Welcome to the English
Department!
Transfer Orientation 2012
Facts about English Department
10 Permanent Faculty Members:
• Dr. Marci Carrasquillo (US Lit and Latino/a Lit)
• Dr. Tanya Clark (African-American Literature; Women’s Lit)
• Dr. Joseph Coulombe (US Literature; Twain; Native American Lit)
• Dr. William Freind (US Lit; Modern and Contemporary Poetry)
• Dr. Zena Meadowsong (British Lit; Modernism)
• Dr. Glenn Odom (African Drama; Drama)
• Dr. Catherine Parrish (US Literature)
• Dr. Lee Talley (Victorian Literature; Children’s/Adolescent Lit)
• Dr. Timothy Viator: British Lit; Shakespeare; Latino/a Lit; Drama
• Dr. Cindy Vitto (currently serving as the Dean of Humanities/Social
Sciences) Medieval Lit; American English Grammar
Temporary Faculty 2012/2013:
• Dr. Melinda DiStefano: US Lit (3/4 time)
• Ms. Jackie Garlitos: Poetry and Non-Western
Lit (3/4 time)
• Ms. Dana Harrison: British Literature,
Grammar (3/4 time)
• Dr. Bruce Plourde: US Literature (full-time
temporary line)
Facts about our students
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Approximately 470 English majors.
Roughly half to 2/3 are dual majors in Education.
Roughly half of our majors enter as transfer students.
Our majors have had great success in a wide variety of careers and
in graduate school.
Our majors score above state average on Praxis 2 in subject matter
Two recent graduates earned a perfect score on Praxis.
Three students have recently won Fulbright Awards, to South Korea
(2007), Spain (2009), and South Africa (2010)
One 2010 graduate earned a prestigious book contract for a
memoir (Alice Ozma, The Reading Promise)
See our Department Website (prospective student link) for
information on careers for English Majors.
Our Student Learning Outcomes
Rowan English Department’s Student Learning Outcomes
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Upon completing their Bachelor of Arts degree English majors should be able to:
Think and write critically about literature, building arguments that are supported with textual
evidence;
Work with the formal elements of literature (plot, setting, style, figurative language, symbols, etc.);
Perform accurate and insightful close readings of literary texts;
Understand how issues of nation, culture, and social status help shape literary texts;
Realize how schools of literary theory can offer new perspectives from which to read literary and
non-literary texts;
Find, evaluate, and incorporate critical sources to expand their understanding of a literary text;
Comprehend the evolution of the American and British literary traditions;
Participate in class: speaking cogently as well as listening carefully and responding to others’ ideas;
Demonstrate an understanding of correct spoken and written English;
Understand and demonstrate academic integrity.
Adopted May 29, 2009
Academic Integrity
• The English Department does not tolerate academic fraud.
• We teach our students what constitutes plagiarism, and if
students are proven to have committed academic fraud we
may fail them. We report all instances of academic
dishonesty to the Provost’s office (and to the College of
Education if they are dual majors).
• In addition to failing the course, students may be expelled
from the University for proven violations of our Academic
Integrity policy.
• See our Departmental website for more information.
• See the Provost’s website for University policy on academic
integrity and the RAIV process.
Three Major Tracks
• Liberal Arts English Major
• Dual Major in Secondary Education/English
(SME)
• Dual Major in Elementary Education/English
Other Options
• Liberal Arts: Humanities/Social Sciences
sequence in English (you can combine a
sequence in English with other sequences).
See CLAS website for more details.
• Minor in English
“Rowan Experience” requirements
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College Comp 1 and 2, Public Speaking
“lit” course (waived for English majors)
Arts and Creative Experience (ACE) course
4-credit lab science course
College-level math course
Writing Intensive course (Seminars count)
Multicultural/Global (M/G) course
Departmental Requirement
• Since our surveys are historically based, we
require all English majors to take (or transfer
in) Western Civilization to 1660 and Western
Civilization Since 1660.
• We strongly recommend (but do not require)
that all majors take at least one year of a
foreign language. If you are headed for
graduate school, take two years of the same
foreign language.
Possible schedule for dual major
English/Education
FALL TERM
SPRING TERM
JUNIOR YR
Literary Studies
American English Grammar
200-level English elective
(unless you transferred one
in from previous school)
US Lit Since Realism
British Lit Since
Romanticism
Seminar 1
SENIOR YR
US Lit to Realism
British Lit to Romanticism
Shakespeare 1
Seminar 2
Upper-level English
elective
Upper-level English
elective
Possible Schedule for Liberal Arts
English major (no Education)
FALL TERM
SPRING TERM
JUNIOR YEAR
•Literary Studies
•American English
Grammar (counts as upperlevel elective)
•200-level English elective
(unless transferred in)
•US Lit Since Realism
•British Lit Since Roman.
•200-level English elective
(unless you transferred
both in); take Shakespeare
here otherwise
SENIOR YEAR
•US Lit to Realism
•British Lit to Romanticism
•Seminar 1
•Seminar 2
•Upper-level Eng elective
•Shakespeare 1 or 2 for
Shakespeare requirement
Note: If you transferred in one or two 200-level English electives, you can
move Shakespeare 1 into those slots. You can also take US Lit to Realism and
US Lit Since Realism, American English Grammar, and 200-level English
electives with us over the summer (you cannot take major courses elsewhere).
Our Curriculum
• Literary Studies for English Majors:
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Our cornerstone course
A techniques course
Class size 20
Heavy reading load; heavy writing load
Focuses on the genres (fiction, poetry, and drama),
Focuses on literary terminology
Introduces literary theory
Focus on analytical writing about literature (as
opposed to merely summarizing or describing)
Our US/British Surveys
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US Literature to Realism (fall only)
US Literature since Realism (spring only)
British Literature to Romanticism (fall)
British Literature Since Romanticism (spring)
Historically based “surveys” of literature
Classes are limited to English majors, minors, sequencers,
and a related majors (Theatre, History).
• Prepares students for Praxis 2 in subject matter and for
GREs.
• Class size 25
• Grades depend on tests, papers, and on regular
participation in class discussion.
Our Electives
• Liberal Arts majors take two 200-level electives; dual
majors in Education take one.
• How can you tell what is a 200-level elective?
• All our lit courses are coded ENGL 02. The next
number tells you the level of the course.
• ENGL 02 200 1, Modern Short Story, is a 200- level
elective. The final number tells you this is the first
section of this course (we might have many sections).
• If you are a dual major in Elementary Ed, and you
haven’t transferred in a 200-level elective, take a
Multicultural/Global (M/G) elective.
Our 200-level electives
• Modern Short Story
• Women in Literature (Multicultural/Global)
• African-American Literature to Harlem
Renaissance (M/G)
• Hispanic/Latino Lit of the US (M/G)
• World Mythology
• Adolescent Literature
• Genre Studies: Drama
Shakespeare 1
• Shakespeare 1 is required of all English
Majors. It is usually offered only in the fall.
• For those who are interested, we offer
Shakespeare 2 as an upper-level elective in
the spring. This is highly recommended for
students interested in drama or for students
who will be teaching at the secondary level.
Take Shakespeare 1 first.
American English Grammar
• All dual majors in Education/English are required to
take American English Grammar.
• This class starts by reviewing the basics of grammar
and syntax.
• You will learn all the sentence types.
• You will learn to diagram sentences.
• This class prepares you careers not only in teaching but
also in business, journalism, or editing.
• For non Education majors, this course counts as an
upper-level English elective
Upper-level electives
• Upper level electives are at the 300 and 400
level. ENGL 02 340, for instance, is Literary
Theory.
• Wait and take upper-level electives until you
have taken most or all of our survey courses;
Lit Studies and the surveys prepare you for
our upper level electives and for Seminars.
• These electives assign heavy reading and
writing loads.
Some of our upper-level electives
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American Novel
Modern American Poetry
Literature of the American Renaissance
Chaucer
American Drama
Victorian Literature
African-American Literature Since H.R. (M/G)
Literary Theory
Contemporary Literature
Modern European Literature
Classical Literature
Upper-level electives, cont.
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Shakespeare 2
Special Topics in Literature
Special Topics in Non-Western Literature (M/G)
American English Grammar (elective only for
Liberal Arts majors; required for dual majors in
Education
• We have more upper-level electives; most are
offered every two years. Check the on-line
catalogue for a full listing and course
descriptions.
Seminar 1
• Seminar 1 is a small (15 student) reading- and writingintensive class.
• Each Seminar focuses on a special topic (the American
Dream; Environmental Literature; Children’s Literature)
• You must have passed Literary Studies with a grade of
C-minus or above (no Incompletes) before taking
Seminar 1.
• Seminars rely on student-led discussion.
• In Seminar 1 you will write several short papers
incorporating secondary sourcework, leading up to one
long (15 page) research paper.
Seminar 2
• You must have passed Seminar 1 with a grade
of C-minus or above (no Incompletes) before
you take Seminar 2.
• You will write several shorter papers using
secondary sourcework, leading up to a long
(20 page) research paper based on the course
material.
Other Vital Information
• It is vital that you read your Rowan email regularly. We
will contact you about vital information (like when to
come in to seek advising, or register for classes, or
apply to graduate).
• You MUST come in to see your English Advisor every
term in order to get into the right classes and graduate
on time. If you are a dual major, you must see both
advisors.
• Use Banner to check your transcripts regularly; you can
also use the GRAD program to chart your progress
towards graduation.
What to Expect
• DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN TWO OR THREE ENGLISH
CLASSES in your first semester with us. This is vitally
important. If you are transferring in from a community
college, these English-major courses will be more
demanding than the courses you have taken with nonmajors. Our writing expectations are also different,
and almost always higher.
• Once you are our major, you cannot take English major
classes elsewhere. We certify your major courses for
graduation. The only exception is if we approve English
courses for Study Abroad (see your advisor first).
Workload
• Be realistic about the work expected of you. If you are
working outside the classroom, assess what is most
important to you (income, or the education). You
cannot work full time and expect to be in school full
time. If you have to work (and we realize many do),
cut back on the number of classes you take.
• Our class schedule must cover the grid (i.e., we must
offer courses 5 days a week, from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm).
If your work schedule means that you are restricted to
taking classes 2 or 3 days a week, expect to take much
more time to graduate.
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We have all sorts of fun activities for majors, as well: we have coffeehouse gettogethers regularly. We are planning competitive Grammar Slams, Open Mic
Nights, and Shakespeare Read-Throughs for the future.
We take students to see plays in Philadelphia each semester. This past year we
saw The Merchant of Venice and August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.
We have poetry readings once or twice a year. Our poetry specialist, Dr. Bill Freind,
brings both famous and newly emerging poets to campus regularly as part of our
Norton Poetry Series.
Last fall novelist Junot Diaz came to read from his work and talk to students about
his career and about the importance of a liberal arts education.
See our English Department website for more information:
www.rowan.edu/english
The Chair, Dr. Catherine Parrish, will be in the office on very limited hours in July
and August. Please email or call if you need to contact her.
parrish@rowan.edu
(856) 256-4324