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New English Curriculum Provides
Innovative Approach to Learning
In the new program, students
study English literature within
the context of genres instead
of the traditional historical
approach…
Professor of English Dan Stiffler
Survey courses, long a staple
of undergraduate English
programs, offer students a sampling
of authors and works within an
historical time period. For English
majors, they form the foundation
of the work necessary to acquire a
degree.
Randolph College is about to
rewrite the book on learning about
English literature.
The changes were sparked by
the English department faculty
recognizing three trends: more
students were expressing interest
in the creative writing emphasis;
creative writing students were
taking historical survey courses,
which did not serve their needs
well; and the students in the
creative writing and literature
emphasis areas were not learning
together—even though they were
all English majors.
“Our students did not work
together until their senior seminar,”
said Dan Stiffler, a professor of
English. “We decided to integrate
the learning experience for creative
writing and literature students.”
After a six-year process of thought
and planning, and plenty of
input from students already in
the program, an innovative new
English program rolled out at the
beginning of this semester.
In the new program, students
study English literature within the
context of genres instead of the
traditional historical approach
that is often presented in
anthologies published by Norton,
for example.
To ensure that all English
majors have an understanding of
the creative process—whether they
intend to write or analyze English
literature—students are required to
complete Introduction to Creative
Writing. They also complete three
core courses dealing with poetry,
prose, fiction, and drama. The core
courses are designed to provide
a basic understanding of English
literature, reveal the structure
of literary expression, and help
students develop skills in critical
analysis and creative expression.
Students select their advanced
courses in three categories:
genre or mode; period, topic, or
movement; and author(s). Within
the categories, they will find, for
example, existing courses, such as
Magical Realism, a world literature
course; courses that have been
refocused, such as The Concord
Circle, about the discourses of
Romanticism; and new courses,
such as Inspired by the Sea, about
the sea not only as a setting but also
as a transnational theory.
The changes in the English
program have spun off four new
minors: drama, fiction, literature,
and poetry. The minors provide
English majors, and all Randolph
students, with an opportunity to
delve into specific genres in which
they are interested.
“We’re excited about this fresh
approach that offers our students
a variety of tantalizing ways to
engage literature and learn from it,”
said Heidi M. Kunz, chair of the
English department.
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