English (ENG)

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

Language and Communication Department Chair: Marcus Paroske
English Professional Advisor: Khalilah Rasah

Administrative Support Staff
_{260 French Hall}
Public Relations & Advising: Mandy Myers
Personnel & Course Scheduling: Patricia Slackta
Budget & Finances: Lesa Callcut

Faculty
Professors Robert W. Barnett, Stephen Bernstein, Jacob Blumner, D. J. Trela; Associate Professors Erica Britt, Emily Feuerherm, Kazuko Hiramatsu, Alicia Kent, Mary Jo Kietzman, Vickie Larsen, Stephanie Roach, James Schirmer; Full-Time Lecturers Cathy Akers-Jordan, Stephanie Vidaillet Gelderloos, David Larsen, Maureen Thum, Janelle Wiess; Part-Time Lecturers Scott Atkinson, Jay Clark, Monika Ehrlich, Lisa Hine, Stephanie Irwin-Booms, David Linden, John Pendell, Diane Washington, Stephanie Wilhelm, Melojeane Zawilinski.

Connect, reflect, imagine through language.

Mission and Assessment

The mission of the English program faculty 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 English program 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:

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. As of Fall 2021 this program is housed in the Education Department of the School of Education and Human Services.

The English program 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

All students need a reading placement determination and a writing placement determination by test score, placement exam, or other credit before they register for their first year writing course. Reading and writing placements help the faculty determine where each student should begin the course sequence fulfilling General Education requirements in English. Typically, students complete the English sequence by taking ENG 111 and ENG 112 . Completing ENG 112 fulfills the General Education requirement, but ENG 112 has both a reading prerequisite (ENG 100 or waiver based on reading placement) and a writing prerequisite (ENG 111 and any ENG 111 prerequisites based on writing placement). Based on reading and writing placements, some students may also be required to take credits of ENG 100, ENG 109, ENG 110 , LIN 101 and/or LIN 102 as part of their sequence in addition to ENG 111 and ENG 112. Students should work with academic advisors to be aware of their reading placement and writing placement determinations, take any necessary placement tests, and begin their required reading and writing sequence as soon as possible. Timely progression through required English courses supports academic success and the path to graduation. See the Student Success Center website for more information on placement.

Reading Placement

Reading placement determines if a student is required to take ENG 100 as a reading prerequisite for ENG 112 or if ENG 100 is waived as a requirement. Whether or not a student is required to take ENG 100, all students must complete the writing sequence of ENG 111 and ENG 112 including other writing prerequisites as determined by writing placement.

Reading placement is most often determined at the point of admission, and often from standardized test score (SAT or ACT, for example). Alternatively, students take the English Reading Placement Exam online through the Student Success Center.

Students required to take ENG 100 based on their reading placement determination may take ENG 100 currently with ENG 109 or ENG 111. (The determination of where a student begins the required writing sequence is determined by writing placement.) However, to ensure 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

The required writing sequence culminates in ENG 112. ENG 112 has both reading and writing prerequisites. Reading placement determines if ENG 100 is required as the reading prerequisite to ENG 112. Writing placement determines whether ENG 111 is the only required writing prerequisite for ENG 112 or if additional courses are required.

Writing placement is typically determined from the results of the Writing Placement Exam (WPX) or International Writing Placement Exam (IWPX). Both exams are taken online through the Student Success Center. Some automatic placements are determined from official AP or CLEP scores, standardized test scores, or transfer credit, and automatic writing placements by standardized test score put some students directly into ENG 111 without the need to take the WPX or IWPX. Students with transfer, AP or CLEP credit for ENG 111 are placed directly into ENG 112. Scores on the WPX or IWPX determine whether a student is ready to begin the writing sequence with ENG 111 or if they will have additional requirements in the writing sequence. Independent of writing placement, a student may be required to take ENG 100 based on reading placement.

Based on the scores received from English faculty on the WPX, domestic students may be required to complete ENG 109 for three credits as a prerequisite to ENG 111 or to take ENG 109 for one credit concurrently with ENG 111. Students required to take ENG 109 for three credits as a prerequisite to ENG 111 must enroll in the three-credit ENG 109 section and complete the three-credit ENG 109 course before taking ENG 111. Students required to take ENG 109 for one credit should look for the one-credit ENG 109 sections and may register for one credit of ENG 109 concurrently with ENG 111. Based on the scores received from English faculty on the IWPX, international students may be required to complete credits of ENG 110, LIN 101 and/or LIN 102 as prerequisite(s) to ENG 111. Students required to take credits of ENG 110, LIN 101 and/or LIN 102 must complete these credits before taking ENG 111.

Note: Any student who wants additional individualized writing instruction can elect ENG 109 for one credit.

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 ENG 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.

In addition to the following, programs in Linguistics (LIN) are available.

Programs

Baccalaureate

Minor

Undergraduate Certificate

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate

Masters

English Language and Literature (MA) (Currently on Moratorium)