English

Dr. Jacky Dumas, Chairperson

The aim of the Department of English is to promote the knowledge and appreciation of literature, to introduce the basic concepts of rhetoric and argumentation, and to help students master principles of effective writing. In addition, the department helps majors and minors to prepare for careers in teaching or other fields and provides the foundation needed for graduate study. Creative writing is encouraged by the opportunity to contribute to and produce the University literary magazine, The Baylorian . Students may also participate in the production of a professional literary journal, Windhover: A Journal of Christian Literature, and in the annual Writers’ Festival each January.

In advanced courses, students engage in a variety of activities, including oral and written reports, essays, research assignments, class discussions, and lectures. Students are expected to use the library effectively and to begin to be proficient in literary criticism.

Students may not use more than six hours of credit by exam for English or Writing courses. This includes credits earned by any combination of exams (AP, CLEP, etc.). For more information about credit by exam, consult the most recent guidelines established by Testing and Counseling. The Department encourages students to take ENGL 1321 and ENGL 1322 during their freshman year in order to learn the conventions of academic writing.

Unless students have been awarded credit by exam or have transferred appropriate credits from an accepted institution, freshmen must begin with ENGL 1321 (or ENGL 0310 or ENGL 0320, when deemed necessary by placement standards). After completing ENGL 1321, students must take ENGL 1322 before they are eligible to take sophomore-level courses. All students must have credit for six hours of freshman English and six hours of sophomore English before taking upper-level (3000- and 4000-level) courses in English.

Note:  If a student scores a 29 or higher on the ACT ENGLISH section, they will receive credit for ENGL 1321.

Policies for Placement in ENGL 0310, ENGL 0320, and ENGL 1321

All reading and writing minimum requirements and placement scores are in coordination with the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). These following standards will apply to students who enroll for Spring 2015 and beyond.

If the student scores below 500 on the SAT Writing or below 19 on the ACT Writing, placement will be in ENGL 0320. In order to appeal that placement, the student must take one of the placement tests in English which is accepted by UMHB. That test score will be used to determine placement.

If the student scores below 500 on the SAT Critical Reading or below 19 on the ACT Reading, placement will be ENGL 0310. In order to appeal that placement, the student must take one of the placement tests in English which is accepted by UMHB. That test score will be used to determine placement.

Although UMHB currently uses Accuplacer to determine placement in English, other placement tests are acceptable. The table below gives the scores required to place out of ENGL 0310 and ENGL 0320.