The Courses

For all courses, the prerequisite is English 1213 or its equivalent. Students also must be 18 when the July program begins, have completed at least one year of college, and be members of the Honors College.        

“The Contemporary English Novel” taught by Melanie Wright
Uncertainty, self-contradiction, and attempts to question conventional texts are some themes contemporary novels develop.  Focusing on current English novelists, we will explore how they address the past and challenge traditional representations of history and the novel. Texts may include Flaubert’s Parrot by Julian Barnes, Chatterton by Peter Ackroyd, The Biographer’s Tale by A.S. Byatt, and Jack Maggs by Peter Carey.

“Shakespeare and Film” taught by Alan Velie
The course focuses on a selection of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies, including Measure for Measure, Merry Wives of Windsor, 1 & 2 Henry IV, Henry V, Hamlet and King Lear. The course will explore aesthetic and philosophical questions that arise in the texts.

For both courses, the writing assignments for the first half (Norman, Okla.) will combine research and textual analysis as preparation for the tutorial papers in the second (Oxford) half of the course.  The courses are upper-division writing classes and students should have some experience writing research papers (a section of English 1213). At Oxford, students will have the opportunity to experience the tutorial where students meet in groups of two or three with an Oxford professor.

These are six-hour credit courses and take place in Norman (June) and Oxford (July).

Oxford and Archaeology” taught by Stacey McGowan
“The Romans and Britain, Britain and the Romans” focuses on the history, art, and archaeology of Britain from the first to the fourth centuries A.D. when much of the island was part of the Roman Empire. The class will explore ways in which events of modern history influence our understanding of ancient British society.  In addition to lectures and tutorials, students will visit several museums in London and the ancient sanctuary site at Bath, and they may have an opportunity to take part in Romano-British archaeology firsthand.
This course is three credit hours and takes place entirely at Oxford in July.

Students using National Scholars or Regents scholarship money must be full-time, taking at least six hours; consequently, those who choose the 3-hour credit course must take another three hours, either a class in June or independent study hours. (Those who do not have summer scholarship support may take either a 3-hour or 6-hour credit course.) Each section fulfills Honors credit, and western civilization and culture upper division hours. Because the prefix is HON for each course, students may count it outside their majors.
Students may choose to take the course Pass/No Pass, and must indicate this option when enrolling. No changes may be made once the courses begin in June. Students must ask their academic advisors whether the course will count as general education credit if they choose the Pass/No pass option.