David Mair, Chair
Ronald Schleifer, Graduate Liaison
113 Gittinger Hall
Norman, OK 73019-2021
Phone: (405) 325-4661
FAX: (405) 325-0831
Internet: http://www.ou.edu/cas/english/
Professors Bannet, Cottom, R.C. Davis, Hobbs, Leitch, Rapf, Schleifer, Velie, Warrior, Welch, Yoch; Associate Professors Coleman, Hobson, John, Kates, Mair, McDonald, Murphy, Ransom, Sawaya, Womack; Assistant Professors Carter, Garofalo, Hodges, Jeffers, Kamau, Keresztesi, Liatsos, McNeill, Ng, Stalling.
Information on both undergraduate and graduate programs is included. However, the general information contained in this section mainly covers undergraduate study. Please refer to the Graduate College section of this catalog for general information on graduate programs.
Over the last several years, the field of literary studies has changed dramatically. Across the nation English departments have begun to offer courses that encourage students to examine previously neglected texts and media in provocative and innovative ways. At the University of Oklahoma, we have responded to these developments by designing a program that enables majors to explore various options for the study of literature, written communication, and culture.
While we continue to teach classes in which we use the tools of literary analysis to study time-honored texts in the Western tradition, we also provide courses in which we use critical approaches of recent origin — historical, feminist, cross-cultural, among others — to examine a wide range of works that lie outside the boundaries of what is usually considered great literature. By offering a curriculum that is both novel and traditional, we encourage our majors to make informed decisions concerning interpretive practices that they will find valuable in any field they enter after graduation.
Study in the field of English Language and Literature offers a general humanistic education as well as skills in communication and analysis that are essential in most careers. An education in literature, criticism and language teaches students to write effectively and expressively, to think critically, to weigh values, and to communicate ideas. It provides the basis to understand and communicate with those of different cultural backgrounds, to understand the terms in which they think and speak. These skills are essential in the global market places of today and improve one’s chances of obtaining employment in a wide variety of fields.
A major in English prepares a student to work in communications, public relations, government and public service, sales, publishing, journalism, advertising, and business. It is an excellent background for teaching, and can be coordinated with a program of teacher certification. It is a highly useful major for a student considering business or law school. It provides a suitable preparation for graduate work in literature and other humanistic studies. The variety of talents among the English faculty and the various options within the major make it possible for students to shape their own programs flexibly according to their interests.
English majors choose one track in (1) literary and cultural studies, or (2) writing. For both tracks, majors are required to take six hours of survey courses (2433/2443, 2543/2653, or 2773/2883), two courses in literary and cultural studies (2313 and 3313), and a senior capstone course (4853).
Track 1: Literary and Cultural Studies
In this track students study literary works, movements, genres, themes, and writers in their cultural contexts. Courses emphasize reading, story, communication, language, and historical and cultural events. Students are afforded maximum flexibility in planning their degree programs. They elect seven courses distributed over at least four of six areas and may choose to take four of those courses in one area. These areas are: American Literatures; Genres and Media; Theory, Criticism, and Cultural Studies; Contemporary and Early Modern British Literature; World Literature and Medieval/Renaissance. Students may elect a writing course as one of the seven and/or select courses in Women’s and Minority literatures. One of the seven courses selected must be designated multicultural.
Track 2: Writing
The writing track studies theories of written communication; students practice them extensively in various writing contexts; and explore issues concerning literacy, language, and the relation of writing to different cultures. Students elect four writing courses (three of which must be upper division) from the following: 2113 Intermediate Writing; 2123 Creative Writing; 2133 Autobiographical Writing; 3103 Topics in Advanced Composition; 3123 Fiction Writing; 3133 Poetry Writing; 3143 Studies in Literacy and Rhetoric; 3163 Writing, Rhetoric and Histories of Technology; 3173 Histories-Writing, Rhetoric and Technology; 3183 Authoring in the Information Age; 3223 Oklahoma Writers/Writing Oklahoma; 4923 Advanced Fiction Writing; 4933 Advanced Poetry Writing, and 4943 Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing. Writing track students also take three literature courses with one of those three designated multicultural.
The department strongly believes all English majors should have at least some exposure to literatures other than those from the Anglo-European tradition. Therefore, all English majors are required to take at least one English course classified as Multicultural Studies. Currently 16 courses are so designated (2713, 2733, 2743, 3253, 3283, 3343, 3353, 3433, 3453, 3483, 3643, 4033, 4323, 4343, 4373, and 4383).
Proficiency in one language other than English is required as demonstrated by departmental examination or by successful completion of two intermediate courses in an ancient or modern language (with a grade of C or better in the second course). The department may also accept transfer credit to satisfy this requirement.
Students majoring in English may also work for the standard teaching certificate in language arts. Students in the language arts program must meet all of the requirements of the English major, and a few additional specifications. Information concerning the teaching certificate programs can be found in this catalog under the College of Education. Detailed checksheets of degree requirements and advisers with whom students can discuss programs of study are available in the college office.
Students majoring in other subjects may elect to complete a minor in English either in literary and cultural studies, and/or writing. The requirements for these minors are:
Minor in Literary and Cultural Studies
A minimum of 15 hours in literary and cultural studies beyond the first-year level, at least nine of which will be upper-division. Students may not apply hours from first-year English (1113, 1213) or from English courses designated as writing course to a minor in literary and cultural studies.
Minor in Writing
A minimum of 15 hours in writing courses beyond the first-year level, at least nine hours of which will be upper-division. Writing courses that fulfill the requirements for the minor are: 2113, 2123, 2133, 3103, 3123, 3133, 3143, 3163, 3173, 3183, 3223, 4923, 4933, and 4943.
Since its subject matter has wide appeal to non-majors as well as majors, the Department of English devotes a substantial portion of its staff and budget to the instruction of those who are majors in other fields. In addition to the first-year English courses, the department offers courses in literary and cultural studies as well as writing.
1. Literary and Cultural Studies. Non-majors are welcome in general education courses.
2. Writing. For those students who desire additional or specialized instruction in writing and language, the department offers a variety of courses in expository and creative writing beyond the freshman composition level (1913, 2113, 2123, 2133, 3103, 3123, 3133, 3143, 3153, 3163, 3173, 3183, 3223, 4923, 4933, and 4943).
At the time of application for admission to the University, an English departmental application form, three letters of scholastic recommendation, statement of goals in graduate education with reasons for choice of Area of Concentration (or Primary and Secondary Areas), sample of writing appropriate to program and scores on the aptitude section (M.A.) or aptitude and advanced sections (Ph.D.) of the G.R.E. should be sent to the graduate liaison, Department of English, University of Oklahoma, 760 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019-2021. Also, applications for graduate assistantships may be obtained from the graduate liaison in the Department of English.
For full graduate standing, the department requires a B.A. degree in English from an accredited institution. The student’s undergraduate record should indicate adequate course preparation in composition, language studies, and literature. For full graduate standing, those students holding baccalaureate degrees in disciplines other than English from an accredited institution should have had 27 semester hours in English or appropriate courses in closely related fields. Such students with non-English degrees may be asked to complete undergraduate English courses necessary for successful graduate study in English.
At the M.A. level the department offers the following areas of concentration: American and Native American Studies; Composition/Rhetoric/Literacy; Creative Writing; Early English; Modernity and Theory; and Women’s Writing. At the time of application doctoral students declare one Primary Area and one Secondary Area from the following: American and Native American Studies; Composition/Rhetoric/Literacy; Early English; Modernity and Theory; and Women’s Writing.
Candidates for the M.A. degree must demonstrate reading proficiency in one foreign language. Reading knowledge of two foreign languages is required for the Ph.D. degree. Students may choose from the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish or a Native American language. Under certain circumstances, the Graduate Committee may authorize the substitution of another language or may require an additional language. Proficiency in a foreign language may be established by one of the following:
1. by passing the ETS (Princeton) test in the language;
2. by passing a test administered by the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics at the University of Oklahoma;
3. by earning at least a bachelor’s degree from a foreign institution in which instruction was in one of the required languages; or
4. by earning a grade of B or better in two 3-hour reading courses in the language (e.g., French 2113-2223) either by enrollment in the courses or by taking only the final examination in the second course of the selected sequence.
Candidates have the option of either a 33-hour thesis program or a 33-hour program with a comprehensive examination. A Masters in Literary and Cultural Studies requires one course in Graduate Research and Writing or in Literary Criticism and Theory; one course in Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy; two courses in a primary concentration at the 5000 or 6000 level; and five courses distributed across three other areas of concentration. A Masters in Composition, Literacy, and Literacy (CRL) requires a course in Introduction to Issues in CRL; a course in Teaching College Composition and Literature; a course in the History of Rhetoric/Composition Theory or in the History of Modern Composition Studies; a course in Literary Criticism and Theory; two courses in Literary and Cultural Studies concentrations; and three elective courses. For both Masters degrees, two English courses may be at the 4000 level, but the other coursework must be at the 5000 or 6000 level. Candidates pursuing the nonthesis option will take the M.A. Comprehensive Exam.
The Ph.D. degree requires 57 hours beyond the 33 hours of the M.A., or 90 hours beyond the B.A. A degree in Literary and Cultural Studies requires one course in Literary Criticism and Theory; four courses in the primary area at the 5000- or 6000-level; two courses in the secondary area; and one course in three different areas other than the primary and secondary areas. A concentration in Composition/Rhetoric/Literacy Studies requires one course in research methods in Rhetoric and Composition (a 6000-level seminar); four other courses in CRL, two of which must be in history of composition or rhetorical theory at the 5000-level, and one of which must be a research seminar in CRL at the 6000-level; two 5000 or 6000-level courses in Literary and Cultural Studies. The remaining courses for both Literary and Cultural Studies as well as Composition/Rhetoric/Literacy Studies are electives.
The Ph.D. program requires a general examination which includes both a written and oral component, and a dissertation. The written component of the general examination consists of two parts which focus on the student’s primary and secondary areas of study. In addition, doctoral students must teach at least half-time at the college level for one year in order to receive the Ph.D. degree.