For more information, please contact Dr. Oliver Alan Weltzien | 406-683-7431 | a_weltzien@umwestern.edu.
The primary objective of the BA: Literature and Writing program is to offer students opportunities to develop superior knowledge and skills in oral and written communications. Graduates are positioned to enter fields including editing, journalism, public relations, or gain acceptance into graduate school (e.g., MFA). The curriculum in this course of study encourages students to become empowered and astute readers, writers, speakers, listeners, and especially thinkers. Moving beyond traditional approaches, students develop their own voices in writing and speaking. Students respond critically, culturally and creatively to literatures, in seminar formats and small classes. Whether it is an issue of revision or grammar, faculty encourage open inquiry and a critical understanding of the question of interpretation.
Discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities:
An understanding of the primary literary theories that have shaped and continue to shape literature. (ENG 279, ENG 452, ENG 453, ENG 479)
Acquaintance with a broad spectrum of literatures and contexts including non-Western literatures. (ENG 279, ENG 263-266, ENG 273-276, ENG 320, ENG 339, ENG 362, ENG 452, ENG 453)
Understanding of the experiences of gender, race and ethnicity reflected in literature. (ENG 263-266, ENG 274-276, ENG 320, ENG 339, ENG 362, ENG 432, ENG 453, ENG 455)
Communication skills (especially oral and written)
Familiarity with and appropriate applications of current conventions in research and writing. (ENG 279, all 300+ literature courses)
Mastery of oral communication for effective interaction with colleagues and the community. (All 300+ literature courses)
Problem-solving skills
Mastery of key concepts of literary analysis and evaluation. (ENG 204, ENG 279, all 300+ literature courses)
Praxis in the process of writing, from drafting through revision. (ENG 204, ENG 279, all 300+ literature courses)
Discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities:
English professors assess students' discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities during the courses listed below in one or more of the following ways: exams, research projects, portfolios, presentations, book reviews, journals, and creative and research projects.
Specific courses and assessment activities:
ENG 279, Fundamentals of Literary Theory: oral and/or dramatic presentations, written work, research papers, critical analyses.
ENG 263-266, Early American Voice; American Romance; Realists, Naturalists, Modernists; and Generations & Conflicts: creative and analytical writing, research projects, exams, book reviews.
ENG 273-276, The Oral Tradition; The Manuscript Tradition; The Print Culture; and The Declining Empire: creative and analytical writing, research projects, exams, book reviews.
ENG 313-362, Writing for Publication, Editorial Workshop, Literature in Translation, Mythology, Literary Regions, Poetry & Thought, Seminar/Women's Literature: research projects and presentations.
ENG 413-479, History, Structure, & Nature of Language; Seminar in Literary Period; Genre Seminar; Authors Seminar; Shakespeare; Seminar/Literary Theory: creative and analytical writing, exams, research projects.
Communication skills (especially oral and written)
English professors assess students' communication skills via observation and assessment of students during oral and written student presentations of research and interpretation, as well as small-group discussion.
Students develop the ability to conduct research both independently and as a member of a team. Both oral and written communication skills are necessary to successfully conduct and report research to colleagues and the broader community.
Specific courses and assessment activities:
ENG 279, Fundamentals of Literary Theory: oral presentations, small-group discussions, written work, research papers.
All Upper-level (300 and higher) Literature Courses: Small-group discussions and presentations, Q & A sessions between small groups, individual written work.
Problem-solving skills (e.g., critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, analytical synthesis, decision making)
Literature and Writing students' problem-solving skills, including critical thinking, analytical synthesis, and decision making, are assessed in ENG discipline-specific courses and other courses directly related to attaining this degree.
Students develop the ability to conduct research both independently and as a member of a team. Possession of problem-solving skills is necessary for successfully conducting and reporting research.
Specific courses and assessment activities:
ENG 204, Creative Writing Workshop: portfolio
ENG 279, Fundamentals of Literary Theory: research papers, written work, analyses of interpretations.
Feedback from current students (e.g., exit interviews, focus groups)
English faculty receive program feedback from current students via the following venues:UMW graduate/exit survey
Mid-point assessment: analytical paper in ENG 279, Fundamentals of Literary Theory
Capstone assessment: thesis in ENG 498 or internship paper in ENG 400
Feedback from outside constituencies (e.g., employers, graduates, accrediting agencies, professional licensing examinations)
Feedback from internship supervisors
Feedback from graduates one year following graduation (beginning with AY 2004-05 graduates)
Feedback from employers of graduates after one year of employment (beginning with employers of 2004-05 graduates)
Evaluation of teaching (e.g., student and peer evaluations)
During fall semester, the VCAA chooses the faculty member's course to be evaluated. Each English faculty member chooses a course during spring semester that s/he wants evaluated by students. Feedback is compiled and shared with the faculty member and VCAA. In addition, each faculty member also has at least one peer evaluation per year.
Curriculum Review
The curriculum for the BA: Literature and Writing option was reviewed extensively in preparation for implementation of Experience One (block scheduling). Program faculty continue to review curriculum both formally and informally during departmental meetings.
Once the English faculty begin receiving the results of exit, employer, and alumni surveys from the Career Services Office, they will review the information and make adjustments to the Literature and Writing option as necessary.
Criteria & Procedures for Admission & Retention of Students
Currently, criteria and procedures for admission and retention of Literature and Writing option students parallel the criteria and procedures for admission to UMW.
Appraisal of annual program goals and assessment of their success.
Potential modification of curriculum based upon feedback from recent graduates, graduates following one year of employment or graduate school, and employers.
Self-study or reports from external reviews
As part of UMW's systematic academic program review cycle, a self-study of the BA: Literature and Writing option will be prepared and completed prior to or during the 2007-08 academic year. An initial review of this academic program by an external reviewer(s) will occur during the 2008 academic year as well.
Description of program-specific curriculum development bodies and advisory groups
All faculty teaching in the Literature and Writing option area assist with program-specific curriculum development. No other program-specific curriculum development bodies exist at this time.