English (ENG)

326 David M. French Hall
(810) 762-3285
Fax: (810) 237-6666
http://www.umflint.edu/english

Chair: James Schirmer
Administrative Assistant: Mandy Straubel

Professors Robert W. Barnett, Stephen Bernstein, Jan Furman, Frederic J. Svoboda, D. J. Trela; Associate Professors Jacob Blumner, Kazuko Hiramatsu, Alicia Kent, Mary Jo Kietzman, Suzanne Knight, Vickie Larsen, Stephanie Roach, James Schirmer; Assistant Professors Erica Britt, Emily Feuerherm; Full-Time Lecturers Cathy Akers-Jordan, Stephanie Gelderloos, David Larsen, Maureen Thum, Janelle Wiess; Part-Time Lecturers Brian Boggs, Nicole Broughton, Scott Caddy, Jay Clark, Monika Ehrlich, Patricia Emenyonu, Sara Faitel, Lisa Hine, Stephanie Irwin Booms, John Pendell, Diane Washington, Stephanie Wilhelm; Senior Instructional Associate Scott Russell.

Connect, reflect, imagine through language.

Department Mission and Program Assessment

The mission of the English Department is to foster thoughtful and empathetic leaders who understand and use the English language effectively and creatively.

We believe language is intrinsically fascinating and important. Through the study of language we hone our ability to ask questions, interpret texts, consider different views, create and debate ideas, and make and communicate well-reasoned arguments. Language is our subject and our medium; through it we study and participate in artistic, rhetorical, and linguistic traditions and innovations. The Department serves the University at all levels, from General Education courses in first-year writing to a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature with programs in the following four areas of the English language:

The literature program develops understandings of literary form, history, and creativity in order to expand our sense of what is possible and to deepen our ability to make connections among ideas and with others. Taught from a variety of approaches, literature courses are organized around particular time periods and topics in British and American literature, individual authors, literary genres, ancient literatures, and newly-developing fields of literary studies.
The writing program promotes the importance of writing for a variety of audiences, contexts, and purposes. From first-year and advanced composition to creative writing and technical communication, courses in writing help students cultivate the knowledge and skills necessary for success in a multitude of personal, professional, and academic situations.
The linguistics program advances our understanding of the fundamental, unconscious knowledge that all speakers have of their language and the ways that language shapes everyday life. Courses in linguistics will provide students with strong analytic skills as we explore the complex structure of human language, the mental structures that contribute to the acquisition of language, and the way that language functions in social and cultural contexts.
The English education program prepares future secondary English teachers to be innovative professionals who understand the integrated nature of the English language arts and who contribute to the overall health and well-being of both their schools and communities. English education courses engage teacher candidates in an exploration of the many traditions and debates in English language arts and its teaching practice.

The Department participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Information on assessment plans, including goals, methods and outcomes, is available at http://www.umflint.edu/assessment/.

English Placement Exams

The English Department uses a reading test score and a Writing Placement Exam to place students into the appropriate freshman English class: ENG 100 (College Reading and Learning Strategies), 109 (College Writing Workshop), 111 (College Rhetoric), or 112 (Critical Writing and Reading).

Reading and writing placements are mandatory for (1) entering freshmen and (2) transfer students without prior credit for ENG 111 and 112 equivalents and adult returning students whose Writing Placement Exam score place them into a course for which they have not received transfer credit.

Reading Placement Exam

Reading placement is based on ACT Reading score. Students without an ACT Reading score or students wishing to retest their original reading score should take the Reading Placement Exam in the advising office. Based on ACT Reading Score or Reading Placement Exam results, students may be required to take ENG 100 (College Reading and Learning Strategies).

Students required to take ENG 100 based on their ACT Reading or Reading Placement Exam score may take ENG 100 currently with ENG 109 (1-3 credits) and/or ENG 111. However, to insure the necessary reading strategies for success in ENG 112, students required to take ENG 100 must successfully complete ENG 100 before taking ENG 112.

Writing Placement Exam

The Writing Placement Exam consists of a two-hour timed essay written on a given topic. The Writing Placement Exam is required of all incoming first year and transfer students who have not yet completed their first year composition requirements. First year and transfer students who have not already completed the equivalent of ENG 111 and 112 at another university may not register for ENG 111 or 112 unless they have taken the Writing Placement Exam and can be appropriately placed on the basis of their scores.

Based on Writing Placement Exam results, students may be required to complete ENG 109 for three credits before taking ENG 111. Students may also be required to take and successfully complete one credit of ENG 109 concurrent with ENG 111 or 112.

Note that any student who wants additional individualized writing instruction can elect the one credit ENG 109.

ENG 241 and ENG 400

ENG 241 is required of all students majoring in English. Students are encouraged to complete ENG 241 before taking upper-level English courses, and must take English 241 before completing 70 University credits. When a student majoring in English accumulates 70 University credits but has not taken ENG 241, a hold is placed on the student’s transcript until the student meets with an advisor and enrolls in the course.

ENG 400 is also required of all students majoring in English (except TCP students). Because this course is intended to provide students with a capstone experience, it should be taken only after much of the major requirements have been completed. At the minimum, students must complete ENG 241 and two English courses numbered 300 or higher before they can enroll in ENG 400.

Students may not simultaneously major and minor in English.