Courses

Permits students who have completed all required dissertation credits to work toward the completion of their dissertation.

This course guides students through the writing and research tasks of the university classroom in order to equip them with confidence and the ability to write in a variety of academic genres, including the research paper. Students expand critical thinking skills through reading and writing cognitively complex arguments while also exploring academic voice, style, and vocabulary.

An introductory study of world literature in English, composed in a variety of cultures, to cultivate skills in literary interpretation, scholarly research, textual analysis, and academic writing and documentation. Students will focus on the conventions of poetry and prose in order to interpret these works critically while interacting thoughtfully with themes presented therein. Students will continue to develop their academic prose, with attention to improving foundational grammar, diction, phrasing, organization, and argument-building in the genre of the essay.

An introductory study of fiction with the purpose of cultivating skills in literary interpretation, scholarly research, textual analysis, and academic writing and documentation. Students will focus on the distinctive conventions of fiction in order to interpret these works critically, while interacting thoughtfully with themes presented therein. Students will continue to develop their academic prose, with attention to improving foundational grammar, diction, phrasing, organization, and argument-building in the genre of the essay.

An advanced study of poetry and drama with the purpose of cultivating skills in literary interpretation, scholarly research, textual analysis, and academic writing and documentation. Students will focus on the distinctive conventions of the genres of poetry and drama in order to interpret these works critically while interacting thoughtfully with themes presented therein. Students will continue to develop their academic prose, with attention to advanced grammar, diction, phrasing, organization, and argument-building in the genre of the essay.

An introductory study of Catholic fiction, with the purpose of understanding Catholic literature and cultivating skills in scholarly research, textual analysis, and academic writing and documentation. Such skills are fostered by closely reading and analyzing works of short fiction and the novel by accomplished prose stylists. Students focus on the distinctive conventions of fiction in order to interpret these works critically, while interacting thoughtfully with Catholic themes presented therein; there is a particular focus on analyzing and making use of narrative strategies and rhetorical tools. Students continue to develop their academic prose, with attention to improving foundational grammar, diction, phrasing, organization, and argument-building in the thesis-driven essay.

An advanced study of poetry and drama with the purpose of understanding Catholic literature and cultivating skills in scholarly research, textual analysis, and academic writing and documentation. Such skills are fostered by closely reading and analyzing poems and plays by accomplished writers. Students focus on the distinctive conventions of the genres of poetry and drama in order to interpret these works critically, while interacting thoughtfully with themes presented therein; there is a particular focus on analyzing and making use of effective patterns of language, lyrical and theatrical presentation, and figures of speech. Students continue to develop their academic prose, with attention to advanced grammar, diction, phrasing, organization and argument-building in the thesis-driven essay.

Practical study and guided research in writing tutoring and English language pedagogy. Students will investigate complex academic writing techniques and learn to apply them in professional contexts.

A seminar in the techniques of imaginative writing and in the development of a critical appreciation of the art of writing in its varied forms. This course focuses on free verse poetry, flash fiction, the short story, and short dramatic works.