Chair: Elizabeth (Lisa) Eck

Professors: Bartholomew Brinkman*, Elizabeth (Lisa) Eck, Alexander (Sandy) Hartwiger, Patricia Lynne,
Carolyn R. Maibor, Kelly A. Matthews, Desmond F. McCarthy, Lynn Parker, Evelyn Perry, Rachel V. Trousdale

Associate Professors: Kristen Bennett, Colleen Coyne**, Jennifer DeLeon, Patricia A. Horvath, Samuel Witt

Assistant Professors: Sally Shafto

*Sabbatical: Fall 2024

**Sabbatical: Spring 2025

The English Department offers a wide-ranging program of poetry, prose, drama, film, linguistics, writing, and journalism for majors and non-majors alike. This program is designed to help students develop increased skills in reading, writing, and analytical thinking; greater appreciation of literature; and deeper understanding of the relationship between literature and race, gender, culture, history, and our shared humanity.

The General Education Requirement

All students must satisfy a general education requirement consisting of ten (10) courses outside of the major department. The General Education Domain I-B (Humanities) is satisfied through the completion of the English major.

Course Prerequisites

Courses may have specified conditions for enrollment, such as prior completion of less advanced courses, permission of the instructor, or appropriate placement test scores. Students should refer to course descriptions in the department listings for prerequisite requirements.

Placement Testing

Students are asked to take a placement test in writing if their adjusted high school GPA is less than 3.0 to determine which level of writing is most appropriate. The Director of the First-Year Writing program will contact students with a GPA of less than a 3.0 by e-mail (your Framingham State e-mail account) with instructions on how to access the test online.

Writing Code Interpretation

Code Explanation

0.0 - 2.1 Student must enroll in and successfully complete ENWR 100 Composition I with Writing Studio before being eligible to enroll in ENWR 110 Composition II. Prior to the start of the semester, a writing placement test may be available.

2.3 Student must enroll in and successfully complete ENWR 105 Composition I before being eligible to enroll in ENWR 110 Composition II.

3.0 Student is eligible to enroll in ENWR 110 Composition II.

4.0 Student is eligible to enroll in ENWR 110 Composition II. Student has successfully completed non-credit preparatory coursework at another institution.

5.0 Student is eligible to enroll in ENWR 110 Composition II. Student has been awarded transfer credit equivalent to ENWR 105 Composition I.

9.0 Equivalent of ENWR 110 Composition II has been accepted in transfer.

Description of ENGLISH Course Levels

In addition to being grouped by distribution areas (i.e., British literature, American literature, world literature, and so forth), English Department courses are arranged in tiers that assume different levels of preparation, background, and experience.

100-level courses are foundation courses in literature and composition. They assume little or no previous experience in the subject and include ENWR 110 Composition II, a college-wide requirement. 100-level courses are offered each semester. One 100-level literature, if taken during the freshman or sophomore year, may count towards the English major requirements.

200-level courses examine a broad range of material and various literary traditions, periods, and genres. These include historical overviews in British, American, and world literatures; genre studies; writing and journalism courses; women’s studies; language studies; ethnic literature; and film studies. Literature courses at this level include a research component. ENGL 204 Literary Study, a required seminar for English majors culminating in a 10-page essay of approximately 3,000 words, should be taken in the first year or as early in the student’s academic career as possible.

300-level courses are increasingly specialized courses that provide breadth of coverage with a more detailed and rigorous study of the material. Literature and film courses at this level presuppose some background and experience in literature or film, as well as proficiency in close reading, analytical thinking, and expository writing. Writing assignments in literature and film courses include essays that integrate research and close readings of texts, as well as a culminating 10-page essay of approximately 3,000 words.

400-level courses are advanced courses primarily intended for juniors and seniors. Most classes are conducted as a workshop or seminar in which students are responsible for oral reports and in-class presentations. Student papers in literature and film courses at this level are required to demonstrate mastery in research techniques, familiarity with various critical methodologies, and ability to synthesize disparate materials. ENGL 422 Seminar in Literature, which culminates in an 18-20 page essay of approximately 5,400-6,000 words, is offered each semester and is intended to be taken in the senior year.