BSU Catalog Home | English Program | All-University Courses and Descriptions

English (ENGL)

The English 1101, 1102 College Writing sequence is a prerequisite for all English courses numbered 3000 and above. Check with department for semester when these courses are offered. Read each course description for prerequisites.

1151 COMPOSITION (3 credits) Instruction and practice aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of writing processes, with emphasis on fluency, voice, style, and versatility. Includes adaptation of nonfiction prose to various general audiences, introduction to academic research and citation, and a component on oral presentation. Liberal Education Goal Area 1

2150 TECHNICAL WRITING (3 credits) Instruction and practice in writing about technical materials and subjects. Liberal Education Goal Area 11

2152 ARGUMENT AND EXPOSITION (3 credits) Instruction and practice in writing for various academic and similar contexts, with particular focus on formal and informal argument for specific rather than general audiences. Includes seeking out, selecting, using, and documenting written sources, and a component on oral presentation. Prerequisite: ENGL 1151. Liberal Education Goal Area 1

2190 INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING (3 credits) Introduction to the study of the forms and styles of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and other genres, with practice in a workshop format. Liberal Education Goal Area 6

2250 UNDERSTANDING LITERATURE (3 credits) Reading and critical appreciation of various types of literature, such as autobiography, drama, film, novel, poetry, and specialized genres such as “Women in Literature,” Bible as Literature,” “Science Fiction and Fantasy.” Liberal Education Goal Area 6

2340 THE AMERICAN FILM (3 credits) A study of various aspects of American movies. Liberal Education Goal Area 6

2350 AMERICAN LITERATURE, TO 1865 (3 credits) A study of the development of American letters from a historical perspective. The ideas, social, and cultural relationships that shape the emerging American literature are examined through the study of the works and the literary characteristics of representative writers. Liberal Education Goal Areas 6 & 7

2355 AMERICAN LITERATURE, 1865 TO PRESENT (3 credits) A study of representative American writers and their works, covering the period from 1900 to the present. The course considers the development of American literature as a significant force on the literary scene. Liberal Education Goal Areas 6 & 7

2357 BRITISH AND WORLD DRAMA (3 credits) Selective survey of dramatic literature from the British Isles and other countries outside the USA. Liberal Education Goal Areas 6 & 8 (Might not be offered every year)

2358 BRITISH AND WORLD POETRY (3 credits) Selective survey of poetry from the British Isles and other countries outside the USA. Liberal Education Goal Areas 6 & 8 (Might not be offered every year)

2359 BRITISH AND WORLD PROSE (3 credits) Selective survey of novels, short stories, and other literary prose works from the British Isles and other countries outside the USA. Liberal Education Goal Areas 6 & 8 (Might not be offered every year)

2410 MYTH (3 credits) Study of sacred stories that emerge from pre-literate stages of culture through early literary works. Mythic traditions studied include Greek and may include one or more others (such as Norse, Irish, Ojibwe). Liberal Education Goal Areas 6 & 8

2925 PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: AMERICAN NATURE WRITERS (3 credits) A course in the classics of nature writing designed to acquaint the student with great outdoor writers, especially those who stress conservation and ecology. Liberal Education Goal Area 10

2926 PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: WRITING AND NATURE (3 credits) This course leads students to examine, in writing, their own individual perceptions of and response to natural environments and to consider how those perceptions and responses are culturally influenced. Liberal Education Goal Area 10

3101 ADVANCED WRITING (3 credits) A nonfiction writing course for exploring a wide variety of prose processes, audiences, and formats. Includes revision and editing, style, and the authorial voice. May include exploration of opportunities for publishing. Prerequisite: Junior status or consent of instructor.

3115 WRITING FICTION I (3 credits) An introduction to the study of the form and style of fiction, with practice, study, and writing in a workshop format. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent of instructor.

3125 WRITING POETRY I (3 credits) An introduction to the study of form and style of poetry, with practice, study, and writing in a workshop format. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent of instructor.

3145 WRITING CREATIVE NONFICTION I (3 credits) Introduction to the study of the form and style of creative nonfiction, with practice in a workshop format. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent of instructor.

3150 WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINES (3 credits) Examine and practice argument and researched writing as conducted in the various academic disciplines. Prerequisites: ENGL 1151 and completion of 64 semester credits. Liberal Education Goal Area 1 (Might not be offered every year)

3155 PROFESSIONAL WRITING (3 credits) Written communication in professional settings. Gathering information, analyzing audiences, and assessing conventional formats of professional writing. Drafting, testing, and revising documents. Development of a portfolio project.

3177 WEBLOGS AND WIKIS (3 credits) This course, which is theory-grounded and project-based, gives students the opportunity to explore two new and related forms of online publishing, study, and written expression. Students design and pursue a ten-week project in creating a weblog or a wiki. Prerequisites: ENGL 1151 and ENGL 2152, or consent of instructor.

3179 ELEMENTS OF ELECTRONIC RHETORIC (3 credits) Introduction to the principles of applied rhetoric integrated with continued writing experience. Also introduces fundamentals of hypertext. Students investigate email, Web page and site design, online discussion, wikis, and weblogs, and create and analyze online texts and exchanges. Prerequisites: ENGL 1151 and ENGL 2152, or consent of instructor.

3510 TUTORING WRITING (1-3 credits) Orientation to writing-center theory and practice. Prerequisites: Completion of Liberal Education Goal Area 1, sophomore status, and consent of instructor.

3520 WRITING FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER (3 credits) A study of the problems and principles of composition; designed to provide techniques for the teaching of composition in secondary schools.

3530 TEACHING WRITING WITH TECHNOLOGY (3 credits) Focuses on the theory and practice of teaching secondary and university-level writing with computer technology, including using computer-mediated communication, Web-supplemented teaching, and student writing for Web publication.

3540 LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS (3 credits) A study of a variety of literature appropriate for adolescents, including criteria for evaluating literary merit; criteria for evaluating classroom usefulness; and effective ways to manage book challenges and censorship issues.

3550 METHODS OF TEACHING ENGLISH AND COMMUNICATION (4 credits) Basic aims, materials, and methods with a practicum experience.

3580 THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (3 credits) A linguistically-based study of the structure, grammar, and historical development of the English language.

3600 AUTHOR TOPICS (3 credits) In-depth study of the work of one or more authors (e.g., Chaucer, Emily Dickinson), including application of critical theory. May be retaken multiple times with different topic subtitles. (Might not be offered every year)

3606 CULTURE TOPICS (3 credits) In-depth study of the literature of a culture (e.g., American Indian Literature, Ethnic Literature), including application of critical theory. May be retaken multiple times with different topic subtitles. (Might not be offered every year)

3607 FILM TOPICS (3 credits) In-depth study of film (e.g., Women in Film, International Film), including application of critical theory. May be retaken multiple times with different topic subtitles. (Might not be offered every year)

3608 GENRE TOPICS (3 credits) In-depth study of a literary genre (e.g., The American Novel, Dramatic Literature), including application of critical theory. May be retaken multiple times with different topic subtitles. (Might not be offered every year)

3609 PERIOD TOPICS (3 credits) In-depth study of the literature of a specific period (e.g., Medieval Literature, Modern Literature), including application of critical theory. May be retaken multiple times with different topic subtitles. (Might not be offered every year)

4116 WRITING FICTION II (3 credits) A workshop course designed to offer the student further practice, analysis, and theoretical study in the composition of fiction. May be repeated one time. Prerequisite: ENGL 3115 with grade of B or better, or consent of instructor.

4126 WRITING POETRY II (3 credits) A workshop course designed to offer the student further practice, analysis, and theoretical study in the composition of poetry. May be repeated one time. Prerequisite: ENGL 3125 with grade B or better, or consent of instructor.

4146 WRITING CREATIVE NONFICTION II (3 credits) Workshop offering further practice, analysis, and theoretical study in the composition of creative nonfiction. May be repeated one time. Prerequisite: ENGL 3145 with grade of B or better, or consent of instructor.

4156 PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS (3 credits) Presentation skills for professional and technical writing. Audience analysis, visual communication, researching and organizing a presentation, presenting complex material. Emphasizes use of computers.

4166 FREELANCE WRITING (3 credits) A practicum in writing articles for commercial magazines. Includes identifying topics, researching markets, editing, copy editing; writing queries and proposals; and studying standard practice and intellectual property rights. Prerequisite: ENGL or MASC writing course at 3000 level or above, or consent of instructor. (Might not be offered every year)

4169 WEB CONTENT WRITING (3 credits) Extensive practice in creating written content for the Web, in various genres and for various purposes and audiences. Addresses the unique rhetorical and formal challenges of developing Web content: writing hypertext, using links and link text, using text elements, micro-content, navigation, copy editing. Prerequisites: ENGL 3177 or ENGL 3179 or consent of instructor.

4170 WEB DESIGN FOR CONTENT WRITERS (3 credits) A project-based, hands-on advanced course in creating Web sites. Emphasis on page and site design, information architecture, and hypertext. Prerequisite: ENGL 3179 or ENGL 4169 or consent of instructor.

4420 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS AGE (3 credits) A study of Shakespeare's works in the context of his times and of the work of his major contemporaries. (Might not be offered every year)

4429 SHAKESPEARE FOR TEACHERS (3 credits) A study of Shakespeare’s plays and poems in contexts appropriate for high school and community college teachers. (Might not be offered every year)

4455 SEMINAR: LITERARY CRITICISM AND THEORY (3 credits) Theory, history, and methods of literary criticism from Plato to the present.

4700 ADVANCED AUTHOR TOPICS (3 credits) In-depth study of the work of one or more authors (e.g., Chaucer, Emily Dickinson), including application of multiple critical theories. May be retaken multiple times with different topic subtitles. (Might not be offered every year)

4706 ADVANCED CULTURE TOPICS (3 credits) In-depth study of the literature of a culture (e.g., American Indian Literature, Ethnic Literature), including application of multiple critical theories. May be retaken multiple times with different topic subtitles. (Might not be offered every year)

4707 ADVANCED FILM TOPICS (3 credits) In-depth study of film (e.g., Women in Film, International Film), including application of multiple critical theories. May be retaken multiple times with different topic subtitles. (Might not be offered every year)

4708 ADVANCED GENRE TOPICS (3 credits) In-depth study of a literary genre (e.g., The American Novel, Dramatic Literature), including application of multiple critical theories. May be retaken multiple times with different topic subtitles. (Might not be offered every year)

4709 ADVANCED PERIOD TOPICS (3 credits) In-depth study of the literature of a specific period (e.g., Medieval Literature, Modern Literature), including application of multiple critical theories. May be retaken multiple times with different topic subtitles. (Might not be offered every year)

4861 INTERNSHIP IN LITERARY PUBLISHING I (3 credits) Introduction to the practices of literary publishing. Students serve on the editorial board for a literary anthology, gain experience in submitting their own work for publication, and gain an understanding of standard practice and issues in literary markets, and careers in literary publishing. Prerequisites: Junior or senior status and any two of the following courses: ENGL 3115, ENGL 3125, ENGL 3145, ENGL 4116, ENGL 4126, ENGL 4146, THTR 2030, THTR 3030.

4862 INTERNSHIP IN LITERARY PUBLISHING II (3 credits) Students who have taken ENGL 4861 continue their studies in the practices of literary publishing. They serve as managing editors for the literary anthologies edited in the class, and present to the class and lead discussions on submitting work for publication, standard practice and issues in literary publishing, and careers in literary publishing. Prerequisite: ENGL 4861.

4881 SENIOR PROJECT, PART I (1 credit) In consultation with and with consent of an advisor, design and begin Senior Project II. Prerequisite: Senior status.

4882 SENIOR PROJECT, PART II (2 credits) In consultation with and with consent of an advisor, complete a B.F.A. senior project that is professional and publishable in nature and quality, or can serve as documentary evidence appropriate to admission to graduate programs. Prerequisite: ENGL 4881.

Speech Communication (SPCM)

(The updated courses below were formerly Theatre and Communication Arts [THSP] courses.)
Check with department for semester when these courses are offered. Read each course description for prerequisites.

1100 PUBLIC SPEAKING (3 credits) Emphasizes the preparation and delivery of speeches, but students also learn fundamental principles of oral communication. Small group discussion and a variety of training activities prepare each student to give 4-6 speeches. The oral communication lab is used as a support facility for the preparation of speeches. Liberal Education Goal Areas 6 & 11

2100 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ORAL COMMUNICATION (2 credits) Applied topics provide customized training and discussion. Students learn a variety of skills, from interviewing to delivering a manuscript speech. Visits to the oral communication lab are an important supplement to the course. Prerequisite: SPCM 1090 and SPCM 1100, or consent of instructor. Liberal Education Goal Areas 6 & 11 (Might not be offered every year)

2150 SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION (2 credits) Students discover by participation how to negotiate membership, resolve conflict, and maintain order through a variety of means and in a variety of venues. (Might not be offered every year)

2800 LISTENING (2 credits) Students explore, by extensive practice and close observation, the many features of listening. They learn how listening communicates. Includes a service learning component. The oral communication lab augments the classroom learning. Liberal Education Goal Areas 6 & 11 (Might not be offered every year)

2925 PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: COMMUNICATION PERSPECTIVE (3 credits) Environmental issues currently being considered in legislative and public venues as they relate to communicating those issues. Students learn how to present information, argue a case, and debate the opposition as they discover their voices and the voice of the environmentalist. Liberal Education Goal Area 10