellectual, and political developments. Readings vary by instructor.

ENG 3357. British Literature, 1688–1750.

This course examines British literature from the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, with particular attention to the development of literary genres. It investigates how authors use literary technique and structure to address artistic, social, and intellectual concerns. Students explore how writers responded artistically to cultural, intellectual, and political contexts of the period with new kinds of writing, including shifts in satire, periodical writing, and the rise of the novel. Through close reading, contextual analysis, and critical writing, students develop tools for analyzing stylistic features, genre conventions, and the broader evolution of British literature during this period. Readings vary by instructor.

ENG 3359. British Literature, 1750-1800.

This course examines British poetry and prose from the second half of the eighteenth century. Students analyze works associated with late Enlightenment thought as well as early expressions of the Romantic movement and reactions to the American and French Revolutions. Students study representative works to understand how changing philosophical and cultural contexts influenced literary experimentation and how literary techniques, thematic concerns, and historical contexts contribute to shifts in genre and style. Readings may include essays, poetry, satire, periodical literature, and proto Romantic texts and vary by instructor.

ENG 3362. The British Romantics.

This course examines selected British poetry and prose of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, focusing on how writers of the Romantic Age used form, language, and imagery to engage with questions of imagination, nature, emotion, politics, and artistic expression. Students investigate how Romantic authors responded to cultural and intellectual developments of the period, such as revolutions, industrialization, and changing aesthetic theories, through varying engagements with the sublime. Students analyze selected works as literary and historical artifacts, considering how cultural, philosophical, and social contexts shaped Romantic era writing. Readings vary by instructor and may include a variety of genres.

ENG 3365. Victorian Literature and Culture.

This course explores British literature from 1837 to 1901, situating texts in relation to broader social contexts, including industrialization, imperialism, debates about women’s rights, environmentalism, and developments in print culture. Assigned readings may span genres (poetry, fiction, and non-fiction prose) and features the work of a variety of Victorian writers. Student analyze how influential literary, artistic, and intellectual movements, authors, and ideas that have informed and inspired subsequent literature in Britain and across the globe. (WI).

ENG 3368. The British Novel.

This course explores British prose fiction in the specific literary genre of the novel. Students analyze how authors use narrative structure, characterization, voice, and theme to shape their fictions, the course explores how historical, cultural, and artistic contexts have informed the evolution of the genre. Through close reading, contextual inquiry, and analytical writing, students develop foundational tools for understanding narrative traditions in a British context. Readings vary depending on instructor emphasis and may be organized by narrative technique, thematic development, and/or genre evolution.

ENG 3370. Twentieth- and Twenty-First Century British Literature.

This course examines selected British poetry, fiction, and drama from 1900 to the present, analyzing how writers engage with artistic, cultural, and historical developments of the modern and contemporary periods and respond to dramatic technological, political, and social change. The course engages with narrative techniques, poetic strategies, dramatic structure, and thematic innovation across diverse literary movements, potentially including Georgian poetry, Modernism, the Bloomsbury Group, the Angry Young Men, the Theatre of the Absurd, and varieties of postmodernism and contemporary experimental forms. Readings vary with instructor emphasis.

ENG 3372. Race and Ethnicity in Texts.

This course examines how race and ethnicity are depicted, represented, and engaged in a variety of literary and cultural texts. Students analyze narrative strategies, rhetorical choices, and contextual elements that shape portrayals of identity and community and examine the narrative, structural, and stylistic techniques authors and creators use to portray cultural experiences. Specific content and focus vary by section, and readings may include fiction, poetry, essays, or digital media. Students develop interpretive, analytical, and contextual reasoning skills by evaluating how different texts represent social and cultural experiences. The course may be repeated once for credit when its topic varies.

ENG 3373. Gender and Sexualities in Texts.

This course examines themes of gender and sexuality across various genres and media in the context of narrative technique, formal structure, and character development. The course utilizes a variety of interpretative models to examine representations of gender and sexuality. Assignments include close reading and analytical writing that encourage the practice of interpretation and argumentation. Emphasis varies by section and may include studies in prose, poetry, film, or digital media. This course may be repeated once for credit when its topic varies. (WI).

ENG 3385. Children's Literature.

This course introduces students to literature written for children, from traditional tales to modern publications, examining a range of genres including picture books, poetry, novels, and folklore. It considers literary history, narrative strategies, aesthetic features, and the development of children’s literary traditions. Students examine narrative techniques, thematic concerns, and aesthetic features while learning how to analyze and interpret texts intended for young readers, considering how authors use structure, style, and illustration to communicate ideas specifically to children. Readings vary by instructor.

ENG 3386. Adolescent Literature.

This course examines a selection of classic and contemporary literature written for adolescent readers across a range of genres, including the bildungsroman, young adult/YA, graphic narratives, and/or memoirs and other nonfiction, and considers how authors modify literary forms and traditions to address themes relevant to adolescent audiences. Students examine narrative techniques, thematic elements, and historical and cultural contexts that shape adolescent literature and consider how texts intended for adolescent and young adult audiences engage with cultural, social, and literary traditions. Readings vary by instructor.

ENG 3388. Women's Writing.

This course examines selected writing by women from a range of historical periods and genres. Students analyze how women authors use language, form, and narrative strategies to address artistic, social, and intellectual concerns in their particular contexts and how they contribute to and interact with broader literary traditions. Simultaneously, they consider how women writers have created literary traditions of their own. Readings vary by instructor and may include poetry, fiction, drama, essays, and other forms, organized by historical period, theme, or genre.

ENG 3389. Teaching English Language Arts in the Secondary Classroom.

This course familiarizes future secondary teachers with the discipline of English as a formal academic field and the practice of teaching English Language Arts. It covers curriculum design, instructional planning, assessment strategies, and approaches to teaching reading, writing, language, and literature. Through analysis, practice, and reflection, students develop foundational competencies necessary for effective and ethically grounded secondary ELA instruction. The course is a required part of the student teaching sequence and prepares students for the English TExES (Texas Examination of Educator Standards).

ENG 3390. Independent Study in Language and Literature.

This course provides an opportunity for individualized study of a special problem in language and/or literature. Students work with a supervising instructor to develop an approved reading list, a focused research question, and a plan for regular tutorial meetings. The course emphasizes evidence based analysis, independent inquiry, and clearly articulated research methods appropriate to advanced study. Projects may involve historical, theoretical, linguistic, or literary analysis depending on student interests and faculty expertise. The final product typically includes a research paper or equivalent project demonstrating mastery of the selected topic. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

ENG 3392. Women Writers of the Middle Ages.

This course examines religious and secular writings by women from the early Church through the fifteenth century, with texts presented in modern translation where necessary. Students investigate how women writers used language, form, and narrative strategies to address spiritual, intellectual, and cultural concerns, and how those authors engaged with the literary forms, devotional expression, historical context, and cultural conditions of the medieval period. Readings vary by instructor and may include letters, visionary texts, spiritual treatises, historical accounts, poetry, and early prose.

ENG 3393. Postcolonial Literatures.

This course offers a study of postcolonial literatures from a range of global regions, including Canada, the Caribbean, Africa, South Asia, Ireland, and Australia. Students analyze how authors use literary form, style, and technique to explore questions of history, identity, and cultural expression in the context of the colonial, decolonial, and postcolonial experience. Emphasis is placed on close reading and comparative analysis of aesthetic, formal, and thematic analysis, with attention to narrative structure, language, and genre. Texts are read in English. (WI).

ENG 4310. Modern English Syntax.

This course examines English syntax as described by traditional, structural, and transformational grammarians. Students learn how different grammatical models describe the structure of English phrases, clauses, and sentences and how models of syntactic structures can be applied to analyze authentic language data. The course treats grammatical theories as tools for linguistic inquiry rather than prescriptive models of correct usage. Students practice identifying syntactic patterns, constructing analyses, and evaluating theoretical explanations. Assignments include problem sets, analytic exercises, and written explanations of syntactic phenomena.

ENG 4323. Studies in Autobiography and Biography.

This course explores selected works of autobiography and biography from a range of historical periods and cultural contexts, focusing on narrative technique, structure, and the representation of lived experience. Coursework considers how writers construct life narratives, use evidence, shape character, and organize events to create meaning, and how biographies and autobiographies shape life stories through literary strategies such as selection, emphasis, point of view, and rhetorical framing. Readings vary by instructor and may be organized by theme, genre, or national tradition.

ENG 4325. Literature of the Southwest.

This course examines literature from Texas and the broader Southwestern United States, including selected works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction prose. Coursework considers how the unique features of the Southwest influence narrative and stylistic choices across various genres of writing, and students analyze how authors engage with themes such as place, community, identity, and environment while grounding interpretations in historical and cultural contexts. The course further considers how Southwestern writing has shaped broader media representations of the region.

ENG 4334. US Romanticism.

This course examines selected works associated with the Romantic movement of the nineteenth century in the United States, focusing on how writers engaged with literary, philosophical, and cultural questions of the era. Students analyze prose, poetry, and related texts to understand how Romantic ideas developed within the US and the literary relationships by which authors influenced one another. Coursework explores how authors use language, imagery, and narrative structures to engage with Romantic concerns such as imagination, nature, and individual experience.

ENG 4343. Approaches to a British Author.

This course studies the works of a single British author, such as Charles Dickens, Mary Wollstonecraft, Virginia Woolf, or Zadie Smith, from an interdisciplinary perspective. Coursework offers the opportunity for detailed study of the author’s literary output in its historical and cultural context. Students analyze how the author’s literary techniques, stylistic features, and thematic concerns shape selected works and how those works interact with larger literary movements and historical environments. Specific content and focus vary by section, and the course may be repeated once for credit when its emphasis varies.

ENG 4344. Approaches to a US Author.

This course studies the works of a single US author, such as Gloria Anzaldúa, Cormac McCarthy, bell hooks, or Toni Morrison, from an interdisciplinary perspective. Coursework offers the opportunity for detailed study of the author’s literary output in its historical and cultural context. Students analyze how the author’s literary techniques, stylistic features, and thematic concerns shape selected works and how those works interact with larger literary movements and historical environments. Specific content and focus vary by section, and the course may be repeated once for credit when its emphasis varies.

ENG 4345. Approaches to a Global Author.

This course studies the works of a single global author, such as Dante Alighieri, Anita Desai, Paolo Friere, or Chinua Achebe, from an interdisciplinary perspective. Coursework offers the opportunity for detailed study of the author’s literary output in its historical and cultural context. Students analyze how the author’s literary techniques, stylistic features, and thematic concerns shape selected works and how those works interact with larger literary movements and historical environments. Specific content and focus vary by section, and the course may be repeated once for credit when its emphasis varies.

ENG 4348. Senior Seminar in Fiction Writing.

This course provides an advanced and intensive workshop in fiction writing, emphasizing craft, analytical reading, and revision practices appropriate to a senior level seminar. Students study narrative techniques such as characterization, point of view, structure, style, and pacing while offering and receiving evidence based feedback on works in progress. Coursework includes structured workshops designed to promote constructive, evidence based critique of peer writing. Through these workshops, independent drafting, and sustained revision, students develop a final portfolio of creative work demonstrating growth in fiction writing skills. Prerequisite: ENG 3348 with a grade of "D" or better.

ENG 4349. Senior Seminar in Poetry Writing.

This course provides an advanced and intensive workshop in poetry writing, emphasizing craft, analytical reading, and revision practices appropriate to a senior level seminar. Students study poetic techniques such as imagery, lineation, rhythm, sound, and figurative language while offering and receiving evidence based feedback on works in progress. Coursework includes structured workshops designed to promote constructive, evidence based critique of peer writing. Through these workshops, independent drafting, and sustained revision, students develop a final portfolio of creative work demonstrating growth in poetry writing skills. Prerequisite: ENG 3349 with a grade of "D" or better.

ENG 4350. Senior Seminar in Film.

This course integrates the varying approaches to film and media studies, including film criticism, history, theory, screenwriting, and practical video skills. Coursework is organized around the study of a specific director, studio, genre, or movement, providing the opportunity for sustained, in-depth analysis. Students select an area of focus and complete work that may include analytical writing, screenplay development, or video projects. Specific content and focus vary by section, and this course may be repeated once for credit when its emphasis varies.

ENG 4351. Chaucer and His Time.

This course examines the works of Geoffrey Chaucer within the historical, cultural, linguistic, and literary contexts of late medieval England. Students analyze selections from The Canterbury Tales and other Chaucerian texts using close reading, genre analysis, and contextual interpretation to analyze narrative technique, language, and historical influences. Coursework explores how Chaucer engages with social, religious, and political conditions of his time while considering texts as historical and literary artifacts. Readings, topics, and analytical emphases vary by instructor.

ENG 4355. The Later Shakespeare.

This course explores Shakespeare’s later works including the problem comedies, the tragedies, and the plays of his final years. It emphasizes reading in depth, and course texts include the plays, significant critical materials, and selected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries. Coursework explores characterization, language, dramatic structure, and theatrical context. Students study the historical, literary, and cultural context for the plays while engaging critically with major scholarly interpretations. Specific texts, emphases, and critical materials vary by instructor.

ENG 4358. Milton.

This course examines selected longer poems and prose works by John Milton, situating them within their historical, religious, political, and literary contexts. Students analyze Milton’s language, themes, and rhetorical strategies and explore how Milton employs epic form, lyric strategies, and political or theological argumentation in his works. Readings may include Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes, and selected prose works. The course emphasizes close reading, contextual analysis, and engagement with scholarly perspectives. Students develop skills in literary analysis, argumentation, and historical reasoning through written assignments and discussion.

ENG 4385. Advanced Studies in Children's or Adolescent Literature.

This course offers an advanced study in children’s or adolescent literature. Specific content and focus vary by section, and the course may be organized around a historical period, geographic region, genre, theme, single author, or theoretical approach. Coursework emphasizes the development of critical and research skills appropriate to upper-level literary study and scholarly questions particular to the fields of children’s and adolescent literature. Students practice advanced literary analysis, research methods, and evidence based interpretation. The course may be repeated once for credit when emphasis varies.

ENG 5199B. Thesis.

This course provides continuing thesis enrollment for graduate students who have begun their thesis in ENG 5399A and are completing research, drafting, revision, and final submission requirements. Students work under the supervision of their thesis director to complete all remaining thesis components and prepare the manuscript for submission. Enrollment in a Thesis course continues each semester until the student’s thesis is completed. Thesis credit is awarded upon successful submission of the final approved thesis. This course number provides one graduate credit hour.

ENG 5299B. Thesis.

This course provides continuing thesis enrollment for graduate students who have begun their thesis in ENG 5399A and are completing research, drafting, revision, and final submission requirements. Students work under the supervision of their thesis director to complete all remaining thesis components and prepare the manuscript for submission. Enrollment in a Thesis course continues each semester until the student’s thesis is completed. Thesis credit is awarded upon successful submission of the final approved thesis. This course number provides two graduate credit hours.

ENG 5300. Language Issues in Multicultural Environments.

This course examines language issues arising in multicultural environments through sociolinguistic, descriptive, and semantic perspectives. Students analyze language variation, multilingualism, and language contact phenomena across diverse communities. Topics include the role of language in education, writing across cultural contexts, and the relationship between language and social identity. The course investigates how sociolinguistic research methods inform understanding of writing and communication in multilingual settings. Students evaluate competing scholarly frameworks used to describe patterns of language use and their implications for educational and professional contexts.

ENG 5301. Literary Scholarship.

This course introduces graduate students to the scholarly resources, research methods, and theoretical approaches that support the study of literature in English. Students examine how literary scholarship is produced, evaluate a range of methodological traditions, and develop skills for locating, interpreting, and synthesizing scholarly materials. The course also addresses professional practices such as citation standards, responsible research conduct, and the conventions of academic writing in literary studies. Texts selected for study will vary according to the instructor’s expertise, allowing students to encounter different critical frameworks as objects of analysis. Designed for first year M.A. students in Literature, the course prepares students for advanced graduate scholarship.

ENG 5302. Media Studies.

This course introduces graduate students to foundational methods, theories, and analytical practices used in media studies. Students investigate how media forms develop over time, explore major theoretical frameworks, and consider how different media operate in a variety of cultural and technological systems. Coursework emphasizes close analysis, research‑based inquiry, and the critical evaluation of media as aesthetic and communicative forms. Primary materials and thematic emphases vary by instructor, and coursework may be organized by genre, theme, or medium; texts may include examples from film, television, comics and graphic narrative, animation, literature, digital media, and other media. Repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5305. Video for Technical Communication.

This course examines the planning, scripting, production, and publication of video as a medium for communicating technical information. Emphasis is placed on rhetorical decision-making, including audience analysis, purpose, and context, as they shape video content and design. Students analyze conventions of instructional and informational video and apply principles of visual communication, storytelling, and multimodal composition. The course also considers the role of digital video technologies, including relevant software and hardware, in shaping production practices and outcomes. Attention is given to evaluating video effectiveness in conveying complex information clearly, accurately, and appropriately for intended audiences.

ENG 5307. Visual Rhetoric.

This course examines image-based modes of rhetorical communication, with attention to theories of visual rhetoric and the social, cultural, and ethical implications of visual texts. Emphasis is placed on analyzing how images function as persuasive and communicative artifacts across contexts. Students analyze principles of visual design, including layout, hierarchy, and composition, as well as theoretical frameworks such as semiotics and Gestalt theory. The course also considers how visual elements shape meaning, influence audiences, and support argumentation in professional and public communication.

ENG 5309. International Technical Communication.

This course examines theories and models of intercultural communication and their application to technical communication in global contexts. Emphasis is placed on analyzing cultural differences and their influence on verbal, nonverbal, and digital communication practices. Students analyze international audiences in relation to cultural values, communication styles, and contextual expectations. The course also considers ethical dimensions of cross-cultural communication, including representation, localization, and access. Attention is given to strategies for adapting technical content for diverse global audiences across platforms and media.

ENG 5310. Studies in English Language and Linguistics.

This course examines the structure and use of the English language through linguistic analysis. Students investigate core areas of linguistic inquiry, which may include phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, dialectology, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, and writing systems. The course emphasizes analytical methods for describing and explaining language patterns, drawing on established frameworks within the discipline. Students engage with primary data and scholarly research to develop skills in linguistic reasoning and evidence-based argumentation. Specific content and focus vary by section, and the course may be repeated with different emphases.

ENG 5311. Foundations in Technical Communication.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of technical communication at the graduate level. Students examine foundational rhetorical principles, key theoretical frameworks, and major research traditions that shape the field. The course introduces core genres and practices, including user-centered design, usability, information architecture, content strategy, and project management. Attention is given to ethics, accessibility, global communication, and the social impact of technical and professional discourse. Through critical readings, discussion, and applied projects, students develop a conceptual framework for understanding technical communication as both an academic discipline and a dynamic professional practice.

ENG 5312. Editing the Professional Publication.

This course provides advanced training in editing, design, layout, and production of professional publications within a client-based environment. Students collaborate on real-world projects for external or institutional clients, applying editorial theory, style conventions, usability principles, and document design strategies to produce publication-ready materials. Emphasis is placed on substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading, visual rhetoric, workflow management, and professional communication with stakeholders. Students engage in iterative revision, quality control processes, and production management while addressing ethical, accessibility, and audience considerations. As a supervised professional practice experience, the course integrates theory with applied editorial work and may be repeated once with a different project emphasis.

ENG 5313. Studies in Principles of Technical Communication.

This course offers advanced study in specialized principles and emerging practices in technical communication with a focus on technology-driven contexts. Topics vary by semester and may include digital media, web technologies, content management systems, user experience, data visualization, artificial intelligence, technical editing technologies, or other innovations shaping the field. Students engage theoretical scholarship alongside applied projects to examine how technological developments influence rhetorical practice, design, ethics, and professional workflows. Emphasis is placed on critical analysis, research-informed practice, and production of professional or scholarly deliverables. The course may be repeated with different emphases for up to twelve hours of graduate credit.

ENG 5314. Specializations in Technical Communication.

This course provides advanced study in specialized areas of technical and professional communication outside primarily technology-focused contexts. Topics vary by semester and may include grant and proposal writing, government and public sector communication, health and medical communication, environmental communication, nonprofit communication, policy writing, crisis communication, science communication, or community-based professional writing. Students engage relevant theoretical frameworks and disciplinary scholarship while producing applied, genre-specific deliverables. Emphasis is placed on rhetorical analysis, audience adaptation, ethical considerations, and professional standards within specialized contexts. The course may be repeated with different emphases for up to twelve hours of graduate credit.

ENG 5315. Graduate Writing Workshop.

This course focuses on the production, evaluation, and revision of original creative manuscripts within a graduate‑level workshop setting. Student writing serves as the primary material for study and discussion, allowing participants to engage directly with the creative process across multiple stages of drafting and revision. Through structured peer review, guided discussion, and critical feedback, students analyze formal techniques, stylistic choices, and genre‑specific conventions while developing their own creative work in a chosen genre. The course emphasizes revision as both a scholarly and creative practice, encouraging sustained reflection on craft, process, and artistic decision‑making. Readings and examples may be used to support discussion of technique and form. The course supports advanced engagement with creative writing and prepares students for continued creative and academic work at the graduate level.

ENG 5316. Foundations in Rhetoric and Composition.

This course examines theoretical, pedagogical, and methodological foundations in the field of rhetoric and composition. Students analyze major scholarly traditions, research methods, and instructional approaches that shape the discipline. Topics may include writing pedagogy, digital writing, pedagogical theory, and writing in public and civic contexts. The course emphasizes critical engagement with foundational texts and the application of disciplinary frameworks to questions of writing, teaching, and inquiry. Students evaluate competing perspectives within the field and assess their implications for scholarship and practice. Repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of English credit.

ENG 5317. Specializations in Rhetoric and Composition.

This course examines specialized areas within rhetoric and composition, providing theoretical, pedagogical, methodological, and administrative grounding in focused topics. Students analyze scholarship, methods, and practices relevant to the selected area of emphasis. Topics may include writing center theory and administration, writing across the curriculum, literacy studies, and contemporary areas of rhetorical theory. The course emphasizes critical engagement with disciplinary scholarship and the application of specialized knowledge to questions of writing, rhetoric, and institutional practice. Students evaluate research and competing frameworks within the area of specialization. The course may be repeated with different emphases.

ENG 5320. Form and Theory of Fiction.

This course examines major theories and formal practices of fiction through historical and contemporary scholarship. Students analyze narrative structure, style, and technique as articulated in critical theory and exemplified in selected fictional texts. Emphasis is placed on British and American traditions, with additional attention to theories and practices of fiction in other literary contexts. Through sustained engagement with theoretical texts and close readings of fiction, students develop a nuanced understanding of how critical frameworks shape literary interpretation and contribute to ongoing scholarly conversations about narrative form.

ENG 5321. Contemporary Fiction.

This course examines a range of contemporary works of fiction that represent various narrative approaches, genres, and stylistic practices. Readings may include canonical, experimental, and multimedia narratives reflecting developments in late twentieth and twenty first century fiction. Students engage in close analysis, research based inquiry, and critical interpretation of selected texts. Emphases vary by semester and may include thematic, formal, or author centered topics such as adaptation studies, postmodern narrative strategies, or global literary movements. The course is repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5322. Form and Theory of Poetry.

This course examines major theories and formal practices of poetry through historical and contemporary scholarship. Students analyze poetic structure, form, sound, and technique as articulated in critical theory and exemplified in selected poetic texts. Emphasis is placed on British and American traditions, with additional attention to theories and practices of poetry in other literary contexts. The course treats poetic theories as objects of scholarly study and emphasizes critical analysis, comparative interpretation, and advanced academic writing. Through sustained engagement with theoretical texts and close readings of poetry, students develop a nuanced understanding of how critical frameworks shape literary interpretation and contribute to ongoing scholarly conversations about poetic form.

ENG 5323. Studies in Autobiography and Biography.

This course examines selected works of autobiography and biography with emphasis on the formal, stylistic, and narrative techniques used in personal writing. Students analyze how authors construct self‑representation, weave in historical context and research, and create narrative authority across a range of texts. The course approaches autobiography and biography as literary and cultural forms subject to critical interpretation. Topics and texts may vary, allowing the course to be repeated for credit with different emphases, while maintaining a consistent focus on analytical reading, comparative interpretation, and advanced academic writing. Repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of English credit.

ENG 5324. Studies in Literary Genre.

This course studies major literary genres across historical periods and cultural contexts. Coursework considers the defining features of various genres. Emphasis is placed on how forms such as the epic, novel, lyric, pastoral, romance, short story, and other generic traditions develop, transform, and respond to aesthetic, social, and cultural forces. Course topics, primary texts, and specific genre emphases vary by semester. The course is repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5325. Studies in Literature of the Southwest.

This course is an advanced study of selected Texas and Southwestern literature, emphasizing the cultural, historical, and regional forces shaping Southwestern literary traditions. Students analyze major authors, themes, and narrative forms while exploring how regional identity, borderland histories, and diverse cultural perspectives inform literary expression. Readings and topics vary by semester, allowing focused study of specific movements or authors. The course is repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5326. Contemporary Composition Theory.

This course examines the history of writing instruction in the university and the theories of writing and composing that inform contemporary composition studies. Students trace the development of major theoretical traditions in the field, analyzing how evolving conceptions of writing have shaped instructional practices and disciplinary inquiry. Topics include historical and contemporary approaches to composition theory, the relationship between theory and pedagogy, and current scholarly debates within the discipline. Students engage with foundational and recent scholarship to evaluate how theoretical frameworks inform research and the teaching of writing.

ENG 5327. Research Methods in Rhetoric and Composition.

This course examines research practices in rhetoric and composition, focusing on the strategies, methods, frameworks, and perspectives that characterize qualitative and quantitative inquiry. Students analyze the design, execution, and evaluation of research within the discipline, including considerations of research ethics, researcher positionality, and methodological rigor. The course traces the history and development of research traditions in the field and their role in shaping disciplinary knowledge. Students engage with published studies to assess methodological choices and practice applying research frameworks to questions in writing studies.

ENG 5328. Directed Portfolio.

This course guides students through the development of a professional portfolio of representative written work from their graduate studies in rhetoric and composition. Students select and curate projects that demonstrate growth and competency across the discipline's core areas, including the history of rhetoric, composition theory, and research methods. The course emphasizes reflective writing, critical self-assessment, and the ability to articulate connections among coursework, scholarly development, and an individually defined area of specialization. Students produce a reflective introduction and additional new written material to contextualize and argue for the significance of their collected work. Repeatable once. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

ENG 5329. User Experience (UX) and Usability Research.

This course examines foundational principles of user experience (UX) design and usability research within technical communication. Emphasis is placed on user-centered design, including human factors, interface design, and the analysis of user needs and task workflows. Students analyze methods for conducting usability research, including fieldwork, usability testing, and data collection across contexts. The course also considers the UX design process and the role of research in informing design decisions. Attention is given to interpreting and communicating usability findings for diverse audiences and professional contexts.

ENG 5331. Studies in American Poetry.

This course examines major American poets and poetic movements, focusing on close examination of selected authors and a survey of their works. Throughout the semester students analyze stylistic innovations, thematic concerns, and cultural contexts shaping American poetry while engaging with critical scholarship. Recent course emphasis includes Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Southern poetry, Denise Levertov, and Robert Bly. Because specific topics vary by semester, the course may be repeated with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5332. Studies in American Prose.

This course examines selected American prose writers, focusing on stylistic development, thematic concerns, and cultural context. Readings may include material from various genres but with an emphasis on fiction and on the novel. Potential topics include the Bildungsroman, William Faulkner, and Zora Neale Hurston. Students engage in close reading, critical analysis, and research on key works within American prose traditions. Topics vary by semester. The course is repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5335. Technical Editing.

This course examines principles and practices of technical editing across multiple levels, including copyediting, stylistic editing, and developmental editing. Emphasis is placed on the role of editing in shaping clarity, accuracy, consistency, and usability in technical documents. Students analyze conventions of grammar, style, and document design, as well as the use of style guides and editorial standards. The course also considers editorial decision-making, author–editor relationships, and workflows in print and digital publishing environments. Attention is given to editing specialized content, including technical, quantitative, and hypertext materials.

ENG 5336. Document Design.

This course examines principles and theories of document design in technical communication, with attention to layout, typography, color, and information architecture. Emphasis is placed on how design choices shape meaning, usability, and audience engagement across print and digital media. Students analyze documents as rhetorical artifacts that function within specific cultural, ethical, and professional contexts. The course also considers the relationship between content and form, including how visual and textual elements interact to support communication goals. Attention is given to evaluating and designing documents for diverse users and purposes.

ENG 5340. Discourse Analysis.

This course examines theories and methodologies for analyzing discourse, or language in use, across social, cultural, and professional contexts. Emphasis is placed on how meaning is constructed through linguistic and rhetorical choices, including syntax, semantics, genre, and style. Students analyze relationships among discourse, identity, power, and ideology, as well as the role of intertextuality and representation in shaping communication. The course also considers verbal and nonverbal dimensions of discourse and their functions within diverse communicative situations. Attention is given to applying discourse analysis methods to interpret texts and social practices.

ENG 5341. Software Documentation.

This course examines the principles and practices of developing documentation that supports the effective use of software in specific contexts. Emphasis is placed on producing task-oriented content, including tutorials, procedures, and reference materials. Students analyze user needs, task workflows, and usability considerations to inform documentation design. The course also considers the integration of text, visuals, and information architecture in supporting user interaction with software. Attention is given to evaluating documentation for clarity, accessibility, and effectiveness across platforms and user groups.

ENG 5342. Technical Writing Across the Disciplines.

This course prepares graduate students to communicate their research effectively across academic, professional, and public contexts. Students practice advanced strategies for writing and revising documents such as literature reviews, peer-reviewed articles or dissertation/thesis chapters, research reports, résumés/CVs, and public-facing statements. Emphasis is placed on understanding a variety of audiences—academic peers, professional organizations, and non-academic stakeholders—and tailoring communication of technical content for clarity, impact, and responsibility. Course activities may also incorporate emerging tools, such as artificial intelligence, to support writing and research processes.

ENG 5343. Content Development for Technical Communication.

This course examines principles and practices of content development within technical and professional communication contexts. Emphasis is placed on strategic content creation, audience analysis, and the design of content for digital platforms. Students analyze how content functions across channels, including web, social media, and integrated communication environments. The course also considers the role of analytics, search optimization, and ethical considerations in shaping content strategies. Attention is given to aligning content with organizational goals, user needs, and rhetorical contexts.

ENG 5345. Southwestern Studies I: Defining the Region.

This course is the first of two in an interdisciplinary survey of the physical, cultural, and social history of the Southwest from the fifteenth to the mid nineteenth century. Through an emphasis on architecture, art, literature, philosophy, politics, technology, and popular culture, the graduate seminar examines how diverse communities shaped the region’s early development. Students analyze key historical and cultural movements to understand the formation of Southwestern identity. The format is designed as foundational preparation for advanced coursework in Southwestern Studies.

ENG 5346. Southwestern Studies II: Consequences of Region.

This course is the second of a two-part sequence in an interdisciplinary survey of the physical, cultural, and social history of the Southwest, focusing on regional and ethnic expressions of culture from the Civil War to the present. This seminar emphasizes artistic, literary, political, and technological developments, and coursework examines specific problems and cultural products that define the identity of the region. Students analyze primary and secondary materials to understand the evolving consequences of regional formation.

ENG 5353. Studies in Medieval Literature.

This course examines the major authors, genres, and cultural contexts of the medieval period. Emphases may include Anglo Saxon culture, language, and literature; Chaucer; non Chaucerian medieval writing; pilgrimage literature; or medieval world literature. Students engage in close reading, research, and critical analysis of primary and secondary materials to understand the literary, linguistic, and historical foundations of medieval textual production. The course may be repeated with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5354. Studies in Renaissance Literature.

This course examines major authors, genres, and cultural contexts of the Renaissance and the Early Modern period. Recent course emphases include Shakespeare, Renaissance epic, Tudor humanism, and John Milton. Students examine the literary, political, and intellectual developments that shaped early modern writing, engaging in close reading, research, and critical analysis of primary and secondary texts. Readings and topics vary by section, and the course may be repeated with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate credit.

ENG 5359. Studies in Restoration and Eighteenth-century Literature.

This course examines select major writers and literary movements of the Restoration and eighteenth century, with an emphasis on scholarship, aesthetics, and the cultural and historical contexts shaping the period. Recent emphases include Johnson and his circle, Restoration and eighteenth century drama, and the eighteenth century novel. Students engage in close reading, research, and critical analysis of primary and secondary materials. The course is repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5364. Studies in the Romantic Movement.

This course examines the works of the Early and Late Romantics in historical, intellectual, and artistic context, with attention to nineteenth and twentieth century scholarship on the movement. Potential topics include the celebration of nature, Blake and the visual arts, Coleridge, the Wordsworths, the sublime, Shelley, and Keats. Students conduct close textual analysis, research, and critical interpretation of Romantic poetry and prose. The course is repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5366. Studies in Victorian Poetry.

This course examines the work of major Victorian poets within their aesthetic, scholarly, cultural, and historical contexts. Recent emphases include Tennyson, the Brownings, the Pre Raphaelites, and Hopkins. Students engage in close reading, research, and critical interpretation of Victorian poetic forms and movements, with consideration of how social, artistic, and intellectual developments shaped poetic innovation. Coursework engages with scholarship on Victorian literature and poetic forms. This graduate seminar may be repeated with a different emphasis for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5368. Studies in Victorian Prose.

This course examines major Victorian prose writers with attention to aesthetics, scholarship, and the cultural and historical contexts shaping nineteenth century prose. Some recent emphases include George Eliot, Victorian non fiction prose, Victorian women novelists, and Charles Dickens. Students engage in close analysis, research, and critical interpretation of primary and secondary materials, exploring how Victorian prose articulates social, moral, and intellectual debates. The course is repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of English credit.

ENG 5371. Studies in Modern British Literature.

This course examines selected British modernist writers, texts, and literary innovations from the late nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century. Students analyze how modernist authors responded to developments in aesthetics, philosophy, psychology, and shifting conceptions of British identity at the turn of the twentieth century. Readings may include fiction, poetry, and essays by figures associated with major movements and experimental forms. Course topics vary by instructor and may address narrative technique, formal experimentation, print culture, or specific authors such as Yeats, Wilde, or Auden. The course is repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5372. Practicum in English Studies.

This course is a supervised experience that introduces graduate instructional assistants to key issues, concepts, and foundational practices in the teaching of English Studies. Designed for first year instructional assistants, the course emphasizes pedagogical theory, practical teaching strategies, professional expectations, and reflective engagement with instructional methods. It prepares new assistants for effective classroom participation and mentoring responsibilities. This course does not earn graduate degree credit and is required for all first year instructional assistants in the English Department.

ENG 5381. Studies in Modern British and American Drama.

This course provides a survey of major British and American dramatists within their broader European and global contexts. Students examine key dramatic movements and influential playwrights, as well as analyze how modern and contemporary theatre engages cultural, political, and aesthetic issues. Course topics vary by semester and may include different national, historical, or stylistic emphases. The course is repeatable with distinct thematic or author-based focuses for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5382. Practicum in Composition.

This course examines key issues, concepts, and practices in the teaching of expository writing at the college level. Students explore approaches to course design, assignment development, response to student writing, and classroom facilitation. The course emphasizes the application of composition theory and pedagogical scholarship to practical teaching situations. Through guided reflection and collaborative discussion, students develop instructional strategies grounded in current research on writing pedagogy. Students analyze instructional practices and assess how pedagogical choices shape student learning in writing courses.

ENG 5383. Studies in Rhetorical Theory.

This course examines rhetorical theory from classical traditions through contemporary scholarship. Students analyze major rhetorical concepts, movements, and debates that have shaped the discipline across historical periods. Topics may include classical rhetoric, modern and postmodern rhetorical theory, and the application of rhetorical frameworks to areas such as composition studies and technical communication. The course emphasizes close engagement with primary theoretical texts and the development of analytical skills for interpreting rhetorical traditions within their intellectual and historical contexts. The course may be repeated with different emphases.

ENG 5384. Critical Theory.

This course introduces students to major traditions in critical theory, emphasizing classical criticism and contemporary theoretical approaches and tracing the historical development of various theories over time. Students examine key movements, thinkers, and debates that have shaped literary and cultural analysis. Course emphases vary and may include classical theory, structuralism, post structuralism, Marxism, psychoanalysis, feminism, postcolonialism, and other modern and contemporary methodologies. The course is repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5388. Studies in Literature for Children or Adolescents.

This course examines contemporary works for children and adolescents, expanding students’ knowledge of literature and criticism in the field. The emphases vary by semester and may be generic or thematic, including picture books, the contemporary novel, or film adaptations of children’s classics. Students analyze texts in their cultural, aesthetic, and theoretical contexts through research, close reading, and critical interpretation. The course is repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate English credit.

ENG 5389. History of Children’s Literature.

This course examines the historical evolution of literature written for children from the Middle Ages through the mid-twentieth century. Students examine how literature for young readers developed within changing social, educational, and publishing contexts. Readings stem the period between medieval manuscript culture and World War II and may include early instructional works, moral tales, chapbooks, adventure stories, and formative texts in the emergence of children’s literature as a distinct field. Topics vary by semester, and the course may be repeated with different emphases for up to six hours of graduate credit.

ENG 5390. Special Problems.

This course is an independent study that allows graduate students to investigate a focused issue, convention, or problem in literature and/or language under the supervision of a graduate faculty member. Students design a comprehensive plan of study based on their areas of interest and complete in-depth reading, research, and analytical work tailored to their individual project. Topics vary depending on faculty expertise and student interest. This course supports advanced, specialized study. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

ENG 5391. Directed Studies in English.

This course provides individualized study designed to prepare students for advanced-level work in English. Under the supervision of a graduate faculty member, students complete tailored reading and study plans to address gaps in academic preparation or foundational knowledge needed for advanced coursework. The nature of the work and course materials varies depending on student needs. The course is repeatable for up to 12 hours with different emphases. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

ENG 5395. Problems in Language and Literature.

This course examines selected issues and conventions in language or literature, allowing students to pursue advanced reading, research, and analytical work. The seminar format provides an opportunity to explore specialized questions within literary study, while deepening students' understanding of relevant methods and critical approaches in the field. Previous topics include screenwriting, literary theory, and literary technique. The course supports specialized scholarly development and may be repeated with different emphases for up to nine hours of graduate credit.

ENG 5399A. Thesis.

This course is for students in their first semester of thesis enrollment. The primary goal is to provide structure and support for students as they develop a substantial research project in English. Working under the supervision of a graduate faculty advisor, students conduct preliminary research, establish a thesis proposal, and begin drafting major sections of the thesis. No thesis credit is awarded until the student completes the thesis in ENG 5399B.

ENG 5399B. Thesis.

This course provides continuing thesis enrollment for graduate students who have begun their thesis in ENG 5399A and are completing research, drafting, revision, and final submission requirements. Students work under the supervision of their thesis director to complete all remaining thesis components and prepare the manuscript for submission. Enrollment in a Thesis course continues each semester until the student’s thesis is completed. Thesis credit is awarded upon successful submission of the final approved thesis. This course number provides three graduate credit hours.

ENG 5599B. Thesis.

This course provides continuing thesis enrollment for graduate students who have begun their thesis in ENG 5399A and are completing research, drafting, revision, and final submission requirements. Students work under the supervision of their thesis director to complete all remaining thesis components and prepare the manuscript for submission. Enrollment in a Thesis course continues each semester until the student’s thesis is completed. Thesis credit is awarded upon successful submission of the final approved thesis. This course number provides five graduate credit hours.

ENG 5999B. Thesis.

This course provides continuing thesis enrollment for graduate students who have begun their thesis in ENG 5399A and are completing research, drafting, revision, and final submission requirements. Students work under the supervision of their thesis director to complete all remaining thesis components and prepare the manuscript for submission. Enrollment in a Thesis course continues each semester until the student’s thesis is completed. Thesis credit is awarded upon successful submission of the final approved thesis. This course number provides nine graduate credit hours.