Overview

The Department of English offers majors in English (study in literature, including pre-Law and pre-Education options), Professional and Technical Writing, and Creative Writing. A degree in English will appeal to students who are interested in a foundational education in the liberal arts, specializing in literature and writing, and who may pursue careers in business, government, education, law, speech sciences, writing, publishing, advertising, health, activism, the arts, or social services.

The Department of English also offers minors in Literature, Language Sciences, Professional and Technical Writing, and Creative Writing, and many of its courses provide credits for Pathways general education in Discourse, Critical Thinking in the Humanities, Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts, and Critical Analysis of Equity and Identity in the U.S.

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 English
  Within the English 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 that provides a foundational curriculum in research, critical thinking, and interpretation. Students in all three majors take these core courses together, providing a rich and diverse context for the study of writing and literature. 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 another language, for students planning to continue study for a master's or doctoral degree. Getting to know professors and learning as much as possible about the professional elements of the discipline provide excellent preparation for graduate work.

Pathways General Education and English

Pathways General Education requires a six hours of foundational Discourse credits and three hours of advanced or applied Discourse credits. English 1105 and 1106 fulfill the six foundational credits of this Pathways requirement. These courses share a focus on the rhetorical dimensions of writing, speaking, and visual communication. Many 2000-4000 level ENGL courses fulfill the advanced or applied Discourse credits, and can count toward students' majors and Pathways general education. The same is true of most courses that fulfill Critical Thinking in the Humanities, Reasoning in the Social Sciences, Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts, and Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the U.S.; courses that meet one or more of these requirements can count for Pathways and major credit.

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 ENGL 1106. 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: BOOKS, LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES
First-Year Experience course that introduces students to primary objects and methods of inquiry and invention in English studies. Introduction to library and archival research, ethical inquiry, social and historical function of reading, role of books in society, technologies of publication and reading, and writing effective summaries and critical reflections. (3H,3C)

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
Examination of poetry across historical periods, cultural contexts, and geographical areas. Emphasis on poetic forms and conventions, elements of poetic technique, poetic genres, and the vocabulary of poetic craft. (3H,3C)

1614: INTRODUCTION TO SHORT FICTION
Analysis of short fiction and novellas from different historical periods and cultures. Emphasis on the structural elements of fiction, on its flexibility as a form for exploring human desires, conflicts, and values, and on its employment by writers from different cultures, ethnicities, and genders. (3H,3C)

1624: INTRODUCTION TO DETECTIVE FICTION
Analysis of classic and modern texts of detective fiction selected from a variety of historical periods and cultural traditions. Emphasis on the structural elements of detective fiction, on its various sub-genres, and on its employment by writers from different cultures, ethnicities, and genders. (3H,3C)

1634: INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE
Introduction to Shakespeare’s drama and poetry, including at least one modern adaptation of a Shakespearean play (play, novel, movie, opera, etc.). Emphasis on the structural elements and conventions of the different genres of Shakespearean plays and poetry and on their representations of gender and ethnicity. (3H,3C)

1644: INTRODUCTION TO WORLD LITERATURE
World literature in translation. Texts from different time periods, nations, and cultures. Emphasis on close reading, literary elements and conventions, recurring themes, historical and cultural contexts. (3H,3C)

1654: INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY
Introduction of literary works within the genres of science fiction and fantasy, focusing on the development and principal characteristics of each genre. Emphasis on the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which particular speculative texts have been produced. (3H,3C)

1664: INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN’S LITERATURE
Introduction to literature written by women, primarily in English. Focus on literary and cultural questions raised in women’s writing throughout history and from different social and cultural backgrounds. (3H,3C)

1704: THE 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 spin-offs. (3H,3C)

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

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

2034: ANALYZING THE 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)

2634: WRITING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Study of writings about social justice in various local and global contexts. Critical and rhetorical analysis of discourses in social justice through intersectional approaches. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

2644 (AFST 2644): INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE
An introduction to the principal themes, genres, and historical contexts of African-American literature. Formal elements of both the vernacular and written traditions. Impact of historical and social contexts. Ethical questions raised in the literature. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

2744: INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING
A workshop for beginning writers who will identify and apply formal elements of a variety of genres and employ the skills, tools, methods, and iterative processes used by creative writers to produce fully developed works of art. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (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. (3H,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): TOPICS IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
Variable-content course devoted to the study of Russian literary classics. From general surveys of nineteenth- and twentieth-century literature to more intensive study of the works of a single major author. Aesthetic and rhetorical strategies. Interactions between literary movements and political, historical, and cultural events. May be repeated once with different content for a maximum of 6 credits. Readings and lectures in English. No knowledge of Russian required. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)

3434 (RUS 3434): THE WORKS OF VLADIMIR NABOKOV
Readings in major works of Vladimir Nabokov from the 1920s through the 1970s. Aesthetic and rhetorical strategies, literary analysis, major themes, immigration and cultural knowledge. Taught in English. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (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 THE ENVIRONMENT
Study of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction that examine environmental issues, sustainability, and the relationship between the human and natural worlds within a local and global context. 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)

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 processes of effective written communication of technical information. Strategies for analyzing various workplace communication situations, adapting to audiences, evaluating online content, understanding ethical dimensions of research, and composing technical discourse, including organizing visual and verbal information. Practice in writing, individually and collaboratively, instructions and procedures, proposals and reports, correspondence, and presentations. Junior standing. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (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: CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN THE LANGUAGE SCIENCES
Research methodology for the study of linguistic structure, sociolinguistic variation, and cross-field approaches. Ethical research methods, data collection, data processing and analysis, presentation of research. Pre: 1504, (3134 or WGS 3134 or ENGL 3144 or RLCL 3144 or SOC 3144). Co: 4144, 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)

4164: STUDIES IN SHAKESPEARE
Revolving topics in Shakespeare’s drama and poetry, with emphases on poetic and dramatic genres, historical and cultural contexts, significant themes, and popular reception. Additional attention paid to the critical discourse surrounding Shakespeare’s work. May be repeated twice with different content for a maximum of nine credit hours. Pre: 1106 or 1204H or COMM 1016. (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: 3104. (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.