From the classics to the contemporary, the Department of English offers Rhodes students a wide array of courses in literature, creative writing and film. Students develop the ability to analyze and create with an emphasis on establishing strong writing skills. 

Professors

Gordon Bigelow. 1998.  A.B., Brown University; M.A., University of New Hampshire; Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz. (Nineteenth-century British and Irish Literature, Literary Theory.) 
Marshall Boswell. 1996. B.A., Washington and Lee University; M.A., Washington University; Ph.D., Emory University. (American Literature.)
Lori Garner. 2009. B.A., Hendrix College; M.A. University of Arkansas; Ph.D., University of Missouri. (Medieval Studies, Oral Tradition.)
Scott Newstok. 2007. B.A., Grinnell College; Ph.D., Harvard University. (Shakespeare, Poetics.
Leslie Petty. 2003. B.A., Emory University; M.A., Louisiana State University; Ph.D., University of Georgia. (American Literature.) 
Rashna Wadia Richards. 2008. B.A., Narsee Monjee College, Mumbai, India; M.A., University of Mumbai, India; M.A., West Virginia University; Ph.D., University of Florida. (Film Studies.)

Associate Professors

Amy Benson. 2016. B.S., Bowling Green State University; M.F.A., University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (Creative Non-Fiction.)
Stephanie Elsky. 2017. B.A., Columbia University; M.A. and Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania. (Early Modern Literature.)
Rebecca Finlayson. 2001. Director of College Writing, Director of the Rhodes Summer Writing Institute. B.A., Smith College; M.A. and Ph.D., Emory University. (Early Modern British Literature.)
Judith Haas. 2002. B.A., Wesleyan University; Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz. (Medieval Studies, Women’s Studies.)
Jason Richards. 2008. B.A., and M.A., California State University, Long Beach; Ph.D., University of Florida. (American Literature, Postcolonial Literature.)
Seth Rudy. 2010. B.F.A., New York University (Film and Television); M.A., New York University; Ph.D., New York University. (Eighteenth Century English Literature, British Romanticism.)
Caki Wilkinson. 2012. Director of Creative Writing. B.A., Rhodes College; M.F.A. (Poetry) Johns Hopkins University; Ph.D., University of Cincinnati. (English and Comparative Literature.)

Staff

Lorie W. Yearwood. 2006. Departmental Assistant. A.A.S., State Technical Institute at Memphis.

Honors in English is a process that allows students the freedom to develop an independent course of research and writing, culminating in the presentation of a major thesis in the spring of the Senior year. Honors projects require intensive work in both semesters of the Senior year, during which Honors students register for 4-8 credits in the Honors Tutorial (ENGL 495-496) each semester. Students reading for Honors must hold a GPA of 3.5 or above (major and cumulative).

Planning for Honors typically begins in the fall semester of the Junior year, when interested students consult with potential faculty about their ideas for an Honors project. Students then enroll in a 1-credit Tutorial for Honors Candidates (ENGL 399) to begin preliminary research. In August of the Senior year, students submit a formal proposal for the Honors project. Once the proposal is approved by the Department and the College, the student is considered an Honors Candidate and may proceed with research in ENGL 495. Honors Candidates are exempt from the senior seminar requirement and do not enroll in ENGL 485.  

1. Courses required: fulfillment of the requirements for a major in English; English 495-496 (in the Senior year).
2. A substantial, in-depth thesis.
3. Approval by the English Honors Committee.

A total of eleven (11) courses (44 credits) as follows:
Track I: Concentration in Literature:

I. English 285, normally taken by the end of the sophomore year.
 

II. One (1) course in four (4) of the following five (5) categories:

• A. Medieval (192, 218, 219, 260, 315, 319, 320, 321, 325)
• B. Renaissance/Early Modern (230, 322, 323, 324, 332, 335, 340)
• C. 18^th Century (240, 260, 336, 343, 345, 350)
• D. 19^th Century (261, 262, 350, 351, 355, 360, 361)
• E. 20^th-21^st Century (202, 241, 242, 245, 250, 251, 262, 316, 362, 363, 365, 366, 370, 382)

III. One (1) course in each of the following three (3) categories:

• A. Diversity and Difference (219, 220, 224, 225, 242, 264, 275, 361, 364, 375)
• B. In Focus (191, 218, 220, 221, 225, 230, 235, 245, 250, 251, 264, 290, 315, 316, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 332, 335, 336, 343, 345, 359, 360, 363, 366, 375)
• C. Topics in Literary Theory (382, 385)

IV. Distribution attributes for special topics courses (190, 265, 380, 381) will vary depending on topic/section.

V. English 485, normally taken in the senior year.

VI.  Up to two (2) special courses may count (e.g. creative writing courses, literature courses outside the department, etc.).

VII. Of the eleven required courses, a minimum of seven (7) must be numbered 300 or above. (English 460 does not fulfill this requirement.)
 

VIII. A course may carry up to two separate designations (for example, II.A and IV or III.B and IV).

IX.  FYWS 151 and HUM 201 courses taught by English faculty may count towards the eleven (11) required courses.

Track II: Concentration in Literature and Creative Writing:

I. English 285, normally taken by the end of the sophomore year.

II. One (1) course in Category A, B, or C and one (1) course in category D or E:

• A. Medieval (192, 218, 219, 260, 315, 319, 320, 321, 325)
• B. Renaissance/Early Modern (230, 322, 323, 324, 332, 335, 340)
• C. 18^th Century (240, 260, 336, 343, 345, 350)
• D. 19^th Century (261, 262, 350, 351, 355, 360, 361)
• E. 20^th-21^st Century (202, 241, 242, 245, 250, 251, 262, 316, 362, 363, 365, 366, 370, 382)

III. One (1) course in each of the following three (3) categories:

• A. Diversity and Difference (219, 220, 224, 225, 242, 264, 275, 361, 364, 375)
• B. In Focus (191, 218, 220, 221, 225, 230, 235, 245, 250, 251, 264, 290, 315, 316, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 332, 335, 336, 343, 345, 359, 360, 363, 366, 375)
• C. Topics in Literary Theory (382, 385)

IV. Distribution attributes for special topics courses (190, 265, 380, 381) will vary depending on topic/section.

V. English 485, normally taken in the senior year.

VI. One (1) workshop course in each of the following four (4) categories:

• A. English 210: Introduction to Creative Writing
• B. Intermediate Workshop I (300, 301, 305)
• C. Intermediate Workshop II, in a second genre (300, 301, 305)
• D. Advanced Workshop (400, 401, 405)

VII. Of the eleven required courses, a minimum of seven (7) must be numbered 300 or above. (English 460 does not fulfill this requirement.)

VIII. A course may carry up to two separate designations (for example, II.A and IV or III.B and IV).

IX. FYWS 151 and HUM 201 courses taught by English faculty may count towards the eleven (11) required courses.

Note: Those considering the concentration in literature and creative writing should contact one of the creative writing professors for early advising, preferably by the end of the first year.

A total of five (5) courses and twenty (20) credits as follows:

1. English 210: Introduction to Creative Writing
2. Intermediate Workshop I (300, 301, 305)
3. Intermediate Workshop II, in a second genre (300, 301, 305)
4. Advanced Workshop (400, 401, 405)
5. One additional English course at the 200 level or above 

A total of 5 courses (20 credits) as follows:

1. Two courses at the 190 or 200 level
2. Three additional courses in English numbered 300 or higher.

(16 credits)

I. English 255: Introduction to Journalism (F2i) 
 
II. Two (2) courses from the following electives: 
         First Year Writing Seminar 155: The New Yorker (F2s) 
         English 206-207: Creative Publishing: The Southwestern Review
         English 305: Intermediate Workshop in Non Fiction 
         English 316: Advanced Grammar 
         English 405: Advanced Workshop in Non Fiction 
         
III. English 460: Internship (4 credits in relevant area) (F11) 

The Department oversees a writing service available to all Rhodes students. Student tutors are available daily to assist students with written work.