Department of English Report to APRC: Self-Study August, 2003Department of English Report to APRC: Self-Study August, 2003 I. Purposes DEPARTMENT GOALS/ASSESSMENT GOALS @) _Inorder to appreciate the ways in which the study of literature and language enhances the [intellectual], emotional, ethical, spiritual, philosophical, and aesthetic development of human potential, the English major is designed to promote 1. understanding and appreciation of a wide range of literary works and in-depth study of individual significant authors and works; 2. understanding of the history of literature, the relationship between cultural values, philosophical positions and literature, with the ability to apply those concepts to the study of particular texts, 3. understanding of a range of literary genres—fiction, poetry, drama, expository and argumentative prose, etc—and the ability to apply those concepts to the study of particular texts; 4, understanding of theories and approaches to the analysis of literature and language and the ability to apply those concepts to the study and interpretation of particular te 5. understanding of literature and language in a range of mythologies, cultural trations, and historical periods, 6. understanding of a wide variety of techniques for reading, analyzing and evaluating (in oral and written discussion) literature; 7. understanding of theories and histories of writing, rhetoric, and language structures, 8. ability to write clearly and gracefully in a variety of genres, for a variety of purposes and. audiences, 9. continuing development of knowledge and skills, in careers (education, business, professional writing and publishing) and in further formal or informal education. 10. THE DEPARTMENT, IN COMPLIANCE WITH UNIVERSITY RULES AND REGULATIONS, WILL MEASURE ITS LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT OF THESE GOALS ON A REGULAR BASIS. ‘AND WILL REPORT THE RESULTS EVERY TWO YEARS, AS REQUIRED, TO THE CLS DEAN'S OFFICE. THE DEPARTMENT MAY DELEGATE THE DESIGN OF THE INSTRUMENTS AND THE GATHERING OF DATA TO ONE OR MORE DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE(S), BUT THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE MUST APPROVE ANY INSTRUMENT BEFORE IT IS ADMINISTERED, AND THE COMMITTEE MUST REPORT ITSb) DATA AND INTERPRETATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. DEPARTMENT AND COMMITTEE(S) WILL USE BOTH INDIRECT AND DIRECT MEASURES OF ASSESSMENT. The Department of English offers five programs: the CLS English Major, the Education English Major, the three English Minors, the Creative Writing Minor, and the Professional Writing Minor (see appendix A). 1. CLS English Major: 33 credits, including one of two Shakespeare courses; one course in each of six categories (Writing, Language, Literature before 1800, American Literature of the 19" and 20" Centuries, British Literature of the 19" and 20 Centuries, and Genre); and twelve credits from Electives within the English Department. IAs of October, 2003, the Department of English is finishing a two-year study and revision of the CLS English Major. We hope to present the completely revamped major to the Dean of CLS and the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. The new CLS major will require ENG 301, Foundations for Literary Studies, ofall students. It is our expectation that a common background among our students will permit teachers of upper-division literature courses to raise expectations for student work. Eventually, we will extend the ENG 301 requirement to the Education English Major and the English (Literature) minors. ‘The new CLS Major will also offer two tracks, one in Literature and one in Writing ] 2, Education English Major: 36 credits, including three credits in each of ten categories: Writing/Language; Shakespeare; Adolescent Literature; Literature before 1800; American Literature of the 19" and 20" Centuries; British Literature of the 19" and 20" Centuries; World Literature; Multicultural, Minority, Ethnic and Women’s Literature; Genre; and Electives from English courses, i 3. English Minors: 26 credits, distribution varying by student’s college. The three minors accommodate students from Liberal Studies, Allied Health, and Business, Elementary/Middle Education; and Health Education, Recreation, and ‘Middle/Secondary Education. 4, Creative Writing Minor: 18 credits, including ENG 305, Creative Writing, six credits from a category containing Language courses, Stylistics courses, and ancillary courses; and six credits in the study and writing of Poetry or Creative prose (including Creative non-Fiction). 5. Professional Writing Minor: 19 credits, including ENG 339, Prose Style and Editing; ENG 451, Portfolio; and fifteen credits from a category containing Advanced Writing, Language, and Theory courses. 6. The Department of English teaches courses for the benefit of other programs: ENG 307, Writing for Management, Public Relations, and the Professions, a required course in the Recreation Management Major, four/five sections per academic year. ENG 310,