3 credits
 

Creative writing introduces students to the process of using their own experiences and backgrounds to express themselves in at least one of the following genres: poetry, short story, or drama. In addition, students are introduced to the literary elements appropriate to these three genres.  Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits
 

Children’s literature examines the historical background and development of works written for young people. Students are presented with criteria for assessing both text and illustrations of classic and contemporary works written for diverse audiences of children and young adults. This is a writing-intensive course with time needed for selecting, reading, and writing about the material. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits (Literature/Humanities Core)
 

American Literature I surveys a range of work produced in the United States of America from the time of the European immigrations of the 1600s through the post-Civil War era. Representative literary works from diverse ethnic, racial, and social groups are studied in their historical, social, political, and economic context for what they both reflect and reveal about the evolving American experience — including fiction, nonfiction, and writings from the American Revolution. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101.  (3 hours weekly)

3 credits (Literature/Humanities Core)
 

American Literature II, the second semester of a sequence, studies literature written in the United States of America from the mid-nineteenth century to recent times. Works are chosen to represent diverse ethnic, racial, and social groups in historical, political, and economic contexts for what they reflect and reveal about the evolving American experience and character. Representative works include Realist and Naturalist literature, immigrant and Native American experience, classic works from the WWI and WWII eras, and feminist expression, among others. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits (Literature/Humanities Core)
 

English Literature I examines language, idea,s and political/cultural values in English literature from Anglo-Saxon times through the Renaissance and into the 1700s. Students read poetry, letters, and drama, including works by Shakespeare, Swift, and other important writers. Key motifs from the texts include history, ideology, and the evolving ideas about humanity and rise of individualism. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits (Literature/Humanities Core)
 

English Literature II, the second course of a sequence, studies English literature from the Romantic period of the late 1700s through the Victorian era and into the 1900s. Students read poems, plays, and novels encompassing issues like civil rights, colonialism, sexuality, and political power; they study writing that celebrates new freedoms and new ways of assessing humanity, self, and the world with classic authors like Blake, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Hardy, Yeats, Wolfe, Joyce, Eliot, and others. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101.  (3 hours weekly)

3 credits
 

The Short Story offers a basic introduction to this genre of literature. Students focus on the critical evaluation of representative short stories by diverse authors from around the world, with an emphasis on American and European writers of the 19th and 20th centuries like Hemingway and others; they are presented with literary terminology and concepts necessary to the discussion and evaluation of these works. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101.  (3 hours weekly)

3 credits (Humanities Core)
 

African American Literature studies oral and written stories of African American writers from the 18th century through the Harlem Renaissance to present times, including well-known authors like Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others. Students analyze major themes like alienation, identity, double-consciousness, racism, classism, rebellion, revolt, and escape.  They evaluate these works both for their literary merit, discovering connections among these stories, and their own experiences. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101.  (3 hours weekly)

3 credits
 

Ethics in Literature studies poems, short stories, drama, and novels with the intention of probing both their literary merit and the ethical questions embedded within them. Students use literary terminology and basic principles of ethics to understand and appreciate these works.  The course emphasizes close, perceptive reading and thoughtful discussion and reflection. ENGL-207 is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits
 

Twentieth Century Poetry focuses on the richness and diversity of America’s finest poets, including Pulitzer Prize winners.  The course begins with a brief selection of earlier significant poets who provide an historical perspective. Students then concentrate on the literary elements and merit of material written from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Coursework emphasizes readings and class discussions of a body of works varied in style and content. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits (Humanities Core)
 

Modern Drama studies work written for European and American theatre in the last and present century. Students discuss and appraise plays; identify basic elements that distinguish modern drama from earlier periods; evaluate performances of contemporary plays; and study what playwrights have said about the nature of drama. Students also discuss the impact of major philosophical and scientific achievements on dramatic material. This course, also listed as THET-209, is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits
 

Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama studies conventions and characteristics of these three genres of literature and is particularly recommended for students new to the study of literature. Students study terminology and literary concepts in order to interpret, analyze, and critically evaluate selections from stories, poems, and plays. In addition, they are introduced to critical reading strategies, literary criticism, and an expanding literary canon that encompasses the work of culturally diverse writers — including a classic piece from Greek or Shakespearean theatre. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits (Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues Core)
 

Science through Science Fiction focuses on themes of controversial scientific discovery and innovation, exploring both the wonder and the danger. Students view films and read short stories and novels — then illustrate their comprehension of scientific background and literary concepts through class discussion, essays, exams, and literary projects. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits (Humanities Core)
 

By and about Women provides an historical sampling of literature written by female authors or about female characters. Through group discussion and written assignments, students critically evaluate six novels for form and technique. In addition, students analyze the validity of the female experience as portrayed in literature — and are expected to gain insight into the challenges and power of women in literature and in life. This course, also listed as WMST-212 (Women’s Studies), is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits
 

Advanced Creative Writing is designed for those students who have mastered the fundamental elements of creative writing. Students write in at least one of the following literary genres: poetry, short story, or drama. They are encouraged to draw on their backgrounds and experiences to shape their writing. This course differs from ENGL-115 in terms of proficiency expected; advanced creative writing students are expected to achieve a higher level of proficiency and/or be further along in their work. Prerequisite: ENGL-115. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits
 

History and Literature of Victorian and Edwardian Britain is a team-taught, cross-disciplinary study of the historical and cultural epochs of 19th and early 20th century Britain as expressed through its literature — focusing on major trends and influences of the Romantic Movement, the social upheaval of the Industrial Revolution, the Victorian Age of Affluence, the era of Imperialism, the Edwardian Age and the trauma of the first World War. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits (Literature/Humanities Core)
 

Introduction to World Literature examines multicultural works from antiquity to modern times, offering students an opportunity to study major literary works in the context of cultural values and historical periods. Students are presented with the basic terminology and devices for interpreting and analyzing literature and are expected to focus on a variety of genres. They also work with critical reading strategies and literary criticism. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)

3 credits (Literature/Humanities Core)
 

Shakespeare from Page to Stage focuses on reading, analyzing, and interpreting Shakespeare’s plays as literary texts; understanding them as products of specific historical, cultural, and artistic currents; and evaluating them as performance text meant for production. Emphasis is given to the process that transforms literary text through production, informed by literary and theatrical elements. This course, also offered as THET-250, is writing intensive. Prerequisite: ENGL-121 or ENGL-101. (3 hours weekly)