Overview

The Department of English studies the invention, interpretation, and criticism of all forms of writing - imaginative, persuasive, and technical. A degree in English will appeal to students who are interested in the study of literature, language, and creative or professional writing, and who want to pursue careers in business, government, education, law, speech sciences, writing, publishing, advertising, health activism, and social services.

English offers majors in Literature and Language, Professional and Technical Writing, and Creative Writing. It also offers minors in Literature, Language Sciences, Professional and Technical Writing, and Creative Writing.

English Degree Majors

Students working towards the B.A. in English may choose from three majors, each consisting of 39 required hours.

• A major in Literature and Language
  Within the Literature and Language major, there are three options available to students: Literature, Pre-Education, and Pre-Law.
• A major in Professional and Technical Writing.
• A major in Creative Writing.

Degree Requirements

The graduation requirements in effect at the time of graduation apply. When choosing the degree requirements information, always choose the year of your expected date of graduation. Requirements for graduation are referred to via university publications as "Checksheets". Students must satisfactorily complete all requirements and university obligations for degree completion.

The university reserves the right to modify requirements in a degree program. However, the university will not alter degree requirements less than two years from the expected graduation year unless there is a transition plan for students already in the degree program.

All three of the majors share a common English core. The core requirements and specific major requirements can be found on the major checksheet by visiting the University Registrar website at http://registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/index1.html.

Satisfactory Progress

University policy requires that students who are making satisfactory progress toward a degree meet minimum criteria toward the General Education requirements (Curriculum for Liberal Education) (see "Academics") and toward the degree in English.

Satisfactory progress requirements toward the B.A. in English can be found on the major checksheet by visiting the University Registrar website at http://registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/index1.html.

Post Graduate Study

Undergraduate majors interested in pursuing advanced degrees (M.A., M.F.A., or Ph.D.) in English should, with the assistance of their professors, mentors, and the department's academic advisor, carefully plan their programs of study. Coverage across periods and genres is strongly recommended, as is a good reading knowledge of a modern and/or a classical foreign language. Getting to know professors and learning as much as possible about the professional elements of the discipline provide excellent preparation for graduate work.

First-Year Composition

The Curriculum for Liberal Education requires a two-semester freshman sequence to fulfill Area 1 requirements. First-Year Writing (1105-1106), which the Department of English offers as part of its Writing Program, fulfills this Area I Liberal Education requirement. Honors Freshman English (1204H) may substitute for this sequence for students who qualify for placement in Honors English. 1105-1106 and 1204H share a focus on the rhetorical dimensions of writing, speaking, and visual communication, but each is a separate course with distinctive assignments and goals.

Advanced Standing (AS): Some students are exempted from ENGL 1105 and granted Advanced Standing on the basis of three scores: SAT Critical Reading, SAT Writing, and Standardized High School Class Rank. Advanced Standing students fulfill their Freshman English requirement with the single advanced course into which they are placed: ENGL 1106 or Honors ENGL 1204H. If Advanced Standing students complete the assigned advanced course at Virginia Tech with a C- they receive pass/fail credit for ENGL 1105, the course from which they are exempted. Advanced Standing is a placement category for students at Virginia Tech; it is not related to the Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered in high schools or the AP exam offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Credit from AP, CLEP, and IB exams can fulfill the CLE Area 1 requirement. See "Advanced Placement," "Advanced Standing," and "International Baccalaureate" information in the Admissions section of this catalog.

Undergraduate Course Descriptions (ENGL)

0014: ORAL COMM INTERNATIONAL TAS
For international students taking regular academic loads. Practice in preparing and delivering oral reports in an academic field, as well as advanced pronunciation and aural comprehension exercises for effective classroom communication. Pass/Fail only. X-grade allowed. (3H,1C)

1004: INTRO TO ENGLISH STUDIES
First-Year Experience course that prepares students for study and inquiry at a research institution. Introduction to English studies and its various fields: Creative Writing, Professional Writing, and Literature & Language. (2H,2C)

1105-1106: FIRST-YEAR WRITING
1105: Introduction to rhetorical analysis, visual rhetoric, critical writing, and critical thinking; intensive reading of works in multiple genres; practice in writing and revision; fundamentals of oral presentations. 1106: Continued study in rhetorical analysis and the conventions of various genres; intensive instruction in writing and revision of work that incorporates research; experience in oral presentations. (3H,3C)

1204H: HONORS FRESHMAN ENGLISH
Introduction to analytical, critical, and interpretive writing and reading at an advanced level and accelerated pace for students whose test scores and high school work indicate readiness for the Honors level of complexity, responsibility, and initiative; in a single semester, reviews the work of 1105 and focuses on the work of 1106 at the Honors level. Placement by the English Department required. (3H,3C)

1504: INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPORARY LINGUISTICS
Introduction to the sounds of language, processes by which words and sentences are formed, how the meanings of words are established by context, and why languages vary and change over time. (3H,3C)

1514: LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY
English language variation considered from social, regional, ethnic, gender, and style perspectives. Emphasis on vernacular varieties of American English. Attention paid to the social evolution of different language varieties and sociolinguistic perceptions of language ideologies. Introduction of methods of data analytics. (3H,3C)

1524 (PSYC 1524): LANGUAGE AND THE MIND
Examination of what is unique about human language and the evidence that language affects thought. Investigation of how listeners categorize sounds, parse sentences, and access meaning. Examination of what brain damage and speech errors reveal about language in the brain and mind. (3H,3C)

1604: INTRODUCTION TO POETRY
This course examines the genre of poetry from the Old English period up to contemporary writers. Emphasis is on close reading and poetic forms and conventions. (3H,3C)

1614: INTRODUCTION TO SHORT FICTION
This course introduces the knowledge and skills required to read and understand short stories and novellas. Readings trace the development of short fiction from the fable and myth to contemporary narrative forms. (3H,3C)

1624: INTRODUCTION TO DETECTIVE FICTION
This course introduces students to classic and modern texts of detective fiction from a variety of historical periods and cultural traditions. (3H,3C)

1634: INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE
This course introduces Shakespeare’s drama and poetry, including at least one modern adaptation of a Shakespearean play (play, novel, movie, opera, etc.). Emphasis is placed on how to read a play, how to read Shakespearean verse, and how the various genres of Shakespearean drama differ. (3H,3C)

1644: INTRODUCTION TO WORLD LITERATURE
This course examines masterpieces of world literature in translation. Readings focus upon one or two common themes across places and times. (3H,3C)

1654: INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY
This course introduces a variety of speculative works within the genres of science fiction and fantasy. Attention will be given to the development and principal characteristics of each genre. Emphasis is placed on the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which specific speculative texts have been produced. (3H,3C)

1664: INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN’S LITERATURE
This introductory course examines literary and cultural questions raised by women writers throughout history and from different cultural backgrounds. Emphasis is on women’s writing in English, but the course may include some literature in translation. (3H,3C)

1704: HARRY POTTER PHENOMENON
Introduction to a millennial children’s literature phenomenon, J.K. Rowling’s seven-volume Harry Potter series, and to various critical and cultural responses to the books. Subgenres of fiction used in the series, such as the boarding-school novel and the sports novel; recurring themes in the series; critical concepts such as the Byronic hero and the anti-hero; the role of media in making the series an economic phenomenon; and the relationships of the novels to film versions and fan-fiction spinoffs. (3H,3C)

1EWL: WAITING LIST FOR ENGLISH 1105
(3H,3C)

1HWLH: WAIT LIST HONORS ENGLISH 1204
(3H,3C)

2034: ANALYZING SOUNDS OF LANGUAGE
Examination of the acoustic attributes of vowels and consonants using quantitative techniques. Statistical analysis of acoustical differences between and within speakers, enabling predictions about future language choices and outcomes. Basic introduction to using computational software for data processing and visualization, and to ethical issues that arise in collecting an analyzing data. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

2444 (CLA 2444) (RLCL 2444): ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY
Surveys ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Provides students with an introduction to selected myths from ancient Greek and Roman literature, including appropriate historical background information. Familiarizes students with how theories of myth have been applied to individual stories and how such mythological tales have been received by authors and artists in subsequent cultures. Explores the interaction and interdependence of mythological tales from different cultures and perspectives. In English. (3H,3C)

2534: AMERICAN LITERARY HISTORY
Introduction to American literary traditions, from the Colonial period through Modernism. Emphases on historical, social, and cultural contexts as these are reflected by representative texts. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

2544: BRITISH LITERARY HISTORY
Introduction to British literary traditions, from the Anglo-Saxon period through Modernism. Emphasis on historical, social, and cultural contexts as these are reflected by representative texts. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

2604: INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL READING
A writing intensive introduction to the techniques and theoretical implications of close reading and to the literary genres of poetry, drama, fiction, and, in some sections, non-fiction. The focus is on four primary texts, at least one of which was written before the eighteenth century and one after it, and on criticism of at least one of these. The course emphasizes the analytical skills, basic critical terminology, and conventions of literary criticism essential to advanced English studies. Intended primarily for English majors and minors. Pre: 1105 or COMM 1015. (3H,3C)

2624: READING AND WRITING ACROSS ENGLISH STUDIES
A variable topics, foundational course in the study and practice of reading and writing employed across disciplinary areas in English Studies. Introduction to rhetorical, creative, and professional modes. Writing intensive. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 2016. (3H,3C)

2744: INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING
A workshop for beginning writers who want to explore their talents in poetry, drama, and fiction. Pre: 1105 or COMM 1015. (3H,3C)

2804 (AINS 2804): CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURES
This course offers a sampling of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction by the most influential American Indian writers since 1970, authors such as Momaday, Silko, Deloria, Welch, Harjo, and Alexie. Students also learn about those aspects of cosmology and storytelling traditionally shared by all American Indian Nations, as well as about those aspects specific to the individual tribal traditions from which the authors and their characters come. Pre: 1106 or H1204 or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

2964: FIELD STUDY
Pass/Fail only. Variable credit course.

2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

2974H: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

3024 (RLCL 3024): RELIGION AND LITERATURE
Read works from world literature, guided by selected critical readings. Compare/contrast diverse models of "religion" and "literature." Study how modernity has impacted traditions of religion and culture. Interpret literary texts that draw from multiple religions. Analyze religion-literature controversies in a range of social, cultural, political contexts. Synthesize sources of multiple media, formats, and contexts. (3H,3C)

3104: INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL WRITING
This course introduces students to the theory and practice of professional writing and its functions in workplace settings. In this rhetorically-based course, students gain experience with a variety of writing situations, composing documents that solve problems or help readers make decisions. Students learn current conventions and broadly applicable procedures for analyzing the audiences, purposes, and situations of professional writing, and learn strategies for adapting these conventions and procedures to meet the unique demands of each new situation and task. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3134 (WGS 3134): GENDER AND LINGUISTICS
Exploration of differences--real and imagined--in the speech of men and women, and the relationship between these differences to culture. Exploration of how language can reflect and reinforce gender inequality. Linguistic phenomena covered: pitch, vocabulary, sound change, language ideologies, and discourse strategies and types. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3144 (RLCL 3144) (SOC 3144): LANGUAGE AND ETHNICITY IN THE UNITED STATES
Exploration of how racial and ethnic identity are expressed through the use of different languages and dialects. Examination of how language is related to issues of equality, social opportunity, and discrimination in the United States. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3154: LITERATURE, MEDICINE, AND CULTURE
The representation of health and illness in literature and the cultural aspects of medicine as a practice. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3C)

3204: MEDIEVAL LITERATURE
This course presents medieval British literature from ca. 700 to 1500 in its representative modes and defining contexts, including the literary influences of pagan antiquity, the native British (Celtic) tradition, Scandinavian and contemporary continental influences, the Crusades, the Byzantine Empire, and the philosophical traditions of neoplatonism and scholasticism. Specific authors and texts will vary, but will include poetry, prose, and drama. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3214: RENAISSANCE LITERATURE
This course presents Renaissance British literature from 1500-1660 in its representative modes and defining contexts, including the discovery of the Copernican universe and the new world, the rise of Protestantism, the resultant Counter-reformation, the movement from humanism to empiricism, and the institution of Parliamentary democracy. Specific authors and texts will vary, but will include poetry, prose, and drama. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3224: LITERATURE OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Focus on Restoration and eighteenth-century British literature from 1660 to 1800, the period generally recognized as the Enlightenment. Examination of the new resilience on reason and scientific method rather than superstition and tradition through the study of such writers as Bunyan, Swift, Dryden, and Johnson. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3234: ROMANTIC LITERATURE
This course presents Romantic literature from the late eighteenth century to 1832 in its representative modes and defining contexts, including the French, American, and Industrial Revolutions, the expansion of the British empire, the rise of the novel, Gothicism, and the intellectual influence of periodical essays. Specific authors and texts will vary, but will include poetry, fictional prose, and non-fictional prose. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3244: VICTORIAN LITERATURE
This course presents Victorian British Literature from 1832 to 1901 in its representative modes and defining contexts, including the development of modern science and the decline of traditional religion, the emergence of the mass reading public, and the glorification of the writer’s role as prophet, guide, and culture critic. Specific authors and texts will vary, but will include poems, essays, plays, and novels. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3254: AMERICAN LITERATURE BEFORE 1900
This course presents American literature from before 1900 in its representative modes and defining contexts, including colonization, the founding of the republic, the Civil War, the settlement of the west, American Romanticism, and American Realism. Specific authors and texts will vary, but will include poetry and fictional and non-fictional prose. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3264: MODERNIST BRITISH LITERATURE
This course presents Modernist British literature from 1918-1945 in its representative modes and defining contexts, including World Wars I and II, the collapse of the British empire, the influence of Darwin, Marx, and Freud, and such literary movements as Modernism, Realism, and Stream of Consciousness. Specific authors and texts will vary, but will include poetry, prose, and drama. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3274: MODERNIST AMERICAN LITERATURE
This course presents Modernist American literature from 1918 to 1945 in its representative modes and defining contexts, including World Wars I and II, the Great Depression, and such literary movements as Modernism and Realism. Specific authors and texts will vary, but will include poetry, prose, and drama. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3304 (AINS 3304): THE LANGUAGES OF NATIVE AMERICA
Study of the structures of the native languages of the Americas; their interrelationships; their use in individual speech communities; contact with other languages; the interrelationships of linguistic structure, culture, and thought; their future survival. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3314: WORKING ENGLISH GRAMMAR
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of standard English written grammar. Some attention will also be paid to the use of English grammar for varying purposes. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3315-3316 (TA 3315-3316): PLAYWRITING
A workshop course in the craft and art of playwriting which emphasizes the development of craft and the nurturing of vision and art. 3315: primary focus is on the writing of original scripts with additional attention paid to the work of influential playwrights and critics. 3316: primary focus is on the creative process of developing a play with the collaborative influences of a director, actors, designers, and other theatre professionals. Consent of instructor required for 3316. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016 for 3315; 3315 for 3316. (3H,3C)

3324: ACTS OF INTERPRETATION
Foundational interpretive approaches in literary and rhetorical studies. Emphasis on broad frameworks and their implications for textual analysis. Pre: 2604. (3H,3C)

3364: TOPICS IN LITERATURE BY WOMEN
This rotating topics course examines literature written by women with different national and ethnic identities and from different historical periods. Specific content varies, but the common focus is on the fundamental issues surrounding women’s writing, the critical methodologies commonly employed to analyze this writing, and the historical, social, and literary contexts influencing the particular writing being studied. May be repeated once with different content. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3414 (GER 3414): GERMAN LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
A variable content course devoted to the study of major German literary works in English translation. May be repeated with different content. May not be taken for credit toward a major or minor in a foreign language. No knowledge of German required. In English. One 2000 level English literature course required. (3H,3C)

3424 (RUS 3424): RUSSIAN LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
Variable-content course devoted to the study of Russian literary classics. Readings and lectures in English. Topics will range from general surveys of 19th century or 20th century Russian literature to more intensive study of the works of a single major author like Tolstoy or Dostoevsky. May be repeated with different content. No knowledge of Russian required. In English. One 2000 level English course required. (3H,3C)

3514: ETHNIC LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN
This course examines the historical contexts of and issues surrounding ethnic literature for children. The course considers the literature in terms of aesthetics, cultural representations, and identity. Ethnic literatures considered may include Native American, African American, Asian American, and Latino/a. The course also introduces other ethnic literary traditions, such as world folk tales, that influence or parallel American ethnic children’s books. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3524: LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN
General critical and historical survey of traditional and contemporary writing for children: picture books, folk literature, modern fantasy, poetry, drama, modern fiction, historical fiction. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3534: LITERATURE AND ECOLOGY
Study of the poetry, proses and dramatic literature that stresses human cooperation with nature conceived as a dynamic, interrelated series of cyclic feedback systems. Included are ways esthetic values (literary themes, form, vision, perception, language) intersect with selected ecological concepts such as biocentrism, the food chain, energy transfer, Gaia theory, and ecofeminism; selected works by contemporary ecologists and environmentalists, and a study of the origins of ecology in the Greek oikos or home. This is a writing intensive course. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3544 (CINE 3544): LITERATURE AND CINEMA
Works of literature and the films into which they have been transformed; emphasis on differences between media. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3584: THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE
This course focuses on the Bible both as a work of literature and as a major influence on the literatures of the world. Specific books of the Bible to be covered, as well as literary-critical approaches, will vary. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3614: SOUTHERN LITERATURE
The literature of the American South from 1840 to the present with emphasis on 20th-century fiction, drama, and poetry. Concentration on such writers as Faulkner, Capote, Chopin, Hughes, O’Connor, Welty, Walker, and others. Exploration of such themes as importance of land, family, community; roles of industry and agrarianism; race relations. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3624: APPALACHIAN LITERATURE
Appalachian writers from the 1800s to the present, including Murfree, Wolfe, and selected contemporary authors. Course will treat artistic merit and such selected themes as the mountains, Appalachia as a frontier, ambivalence about the Civil War, religion, folk ways and traditions, coal mining, and cottage industries. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3634 (AFST 3634): AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE
African-American writings from Phyllis Wheatley through the slave narratives of the nineteenth century to such modern figures as Wright, Hughes, Baldwin, and Morrison. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3644: THE POSTCOLONIAL NOVEL
A study of novels examining the historical, social, and cultural contexts before, during, and after colonization. Emphasis on major writers (e.g., Achebe, Coetzee, Roy, Phillips) across continents (Africa, Asia, North America) and the significant themes, tropes, and theories of the genre. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3654: ETHNIC AMERICAN LITERATURE
Variable content course which introduces major American ethnic literatures: African-American, Asian-American, Chicano/a, Arab-American, and Native American. Representative texts from one or two of these categories are examined within the cultural, historical, and geographical matrices within which they are written. May be repeated twice for credit if the content is different. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3684: LITERATURE AND THE LAW
This course introduces students to the representation of the law and lawyers in literature. Emphasis is placed on the cultural and historical contexts that shape our perception of the law and legal practice and on the use of facts, research, interpretation, and rhetoric in legal argument. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)

3684H: LITERATURE AND THE LAW
This course introduces students to the representation of the law and lawyers in literature. Emphasis is placed on the cultural and historical contexts that shape our perception of the law and legal practice and on the use of facts, research, interpretation, and rhetoric in legal argument. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)

3694: TOPICS IN WORLD NOVELS
Rotating-topics course in world novels, either translated into, or originally written in, English. Emphasis on critical reading of novels written from different cultural contexts. May be repeated once with different topics. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3704: CREATIVE WRITING: FICTION
This course is designed for students who want to focus in some depth on the writing of various forms of fiction such as the short story and novella. Emphasis is on the writing the critiquing of original fiction in a workshop/studio environment, and the analysis of exemplary texts which serve as models. Students produce a body of original fiction in draft and revised forms. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours. Pre: 2744. (3H,3C)

3714: CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY
This course is designed for students who want to focus in some depth on the writing of poetry. Emphasis is on the writing and critiquing of original poetry in a workshop/studio environment, and the analysis of exemplary poems which serve as models. Students analyze various poetic forms and produce a revised body of original poetry. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours. Pre: 2744. (3H,3C)

3724: CREATIVE WRITING: CREATIVE NON-FICTION
This course is designed for students who want to focus in some depth on the writing of creative non-fiction in its various forms, including memoir, personal experience writing, the lyrical essay, travel narratives, and nature writing. Emphasis is on the writing and critiquing of original creative non-fiction in a workshop/studio, environment and the analysis of exemplary texts which serve as models. Students produce a body of original non-fiction in draft and revised forms. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours. Pre: 2744. (3H,3C)

3734: COMMUNITY WRITING
Introduction to the theory and practice of managing service- learning writing projects in schools, community centers, retirement communities, and public libraries. Survey of best practices in creative writing pedagogy and in creating sustainable community partnerships. Pre: 2744. (3H,3C)

3734H: COMMUNITY WRITING
Introduction to the theory and practice of managing service- learning writing projects in schools, community centers, retirement communities, and public libraries. Survey of best practices in creative writing pedagogy and in creating sustainable community partnerships. Pre: 2744. (3H,3C)

3744: WRITING CENTER THEORY & PRACTICE
Focus on the theory and practice of teaching writing across the disciplines in the Writing Center setting. Emphasis is on writing center theory applied to one-on-one teaching strategies and on techniques for responding appropriately to student writing. To take this course you must first have the professor’s consent. (3H,3C)

3744H: WRITING CENTER THEORY AND PRACTICE
Focus on the theory and practice of teaching writing across the disciplines in the Writing Center setting. Emphasis is on writing center theory applied to one-on-one teaching strategies and on techniques for responding appropriately to student writing. To take this course you must first have the professor’s contest. (3H,3C)

3754: ADVANCED COMPOSITION
Advanced training in writing analytical and critical essays. Practice in addressing a range of audiences and in using varied styles and organizational patterns. Workshop and conference for students in arts and humanities, as well as for technical and extension students who wish to address non-specialized audiences and to practice forms outside their own fields. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)

3764: TECHNICAL WRITING
Principles and procedure of technical writing; attention to analyzing audience and purpose, organizing information, designing graphic aids, and writing such specialized forms as abstracts, instructions, and proposals. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)

3774: BUSINESS WRITING
Extensive practice in forms of persuasive and informative writing such as memos, case analyses, reports, abstracts, and letters. Designed for students in all curricula. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)

3804: TECHNICAL EDITING AND STYLE
Technical Editing and Style explores the art of editing from the initial writing task to the final delivery of the document. In addition to learning document management, students study and practice the roles, responsibilities, and tasks that editors perform. The course also covers the rules that govern the fundamentals of style (correctness, clarity, and propriety) and the principles needed to match the tone and formality to the aim, audience, and occasion of the work. Must have pre-requisites or the consent of the Director of Professional Writing. Pre: 1106 or 1204 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3814: CREATING USER DOCUMENTATION
This course prepares students to produce both print and online user documentation that enables people to accomplish a given set of tasks (e.g., user guides, online help, policy and procedure manuals, tutorials, and how-to books). Readings include rhetorical theory and discussions of professional practice. Students learn the principles of user and task analysis, information design, usability testing, and indexing. In addition, they have opportunities for hands-on experience with clients and end-users. Must have pre-requisites or the consent of the Director of Professional Writing. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3824: DESIGNING DOCUMENTS FOR PRINT
This course prepares students to design and produce complex documents such as proposals, brochures, booklets, and newsletters using computer technologies. Students learn rhetorical and visual factors (e.g., legibility, readability, layout, and integration of text/images) that contribute to the effectiveness and usability of documents. In addition, students study the use of color and electronic image editing. They also master some of the technologies necessary to publish documents from their desktops. In addition to working on individual projects, students engage in collaborative exercises intended to sharpen their teamwork, editing, writing, audience- awareness, and design skills. Must have prerequisite or consent of the Director of Professional Writing. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3834: INTERCULTURAL ISSUES IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING
Focuses on intercultural and international issues in the global workplace. Explores, through examination of theoretical perspectives and practical applications, ways in which notions about culture and national identity shape professional interactions. Provides a foundational understanding of the issues involved in writing and designing documents for international audiences. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3844: WRITING AND DIGITAL MEDIA
Introduction of the fundamental practices and emerging theories of writing with, and for, digital media. Basic authoring in web development syntaxes, critical interpretation of online sources, social media management, and topics of computational abstraction for writers. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3954: STUDY ABROAD
Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.

3984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

4004: LINGUISTIC DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Introduction to discourse analysis. This course examines spoken and written discourses of English. Further attention will be paid to how discourse functions in political, legal, medical, and educational contexts. (3H,3C)

4054: HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Development of English including both its internal history (sounds, vocabulary, inflections, syntax) and its external history (political, social, and intellectual forces). Indo-European origins through the present, with special emphasis on the English Language in America. (3H,3C)

4074: SYNTAX
Examination of the systemic organization of sentence patterns in human languages. Formulation of problems and evaluation of competing syntatic analyses at the phrase and sentence levels. Analysis of the architecture of phases and of movement processes for grammatical and pragmatic informational coding. Pre: 1504. (3H,3C)

4084: TOPICS IN LINGUISTICS
An advanced course in such areas of linguistics as phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, language change, dialectology, etc. Emphasis will be placed on the analysis of natural language data within contemporary theoretical frameworks. Individual sections will focus upon differing areas of linguistics (to be specified in the subtitle of the course). Repeatable with different content for a maximum of nine credits. Pre: 4064 or 4074. (3H,3C)

4114: CHAUCER
This course examines the life, work, and critical reception of Geoffrey Chaucer. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)

4124: INTRODUCTION TO OLD ENGLISH
Introduction to Old English grammar and reading of Old English poetry and prose. Senior standing required. (3H,3C)

4134 (PSYC 4134): LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
Survey of theories, mechanisms, and processes in human language development. Empirical overview of phonology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. Developmental trajectories of mono-and multilingual children. Cultural constraints on language. Perception of language and production of language, in typical and atypical subpopulations (e.g., hearing impairment). Junior/Senior Standing. Pre: PSYC 1004 or PSYC 2004. (3H,3C)

4144: PHONOLOGY
Examination of the systematic organization of sounds in human languages based upon problem-based learning. Analysis of syllables and morae, articulatory features, timing of articulatory gestures, and phonological processes that lead to sound change. Assessment of various theoretical and computational approaches to phonology including Articulatory Phonology, Prosodic Phonology, and Optimality Theory. Pre: 1504. (3H,3C)

4165,4166: SHAKESPEARE
The plays of Shakespeare. 4165: Shakespeare’s early career (1590-1600), including history plays from HENRY VI to HENRY V, comedies from THE COMEDY OF ERRORS to THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, and early tragedies such as ROMEO AND JULIET and JULIUS CAESAR. 4166: the later career, including "problem plays" such as MEASURE FOR MEASURE, the great tragedies (HAMLET, KING LEAR, OTHELLO, MACBETH), and the romances such as THE TEMPEST. (3H,3C)

4214: MILTON
Milton’s poetry from the early works, including COMUS, LYCIDAS, and the sonnets, to his major late works PARADISE LOST, PARADISE REGAINED, and SAMSON AGONISTES; with some attention to the important prose and to the historical context in which he wrote. (3H,3C)

4314 (STS 4314): NARRATIVE MEDICINE
Introduction to the field of narrative medicine, with attention to narrative competence, the use of narrative in medical education, and the function of narratives in the experience of healing. Includes narrative approaches to biomedical ethics. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

4314H (STS 4314): NARRATIVE MEDICINE
Introduction to the field of narrative medicine, with attention to narrative competence, the use of narrative in medical education, and the function of narratives in the experience of healing. Includes narrative approaches to biomedical ethics. Pre: 3154 or 3324. (3H,3C)

4434: THE AMERICAN NOVEL
Development of the American novel from its beginnings in the late 18th century to 20th century postmodernism. Emphasis on works representative of major authors (e.g., Twain and Morrison), important types (e.g., the romantic novel, the historical novel), and significant American themes (e.g., religion, nature, slavery, the frontier). Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

4444: THE BRITISH NOVEL
Development of the British Novel from the mid- eighteenth century to World War II, including works by such novelists as Defoe and Austen (origins through romantic era), Dickens, Hardy, and Stevenson (Victorian and Edwardian era), Joyce, Woolf, and Waugh (modern period). Emphasis on evolution of generic styles and conventions against a changing landscape of historical and cultural change. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

4504: MODERN POETRY
British and American poetry from 1900 to World War II with emphasis on such figures as Pound, Williams, Stevens, Yeats, Plath, Smith, and Eliot. (3H,3C)

4514: CONTEMPORARY POETRY
British and American poetry from World War II to the present, with emphasis on such figures as Bishop, Lowell, Ashbery, Heaney, and Hughes. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

4624: STUDIES IN A BRITISH AUTHOR AFTER 1800
This course examines the life, work, and critical reception of a single major British author (or pair of closely associated authors) writing after 1800. May be taken up to 3 times with different content. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)

4634: STUDIES IN AN AMERICAN AUTHOR BEFORE 1900
This course examines the life, work, and critical reception of a single major American author (or a pair of closely associated authors) writing before 1900. May be taken up to three times with different content. Junior standing is required. (3H,3C)

4644: STUDIES IN AN AMERICAN AUTHOR AFTER 1900
This course examines the life, work, and critical reception of a single major American author (or pair of closely associated authors) writing after 1900. May be taken up to three times with different content. Junior standing is required. (3H,3C)

4664: CONTEMPORARY FICTION
Fiction since 1945 with emphasis upon the most recent two decades: the late modernist narratives of Bellow, Updike, and Percy; the new fiction of Barth, Hawkes, Barthelme; the postmodern fiction of Federman, Carter, Fowles, Katz, Sukenick. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

4674: STUDIES IN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE
Studies the emerging changes across arts media (including architecture, cyberculture, essay, fiction, film, painting, performance, photography, poetry, theatre, video) in relation to current cultural and social theory from a variety of disciplines (including architectural theory, art, history, literature, philosophy, psychoanalysis, and social sciences). (3H,3C)

4684: SPECIAL TOPICS IN LITERATURE
An advanced, variable-content course which explores a significant or emergent literary issue or approach, or a body of literature. May be taken twice with different content. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

4704: ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: FICTION
Designed for senior English majors who have selected the Creative Writing option, this is an intensive, advanced workshop. This capstone course builds on skills students have acquired in creative writing workshops. Primary focus is on the writing and critiquing of original fiction, while paying close attention to the work of established writers who are acknowledged masters of their genres. Students hone their skills as peer reviewers and constructive critics. In the process, they produce a portfolio of their own fiction. Pre: 3704. (3H,3C)

4714: ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY
Designed for senior English majors who have selected the Creative Writing option, this is an intensive, advanced workshop. This capstone course builds on the skills acquired in previous creative writing workshops. Primary focus is on the writing and critiquing of original poems, while paying close attention to the work of established poets who are acknowledged masters of their genres. Students hone their skills as peer reviewers and constructive critics. In the process, they produce a portfolio of their own poetry. Pre: 3714. (3H,3C)

4724: CREATIVE WRITING: FICTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
This course is conducted in a workshop setting in which students compose original stories for young people. Elementary techniques of fiction are emphasized, such as plot structure, point of view, setting, characterization, and audience. Must have prerequisites or permission of the instructor. Pre: 3704. (3H,3C)

4784: SENIOR SEMINAR
Designed for senior English majors, this is a variable topics, in-depth study of a particular issue or theme in language or literature. This capstone course aims to integrate and synthesize previous work in the discipline, focusing especially on close reading, research, and writing skills. Pre: 1106. (3H,3C)

4804: GRANT PROPOSALS AND REPORTS
This course prepares students to write effective proposals, reports, and informational articles. Students learn to define and write problem statements, program objectives, plans of action, evaluation plans, budget presentations, and summaries. In addition, they sharpen their teamwork, editing, writing, audience awareness, and design skills as they engage in collaborative projects with campus and/or non-profit organizations in the community. Prerequisite or consent of the instructor is required. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

4814: DEVELOPING ONLINE CONTENT
Covers the process of creating documents for online environments. Builds on knowledge and skills acquired in foundational Professional Writing courses. Involves production of websites from scratch, starting with low-fidelity mockups and advancing to formatting layouts adaptable to the diverse screen sizes of computers and mobile devices. Focuses on a balance of structure (code), content (information), and format (presentation and design). Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

4824: SCIENCE WRITING
Writing in and about the natural and social sciences. Students will write documents such as abstracts, research proposals, and ethnographies, analyze the development of disciplinary writing practices, and study non-fiction science writing for general audiences. Senior standing or instructor approval required. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

4854: WRITING, RESEARCH, STUDY ABROAD
Application of academic abroad experience to student’s disciplinary studies on campus. Conducted after international education abroad experience. Collaborative writing and research projects as well as individual, independent research. Approval of course instructor required. Open to all majors. Pre-requisite: A formal study abroad educational experience; department approval. (3H,3C)

4874: ISSUES IN PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE
In this course designed for English majors in the Professional Writing Option, students will focus on the ways in which scientific, technical, and professional communication influence, and are influenced by, public discourse. Drawing on strategies of rhetorical criticism, students will gain an understanding of the persuasive value of style, arrangement, and delivery by investigating their professional roles in helping to structure public debate. Pre: Completion of at least 9 credit hours from the following courses: 3104, 3804, 3814, 3824, 3834, 4804, 4814, 4824. Pre: 3804. (3H,3C)

4954: STUDY ABROAD: ISSUES AND TEXTS
An advanced, variable-content and multi-disciplinary course that explores global themes and literature(s) during a month-long, faculty-led summer study abroad experience. Pre-requisite: Junior Standing required. Variable credit course, repeatable up to 6 credits. Variable credit course.

4964: FIELD STUDY
Variable credit course.

4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4974H: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.

4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.

4994H: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.