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English

English

The study of English invites students to explore the interplay of language and imagina- tion and their role in the shaping of culture through careful examination of text, audi- ence, and author. English majors read and write the world engaged in the study of lit- erature and the theoretical underpinnings of multiple readings, and become immersed in composition as a process and an art. By fostering cognitive skills and instilling the methods of critical analysis, the versatile English degree prepares undergraduates for diverse professional fields and advanced degrees while launching them on a lifetime of intellectual development.

The English Department at UIW is committed to the development of students' reading, thinking, and writing skills in the undergraduate core classes in Composition and World Literature Studies. The English program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree that requires 36 hours of course work, some of which may be selected by the students to suit their career interests. To earn this degree, students must demonstrate competence in the theory and practice of literature, rhetoric and composition, and linguistics.

The English program balances theory and practice, offering students the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge through service-learning activities and internships. Members of the English faculty also mentor individual students in the McNair Scholars Program and encourage students to present papers at state, regional and national conferences. The BA degree in English prepares students for graduate school as well as teaching (if stu- dents are also enrolled in the Education Certification program) and for numerous careers in the corporate world. To this end, several advanced courses in Rhetoric, Linguistics, and Technical Communication focus on practical applications to daily life and business. Students in the English program can also contribute to and edit the acclaimed journal Quirk, participate in Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, and the English Club and afford themselves opportunities to travel or study abroad. Because of the unique focus of the university's mission on social justice, the English program views the study of language and literature as a way for students to find their own voices through the sympathetic study of multiple perspectives.

Faculty

  • Dr. Emily Clark, Associate Professor (Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Greensboro; British, Postcolonial Literature, Theory, and Composition)
  • Leticia Harding, Instructor (M.A., University of the Incarnate Word; M.Ed. University of the Incarnate Word, Concentration in Adult Education; ABD, Technical Communication & Rhetoric, Texas Tech University)
  • Elizabeth Hooper, Instructor (M.A., University of Texas at San Antonio; Rhetorical Studies and Composition)
  • Dr. Jo LeCoeur, Professor (Ph.D., Louisiana State University; English)
  • Dr. Patricia Lonchar, Professor (Ph.D., Texas A&M University; British Literature, Theory, Rhetorical and Women’s Studies)
  • Dr. Christopher Paris, Associate Professor (Ph.D., Texas A&M University; Rhetorical Studies, Textual Criticism, British and American Literature)
  • Dr. Hector Pérez, Associate Professor (Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin; Comparative Literature, Latino/a Literature, Linguistics, and Theory)
  • David Pryor, Instructor (ABD, Loyola University of Chicago; American and English Literature, Literary and Rhetorical Theory)
  • Dr. Matthias Schubnell, Professor (Ph.D., University of Oxford; American and Native American Literature)
  • Dr. Tanja Stampfl, Assistant Professor (Ph.D., Louisiana State University; 20th-Century Post-Colonial and World Literature, Women’s, Gender and Race Studies)
  • Dr. Mary Beth Swofford, Associate Professor (Ph.D., Texas Tech University; Fine Arts with concentration in Dramatic Theory and Criticism)

Career Opportunities

The study of English develops reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Close read- ing of texts through critical and theoretical frames and the production of clear and logi- cally argued writing are foundations that prepare English majors for a wide variety of professions. Law, management, marketing, editing, journalism, public relations, adver- tising, fund-raising, non-profit administration, and teaching are among the careers our students choose. Some of our recent graduates have traveled abroad to teach English, while others have pursued graduate degrees in English and other disciplines. As a result of their practice in analytical reading and argumentation and their compe- tence in research and writing, English majors are well prepared to advance faster than more narrowly trained students in the companies and organizations they join.

Undergraduate Courses

  • Composition I and II
  • World Literature Studies
  • Literary Theory
  • British Literature Survey
  • American Literature Survey  
  • Literary Movements
  • Genre Studies
  • Major Author
  • Literary Period Studies
  • Introduction to Rhetorical Theory
  • Rhetorical Criticism
  • Visual Rhetoric
  • Senior Seminar
  • Contemporary Rhetorical Theory
  • Professional and Technical Communication
  • Creative Writing
  • Editing and Publishing
  • Introduction to General Linguistics
  • Traditional Grammar
  • Sociolinguistics
  • Trends in Linguistics
  • Applied Linguistics
  • Integrated Language Arts
  • Literature for Children and Young Adults
  • Internship

Contact

Dr. Matthias Schubnell, Chair
English Department
4301 Broadway
University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX 78209
Telephone: (210) 829-3892
FAX: (210) 829-3880 (Dean’s Office)
E-mail: schubnel@uiwtx.edu
www.uiw.edu/english

 


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