English
College of Liberal Arts
Department of English
(907) 474-7193
Minimum Requirements for Degrees: B.A.: 120 credits; M.A.: 30 additional credits; M.F.A.: 45 additional credits
The work of the Department of English includes the two functions traditionally associated with the discipline -- teaching basic and advanced courses in writing and offering survey and advanced courses in English, American and world literature both to English majors and minors and to students in other fields who may choose the courses as electives. In addition, the department offers courses in English linguistics and Alaskan literature.
The Department of English offers three graduate degrees. The Master of Arts in English focuses on scholarly research in British and American literature. The Master of Fine Arts degree centers on the writing of original, imaginative work in poetry, fiction, drama and/or nonfiction. The Master of Arts in Teaching degree is currently suspended and no students are being accepted into this program at this time. The Master of Arts in Professional Writing, formerly offered by the English Department, is now the Master of Arts in Professional Communication. For degree requirements and course descriptions, refer to the Communication and Journalism-Broadcasting sections of this catalog.
The master of arts degree focuses on scholarly research in British and American literature. The master of fine arts degree centers on the writing of original, imaginative work in poetry, fiction, drama, and/or nonfiction. Each degree program requires students to take a large proportion of graduate literature courses and to engage in research and writing. Master of arts candidates write theses in literary scholarship. Any graduate student may apply for one of the department's teaching assistantships.
After being admitted to one of the degree programs, a graduate student may apply for one of the department's teaching assistantships. All the degree programs require students to take graduate literature courses and to engage in research and writing. Master of Arts in English candidates write theses in literary scholarship; Master of Fine Arts candidates write original creative works as theses.
Undergraduate Degree Requirements
English -- B.A. Degree
- Emphasis: Literature
- Complete the general university requirements and B.A. degree requirements.
- Complete the following program (major) requirements: 36 credits in English besides English 111X and English 211X or 213X, including:
- ENGL 301 -- Continental Literature in Translation: From the Ancient World through the Renaissance (3 credits)
ENGL 310 -- Literary Criticism (3 credits) - Complete three courses from the following:
ENGL 306 -- Survey of American Literature: Beginnings to the Civil War (3 credits)
ENGL 307 -- Survey of American Literature: Civil War to the Present (3 credits)
ENGL 308 -- Survey of British Literature: Beowulf to the Romantic Period (3 credits)
ENGL 309 -- Survey of British Literature: Romantic Period to the Present (3 credits) - One course from the following:
ENGL 403 -- American Renaissance
ENGL 404 -- American Realism
ENGL 405 -- British Writers of the 19th Century: Romantic Period
ENGL 406 -- British Writers of the 19th Century: Victorian Period
ENGL 407 -- English Writers of the 18th Century: Restoration and Neo-Classical Period
ENGL 408 -- American Origins (3 credits) - ENGL 422 or 425 -- Shakespeare (3 credits)
- One course from the following:
ENGL 317 -- Traditional English Grammar
ENGL 318 -- Modern English Grammar
ENGL 462 -- Applied English Linguistics
ENGL 472 -- History of the English Language (3 credits) - Four courses chosen from 300-400 levels in English with at least two courses on 400 level (12 credits)
- ENGL 301 -- Continental Literature in Translation: From the Ancient World through the Renaissance (3 credits)
- Minimum Credits Required (120 credits)
- Emphasis: Writing
- Complete the general university requirements and B.A. degree requirements.
- Complete the following program (major) requirements: 36 credits in English besides English 111X and English 211X or 213X including:
- Two courses from the following:
ENGL 444 -- Fiction in Translation
ENGL 445-20th Century Drama: From Chekhov to Ionesco
ENGL 446 -- Major Modern and Contemporary Poetry
ENGL 447-20th Century British Prose
ENGL 448-20th Century American Prose
ENGL 452 -- The British Novel to 1900 (6 credits) - ENGL 313 -- Writing Non-Fiction Prose (3 credits)
ENGL 371 -- Intermediate Creative Writing (3 credits) - One course chosen from 300-400 English Department Courses (3 credits)
a, b, c, and d as listed in the requirements for a major with emphasis on literature (21 credits) - Two courses from the following:
- Minimum Credits Required (120 credits)
- Emphasis: Teaching
- Complete the general university requirements and B.A. degree requirements.
- Complete the following program (major) requirements: 36 credits in English besides English 111X and English 211X or 213X, including:
- Same as listed under a, b, and d for literature emphasis (18 credits)
- ENGL 317 -- Traditional English Grammar
or ENGL 318 -- Modern English Grammar (3 credits)
ENGL 472 -- History of the English Language (3 credits) - ENGL 313 -- Writing Non-Fiction Prose (3 credits)
- Two elective courses from the following (6 credits)
All 300-level English, ENGL 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, or 462
- Minimum Credits Required (120 credits)
MINOR in English:
- A minor in English requires 18 credits distributed as follows:
- Two courses from the following: (6 credits)
ENGL 301 -- Continental Literature in Translation (3 credits)
ENGL 306 -- Survey of American Literature: Beginnings to the Civil War (3 credits)
ENGL 307 -- Survey of American Literature:
Civil War to the Present (3 credits)
ENGL 308 -- Survey of British Literature: Beowulf to the Romantic Period (3 credits)
ENGL 309 -- Survey of British Literature: Romantic Period to the Present (3 credits) - ENGL 422 or 425 -- Shakespeare (3 credits)
- Any 300- or 400-level English electives (9 credits)
- Two courses from the following: (6 credits)
Graduate Degree Requirements
English -- M.A. Degree
Degree Requirements
- Complete UAF degree requirements.
- Pass a written comprehensive examination based on a standardized reading list; the examination is to be taken no later than the student's third semester of work. The examination will be held on the Saturday ending the fourth full week of classes.
- Students may advance to candidacy when their advisory committee deems that they have made satisfactory progress toward completion of their degree.
- Pass an oral defense of the thesis.
Course Requirements (30 credits):
- Complete a minimum of 30 approved credits on the 600 level, distributed as follows:
Required Courses (6 credits)
ENGL 601 -- Bibliography, Meth., and Criticism (3 credits)
ENGL 685 -- Teaching College Composition (if a teaching assistant or planning to teach) (3 credits)
(Extra 600-level course required if student does not take ENGL 685.)
Electives (18 credits) (18 credits)
To maximize breadth of study, M.A. students and their advisors will draft individualized courses of study with the following program requirements in mind. The advisor will direct students to courses covering the required areas, subject to particular exemptions based upon undergraduate coursework. Exemptions and any subsequent revisions of the course of study must have the agreement of the advisor and department head. Plans can be revised to substitute an appropriate seminar for one of the courses listed below.
Choose three (9 credits): Credits
ENGL 603 -- Studies in British Literature: Old and Middle English
ENGL 604 -- Studies in British Literature: Renaissance & 17th Century
ENGL 606 -- Studies in British Literature: Restoration & 18th Century
ENGL 607 -- Studies in British Literature: 19th Century
Choose one (3 credits):
ENGL 609 -- Early American Literature
ENGL 611 -- Nineteenth Century American Literature
ENGL 612 -- Studies in American Literature: 20th Century (3 credits)
Choose one (3 credits):
ENGL 608 -- Studies in British Literature: 20th Century
ENGL 615 -- Contemporary Literature
A seminar in contemporary or comparative literature (3 credits)
ENGL 699 -- Thesis (6 credits)
NOTE: The English Department requires that a student receive a grade of "A" or "B" for all 600 level courses that a student wishes to apply toward this degree program.
Creative Writing -- M.F.A. Degree
Degree Requirements
- Complete UAF degree requirements.
- Pass a written comprehensive examination, based on a standardized reading list; examination to be taken no later than student's fourth semester of work. Examination will be held on the Saturday ending the fourth full week of classes.
- Students may advance to candidacy when their advisory committee deems that they have made satisfactory progress in both academic and writing areas.
- Pass an oral defense of the thesis.
- Course Requirements (45 credits):
Complete a minimum of 45 approved credits at the 600 level, except as noted under Electives, distributed as follows:
Required courses (15 credits)
ENGL 671 -- Writer's Workshop (9 credits)
ENGL 601 -- Bibliography, Meth., and Criticism (3 credits)
ENGL 685 -- Teaching College Composition (if a teaching assistant or planning to teach) (3 credits)
(Extra 600-level course is required if student does not take ENGL 685)
Two of the forms courses (6 credits)
ENGL 681 -- Forms of Poetry
ENGL 682 -- Forms of Fiction
ENGL 683 -- Forms of Drama
ENGL 684 -- Forms of Non-Fiction Prose (6 credits)
Literature seminars (12 credits) (12 credits)
(minimum of 4; to be determined by student's advisory committee)
Electives (6 credits) (6 credits)
(to be approved by student's advisory committee)
ENGL 699 -- Thesis (6 credits)
NOTE: The English Department requires that a student receive a grade of "A" or "B" for all 600 level courses that the student wishes to apply toward this degree program.