Major—English

The Department of English offers a major and a minor in English literature.  The program operates in accord with the general purpose of Belmont Abbey College by providing an educational program within the liberal arts tradition.  Through the study of literature, students develop a general, comprehensive understanding of civilization and their place in it.  Such study addresses a wide range of culture, incorporating elements of history, politics, religious thought, philosophy, and psychology.  Students seeking a bachelor’s degree in English study the most significant literary works in the traditional periods of British and American literature, along with selected classical literary texts, and develop a working understanding of the theoretical principles which allow them to interpret these works.   In addition to acquiring this knowledge and an appreciation of literary expression, English majors develop critical skills and the ability to organize information, form conclusions, and express them persuasively.  A major in English prepares students for graduate study in such fields as law, linguistics, library science, education, composition, and literature.  In addition, there is a demand for English majors to fill positions in editing, technical writing, advertising, communications, public relations, sales and marketing, and research and development.  Career opportunities also exist for English majors in governmental and non-profit organizations.

The overall goal of the Department of English is to develop in students a life-long interest in and appreciation for language and literature.  To achieve this general goal, the department has the following specific goals for students majoring in English: 1) To attain knowledge of the significant ideas and characteristic attributes of the major literary periods of British and American literature. 2) To read, become familiar with, and develop an appreciation for important literary texts of the major literary periods of British and American literature, along with selected classical literary texts (in translation) in the Western tradition. 3) To develop a working understanding of the theoretical principles which allow them to interpret literary works covered in the course of study noted above. 4) To develop the critical skills to engage in research, organize information, form conclusions, and express them persuasively in writing and speech.

B.A. in English
Within the general requirements of the College for graduation, the distribution requirements for an English major are as follows:

• Core
• Major (upper-level)
• Foreign Language
• Humanities Division
• Five courses, one course minimum in each of the three Division disciplines (history, philosophy, and theology); at least nine (9) credits must be upper-level courses.
• Electives

The following are particular course requirements for an English major:

• EN 307 Literature of the English Renaissance
• EN 304 Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Literature
• EN 311 English Victorian Writers or EN 401 English Romantic Writers
• EN 406 Nineteenth-Century American Literature or EN 412 Modern Literature
• EN 410 Shakespeare
• EN 309 Literary Criticism
• EN 407 Coordinating Seminar

Majors will also take three additional upper-level courses (of the student’s choosing) for a total of 30 upper-level hours. To review the Departmental reading list, please follow this link. All students who declare an English major should obtain this list and begin their reading as soon as possible, but no later than the second semester of the sophomore year.

Requirements for a minor: Fifteen credits of English at or above the 200 level are required for a minor. Of these, at least nine credits must be 300 or 400 level courses. Furthermore, at least nine credits must be taken at Belmont Abbey College.

Courses Offered

• EN 101 Writing on Contemporary Issues
• EN 102 Argumentative Prose
• EN 104 Creative Writing
• EN 201 World Literature
• EN 202 English Literature
• EN 203 American Literature
• EN 204 Southern Literature
• EN 205 Love in the Literary Tradition
• EN 216 Introduction to Film Criticism
• EN 303 Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Women Writers
• EN 304 Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Literature
• EN 306 Milton
• EN 307 Literature of the English Renaissance
• EN 309 Literary Criticism
• EN 310 Rhetorical Theory and Writing Instruction
• EN 311 English Victorian Writers
• EN 312 Advanced Expository Writing
• EN 314 The English Language: Theory and History
• EN 400 Special Topics
• EN 401 English Romantic Writers
• EN 403 Medieval Literature
• EN 404 Contemporary Literature
• EN 406 Nineteenth-Century American Literature
• EN 407 Coordinating Seminar
• EN 408 Modern British Literature
• EN 410 Shakespeare: Tragedies
• EN 411 Shakespeare: Comedies  
• EN 412 Modern Literature
• EN 499 Independent Study

AWARDS AND PROGRAMS

ANNUAL DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN LITERARY STUDIES
Each spring, the Department of English at awards a prize of $100 to that English major whose course work for the academic year has been deemed most outstanding. The award is presented at the college's annual awards banquet.

English – Faculty
Dr. Svetlana Corwin, Assistant Professor of English
B.A./M.A. Herzen State University, M.A. Appalachian State Univeristy, Ph.D. Emory University

Mr. Simon Donoghue, Associate Professor of English / Fine Arts, Director of the Abbey Players, B.A. University of Virginia, M.S.L.S. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Mr. Donoghue is a native of New York, where he began his work in theatre. During his 29 years as theatre director at the College, he has staged more than 150 productions both here and for theatres all over the Charlotte area. He is also a published playwright (working with BAC alumna Nancy Manera), and their work together has received several awards. Donoghue has also authored numerous performance pieces on his own, most recently a one man play about French botanist Andre Michaux.

Mr. Hugh Fisher, Visiting Lecturer of English
B.A. University of North Carolina-Wilmington, M.A. North Carolina State University

Dr. Russell Fowler, Professor of English
B.A. University of Texas, M.A. Indiana University, Ph.D. University of Minnesota

Dr. Martin Harris, Assistant Professor of English
B.A. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, M.A. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Ph.D. Indiana University Dr. Harris, a North Carolina native, joined the Abbey faculty in fall 2000.

Dr. Harris’s research interests include Restoration and 18th century British literature, popular culture, and film. He has published articles in the Journal of Popular Culture and the Journal of Popular Film and Television. He also was a community columnist for The Charlotte Observer for 2004 and continues to contribute book reviews to the Observer. Dr. Harris currently serves as faculty mentor for the Crusader newspaper and as the college's Faculty Athletics Representive. His interests include sports (especially basketball), music, reading, and writing.

Dr. Michael Hood, Chair and Associate Professor of English, Director of Great Books Program
B.A. Willamette University, M.A. University of Oregon, Ph.D. University of Oregon

Dr. Hood directs the Great Books program. His scholarly interests focus on the history of rhetoric, composition theory and practice, and the writing of short fiction. He plays the flute for services at Mulberry Presbyterian Church, and recently received a grant from the Belk Foundation to support the Parish Nurse ministry at the same church.

Dr. Angela Mitchell Miss, Visiting Assistant Professor of English
B.A. University of Georgia, M.A. University of Georgia, Ph.D. University of Georgia

Dr. Miss is responsible for freshman composition and writing across the curriculum.

Dr. Rebecca Munro, Assistant Professor of English
B.A. Gonzaga University, M.A. Gonzaga University, Ph.D. Baylor University

Dr. Munro is faculty advisor to the student literary magazine, the Agora, and Director of the Catholic Studies Minor.

Fr. John Oetgen OSB, Professor Emeritus of English
B.A. St. Benedict's College, S.T.B. Belmont Abbey Seminary, J.C.L. Pontificium Athenaeum Lateranense

Br. Paul Shanley OSB, Lecturer in English
B.A. Belmont Abbey College, M.Ed. University of North Carolina-Charlotte, C.A.S. East Carolina University

Dr. Lynette Varn, Associate Professor of English
B.A. Duke University, M.A. University of South Carolina, Ph.D. University of South Carolina

Dr. Lynn K. Varn is always a reader, writer, and student of language in her classes. She has published articles on writing and the construction of style in the English Renaissance and, more particularly, on Marlowe, Shakespeare, Donne, and Dostoevsky. She has taught creative writing workshops at BAC and at other colleges and served as a state judge for the Iowa Poetry Day Association. Active for many years in societies for linguists (Program Chair of North and South Carolina Linguists for a term), she has delivered papers at conferences for teachers and scholars of language and literature. She has taught writing to engineers, to tutors, to seniors as outreach, and has given programs on women writers and Southern literature to book clubs and associations. But she is most proud of collaborating with students on their independent projects which they too have presented at academic, professional conferences.

Dr. Mary Ellen Weir, Associate Professor of English
B.A. Sacred Heart College, M.A. University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Ph.D. University of North Carolina-Greensboro

Dr. Weir’s area of specialization is Nineteenth Century British Literature, and she has a particular love for the Romantic poets. Her current research interest is the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, and her article “Gerard Manley Hopkins and the ‘New’ Cosmos” appeared in the Spring, 2003 issue of Delta Epsilon Sigma. Dr. Weir has a special interest in working with students on social justice issues. Dr. Weir also teaches the English Department’s Study Abroad summer course in England, at Oxford University.