RockhuRst univeRsity 2012–2014 catalog

Department of English (EN)ProfessorAssociate ProfessorAssistant ProfessorVisiting Assistant ProfessorJoseph A. Cirincione, Ph.D.Charles M. Kovich, Ph.D.Patricia Cleary Miller, Ph.D.Margaret E. Wye, Ph.D.John Kerrigan, Ph.D.Daniel Martin, Ph.D. (Chair)Jason Arthur, Ph.D.Margot Stafford, Ph.D.The Department of English educates students to become careful readers and effectivewriters and to derive joy from each role. To cultivate students as readers, the Departmentasks them to study literature in a variety of genres, including poetry, drama, the novel, theshort story, and the essay. Study in the discipline of English enlarges students’ sensibilities,enriches their intellectual lives, broadens their imaginations, strengthens their criticalthinking, and helps to initiate students into a community committed to liberal learningin the arts and sciences. With Francis Bacon, the Department believes that readingmakes a full person, and writing an exact person. Our writing courses, both introductoryand advanced, cultivate critical thinking by asking students to analyze the work of theirown peers and of accomplished writers. In this way, students learn to clarify their ownthoughts, examine personal biases, explore complex issues, and find the best style to communicatewith various audiences.Building upon introductory Core courses in composition and in world literature, theEnglish major and minor seek to advance students’ skills in writing and in analytical andcreative thinking; to deepen understanding of the major developments in literature writtenin the English language, particularly British and American literature; to strengthencompetence in methods of literary theory and criticism; and to broaden the experience oflanguage in linguistics. In short, the Department participates in the broader mission ofRockhurst University by contributing to the education of the whole person, helping tomake clear what it means to be fully human: that is, a person who is advancing in knowledge,open to the transcendent, and intent on the good of others.Besides preparing majors for teaching and graduate work, English studies preparestudents for professional study of law, journalism, business and government. English studiesalso prepare students with a careful selection of electives and internship experiences totake a variety of paths after graduation, including medical school; service to the Church;careers in marketing, management and corporate communication.Major Fields of ConcentrationThe major concentration in English consists of a minimum of 22 semester hours ofupper-division work. Required courses are EN 3000, EN 3150, one Shakespeare course,one American literature course, and three additional upper-division courses selected inconsultation with the major advisor in accord with one of the three tracks offered by thedepartment (described below). Students pursuing any track within the English majormust also complete EN 4930 for 1-3 credit hours. It is also strongly recommended thatmajors take an introductory literature course (EN 2740, EN 2760, or EN 2900-2989).For the remainder of a student’s program, including 12 required semester hours of upper-Undergraduate College of Arts Programs & SciencesCollege of Arts and Sciences117