Catalogue 2004-05

• USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
• English
  • Undergraduate Degrees
  • Graduate Degrees
  • Courses of Instruction

Undergraduate Degrees

Undergraduate Programs

The undergraduate program in English studies involves the English language and its literary expressions -- poetic, dramatic, fictional and nonfictional.

The Department of English offers courses in several interrelated subject areas. Its undergraduate emphasis is on analyzing British and American poetry, fiction, drama and nonfictional prose in their cultural contexts. There is parallel course work in literary criticism (applied, historical and theoretical), and studies of the relationship between literature and culture (such as women in literature and ethnic American literature). The department complements its offerings in literary subjects with courses in the English language, ranging from such courses as modern theories of grammar to English for pre-law students. The department also has a strong program in writing, with courses in exposition, creative writing and writing for various professions.

To fulfill diverse student needs, the department offers four programs leading to the B.A. degree. The area of emphasis in English literature provides familiarity with each of the traditional areas of English studies. The area of emphasis in American literature involves an extensive study of American literary history. The area of emphasis in creative writing combines courses in English and American literature with workshops in the writing of fiction and poetry. The literature and language area of emphasis can prepare students for a broad range of professions; it also specifically prepares secondary school teachers.

For especially well-qualified students, the department has an honors program, and for students majoring in other disciplines, an English minor program which offers three options for specialized study and a cultural studies minor.

The Department of English is large, with over 500 majors and 37 full-time faculty members, four of whom hold named professorships. Yet, to enable full discussion in the classroom, courses for majors and minors are limited to 25 students, and there is individualized guidance outside of class. Instructors give heavy reading assignments and frequent writing assignments, helping students to become disciplined and imaginative readers and writers.

Areas of Emphasis

Students may choose an area of emphasis in English literature, in American literature, in creative writing, or a teaching major in literature and language.

English Literature Area of Emphasis

Degree: B.A., English

Required courses, Lower division		Units
ENGL 261	English Literature to 1800	4
ENGL 262	English Literature since 1800	4
ENGL 263	American Literature	4

Required courses, Upper division		units
Seven courses, including two electives and five courses as follows:
ENGL 430	Shakespeare	4

one course from:		units
ENGL 420	English Literature of the Middle Ages (1100-1500)	4
ENGL 421	English Literature of the 16th Century	4
ENGL 422	English Literature of the 17th Century	4
ENGL 423	English Literature of the 18th Century (1660-1780)	4
ENGL 461	English Drama to 1800	4
ENGL 465	The English Novel to 1800	4

one course from:		units
ENGL 424	English Literature of the Romantic Age (1780-1832)	4
ENGL 425	English Literature of the Victorian Age (1832-1890)	4
ENGL 426	Modern English Literature (1890-1945)	4
ENGL 462	British and American Drama 1800-1950	4
ENGL 466	The 19th Century English Novel	4
ENGL 467	The Modern Novel	4

and two courses from two different categories:		units
(a)
ENGL 410	History and Grammar of Modern English	4
ENGL 479	History of Literary Criticism	4
ENGL 480	Modern Literary Criticism: Theory and Practice	4
ENGL 491	Senior Seminar in Literary Studies	4
(b)
ENGL 469	Women in English Literature before 1800	4
ENGL 470	Women in English and American Literature after 1800	4
ENGL 476	Images of Women in Contemporary Culture	4
(c)
ENGL 392	Visual and Popular Culture	4
ENGL 471	Literary Genres and Film	4
ENGL 472	Literature and Related Arts	4
ENGL 473	Literature and Society	4
ENGL 474	Literature, Nationality and Otherness	4
ENGL 475	Politics and the Novel	4
ENGL 478	Sexual/Textual Diversity	4
ENGL 481	Narrative Forms in Literature and Film	4

American Literature Area of Emphasis

Degree: B.A., English (American Literature)

Required courses, Lower division		Units
ENGL 261	English Literature to 1800	4
ENGL 262	English Literature since 1800	4
ENGL 263	American Literature	4

Required courses, Upper division		units
Seven courses, including:
ENGL 440	American Literature to 1865	4
ENGL 441	American Literature, 1865-1920	4
ENGL 442	American Literature, 1920 to the Present	4

one course from:		units
ENGL 445	The Literatures of America: Cross-Cultural Perspectives	4
ENGL 446	African-American Poetry and Drama	4
ENGL 447	African-American Narrative	4
ENGL 448	Chicano and Latino Literature	4
ENGL 449	Asian-American Literature	4

one course from:		units
ENGL 392	Visual and Popular Culture	4
ENGL 410	History and Grammar of Modern English	4
ENGL 469	Women in English Literature before 1800	4
ENGL 470	Women in English and American Literature after 1800	4
ENGL 471	Literary Genres and Film	4
ENGL 472	Literature and Related Arts	4
ENGL 473	Literature and Society	4
ENGL 474	Literature, Nationality and Otherness	4
ENGL 475	Politics and the Novel	4
ENGL 476	Images of Women in Contemporary Culture	4
ENGL 478	Sexual/Textual Diversity	4
ENGL 479	History of Literary Criticism	4
ENGL 480	Modern Literary Criticism: Theory and Practice	4
ENGL 481	Narrative Forms in Literature and Film	4
ENGL 491	Senior Seminar in Literary Studies	4
two upper division electives

Creative Writing Area of Emphasis

Degree: B.A., English (Creative Writing)

Required courses, Lower division		Units
ENGL 261	English Literature to 1800	4
ENGL 262	English Literature since 1800	4
ENGL 263	American Literature	4

Required courses, Upper division		Units
Seven courses, including one course from
ENGL 455	Contemporary Prose	4
ENGL 456	Contemporary Poetry	4
ENGL 463	Contemporary Drama	4

four courses from:		units
ENGL 303	Introduction to Fiction Writing	4
ENGL 304	Introduction to Poetry Writing	4
ENGL 405	Fiction Writing	4, max 8
ENGL 406	Poetry Writing	4, max 8
ENGL 407	Advanced Fiction Writing	4, max 8
ENGL 408	Advanced Poetry Writing	4, max 8

of these, at least one has to be in fiction (ENGL 303, ENGL 405, ENGL 407) and one in poetry (ENGL 304, ENGL 406, ENGL 408) and it is highly recommended that at least one will be at the advanced level (ENGL 407, ENGL 408)

Two electives in literature (from ENGL 375, ENGL 392, ENGL 420, ENGL 421, ENGL 422, ENGL 423, ENGL 424, ENGL 425, ENGL 426, ENGL 430, ENGL 440, ENGL 441, ENGL 442, ENGL 445, ENGL 446, ENGL 447, ENGL 448, ENGL 449, ENGL 451, ENGL 455, ENGL 456, ENGL 461, ENGL 462, ENGL 463, ENGL 465, ENGL 466, ENGL 467, ENGL 469, ENGL 470, ENGL 471, ENGL 472, ENGL 473, ENGL 474, ENGL 475, ENGL 476, ENGL 478, ENGL 479, ENGL 480, ENGL 491, ENGL 495)

Literature and Language Area of Emphasis

Degree: B.A., English (Literature and Language)

Required courses, Lower division		Units
ENGL 261	English Literature to 1800	4
ENGL 262	English Literature since 1800	4
ENGL 263	American Literature	4

Required courses, Upper division		Units
Eight courses, including:
ENGL 400	Advanced Expository Writing	4
ENGL 445	The Literatures of America: Cross-Cultural Perspectives	4

one course from:		units
ENGL 440	American Literature to 1865	4
ENGL 441	American Literature, 1865 to 1920	4
ENGL 442	American Literature, 1920 to the Present	4

one course from:		units
ENGL 446	African-American Poetry and Drama	4
ENGL 447	African-American Narrative	4
ENGL 448	Chicano and Latino Literature	4
ENGL 449	Asian-American Literature	4
ENGL 469	Women in English Literature before 1800	4
ENGL 470	Women in English and American Literature after 1800	4
ENGL 476	Images of Women in Contemporary Culture	4
ENGL 478	Sexual/Textual Diversity	4

one course from:		units
ENGL 401	The Rhetoric of Written Composition	4
ENGL 412	Analysis of Written Persuasion	4

one course from:		units
ENGL 409	The English Language	4
ENGL 410	History and Grammar of Modern English	4
LING 411x	Linguistics and Education	4
two upper division electives

Students who complete this area of emphasis and who are interested in becoming secondary school teachers may obtain a California teaching credential by also taking a number of courses in education; see the English and education advisors (as well as the Rossier School of Education section in this catalogue) concerning credential requirements.

Double Majors

Double majors with English and another major in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and in some other schools of the university are strongly encouraged by the department.

English Honors Program

Candidates for the B.A. in the English Department can receive a designation on their transcripts of departmental honors by successfully completing a program of three courses as part of their major: ENGL 395, 495 and a senior honors thesis (ENGL 496*). Admission to the program is granted by the director in the fall semester of a student's junior year and requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.5 in English courses. For additional information, please contact a departmental advisor.

English Minor Requirements

The Department of English offers a minor with three tracks: (1) English and American Literature, including ENGL 261, ENGL 262 and ENGL 263, and four upper division courses (16 units minimum) as follows: one course in English literature (ENGL 420, ENGL 421, ENGL 422, ENGL 423, ENGL 424, ENGL 425, ENGL 426, ENGL 430, ENGL 461, ENGL 462, ENGL 465, or ENGL 466), one in American literature (ENGL 440, ENGL 441, or ENGL 442), and two upper division electives. (2) Literature and Creative Writing, including ENGL 261, ENGL 262 and ENGL 263, and four upper division courses (16 units minimum) as follows: one course from ENGL 455, ENGL 456, ENGL 463; and three courses from ENGL 303, ENGL 304, ENGL 405, ENGL 406, ENGL 407 and ENGL 408. (3) Literature and Exposition, including ENGL 261, ENGL 262 and ENGL 263, and four upper division courses (16 units minimum) as follows: ENGL 400, ENGL 401, one upper division elective in literature and one other upper division elective.

Minor in Cultural Studies

Cultural studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines a broad array of issues of culture, including popular culture, identity, subcultures, nationalism, global culture and ethnography. This minor is designed for students majoring in the humanities or in the professional schools who wish to complement their majors with courses that investigate the politics of culture and cultural negotiation. Students are required to have a minimum 3.0 GPA and the completion of 32 units for admission to the minor. Graduation from the minor requires the completion of three core courses (COMM 384, CTCS 407 or CTCS 411 and ENGL 392 or ENGL 472) and three electives. Students must take at least two electives outside the department of their major. Students may not take more than two electives from any one school or department.

Electives: AHIS 363, AHIS 469, ANTH 263, COLT 365, COMM 339, COMM 340, COMM 360, COMM 370, COMM 395, CTCS 406, CTCS 407, CTCS 478, ENGL 473, ENGL 478, FA 350, FREN 320, GEOG 325, HIST 225, HIST 255, PAS 400, SOCI 342.

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