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English

The Department of English offers courses in literature, cultural studies, language, and writing. In these courses, students read poetry, fiction, essays, criticism, and theory to acquire methods for understanding literature and culture. In addition to providing these essential elements of a liberal arts and sciences education, the department's courses can augment students' specialized interests in other fields.

Many undergraduate and graduate students enroll in the department's degree programs. Most Ph.D. students in English are preparing for careers as teachers and scholars, and many M.F.A. students in the creative writing program and the nonfiction writing program are preparing for lives as storytellers, essayists, and poets. The B.A. and M.A. programs provide valuable training for careers in a variety of fields. Students who have earned English degrees from The University of Iowa write for advertising firms, newspapers, the entertainment industry and book publishers; teach in primary and secondary schools; practice law and medicine; work in business, industry, and nonprofits; and participate in state and federal government. As far as possible, a student's course of study is arranged to meet his or her individual needs and objectives.

The Department of English participates in several of the University's interdisciplinary units: the Departments of American Studies, Cinema and Comparative Literature, and Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies; the African American Studies Program; the American Indian and Native Studies Program; the Center for the Book; and the Project on Rhetorics of Inquiry (POROI).

Writing Programs

For the past 70 years, The University of Iowa has been a national leader in virtually all areas of teaching writing. It offers graduate degrees in both creative and nonfiction writing, gives undergraduate English majors the opportunity to pursue a track in creative writing or a concentration in nonfiction writing, and makes writing courses available to qualified undergraduates in other majors.

The M.F.A. program in nonfiction writing is one of the few programs in the nation that offers a full range of graduate course work in the area. It is presented by Department of English writing faculty and distinguished visitors.

The M.F.A. program in creative writing is conducted at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Founded in 1936, the workshop counts scores of distinguished poets and novelists among its alumni. Writers compete for admission to the program, where they work with the outstanding teacher-authors that make up the workshop's faculty. The workshop also brings numerous prominent authors to campus each year for lectures and readings.

Although it is a graduate program, the workshop offers several courses for undergraduates, including students in majors other than English; see Creative Writing (Iowa Writers' Workshop) in the Catalog.

Graduate and undergraduate courses in creative writing [prefix 08C (CW)] and nonfiction writing [prefix 08N (CNW)] are listed under "Courses" at the end of this Catalog section. There also are a few undergraduate writing courses intended only for non-English majors [prefix 08A (ENNM)].

To learn more about the department's undergraduate and graduate writing programs, see "Bachelor of Arts," "Master of Fine Arts: Creative Writing," and "Master of Fine Arts: Nonfiction Writing" below.

Undergraduate Programs

• Major in English (Bachelor of Arts)
• Minor in English

The Department of English offers undergraduate courses in literature, film, critical theory, cultural studies, language, and writing. In these courses, students study poetry, fiction, essays, criticism, film, and theory to acquire methods for understanding the history and significance of texts in the cultures from which they emerge.

The department challenges students to strive for excellence as writers. It provides instruction in and opportunities for writing in all of its classes and offers students the option of building individual concentrations in creative or nonfiction writing. It also offers a creative writing track, which has selective admission.

Students who plan to teach English in secondary schools should consult with an advisor in the College of Education as early as possible; contact the Office of Education Services. The education endorsement requires that students choose particular courses in the English major in order to meet state requirements. See "B.A. with Teacher Licensure" below.

Students interested in an English major should consult advisors in the English undergraduate advising office. Visit the Department of English web site to learn about the faculty, courses, and upcoming events.

Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in English requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 33 s.h. (11 courses) of work for the major. Students must earn at least 18 s.h. of credit for the major at The University of Iowa. Transfer students may count a maximum of 15 s.h. of approved transfer credit toward the major.

Students may apply to enter the major's creative writing track; admission is selective (see "Creative Writing Track" below). Or they may work with an advisor to plan a concentration in fiction or poetry, taking courses with the prefix 08C (CW). Students who enroll in 08C:163 (CW:4870) Undergraduate Writers' Workshop: Fiction or 08C:166 (CW:4875) Undergraduate Writers' Workshop: Poetry must have the instructor's consent and must submit samples of their writing before they may register.

Students interested in nonfiction writing may work with an advisor to build a concentration, taking courses with the prefix 08N (CNW); selections include courses in forms of nonfiction writing and literary nonfiction. Enrollment in some nonfiction writing courses, such as 08N:150 (CNW:4631) Undergraduate Essay Workshop, requires the instructor's consent.

Courses 08C:001 (CW:1800) Creative Writing Studio Workshop and 08N:020 (CNW:1620) Introduction to Creative Nonfiction do not count toward the English major, nor do courses with the prefixes 08A (ENNM) and 08G (ENGL:1200-1370).

All students must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. English majors should not use 08G:001 (ENGL:1200) The Interpretation of Literature to fulfill General Education's Interpretation of Literature requirement; they may substitute a course from the Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts area of General Education, excluding 025:059 (MUS:1020) Performance Instruction for Nonmajors, 137:001 (DANC:1010) Beginning Tap through 137:024 (DANC:2040) Intermediate Modern, and 137:106 (DANC:4880) Dance Performance.

All English majors must complete 008:005 (ENGL:2010) Introduction to the English Major: Theory and Practice.

Other course work for the major is divided into six areas and three historical periods. Students must complete a total of eight area courses (see "Areas" below) and six historical period courses (see "Historical Periods" below). Most courses (except those in the creative writing and nonfiction writing list) satisfy both an area and a historical period requirement, so many students complete the historical period requirements as they complete the area requirements. This allows them to choose additional elective course work to complete the major.

Each course's area and period designations are included in its course description, which is provided in the comprehensive list of Department of English courses; see "Courses" at the end of this Catalog section. A course's area and/or period designation may vary by semester; consult ISIS for semester-specific course information. Additional information about courses is available on the Department of English web site and from advisors.

The major in English requires the following course work.

Introductory Course

All English majors must complete this course and are encouraged to enroll in it as soon as they declare the major.

Areas

Students must complete at least one course (3 s.h.) from each of the following six areas. Each student also must choose one of the six areas as a concentration area and take an additional two courses in that area, for a total of three courses (9 s.h.) in one area, and eight area courses in all.

Literary Theory and Interdisciplinary Studies

Medieval and Early Modern Literature and Culture

Modern British Literature and Culture

American Literature and Culture

Transnational Literature and Postcolonial Studies

Nonfiction and Creative Writing

Area Determined by Course Content

The following course's area is designated either as literary theory and interdisciplinary studies or as modern British literature and culture, depending on course context, which varies by semester. Consult ISIS for the semester-specific area designation.

Historical Periods

Students must take at least two courses from each of the following three historical periods.

Early Literatures Through the 17th Century

Literature of the 18th/19th Century

Literature of the 20th/21st Century

Historical Period Determined by Course Content

The historical period of each of the following courses is designated as 18th/19th-century literature or 20th/21st-century literature, depending on course content, which varies by semester. Consult ISIS for semester-specific period designations.

The historical period of each of the following courses is designated as early literatures through the 17th century, or 18th/19th-century literature, or 20th/21st-century literature, depending on course content, which varies by semester. Consult ISIS for semester-specific period designations.

Creative Writing Track

Students majoring in English may be eligible to enter the creative writing track. The track maintains the English major's emphasis on training creative and intelligent readers while providing a focus on creative writing.

The creative writing track requires a minimum of 13 s.h. In addition to fulfilling requirements for the track, students must complete the two prerequisite courses required for admission to the track and satisfy all other admission requirements (see "Admission to the Track" below). They must fulfill all requirements for the English major as stated under "Bachelor of Arts" above, including 008:005 (ENGL:2010) Introduction to the English Major: Theory and Practice. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

Admission to the Track

Admission to the creative writing track is selective; students must apply and be admitted to the track. To apply, students must:

have junior or senior standing;

have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.33 in English (based on all English courses taken, including creative writing courses); and

have completed at least 9 s.h. in University of Iowa English Literature courses, excluding those with prefixes 08N (CNW) and 08C (CW).

Applicants also must have completed two prerequisites for admission to the creative writing track (6 s.h.), chosen from the following list of University of Iowa introductory-level writing courses. They may include 08C:108 (CW:3218) Creative Writing for New Media or 08C:110 (CW:3210) Creative Writing for the Ecologically Aware: Stories in the Land as one of their prerequisites, but not both.

Exceptions may be made for students who have not taken an introductory course but who have taken 08C:166 (CW:4875) Undergraduate Writers' Workshop: Poetry or 08C:163 (CW:4870) Undergraduate Writers' Workshop: Fiction.

Students may apply to the creative writing track before preregistration each semester. For information and application forms, visit the Creative Writing Track web page.

Registration in creative writing track courses requires admission to the track.

Creative Writing Track Requirements

The creative writing track requires 13 s.h. Students must successfully complete 8WS:120 (ENGL:3720) Creative Writing Track Colloquium (3 s.h.), earn 4 s.h. in genre-based writing seminars, and earn 6 s.h. in advanced courses, as follows.

Creative Writing Track Colloquium

The Creative Writing Track Colloquium draws on Iowa's creative writing tradition. It provides  a common experience of readings, talks, performances, master classes, and class discussions, preparing students for participation at events led by visiting writers.  Its curriculum also includes works by or about the visiting writers, literature that helps contextualize the readings, and exercises designed to heighten students' involvement at events. 

Genre-Based Seminars

Two of these (4 s.h.):

Advanced Courses

A minimum of 6 s.h. chosen from these:

In order to take 008:198 (ENGL:4040) Undergraduate Honors Project (an honors thesis in creative writing), students must be members of the English Honors Program and must fulfill all requirements for registration in the course; see "Honors" below. They also must be on schedule for completing all requirements for the English major and must have departmental approval.

B.A. with Teacher Licensure

English majors interested in earning licensure to teach in elementary and/or secondary schools must complete the College of Education's Teacher Education Program (TEP) in addition to the requirements for the major and all requirements for graduation. The TEP requires several College of Education courses and student teaching. Contact the College of Education's Office of Education Services for details.

Students must satisfy all degree requirements and complete Teacher Education Program licensure before degree conferral.

Students interested in earning elementary school licensure should contact the Office of Education Services for information about requirements.

The following courses are required for students earning secondary school licensure.

English Courses

Students complete these courses as part of the English major.

Education Courses

These College of Education courses are required for teacher education.

Admission

Applicants to the Teacher Education Program in English must complete a minimum of 33 s.h., including 008:005 (ENGL:2010) Introduction to the English Major: Theory and Practice and an additional 12 s.h. in English courses, before they are admitted to the program.

The following courses do not count toward the additional 12 s.h.: all 08G (ENGL:1200-ENGL:1370) courses, 08N:141 (CNW:4355) Approaches to Teaching Writing, 08P:182 (ENGL:3190) Language and Learning, and 08P:198 (ENGL:3191) Reading and Teaching Adolescent Literature. 

Admission to the Teacher Education Program is selective; contact the College of Education's Office of Education Services for information.

Minor Licensure in English

Students who seek licensure for secondary teaching in fields other than English may seek minor licensure in English. First-year courses in rhetoric, speech, or writing do not count toward this requirement.

The English minor licensure program includes the following course work. 

While this program meets minimum requirements for licensure, the department recommends that students who want to teach English have considerably more training in the field.

Four-Year Graduation Plan

The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the University's Four-Year Graduation Plan.

Before the third semester begins: at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: at least two courses in the major and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: at least six courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: at least eight courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

Honors

The English major with honors gives talented students the opportunity to enhance their course of study through honors seminars and thesis writing. Each year the department offers four honors seminars covering a wide range of subject areas and historical periods. Honors seminars are limited to 18 students, carry 3 s.h. credit, and meet three hours each week. These courses require substantial reading and research and culminate in a 15-20 page essay. Students register for 008:098 (ENGL:2050) Seminar.

To register for a seminar, students must have a University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 and must have completed three English courses (not including introductory courses in nonfiction or creative writing) with a g.p.a. of at least 3.33 in English. The department also recommends that students complete 008:005 (ENGL:2010) Introduction to the English Major: Theory and Practice before taking an honors seminar.

All students interested in taking honors course work are encouraged to join the English Honors Program as soon as they qualify. Students may join online; visit English Honors Program.

Students who wish to graduate with honors in English must take two honors seminars, complete a two-semester thesis project, and maintain a University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 and a g.p.a. of at least 3.50 in English.

The two-semester thesis project includes 008:120 (ENGL:4020) Honors Thesis Workshop (fall) and 008:198 (ENGL:4040) Undergraduate Honors Project (independent study) for a total of 6 s.h. To enroll in 008:120 (ENGL:4020) Honors Thesis Workshop, students must have completed one honors seminar with a grade of A- or higher and must have a University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 and a g.p.a. of at least 3.50 in English.

The English Honors Program has established careful guidelines for each of the six types of honors theses accepted by the department: literary and cultural studies; nonfiction writing; electronic writing and multimedia production; English education; creative writing; and the interdisciplinary thesis for double honors, which allows a student to earn honors in two departments with one longer project. Information on thesis guidelines is available on the English Honors Program web site and in the handout A Guide to the English Honors Program, available in the Department of English advising office.

Students who qualify for honors in English also qualify for membership in the University of Iowa Honors Program, which requires a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33. Contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information about honors study at Iowa.

Minor

The minor in English requires a minimum of 15 s.h. in English courses, including 12 s.h. in courses taken at The University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Students may count a maximum of 3 s.h. of approved transfer credit toward the minor. Before taking courses for the minor, students must complete the General Education Program requirement 08G:001 (ENGL:1200) The Interpretation of Literature.

The minor must include at least 6 s.h. in literature [prefix 008 (ENGL:2100-4840)]; the remaining 9 s.h. may be selected from additional courses in literature and from most courses in writing [prefixes 08C (CW) and 08N (CNW)]. The following courses do not count toward the minor: 08C:001 (CW:1800) Creative Writing Studio Workshop; 08N:020 (CNW:1620) Introduction to Creative Nonfiction; and courses with the prefixes 08A (ENNM) and 08G (ENGL:1200-1370).

Students may declare the English minor on ISIS. In order for the minor to be recorded, students must indicate completion of the minor on their Application for Degree.

Students who would like help declaring the minor or in planning how to meet its requirements may stop by the advising office or schedule an appointment with an advisor by contacting the undergraduate English secretary.

Graduate Programs

• Master of Arts in English
• Master of Fine Arts in English (creative writing or nonfiction writing)
• Doctor of Philosophy in English

The Master of Arts program in English introduces students to the professional study of literature; the Doctor of Philosophy program prepares them to serve as faculty members at colleges and universities.

The Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing features advanced courses in writing fiction and poetry. Students in creative writing study at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, renowned as a pioneer in teaching writers since its founding in 1936. The Master of Fine Arts program in nonfiction writing is one of the few programs in the nation that offers a full range of graduate courses in literary nonfiction.

The M.A. is appropriate for students who would like graduate training in English and who may have an undergraduate major in a different field or who may intend to earn a Ph.D. at another institution.  Students interested in careers in any area of book studies (professional writing, editing, web design, or publishing) may wish to earn the M.A. as a terminal degree, as may teachers seeking to enhance their credentials or students pursuing intellectual growth unrelated to a specific career.

M.A. and Ph.D. students in English mix freely in graduate courses, share the same access to faculty, and meet the same standards of quality in their work.

Exam for the Master of Arts in Teaching

The department administers the English component of the exam for the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in coordination with the College of Education. M.A.T. students should contact the Department of Teaching and Learning for information.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts program in English requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit. The program's focus is literary studies. The required 30 s.h. includes 24 s.h. earned in residence at The University of Iowa with a g.p.a. of at least 3.25. Students who wish to transfer to Iowa's Ph.D. program must complete two semesters or 15 s.h. of course work in literature (whichever they complete first) before applying for admission to the doctoral program.

Course Work

Each student must take the following five courses at the 200 level or above. Applicable transfer courses must be approved by the director of graduate study in English. 

Four courses chosen from the following five areas: 

Elective courses constitute half of the total credit for the degree and may be chosen from graduate courses both in and outside the English department. Students may wish to explore opportunities for interdisciplinary study, language study, experience in theory and practice of writing, or specialization in a field of literary scholarship.

Department of English graduate courses are repeatable with the written approval of the department's director of graduate studies.

Completion of the M.A. requires either a thesis or a portfolio. Students submit a written description of their choice to the director of the program before the semester in which they plan to graduate.

M.A. Thesis

Students who choose to write an M.A. thesis must submit a brief prospectus approved by a thesis director before they register for thesis credit and at least one semester before they submit the thesis. The thesis committee consists of the thesis director, the director of the M.A. program, and one other faculty member. The thesis is evaluated by the committee as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

A copy of the thesis must be presented to the Graduate College for approval. For detailed information about Graduate College deadlines and policies, see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College.

Portfolio

Near the end of their course work, students who do not choose the thesis option must submit a portfolio of work to the M.A. examination committee, which consists of the director of the M.A. program and two other English faculty members. All three read the full portfolio. To pass, the candidate must win a majority vote of the committee members.

Students take the first step toward preparing to submit a portfolio by meeting with the director of the M.A. program to discuss the portfolio, early during the semester in which they plan to graduate. After fulfilling all distribution and eligibility requirements and clearing all incomplete grades, students present the director with a draft of the portfolio’s introductory statement. Students planning to graduate at the end of fall semester should present the statement by the first week of October; those who plan to graduate at the end of spring semester should present the statement by the first week of March. Once the director approves the statement, the student must submit three copies of the full portfolio; the submission deadline is November 1 for students planning to graduate at the end of fall semester and April 1 for those who will graduate at the end of spring semester.

The work in the portfolio should demonstrate the student’s knowledge of literature as a broad historical and theoretical inquiry. Students submit approximately 50 pages (12,500 words) of their best work, along with a self-reflective introductory statement of five to seven pages. The body of the portfolio should contain papers originally produced for classes, revised for a broader audience unfamiliar with the original classes. The introduction should detail the student’s trajectory in the program and the literary-critical or methodological skills he or she has gained. It also should explain the contents of the portfolio; contextualize each paper; and give a brief overview of the writing. Students are expected to describe the research methods used in assembling their portfolios and the critical practices that ground their work.

Master of Fine Arts: Creative Writing

The Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing requires a minimum of 48 s.h. of graduate credit. The degree is offered through the Creative Writing Program (Iowa Writers' Workshop), a two-year residency program that culminates in a creative thesis, such as a novel, a collection of stories, or a book of poetry.

Throughout the program, workshop students craft their manuscripts and engage in an exchange of ideas about writing and reading with each other and with the renowned teacher-authors who make up the workshop's faculty.

Admission to the program is competitive.

For details about the M.F.A. in creative writing and about the Iowa Writers' Workshop, see Creative Writing (Iowa Writers' Workshop) in the Catalog.

Master of Fine Arts: Nonfiction Writing

The Master of Fine Arts program in nonfiction writing requires 48 s.h. of graduate credit. It is designed for accomplished students of literary nonfiction; most complete it in three years. The program culminates in a thesis of at least 75 pages.

M.F.A. students must complete 32 s.h. in residence at The University of Iowa, in courses specified by the program. They may choose electives widely, from courses offered by the English department and by all other University of Iowa departments.

Department of English graduate courses are repeatable with the written approval of the department's director of graduate studies.

In addition to completing course work, students are required to enroll for at least 2 s.h. and no more than 8 s.h. of thesis credit. The thesis may be a single extended piece of nonfiction, a collection of shorter nonfiction pieces, or a collection of essays. Whatever the project, the thesis is expected to be of publishable quality.

For more information, consult the director of the Nonfiction Writing Program.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy program in English requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. The program is designed as preparation for the teaching, publishing, and administrative service required of college and university faculty members.

Concentrations are offered in areas such as literary history and critical theory, as well as interdisciplinary areas such as cultural studies and transnational studies.

Of the required 72 s.h., at least 30 s.h. must be earned in residence at The University of Iowa with a g.p.a. of at least 3.50.

Ph.D. requirements include the following.

Formal admission to candidacy by a vote of the Graduate Steering Committee, usually during the third semester of doctoral study

Course work in any four of the following historical periods, as expressed in texts of the English-speaking and -writing world (usually but not always British or American): 

Three English department seminars taken at The University of Iowa

Fulfillment of the language requirement, usually by completion of an advanced undergraduate course (100-level or above) in a language other than English

A comprehensive examination that consists of the following: a portfolio of five scholarly questions based on a period of literary history (usually British or American); a review essay and annotated bibliography in a special area of interest; two course syllabi; an article to be submitted for publication; and an introduction to the portfolio that synthesizes its parts in preparation for a two-hour oral exam

A dissertation, beginning with a formal presentation of the prospectus to a faculty committee

A final examination in defense of the dissertation

All doctoral candidates are required to gain some teaching experience, preferably in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Rhetoric and in General Education Program literature courses.

For application forms and a complete description of the Ph.D. program, contact the department's graduate program academic coordinator.

Admission

For information about admission requirements, see Admissions Guidelines for Graduate Students in English on the department's web site. Applications for admission must be postmarked by the following deadlines.

M.A. and Ph.D.: postmark by January 3
M.F.A. (creative writing): postmark by January 3
M.F.A. (nonfiction writing): postmark by December 15

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Financial Support

Graduate scholarships, fellowships, and teaching and research assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. The department strives to provide five years of support for students who enter with an M.A. and six years of support for students who enter with a B.A. Students must be in good standing, which requires a University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.50 and full-time enrollment.

Financial aid applications are considered only from students who have applied or been admitted to a degree program in the Graduate College. Applications and all necessary supporting material must be submitted by the end of January for the following academic year. Forms are available from the Department of English and the University's Office of Admissions.

Facilities and Resources

The University of Iowa Libraries collection is strong in all areas of English and American literature. Partly because of the influence of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, University Libraries has particular strengths in 20th-century fiction and poetry, including manuscript collections of 20th-century authors.

Several periodicals are published under the department's aegis. The Iowa Review, Walt Whitman Quarterly Review, and Philological Quarterly offer opportunities for especially qualified graduate students to work as research assistants or editorial associates. The Iowa Journal of Cultural Studies, edited by English department graduate students, features creative and scholarly work by students in English and related areas.

The Department of English and the Iowa Writers' Workshop sponsor a rich and extensive series of readings and lectures by poets, fiction writers, and scholars, all open to students in the department.

The Association of Graduate Students in English sponsors social and intellectual events during the year and provides a forum for student opinion. All graduate students in the department are members.

Courses

Individual descriptions for most English courses are not included because content and emphasis may vary considerably from one semester to the next. For detailed descriptions of each semester's courses, visit the University's ISIS web site.

Courses for Non-English Majors

General Education

Note: 08C:001 (CW:1800) Creative Writing Studio Workshop and 08N:020 (CNW:1620) Introduction to Creative Nonfiction do not count toward the English major or minor.

Literature, General Education

All students earning a degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, except English majors, must take 08G:001 (ENGL:1200) The Interpretation of Literature as part of the General Education Program. English majors should substitute a course from the Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts area of General Education, excluding 025:059 (MUS:1020) Performance Instruction for Nonmajors, 137:001 (DANC:1010) Beginning Tap through 137:024 (DANC:2040) Intermediate Modern, and 137:106 (DANC:4880) Dance Performance.

Course 08G:001 (ENGL:1200) The Interpretation of Literature (or its equivalent by examination or transfer) is a prerequisite for courses 08G:004 (ENGL:1320) Heroes and Villains through 08G:015 (ENGL:1370) Women and Literature. The pass/nonpass option is available only for students in the Colleges of Nursing and Engineering with consent of the student's advisor and the instructor.

Literature, Primarily for Undergraduates

English department courses are open to all undergraduates who have satisfied the rhetoric requirement. Undergraduates are encouraged to complete the required course 008:005 (ENGL:2010) Introduction to the English Major: Theory and Practice as soon as they declare the English major. Students also are encouraged to take one or more introductory departmental courses, 008:030 (ENGL:2120) Introduction to Cultural Studies through 008:038 (ENGL:2170) Introduction to the Essay, before attempting 100-level courses.

Courses 008:098 (ENGL:2050) Seminar, 008:198 (ENGL:4040) Undergraduate Honors Project, and 008:199 (ENGL:4010) Special Project for Undergraduates may be repeated. Most courses with the 008 prefix may not be repeated. Occasionally, with written consent from the department's Undergraduate Advising Office, a student may repeat a course if the course's subject matter is different from that of a course the student already has taken.

Nonfiction and Creative Writing

The following courses may be repeated.

08C:023 (CW:1810) Creative Writing
08C:097 (CW:2870) Fiction Writing
08C:098 (CW:2875) Poetry Writing
08C:101 (CW:3001) Creative Writing for Business
08C:108 (CW:3218) Creative Writing for New Media
08C:117 (CW:3217) Writing and Reading Young Adult Fiction
08C:163 (CW:4870) Undergraduate Writers' Workshop: Fiction
08C:166 (CW:4875) Undergraduate Writers' Workshop: Poetry
08C:167 (CW:4880) Undergraduate Writers' Seminar
08C:195 (CW:4894) Undergraduate Project in Creative Writing
08C:197 (CW:4897) Novel Writing
08C:198 (CW:3875) Advanced Poetry Writing
08N:120 (CNW:3630) Advanced Nonfiction Writing
08N:145 (CNW:3660) Multimedia Writing
08N:150 (CNW:4631) Undergraduate Essay Workshop
08N:199 (CNW:4690) Undergraduate Project in Nonfiction Writing

Other courses listed below may be repeated with consent of the instructor.

Courses 08N:090 (CNW:2690) Intermediate Nonfiction Writing and 08N:120 (CNW:3630) Advanced Nonfiction Writing have prerequisites. Course 08N:150 (CNW:4631) Undergraduate Essay Workshop requires consent of instructor (see course description on ISIS).

Courses 08C:001 (CW:1800) Creative Writing Studio Workshop and 08N:020 (CNW:1620) Introduction to Creative Nonfiction do not count toward the English major or minor.

Writers' Seminars
 

Special Topics

These courses do not fulfill area or period requirements for the English major. They may be used to earn elective credit in the major.

Honors
 

Literature for Graduate Students

Department of English graduate courses are repeatable with the written approval of the department's director of graduate studies.
 

Introductory Courses
 

Graduate Reading Courses
 

Seminars

Advanced work in literary history, criticism, and theory; concentration varies by semester.

Independent Study
 

Professional Training

The following courses offer theoretical and practical training for those who plan to teach.

Nonfiction Writing

Courses 08N:255 (CNW:6654) Forms of the Essay, 08N:262 (CNW:6650) Readings in Nonfiction, 08N:350 (CNW:6610) Essay Writing Workshop, and 08N:355 (CNW:6620) Nonfiction Writing Workshop may be repeated. Others may be repeated with consent of the instructor and the director of graduate studies.
 

Practice in Writing

These courses give intensive attention to composition and exposition and to formal and thematic problems, both in the meditative essay and in extended works of nonfiction.

Theory and Practice of Writing

These courses combine theory and analysis of nonfiction writing with practical experimentation in writing. They are intended for people who want to practice, criticize, and/or teach nonfiction writing.

Independent Study
 

Creative Writing

All may be repeated.
 

Workshops and Seminars

Open only to Iowa Writers' Workshop students or to others with consent of instructor.

Independent Study

Translation Studies

This course does not fulfill area or period requirements for the English major but may be used to earn elective credit for the major.