English

Introduction

The English major engages students in reflective reading, creative inquiry, critical analysis, and effective expression. The study of literature, linguistics, writing, film, and visual media prepares graduates to pursue a variety of careers, including law, business, government, professional writing, publishing, and education. These studies also prepare students for graduate programs.

The Department of English offers four major emphases:

English — Literature Emphasis, BA  

English — Literature Emphasis, BA, with Teaching Endorsement Option  

English — Creative Writing Emphasis, BA  

English — Creative Writing Emphasis, BA, with Teaching Endorsement Option  

All four programs lead to the Bachelor of Arts in English. English: Literature Emphasis focuses on the study of literature in historical and cultural contexts and includes course work in English language and literature, literary and rhetorical theory, creative writing and composition, technical writing, film, and visual media. English: Literature with Endorsement Option has a similar focus but with the addition of coursework required for an English Language Arts Endorsement at the secondary level. Creative Writing Emphasis focuses on writing in fiction, drama, poetry, and in nonfiction prose, and it is complemented by courses in language and literature. English: Creative Writing with Endorsement Option has a similar focus but with the addition of coursework required for an English Language Arts Endorsement at the secondary level.

The Department of English provides a dynamic intellectual environment and learning community. Faculty members introduce new genres, fields and methods of critical inquiry, and technologies to provide our students with the best possible education. The department offers small, student-centered classes, innovative pedagogy, and close faculty-student interaction. English faculty members have earned numerous awards for excellence in teaching, research, and writing; they are nationally and internationally recognized in creative and critical fields. Our students have amassed an enviable record of placement in graduate programs and professional positions.

Faculty

KATHRYN VULIĆ (2004) Chair and Associate Professor. AB, Ohio State University; MA, PhD, University of California, Berkeley.
KAVEH ASKARI (2007) Associate Professor. BA, New College of Florida; MA, PhD, University of Chicago.
BRUCE BEASLEY (1992) Professor. BA, Oberlin College; MFA, Columbia University; MA, PhD, University of Virginia.
NICOLE BROWN (2002) Associate Professor. BS, BA, Salve Regina University; MA, Carnegie Mellon University; PhD, Purdue University.
JEREMY CUSHMAN (2013) Assistant Professor. BA, Whitworth University; MA, University of Illinois at Chicago; PhD, Purdue University.
KRISTIN DENHAM (2000) Professor. BA, Swarthmore College; MA, University of Arizona; PhD, University of Washington.
DAWN DIETRICH (1992) Associate Professor. BA, Eastern Michigan University; MA, PhD, University of Michigan.
MARC GEISLER (1992) Associate Professor and Associate Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences. BA, Bates College; MA, PhD, University of California, Irvine.
ALLISON GIFFEN (2001) Professor. BA, Barnard College; MA, Yale University; PhD, Columbia University.
BRUCE GOEBEL (1996) Professor. BA, Eastern Washington University; MA, California State University, Fresno; PhD, University of Iowa.
CAROL GUESS (1998) Professor. BA, Columbia University; MA, MFA, Indiana University.
NANCY J. JOHNSON (1994), Professor. BA, University of Washington; MA, PhD, Michigan State University.
KRISTIANA KAHAKAUWILA (2012) Associate Professor, BA, Princeton University; MFA, University of Michigan.
LAURA LAFFRADO (1993) Professor. AB, Vassar College; MFA, University of Montana; MA, PhD, State University of New York-Buffalo.
CHRISTOPHER LOAR (2013) Associate Professor. BA, University of Chicago; MA, University of California, Los Angeles; PhD, University of California, Los Angeles.
ANNE LOBECK (1990) Professor. BA, Whitman College; MA, PhD, University of Washington.
ANDREW LUCCHESI (2016) Assistant Professor. BA, Pacific Lutheran University; MA, King’s College of London; PhD, The Graduate Center, City University of New York.
KATHLEEN LUNDEEN (1991) Professor. BA, MA, PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara.
WILLIAM LYNE (1995) Professor. BA, University of California, Los Angeles; MA, PhD, University of Virginia.
KELLY MAGEE (2008) Associate Professor. BA, Auburn University; MFA, Ohio State University.
KRISTIN MAHONEY (2007) Associate Professor. BA, New College of Florida; MA, PhD, University of Notre Dame.
MARY JANELL METZGER (1995) Professor. BA, University of Washington; MA, PhD, University of Iowa.
BRENDA MILLER (1999) Professor. BA, Humboldt State University; MFA, University of Montana; PhD, University of Utah.
SUZANNE PAOLA (1994) Professor. BA, Oberlin College; MFA, University of Virginia.
DONNA QUALLEY (1994) Professor. BA, University of Kentucky; MST, PhD, University of New Hampshire.
LYSA RIVERA (2007) Associate Professor. BA, University of California, Santa Cruz; MA, PhD, University of Washington.
KATHRYN TRUEBLOOD (2002) Professor. BA, University of California, Berkeley; MFA, University of Washington.
STEVEN VANDERSTAAY (1996) Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Professor. BA, MA, University of Washington; PhD, University of Iowa.
THERESA WARBURTON (2014) Assistant Professor. BA, Trinity College; AM, University of Chicago; PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo.
CHRISTOPHER WISE (1996) Professor. BA, Northwestern College; MA, University of Oklahoma; PhD, University of California, Riverside.
GREG YOUMANS (2014) Assistant Professor. BA, University of California, Berkeley; PhD, University of California, Santa Cruz.
NING YU (1993) Professor. BA, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics; MA, PhD, University of Connecticut.

Declaration Process

The department offers majors leading to both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Education degrees. Admission to these majors is by application to the appropriate advisor. Students are strongly urged to meet with a department advisor early in their careers at Western; students must declare their major at the start of their junior year. Though we cannot guarantee immediate enrollment in the major or access to any specific class, we matriculate students into the major on a rolling basis as space is available and offer a wide variety of topics each term.

Other Departmental Information

Mid-Program Checkpoint

Students seeking to complete a BA degree program in an English, emphasis within a four-year time span should have completed the following courses by the start of their junior year:

• ENG 101  and ENG 202  

Policy on Directed Independent Study and Extended Education Self-Paced Courses

• The following policies govern the kinds of classes that can apply to an undergraduate English major:
• The number of Directed Independent Study (ENG 300 and/or ENG 400) credits is limited to a maximum of 10.
• The number of Extended Education self-paced credits is limited to a maximum of 10.
• The total number of combined Directed Independent Study and Extended Education self-paced credits is limited to a maximum of 15.
• Directed Independent Study courses are intended to enrich the student’s major and we therefore specifically do not allow credit for Directed Independent Study in the following cases:
  • a) to replace core courses in the department’s majors;
  • b) to replace courses offered during the quarter in which the independent study is taken;
  • c) to replace writing intensive courses; and
  • d) to replace workshop courses designed to encourage student responses to writing.
• Directed Independent Study requires a written contract between student and teacher that comprises two parts:
  • a) a standard cover sheet that states the department policy regarding Directed Independent Study and Extended Education self-paced courses, that requests information concerning the number of such courses the student has already taken, and that requires the signature of the student, teacher, and chair; and
  • b) a short (one or two page) outline of the proposed study to be accomplished during the Directed Independent Study, including the reading and writing assignments and the number of office meetings to be scheduled.

Graduate Study

For a concentration leading to the Master of Arts degree, see the Graduate School  section of this catalog.

Programs

• English — Creative Writing Emphasis, BA
• English — Creative Writing Emphasis, BA, with Teaching Endorsement Option
• English — Literature Emphasis, BA
• English — Literature Emphasis, BA, with Teaching Endorsement Option

• Creative Writing Minor
• English Linguistics Minor
• English Minor
• Film Studies Minor
• Women’s Literature Minor
• Writing Studies Minor

• Creative Writing, MFA
• English, Non-Thesis, MA
• English, Thesis, MA

• English Language Arts — Secondary, Additional Endorsement

Courses

Courses numbered X37; X97; 300, 400, 500 are described in the University Academic Policies  section of this catalog. For more information about the courses and sections to be offered this year and next, please consult the online Timetable of Classes and the English department’s Website, www.wwu.edu/depts/english for the English department course descriptions and information on majors and minors.

• ENG 580 - Studies in Film
• ENG 594 - Practicum in Teaching
• ENG 598 - Seminar in the Teaching of English
• ENG 690 - Thesis Writing