English

View Programs and Courses 

View English flowsheets 

Faculty

Associate Professor Theresa DeFrancis, Chairperson

Professors: Patricia L. Buchanan, Steven Carter, Lucinda Damon-Bach, Richard L. Elia, Perry W. Glasser, Jeannette M. Lindholm, John David Scrimgeour, Ann M. Taylor, Pierre A. Walker, Julie Whitlow

Associate Professors: Lisa N. Mulman, Scott A. Nowka, Alexandria Peary, Arthur Riss, Jeffrey S. Theis, Keja L. Valens, Stephenie Young

Assistant Professors: Regina Flynn, Melanie Gonzalez, Michael Jaros, Amy Jo Minett, January O’Neil, Tonya Rodriques

Faculty Emeriti

Professors: Michael Antonakes, Paul Beauvais, Eric Branscomb, Mary Elizabeth Devine, Francis P. Devlin, Patricia A. Gozemba, John M. Green, Rod Kessler, Claire Keyes, Thomas E. Luddy, William E. Mahaney, John W. P. McHale, Patricia Parker, Donnalee Rubin, Carl A. Stecher, George N. Torrey, Joseph Williams, Richard P. Zollo

Department Mission Statement

Profound literacy is the hallmark of a liberal education. To that end, English department courses involve instruction and study in literature and writing, the emphasis varying according to course content. Through intensive reading and analysis, students develop a critical appreciation of literature written in disparate times and places. Through expository writing, students learn techniques for conducting research and for drafting and revising analytic and persuasive essays based on critical reading. In creative writing, students develop an aesthetic through practicing the craft of various genres. The English department prepares students for professional and academic leadership including careers in teaching and writing.

General Statement:

The English Department at Salem State offers courses and programs that provide a solid liberal arts foundation for positions in such areas as education, law, healthcare, business, publishing, editing, public service, freelance writing, and the arts. The department also offers concentrations in such areas as Literature, Creative Writing, Professional Writing, and Film Studies.  Classes are small and led by and enthusiastic faculty in the forefront of their respective fields. The English major at SSU prepares students to participate successfully in a variety of professional environments.

Programs Offered

Bachelor of Arts – English

Concentrations

Creative Writing   
Professional Writing 

Minor

Secondary Education -Licensure in English

Minors (for non-English majors)

Dramatic Literature  
English (non-specialized)  
Film Studies  
Professional Writing 
Writing 

Academic Advising

The Registration Procedure requires close contact between English majors and their Department advisors. All majors, including all approved Change of Majors and Transfers are assigned an advisor in the English Department. Lists are posted outside the Department Office (MH 249) and are distributed to all faculty advisors and can be found online in Navigator. English majors should maintain regular contact with their assigned advisors to assure fulfillment of all-university and departmental requirements and to remain aware of any changes in programs and requirements.

When setting up their programs, majors should keep in mind the following guidelines:

1. All majors must declare a minor by the end of their Sophomore year; Junior transfers by the end of their first semester.
2. English majors who wish to pursue one of the departmental concentrations should be certain to follow the required and recommended course selections.
3. You must meet with the concentration coordinator who will initial the request form, then the Department Chair will sign it.

Forms for declaring minors and concentrations are available from the Department office.

All majors, in consultation with their advisors, should track their academic progress through Navigator and should keep updated flow sheets to insure compliance with all major and university requirements. Majors and minors with advising questions should first contact their assigned advisors.

Bachelor of Arts in English

The Program: 42 hours in English including 27 hours of required courses categories and 9 hours of electives. At least 9 hours must be at the 400 level or higher. At least one course must be an English-department designated writing course (*). 

First-year English majors are required to take ENL 110 Foundations of Writing .They are also required to take  ENL 160 Literature I: Reading Broadly  and ENL 161 Literature II: Reading Closely  as their Core Curriculum Literature courses. 

The required course categories are:

National/Postnational.  9 credit hours, to be divided as follows:

3 credit hours in pre-19th Century British and Anglophone literature
3 credit hours in pre-20th Century United States and the Americas literature
3 credit hours in Postnational 20th and 21st Century literature

Genre, Major/Minor Author, Period, Topic.  6 credit hours.

Approaches to Language, Literacy, and Writing.  6 credit hours.

Approaches to Theory.  3 credit hours.

Capstone Experience. 3 credit hours.
 

ENGLISH COURSES BY CATEGORIES

British and Anglophone Pre-19th Century

ENL 241 British Literary Studies II 
ENL 340 Shakespeare I 
ENL 341 Shakespeare II 
ENL 442 Studies in Shakespeare  
ENL 443 Seventeenth Century English Poetry 
ENL 444 Origins of the British Novel 

United States and the Americas Pre-20th Century

ENL 250 American Literary Studies I  
ENL 255 African American Literature I 
ENL 450 Early American Literature 
ENL 451 American Romanticism 
ENL 452 American Realism 
ENL 453 American Naturalism 

Postnational 20th and 21st Century Literature

ENL 251 American Literary Studies II 
ENL 253 American Ethnic Literatures Since World War II 
ENL 256 African American Literature II 
ENL 338 Poetry I (Modern) 
ENL 339 Poetry II (Contemporary) 
ENL 344 Twentieth Century British Fiction 
ENL 345 Twentieth Century British Literature 
ENL 352 U.S. Latino/a Literature 
ENL 360 Irish Literature and Culture 
ENL 365 Modern European Novel 

Genre

ENL 230 Introduction to Poetry 
ENL 232 Novels: Art as Entertainment 
ENL 266 Poetry of Peace and War 
ENL 270 History of the Cinema 
ENL 271 Film Analysis 
ENL 272 Literature and Film I 
ENL 273 Literature and Film II 
ENL 276 Classics of World Cinema 
ENL 280 Drama I 
ENL 281 Drama II 
ENL 282 World Drama 
ENL 313 Survey of Journalistic Styles 
ENL 321 The Craft of Poetry  *
ENL 322 The Craft of Fiction  *
ENL 330 Short Story I (Introduction) 

Period

ENL 251 American Literary Studies II 
ENL 253 American Ethnic Literatures Since World War II 
ENL 338 Poetry I (Modern) 
ENL 339 Poetry II (Contemporary) 
ENL 343 British Fiction in the Nineteenth Century 
ENL 344 Twentieth Century British Fiction 
ENL 345 Twentieth Century British Literature 
ENL 353 Literature for Young Adults 
ENL 364 Nineteenth Century European Novel 
ENL 365 Modern European Novel 
ENL 441 Special Topic in Renaissance Literature 
ENL 443 Seventeenth Century English Poetry 
ENL 445 English Romanticism 
ENL 446 VIctorian Literature 
ENL 447 English Literature Between the Wars: 1920-40 
ENL 450 Early American Literature 
ENL 451 American Romanticism 
ENL 452 American Realism 
ENL 453 American Naturalism 
ENL 454 Modern American Literature 
ENL 455 Contemporary American Literature 
ENL 458 Jack Kerouac and the Beat Writers 
ENL 460 Postcolonial Literature 
ENL 462 Nineteenth-century Russian Literature 
ENL 480 Twentieth Century British Drama 
ENL 481 Modern American Drama 

Topic

ENL 253 American Ethnic Literatures Since World War II 
ENL 255 African American Literature I 
ENL 256 African American Literature II 
ENL 260 World Literature I 
ENL 163 World Literature, 18th Century to Present 
ENL 262 Classics of World Literature I 
ENL 263 Classics of World Literature II 
ENL 264H Studies in Literature I (Honors) 
ENL 265H Studies in Literature II (Honors) 
ENL 334 Literature for Children in the Elementary Grades 
ENL 337 The Literature of Travel 
ENL 350 American Women Poets 
ENL 352 U.S. Latino/a Literature 
ENL 353 Literature for Young Adults 
ENL 360 Irish Literature and Culture 
ENL 361 Literature of the Sea 
ENL 362 Women and Fiction 
ENL 363 The Search for God 
ENL 366 The Caribbean Experience in Literature 
ENL 370 Women in Literature and Film I 
ENL 371 Women in Literature and Film II 
ENL 411 Special Topics in Professional Writing 
ENL 440 Arthurian Literature 
ENL 441 Special Topic in Renaissance Literature 
ENL 456 Nature in American Literature 
ENL 457 Literature of the American West 
ENL 461 Literature of the Bible 
ENL 482 Women in Drama   

Author

ENL 340 Shakespeare I 

Approaches to Language, Literacy, and Writing

ENL 201 Introduction to Language 
ENL 231 Literature and the Reader 
ENL 300 Advanced Writing  *
ENL 305 History of the English Language 
ENL 306 Grammar and Style 
ENL 307 Fundamentals of Teaching English as a Second Language 
ENL 308 Language in Society 
ENL 310 Introduction to Professional Writing  *
ENL 311 Editing for Publication  *
ENL 314 Business Writing  *
ENL 315 Technical Writing  *
ENL 316 Travel Writing  *
ENL 317 Internet Writing  *
ENL 318 - Food Writing   *
ENL 320 Creative Writing  *
ENL 321 The Craft of Poetry  *
ENL 322 The Craft of Fiction  *
ENL 405 Linguistics 
ENL 410 Workshop in Literary Journalism  *
ENL 411 Special Topics in Professional Writing  *
ENL 412 Seminar in Modern Publishing 
ENL 420 Creative Writing Workshop: Scriptwriting  *
ENL 421 Creative Writing Workshop: Non-fiction  *
ENL 422 Creative Writing Workshop: Fiction 
ENL 423 Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry  *
ENL 424 Special Topics in English: Creative Writing  *
ENL 502 Writing Skills Center Practicum 
ENL 508 Internship in English 

Approaches to Theory

ENL 390 Introduction to Literary Criticism and Theory 
ENL 490 Contemporary Literature Theory 
ENL 495 Special Topics in Theory and Criticism   

Capstone Experiences

ENL 500 Directed Study 
ENL 508 Internship in English 
ENL 510 Portfolio Seminar 
ENL 530 Seminar: Literature I  
ENL 531 Seminar: Literature II 
ENL 600H Honors Seminar 
ENL 601H Honors Essay in English 

Concentrations for English Majors

The following is a list of available concentrations. For further details on recommended courses, students should consult with department advisors or the department chairperson.

Creative Writing (18 credits) Required:ENL 310  (Intro. to Professional Writing) and ENL 320  (Intro. to Creative Writing) and three courses from the following list: ENL 321 (Craft of Poetry), ENL 322 (Craft of Fiction), ENL 411 (Spec. Top. In Professional Writing), ENL 412 (Seminar in Modern Publishing), ENL 420 (CW Wksp: Scriptwriting),  ENL 421 (CW Wksp: Non-Fiction), ENL 422 (CW Wksp: Fiction), ENL 423 (CW Wksp: Poetry), ENL 424 (Spec. Top. In Creative Writ.), and in the senior year, either ENL 500 (Dir. Study) or ENL 601H (Honors Essay in English)

Professional Writing (21 credits) Required: ENL 310 (Intro. To Professional Writing and ENL 320 (Intro. To Creative Writing) and ENL 510 (Portfolio Seminar) that should be taken in the senior year) and four courses from the following list: ENL 311 (Editing for Publication), ENL 410 (Workshop in Literary Journalism), ENL 313 (Survey of Journalistic Styles), ENL 306 (Grammar and Style), ENL 300 (Advanced Writing), ENL 314 (Business Writing), ENL 315 (Technical Writing), ENL 316 (Travel Writing), ENL 317 (Internet Writing), ENL 321 (The Craft of Poetry), ENL 411 (Special Topics in Professional writing), ENL 502 (Writing Skills Center Practicum),  ENL 508 (Internship)

English Major Requirements for Students who Minor in Secondary Education : 36 Credits

Students wishing to achieve an initial license to teach English at the secondary school level (grades 8-12) in Massachusetts can apply for the Secondary Education Minor within the B.A. program in English (BA English, Secondary Education Minor ). Candidates for teacher licensure in Massachusetts must also pass three Massachusetts Tests for Educators Licensure (MTEL): Communication, Literacy, and the English Subject Test. Students in this minor should meet with the department’s Secondary Education Coordinator as soon as possible to review requirements for eligibility. For complete information on course requirements that address the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements for Initial Licensure, please visit the English Secondary Education  section of the catalog.

Additional Programs and Resources

Interdisciplinary Courses

The English Department participates in several Interdisciplinary programs, offering courses in such areas as American Studies, Women’s Studies, Peace Studies, and Marine Studies. The content and approach of these courses are coordinated with offerings of other participating departments.

Internships

The English Department offers internships in order to bring its majors and minors into contact with professional employment. As experiential learning, internships provide students with on-the-job experience and training in areas directly connected to their concentrations in English. Internships are usually taken in the students’ Senior year after they have completed most, or all, of their major requirements. Students will need an intern advisor and permission of the Department Chairperson to enroll in ENL 508 Internship in English . For more information, contact Professor Perry Glasser, Internship Coordinator pglasser@salemstate.edu. All majors may apply for internships, not just those concentrating in Professional Writing.

The Writing Center

The English Department’s Writing Center, located in the Berry Library and Learning Commons, serves English majors in two related ways: first, the Center gives majors the opportunity to receive individualized attention to their writing in one-on-one sessions with a trained, informed tutor; second, as an experiential learning opportunity, majors become part of the Writing Center staff. With a faculty recommendation, majors may enroll in ENL 502 Writing Skills Center Practicum  , the training course for students who would like to tutor in the Center. After successfully completing the course, majors can work in the Center as paid tutors.

Associations and Publications   

Honor Society      

Sigma Tau Delta is the international English honor society, with over 800 active chapters located in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Sigma Tau Delta’s central purpose is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature.

The English Society

The English Society is an open arts society that offers support and community for students interested in literature and writing. The Society sponsors student readings and other literary events. We are always interested in new members. Please contact the Department Chair for more information.

Red Skies

Red Skies is the on-line magazine produced by the students of Salem State University. Published under the auspices of the Professional Writing Program, Red Skies features include investigative journalism, interviews, profiles, opinion, travel essays, as well as creative non-fiction, fiction and poetry, art work, and short films. For those interested in working on Red Skies, please contact Professor Regina Robbins Flynn, at rflynn@salemstate.edu, MH104, 978.542.6886, or send email to the student editorial staff: redskiesmagazine@gmail.com or Red Skies may be viewed at http://redskies.salemstate.edu.

Soundings East

Students have the opportunity to serve on the staff of Soundings East, the international literary magazine of Salem State University that publishes high quality work from writers throughout the world. Students interested in working on Soundings East should contact the Coordinator of Creative Writing, J.D. Scrimgeour (jscrimgeour@salemstate.edu). Students may also submit poetry, short stories, and creative non-fiction. Submissions can be dropped off in the English Department.

Events

The Department sponsors events each year which are of interest to English majors and minors. One valuable way for students to learn of all such events is to be included in the English Department mailing list.

The Writers’ Series

In conjunction with the Center for the Arts, the English Department sponsors the Salem State Writers’ Series. The series has several events each semester, bringing accomplished authors to campus to read and speak to students. The events also include annual student and faculty readings. All events are free and open to the public.

First Year Writing Competition

The Department sponsors a writing contest for first-year students enrolled in composition classes.

English Minors for Non-English Majors

Students who minor in English are welcome to participate in all department activities. Minor programs may be selected from the following choices; further information on minors is available at the Department office.

English (non-specialized) (18 credits). The English minor allows students to explore all aspects of the discipline. Students may focus on a variety of literature courses or combine literature and writing.
Required: Six courses (one literature sequence and four free English electives).

Writing (15 credits). The minor in Writing offers students the opportunity to explore creative and professional writing.
Required: Five ENL courses in writing.

Dramatic Literature (18 credits). The minor in Dramatic Literature allows students interested in theatre to study the major works and genres in the field.
Required: ENL 280 - Drama I , ENL 281 - Drama II  plus four courses selected from ENL 340 , ENL 341 , ENL 482 , ENG 380 , ENL 442 , ENL 480 , ENL 481 , ENL 380 , ENL 381 .

Professional Writing (18 credits). The minor in Professional Writing introduces students to the temperament and skills required for leadership in collaborative and creative environments where information is prepared in diverse forms.
Required: Six courses: one literature sequence (6 credits),  ENL 310 - Introduction to Professional Writing  (3 credits), ENL 411 - Special Topics in Professional Writing  (3 credits), ENL 510 - Portfolio Seminar  (3 credits) and one elective course (3 credits) selected from: ENL 320 , ENL 410 , ENL 313 , ENL 306 , ENL 300 , ENL 315 , ENL 316 , ENL 421 , ENL 317 , ENL 412   ENL 502 , ENL 508 .

Film Studies (18 Credits). The minor in Film Studies allows students to study in a sustained and in-depth manner our rapidly increasing visual culture. Students will explore film as an aesthetic, cultural, and historical form, consider the particularities of the medium and the vocabulary of film, engage debates in film theory, and learn about a variety of particular filmic genres and issues. The minor in Film Studies consists of 18 credits of courses designed to provide a balanced program of experiences in theoretical and practical aspects of film studies. Six courses, Required:

All-University Requirements 

Composition Requirement.  Students in all majors except English and Education satisfy the Composition or WI requirement by successfully completing ENL 110  . Students in the Honors Program satisfy the Composition or WI requirement by successfully completing

Students Whose First Language Is Not English Including International Students

Students whose first language is not English including international students, may be placed on the basis of a writing sample in ENL 108 - Academic Writing for Multilingual Writers , or in ENL 101ESL - Composition I for ESL . The course sequence for non-native speakers of English is ENL 108 , ENL 101ESL , and ENL 102ESL - Composition II for English as a Second Language . ENL 101ESL  satisfies the all-college requirement for ENL 101 - Composition I . ENL 102ESL  satisfies the all-college requirement for ENL 102 - Composition II .

Courses for the Core: Many English Department courses fulfill category requirements in the current CORE curriculum (Please consult current lists of available courses).