Department of English
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/english
Alison Langdon, Department Chair
Cherry Hall 135
(270) 745-3043
english.office@wku.edu
Faculty
Professor
David J. Bell PhD (English and Comparative Literature), University of Cincinnati Main Campus, 2005
Kenneth W. Berry PhD (English), University of Mississippi, 2000
Kristi R. Branham PhD (English), University of Kentucky, 2006
Nikolai Endres PhD (Comparative Literature), University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 2000
Jane L. Fife PhD (English Rhetoric and Composition), University of Louisville, 1992
Elizabeth D. Hall PhD (English), Middle Tennessee State University, 2014
Sandra S. Hughes PhD (English), University of Georgia, 2003
Thomas C. Hunley PhD (Creative Writing), Florida State University, 2003
Alison L. Langdon PhD (English), University of Oregon, 2004
William D. LeNoir PhD, Auburn University, 1992
Alexander B. Poole PhD (English), Oklahoma State University Main Campus, 2003
Merrall Price PhD (English), University of Rochester, 1998
Kelly L. Reames PhD (English), University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 2002
Associate Professor
Jessica L. Folk MFA (Screenwriting), Chapman University, 2014
Angela L. Jones PhD (English), University of Kansas Main Campus, 2001
Gillian B. Knoll PhD, University of Maryland College Park, 2012
Peggy D. Otto PhD (English Rhetoric & Composition), University of Louisville, 2009
Lawrence D. Rigby PhD (English), University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000
Trini G. Stickle PhD (English), University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015
Marla K. Zubel PhD (Comparative Literature), University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2017
Assistant Professor
Nancy W. Dinan PhD (English), Texas Tech University, 2020
Daniel R. Keller PhD (Applied Linguistics), Northern Arizona University, 2021
Daniel J. Liddle PhD (Rhetoric), Purdue University Main Campus, 2018
Mark M. McAndrews PhD (Applied Linguistics), Northern Arizona University, 2020
Jessica R. Thomsen PhD (English), Florida State University, 2021
Instructor I
Michael J. Healy PhD (English), Florida State University, 2021
Dawn M. Winters EdD, Western Kentucky University, 2015
English Courses
ENG 401G Advanced Composition 3 Hours
Study and practice in various forms of writing and rhetorical principles.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024
ENG 402G Editing and Publishing 3 Hours
Editing collections of student works in several types including experience in computer text editing; lectures by visiting publishers and editors of books, journals, and newspapers.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024
ENG 403G Writing Memoir and Autobiography 3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)
A course in the techniques of writing autobiography; readings will be chosen primarily from contemporary American examples of the genre.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024
ENG 404G History of the English Language 3 Hours
Origin and development of the language from Indo-European to Modern English with emphasis on developments in the sound system, vocabulary, and grammar; historical and cultural effects.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 407G Linguistic Analysis 3 Hours
Current linguistic theory which includes the important levels of language as a means of communication; various theories and applications of linguistic theory to other fields of study.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024
ENG 408G Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics 3 Hours
The study of developmental psycholinguistics (language acquisition), experimental psycholinguistics (speech production/comprehension, and sociolinguistics (how language varieties are used by families, school systems and multicultural nations).
Prerequisite(s): ENG 407G
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024
ENG 410G Composition Theory and Practice in Writing Instruction 3 Hours
A study of contemporary theories of composition with emphasis on their relevance to writing and the teaching of writing.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
ENG 412G Theories of Rhetoric and Persuasive Writing 3 Hours
A survey of the history of rhetorical theory from the classical to the contemporary period with emphasis on how theories reflect and guide persuasion in public and written discourse.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024
ENG 415G Writing and Technology 3 Hours
Study of issues surrounding interrelations of technology and writing; effects of technologies (e.g., printing press, computers) on writing processes and on types of writing; institutional changes wrought by computers.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023; spring 2024
ENG 430G 19th Century American Literature 3 Hours
Seminar in 19th-century American literature; course topics will vary.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023
ENG 457G British Literature since 1900 3 Hours
A study of British fiction, poetry, and/or drama produced between 1900 and the present. Topic will vary.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 460G Literary Theory and Criticism 3 Hours
A study of theories and methods of literary and cultural analysis selected from ancient times to the present. Focus includes the written practice of criticism in response to a wide variety of texts.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 465G Film Genres 3 Hours
Study of the historical development, thematic and stylistic conventions, and cultural significance of film genre(s). Surveys representative films from one or two genres, e.g. film noir and the Western; romantic comedy and family melodrama; horror and science fiction; the musical; the war film; the epic.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 466G Film Theory 3 Hours
Study of major theories of narrative film and related media; specific theories examined will include formalist, auteurist, historical, structuralist, psychoanalytical, and political. Will include viewing of selected films.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2024
ENG 467G Visiting Writer Summer Workshop 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Advanced creative writing workshop. Offered for four weeks each summer by a visiting writer of national reputation. Alternating genres.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 468G Early Modern English Literature 3 Hours
A study of selected literary works from sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England, with attention to the historical, theoretical, and aesthetic conditions that shaped the imaginative development of English literature.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024
ENG 471G TESL Practicum 4 Hours
Supervised observation and instruction in public school or other appropriate settings, culminating in the production of a portfolio. Note: Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 407G and ENG 408G and ENG 565 and ENG 566 and permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023
ENG 474G Advanced Poetry Writing 3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)
An advanced, intensive course in the writing of poetry, emphasizing the practice and prevalent theories of contemporary poets.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022
ENG 475G Advanced Fiction Workshop 3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)
An advanced and intensive course exploring the techniques of writing fiction, emphasizing contemporary theory and practice.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023
ENG 481G Chaucer 3 Hours
Representative works of Chaucer, with emphasis on The Canterbury Tales; backgrounds; outside readings and reports.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 482G Shakespeare 3 Hours
A study of selected works by Shakespeare, situating them in their cultural moment and considering what has made them so durable, adaptable, deeply familiar, and popular in successive generations.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023
ENG 484G British Romanticism 3 Hours
British literature and culture from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 486G The Eighteenth Century 3 Hours
Eighteenth-century literature, forms, and developments.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 487G Dante's Divine Comedy and its Influences 3 Hours
An intensive study of The Divine Comedy, in English translation, along with Dante's major sources and analogues.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 488G Victorian Literature & Culture 3 Hours
Studies in Victorian poets and novelists, emphasizing the rise and fall of the British Empire and the birth of mass media.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022
ENG 489G The British Novel 3 Hours
A comprehensive exploration of English-language novels, from the Mother Country to the Colonies. Emphasis on genre development as a reflection of contemporary history.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 490G American Novel 3 Hours
Study of the American novel as a genre. Topic will vary by semester.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023
ENG 493G American Poetry 3 Hours
The course examines, in addition to major writers, selected major movements and schools in American poetry, paying special attention to influences, techniques and styles.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 495G Southern Literature 3 Hours
Selected texts by writers from and about the United States South.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2024
ENG 497G Women's Literature 3 Hours
Study of the literary history, criticism, and theory of women's writing, with an emphasis on American and British writers.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024
ENG 501 Graduate Writing Workshop 3 Hours (repeatable max of 21 hrs)
Provides a Master's level workshop for students with varied writing interests.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; winter 2023; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
ENG 502 Graduate Directed Writing 3 Hours
Provides a graduate-level directed writing course for students with varied writing interests.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 504 Studies in American Literature 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Focuses on an area of study in American literature from a range of historical periods; explores a particular topic and/or an array of literary genres or modes.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; fall 2024
ENG 506 Introduction to Professional & Technical Writing 3 Hours
ENG 506 provides a foundation in the core theories and practices of technical and professional writing. The course covers relevant scholarship, theories, methods, genres, and practices of the field of professional and technical writing. Students will create a portfolio that showcases their abilities as a professional and technical writer.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2024
ENG 507 Introduction to Creative Writing Studies 3 Hours
An introduction to the field of creative writing studies; its history within academia; its pedagogies; and its distinctive culture, including common practices in networking, lifelong learning and professional development, and best practices for writers seeking to publish their work.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Creative Writing (0478)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024
ENG 509 Practicum in One-to-One Writing Instruction 0 Hours
Participants will study the theory and practice of writing conferences and tutorials. Course will prepare participants to work individually with students, both as part of classroom instruction and in tutorial settings. Note: This course is reserved for graduate assistants in the English Department.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024
ENG 510 Graduate Rhetoric and Writing 3 Hours
Rhetorical theories and the practical considerations of college writing instruction. Open to all students but required of teaching assistants prior to their first teaching assignment.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024
ENG 511 Writing Instruction Practicum 0 Hours
A practicum in composition instruction for English Department graduate assistants who will be teaching ENG 100 as part of their assistantship in subsequent semesters. Note: Department graduate assistant status and completion of a minimum of nine hours of English course work required.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Creative Writing (0478) or English (067)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 512 Reading as a Writer 3 Hours
A reading course for creative writers. Students will closely read and discuss literary works and craft essays. They will analyze and emulate the forms and techniques of leading practitioners of poetry, literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and scriptwriting.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Creative Writing (0478)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024
ENG 514 Studies in British Literature 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Focuses on an area of study in British literature from a range of historical periods; explores a particular topic and/or an array of literary genres or modes.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 515 Internship 1-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Professional work experience combined with faculty direction.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Creative Writing (0478)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024
ENG 516 Literature and Pedagogy 3 Hours
Pedagogical theories and the practical considerations of teaching college literature. Note: In addition to prerequisite courses, 3 hours of graduate literature coursework required.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 510 and (ENG 507 or ENG 520)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023
ENG 520 Introduction to Graduate Studies 3 Hours
Basic bibliography and bibliographical problems; research methods requisite for the MA thesis and scholarly publications; methodologies of recent critical essays.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023; fall 2024
ENG 524 Studies in World Literature 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
A study of world literature, ranging widely over historical periods (classical to modern) and geographical areas (Eastern and Western), including both canonical works and non-traditional literatures; topics will vary every semester.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022
ENG 534 Studies in Genre 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Study of a particular genre, such as the novel, short stories, life writing, poetry, or drama. Topics will vary.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2024
ENG 565 Integrated Teaching English as a Second Language 3 Hours
Solid foundation in the theories of child-adult classroom-based language learning and methods for English language instruction. Field experiences in public schools or other appropriate settings away from campus are required. Note: Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024
ENG 566 Seminar in Teaching English as a Second Language 3 Hours
Creating, selecting, and evaluating materials for Teaching English as Second Language. Emphasis will be on aligning materials and methods with theoretical approaches, curricular objectives, and empirical data.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023; spring 2024
ENG 586 Seminar in British Writers 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Content varies. Selected works or writers.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 596 Seminar in American Writers 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Topics will vary. Selected works or writers.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ENG 597 Special Topics in English 3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)
Seminar on topics in literature, language, or composition.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
ENG 598 Advanced Directed Study 3-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Supervised student research on literary or linguistic topics.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2024
ENG 599 Thesis Research and Writing 1-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Thesis research and writing directed by faculty committee.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
ENG 600 Maintaining Matriculation 1-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Continued enrollment for thesis completion.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
Gender and Women's Studies Courses
GWS 421G Women, Gender, and Science 3 Hours
Study of women's participation in the natural and physical sciences, the scientific education of women, contemporary workplaces, and feminist critiques of science.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 470G Special Topics in Gender and Women's Studies 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
A detailed study of a specialized topic in Women's Studies.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 535 Roots of Feminism 3 Hours
Survey of key historical feminist writings with emphasis on intersections of gender, race, class, and sexuality in feminist theory.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 545 Feminist Knowledge and Social Change 3 Hours
Examination of both feminist knowledge and research as political practices that have the goal of improving the lives of women and challenging rigid configurations of race, class, gender, and other elements of difference.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 555 Global and Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Women 3 Hours
Examination of a range of scholarship done in various disciplines on women's political practices around the world and a comparison of women's experiences cross-culturally.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 565 Black Feminism and the Politics of Community 3 Hours
Examination of the U.S. Black feminist movement, with attention to challenges with Black communities and across social movements such as feminism and Civil Rights, and to transnational perspectives.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 570 Special Topics in Gender & Women's Studies 1-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
A detailed study of a specialized topic in gender & women's studies.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Gender Women's Studies (1712)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 575 Gender, Justice, and Sustainability 3 Hours
A multidisciplinary examination of political and economic implications of global sustainability, with particular attention to gender and justice.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 589 Internship in Women's Studies 3 Hours
Supervised work situation with cooperating business, industry, social or governmental agency whose primary purpose is advocacy for women. Emphasis on the application of advanced knowledge and skills in women's studies and applicable academic discipline.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 590 Directed Study in Women's & Gender Studies 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Individual research in a specific area of women's studies in close cooperation with supervising faculty in women's studies or other field. Note: Completion of 9 hours in Gender & Women's Studies certificate required.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Gender Women's Studies (1712)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 625 Women and Leadership 3 Hours
Cross-disciplinary study of women leaders, issues of gender, race, class and power in relationship to women leaders and contemporary issues facing women leaders.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
GWS 630 Feminist Pedagogies 3 Hours
Multidisciplinary seminar examining a range of approaches to feminist teaching including standard methodologies, issues of professionalism, academic hierarchies, ethics, and feminist communities of research. Note: Completion of 9 hours in the Gender & Women's Studies certificate required.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Gender Women's Studies (1712)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None