English

• Registrar Home Page
• Schedule of Classes
• University Catalog

English

cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/english
Science & Engineering Building (VSCI), Room 130
360-546-9620

Professor and Academic Director, P. Narayanan; Program Leader and Assistant Professor (Career Track), M. Lobnitz; Professors D. Hellegers, T. Lewis; Associate Professors W. Olson, J. Phelps; Professor (Career Track) K. Robertson

Schedules of Studies

Honors students complete the Honors College requirements which replace the UCORE requirements.

Literary Studies Option (120 Credits)

Teaching Option without Certification (120 Credits)

Minors

Creative Writing

Rhetoric and Professional Writing

English

Certificates

Professional Science and Technology Writing Certificate

Professional Writing Certificate

Social and Environmental Justice Certificate

Courses

The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective. Courses showing two entries of the same number indicate that the course information is changing. The most recently approved version is shown first, followed by the older version, in gray, with its last-effective term preceding the course title. Courses shown in gray with only one entry of the course number are being discontinued. Course offerings by term can be accessed by clicking on the term links when viewing a specific campus catalog.

English (ENGLISH)

100 Introductory College Composition 3 Course Prerequisite: Appropriate Writing Exam score. Designed to introduce students to writing and reading in the university. Typically offered Fall.

101 [WRTG] College Composition 3 Course Prerequisite: Appropriate Writing Exam score or ENGLISH 100. Designed to further develop students' academic writing, critical thinking, rhetorical strategies, reading and library skills. Credit not granted for more than one of ENGLISH 101 and 105. Typically offered Fall and Spring.

102 Writing Tutorial 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 2 credits. Student-centered group tutorial focusing on writing improvement; concurrently connected to the ENGLISH 101 course. Typically offered Fall and Spring. S, F grading.

105 [WRTG] College Composition for Multilingual Writers 3 Course Prerequisite: Appropriate Writing Exam score, or ENGLISH 104 with a C or better. Designed to further develop academic writing, critical thinking, reading, library skills, and rhetorical strategies for non-native speakers of English. Credit not granted for more than one of ENGLISH 101 and 105.

108 [HUM] Introduction to Literature 3 Reading short stories, novels, plays, and poetry by diverse voices; role of conventions, culture, history in interpretation of literature. Credit not granted for both ENGLISH 108 and 199. Typically offered Even Years - Fall.

110 [HUM] Reading Now 3 Contemporary writing including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and graphic novels. Typically offered Odd Years - Fall.

112 [HUM] Language in the Real World 3 Introduction to the field of linguistics, through the exploration of ways that linguistic knowledge is used to address real-world issues.

150 [ARTS] Introduction to Film as Narrative 4 (3-3) Introduction to analysis of techniques and elements of narrative film and to critical vocabulary for its study as art form.

201 [WRTG] Writing and Research 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 101, 105, or 298. Designed to develop students' researching skills for writing across the disciplines. Typically offered Fall and Spring.

205 [HUM] Introduction to Shakespeare 3 Shakespeare plays with emphasis on stage productions and film adaptations in various cultural contexts. (Crosslisted course offered as ENGLISH 205, HUMANITY 205.)

210 [HUM] Readings in American Literature 3 Selected works by diverse voices from different eras of American literature; importance of conventions, cultural contexts, for interpretation and understanding. Typically offered Odd Years - Spring.

211 [HUM] Sex Matters: Introduction to Queer Culture and Literature 3 Introduction to Lesbian/queer cultural production focusing on popular culture, fiction, and film; work from various queer communities in its cultural/historical context. (Crosslisted course offered as WGSS 211, ENGLISH 211.)

212 [ARTS] Introduction to Comics and Graphic Novels 3 Introduction to the reading, history, and making of comics and graphic novels.

216 Introduction to American Cultural Studies 3 Introduction to the interdisciplinary study of American cultures and the field of American studies. (Crosslisted course offered as AMER ST 216, CES 216, ENGLISH 216, HISTORY 216, WGSS 216.)

219 [HUM] Introduction to the Environmental Humanities 3 An introduction to the Humanities, as an interdisciplinary field, and how Humanities methods and research contribute to, intersect with, and can learn from, environmental thought and action. (Crosslisted course offered as ENGLISH 219, HUMANITY 219.)

220 [HUM] Social Justice Literature 3 Survey of modern multicultural literature concerned with social justice, including African American, Asian Pacific American, Latinx, and Native American authors. (Crosslisted course offered as CES 220, ENGLISH 220.) Typically offered Even Years - Spring.

251 [ARTS] Introduction to Creative Writing: Exploring the Genres 3 Beginning writer's workshop covering short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry with discussion of the elements of each genre; poetic forms. Typically offered Fall.

298 Writing and Research Honors 3 Course Prerequisite: Must be an Honors student. Critical thinking, research, and advanced writing for Honors College students.

300 Computers in English 1 (0-3) May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Use of computers in the writing process and in the analysis of literature. S, F grading.

301 [WRTG] Writing and Rhetorical Conventions 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 101, 105, or 298. Designed to provide students with advanced practice in and study of style, argument, and other rhetorical/discourse conventions. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.

302 [M] Introduction to English Studies 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 101 or 298. Interpretation of texts in several fields of English studies including rhetoric, literary study, creative writing and professional writing. Typically offered Fall and Spring.

303 Revision Workshop - ESL 3 Course Prerequisite: Completion of written communication proficiency course [W] or [WRTG]. Appreciation of writing processes and revision for speakers of English as a second or foreign language, including self-assessment, developing rhetorical approaches, diagnosing and solving consistent problems, editing, and proofreading strategies.

304 Revision Workshop 3 Course Prerequisite: By department permission. Appreciation of writing processes and revision, including self-assessment, developing rhetorical approaches; diagnosing and solving consistent problems, editing, and proofreading strategies.

305 [HUM] Shakespeare 3 Shakespearean drama to 1600.

306 [HUM] Shakespeare 3 Shakespearean drama after 1600.

307 [M] Historicized Analysis of Literature 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 302 or concurrent enrollment. Introduction to analyzing literary texts in relation to literary and cultural history.

308 [M] Introduction to Literary Criticism 3 Introduction to the systematic study of critical and theoretical approaches to literature; emphasis on problems of interpretation. (Crosslisted course offered as ENGLISH 308, WGSS 306.)

309 Women Writers 3 Women's artistic and intellectual contributions to prose, fiction, drama, and poetry. (Crosslisted course offered as ENGLISH 309, WGSS 309.)

310 [EQJS] [M] Intersections of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality 3 Course Prerequisite: SOC 101 or WGSS 101. Intersections between race, class and gender through case studies; experiences in interdisciplinary methods. (Crosslisted course offered as WGSS 300, ENGLISH 310, SOC 300.) Typically offered Spring.

311 [HUM] Asian Pacific American Literature 3 Asian American fiction, drama, poetry, and other arts, 1900 to present; impact of Asian/Pacific American culture and experience upon these works. (Crosslisted course offered as CES 313, ENGLISH 311.) Typically offered Odd Years - Spring.

322 [DIVR] [M] Topics in African American Literature 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Trends and major writers. (Crosslisted course offered as ENGLISH 322, CES 332.) Typically offered Even Years - Fall.

323 Approaches to the Teaching of English 3 Literature and language arts in secondary schools. Typically offered Fall.

324 [M] Rhetoric and Composition for Teaching 3 Rhetoric, composition grammar, and assessment for secondary teaching. Typically offered Spring.

325 Young Adult Literature 3 Issues in literature written for young adults and strategies for teaching the genre in secondary schools. Typically offered Fall.

326 Applied Grammar for Teachers 3 Application of traditional English grammar for K-12 teachers, with focus on edited, American, African American, vernacular, and Spanish-influenced Englishes. Typically offered Spring.

338 [M] Topics: Major Trends and Figures 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Literary trends or major writers.

339 [ARTS] Topics in Film as Literature 3 (2-3) May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Analytical study of film as major literary genre.

341 [M] Indigenous Literature 3 Literature, by Indigenous authors and about Indigenous communities, reflecting on dominant images and counter-images, with emphasis on the 20th century. (Crosslisted course offered as CES 373, ENGLISH 341.)

342 [ARTS] Documentary Film Theory and Production 3 (2-2) Theory of documentary film in social contexts culminating in the creation of actual documentary films by students.

343 Introduction to Screenwriting 3 Workshop-based introduction to the art and craft of screenwriting; exploration of style and format, character development and story arcs.

351 Creative Writing: Fiction 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 251 or 252. Workshop approach to writing fiction. Typically offered Odd Years - Spring.

352 Creative Writing: Poetry 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 251 or 252. Workshop approach to poetry writing. Typically offered Even Years - Spring.

353 Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 251 or 252. Writing literary nonfiction: practice and theory.

354 [ARTS] [M] Digital Storytelling 3 Nonlinear, multi-linear, and interactive narrative using elements of creative writing such as character, dialog, setting, plot and image. (Crosslisted course offered as DTC 354, ENGLISH 354.)

357 Editing and Publishing 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Principles of working in literary, commercial, and scholarly editing and publishing.

358 Workshop Topics in Writing, Teaching, Literature 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. An intensive, time-limited workshop, offered by visiting writers, scholars, and other experts, in topics of special interest. S, F grading.

360 Principles of Rhetoric 3 Basic concepts and approaches to the art of persuasion.

361 Everyday Rhetorics 3 Rhetorics as language and image of popular culture.

362 [EQJS] Rhetorics of Racism 3 The language of racism since WWII.

365 [WRTG] Proposal Writing 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 101; junior standing Theory and practice in proposal writing with focus on document management, writing and editing, and submission of proposals that consider social and political dimensions to obtain funding for academic or business projects.

366 [HUM] The British Novel to 1900 3 Exploration of the diverse themes, social contexts, and intellectual backgrounds of the novel and novel reading in Britain to 1900. Typically offered Even Years - Spring.

368 [HUM] The American Novel to 1900 3 Classic American novels in cultural perspective by such authors as Cooper, Hawthorne, Melville, Stowe, Twain, James, Jewett, Chopin, Crane, Dreiser. Typically offered Odd Years - Spring.

370 The Making of English: Literature, Language and Culture Before 1600 3 Literature before 1600, highlighting the making of English through its interaction with other cultures/languages including Anglo-Saxon. Typically offered Fall.

371 17th and 18th Century Transnational Literature in English 3 Literary and cultural texts in English from 1600 to 1800 including British and colonial American literatures within their transnational contexts. Typically offered Spring.

372 19th Century Literature of the British Empire and the Americas 3 Literary and cultural texts in English from 1800 to 1900 focusing on global British literature and literatures of the Americas. Typically offered Fall.

373 [HUM] Empire, Gender, and Postcoloniality in Global Literature 3 Literary/cultural texts and theory focusing on postcolonial conditions (and their gendered operations) in the shadow of empire and imperialism. (Crosslisted course offered as ENGLISH 373, WGSS 373.) Typically offered Spring.

401 History of Rhetoric 3 Survey of influential theories of rhetoric, ancient to modern.

402 [WRTG] [M] Technical and Professional Writing 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 101 or 298; junior standing. Research writing: defining, proposing, reporting progress; presenting a final product; other professional writing needs. Credit not granted for both ENGLISH 402 and 403. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.

405 Advanced Professional Writing and Editing 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 402. Other background may substitute. See department. Professional writing and editing; textual alterations, design, and layout, including internship experience.

410 [CAPS] Cultural Criticism and Theory 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Major critiques and theories of colonialist and imperialist formations of culture. (Crosslisted course offered as CES 405, ENGLISH 410.)

415 [CAPS] Traditions of Comedy and Tragedy 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Study of tragedy and comedy in the Age of Shakespeare.

419 The Contemporary Novel 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. The novel in English in the literary and cultural context of the Anthropocene, the time during which humans have had a substantial impact on our planet.

444 Morphology and Syntax 3 Technical introduction to the analysis of word and sentence structure from a cross-linguistic perspective. Recommended preparation: ENGLISH 256. Credit not granted for both ENGLISH 444 and 544. Offered at 400 and 500 level.

446 [CAPS] Form and Theory in Creative Writing 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 351, 352, 353, or 359; junior standing. Formal elements of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry for creative writing students; analysis of contemporary applications of traditional and experimental techniques.

451 [M] Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: One of following: ENGLISH 351, 352, 353, or 359. Advanced workshop in writing fiction or creative nonfiction prose. Typically offered Fall.

452 [M] Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: One of following: ENGLISH 351, 352, 353, or 359. Workshop approach to poetry writing for the advanced student.

456 [M] Language Acquisition 3 Theories and processes of first, second, and bilingual language acquisition.

458 Topics in Linguistics 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Topics in the structure, use, and function of language.

460 [M] The Scope of Rhetoric 3 Major themes in contemporary rhetoric.

461 [M] Theory and Practice in Technical and Professional Writing 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 402 or 403. Practices in technical and professional writing and the theories that challenge and/or legitimize those practices.

470 Literature and Culture of the American West 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Cultural exploration of American West in written texts; outsider and insider versions of reality and imagination of its diverse peoples.

472 [EQJS] Race, Justice, and Food Ecosystems 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Examines racial inequalities and injustice alongside of movements of change, highlighting the importance of food in a modern world. (Crosslisted course offered as AMER ST 472, CES 462, ENGLISH 472.)

480 American Literature: Beginnings to 1865 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 302. Advanced study of major authors and movements from the period including Bradstreet, Wheatley, Franklin, Douglass, Poe, Emerson, and Hawthorne. Typically offered Spring.

482 American Literature: 1940-Present 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 302. Advanced study of major authors and movements from the period including O'Connor, Bellow, Salinger, Baldwin, Pynchon, Morrison, Tan, and Alexie. (Crosslisted course offered as ENGLISH 482, WGSS 382.) Typically offered Spring.

483 Chaucer and Medieval Literature 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 302. Advanced study of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in the context of Medieval culture and literary tradition.

485 Milton and English Literature of the 17th Century 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 302. Advanced study of works from the Metaphysicals and Johnson through Milton, in the context of religious controversy and civil war.

487 British Romantic Literature 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 302. Advanced study of Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Mary Shelley, Keats, and others in an age of social and aesthetic revolution, 1770-1840.

488 Victorian Literature 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 302. Advanced study of Tennyson, Dickens, Eliot, Wilde, and others in the context of science, industrialization, and empire, 1832-1901.

489 [EQJS] Contemporary British and Postcolonial Literatures 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 302. Advanced study of modernist, postmodernist, and postcolonial writing from Britain, Ireland, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and the Caribbean.

492 [M] Advanced Topics in Literature, Criticism, and Theory 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Seminar with term paper project; focused studies in literature and critical theory. Not open to graduate students.

494 [CAPS] [M] Advanced Topics in Literature 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: Admitted to the major in English; junior standing. Seminar with term paper project; focused studies in American, British, or global literatures. Not open to graduate students.

495 [M] Rhetoric of Science and Technology 3 Written, visual, and verbal conventions of scientific disciplines for academic, scientific, technical, and public audiences.

498 Internship V 1-15 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 15 credits. Course Prerequisite: By department permission. Cooperative learning experience in business, education, or industry in English-related jobs. Typically offered Fall and Spring. S, F grading.

499 Special Problems V 1-4 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: By department permission. Independent study conducted under the jurisdiction of an approving faculty member; may include independent research studies in technical or specialized problems; selection and analysis of specified readings; development of a creative project; or field experiences. Typically offered Fall and Spring. S, F grading.

501 Seminar in the Teaching of Writing: Methodology of Composition 3 Development of a workable definition of the methods of composing through a review of relevant research and problem-solving exercises.

502 Seminar in the Teaching of Writing: Contemporary Theories 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 501. Contemporary theories of composition and their application to the classroom.

503 Seminar in Writing Studies Research Methods and Methodologies 3 Theory and practice of writing studies research with a focus on methodologies, methods, and research ethics.

506 Seminar in 16th Century English Literature 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits.

508 Seminar in Assessment of Writing 3 Problems involved in the diagnosis and assessment of student writing.

509 Seminar in the History of Global Rhetorics 3 Study of Global rhetorical histories and theories and their influences.

512 Introduction to Graduate Study 1 Introduction to the principles and procedures of English studies.

514 Seminar in Contemporary American Literature 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits.

515 Contemporary Theories of Rhetoric 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Contemporary critical theory and cultural studies and reconsiderations of suasive discursive practices.

522 Seminar in Victorian Literature 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits.

531 Administering a Writing Program 3 Combining theory and practice in writing program supervision and management. Interns will work under direct faculty supervision.

532 Teaching Writing to Nontraditional Students 3 Course Prerequisite: ENGLISH 501. Theory and practice of the teaching of basic writers.

534 Theories and Methods of the Teaching of Technical and Professional Writing 3 Historical and theoretical bases for production of scientific discourse; training in its practical applications.

544 Morphology and Syntax 3 Technical introduction to the analysis of word and sentence structure from a cross-linguistic perspective. Recommended preparation: ENGLISH 256. Credit not granted for both ENGLISH 444 and 544. Offered at 400 and 500 level.

545 Graduate Student Writing Workshop 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Workshop for graduate students in any discipline to improve proficiency in writing academic genres such as dissertations, abstracts, articles, and grant proposals.

546 Topics in Teaching English as a Second Language 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Topics and controversies related to second language acquisition theory and pedagogy. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

548 Seminar in Critical and Cultural Theory 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Critical and cultural theory relevant to advanced literary studies and /or the advanced study of rhetoric and composition.

549 Seminar in Contemporary British and Postcolonial Literatures 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits.

550 Seminar in Poetry or Non-fiction Prose 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Historical and generic studies in poetry and non-fiction prose.

560 Critical Theories, Methods, and Practice in Digital Humanities 3 History, theory, and practice of digital humanities, with attention paid to how digital humanities are transforming disciplinary knowledge. (Crosslisted course offered as DTC 560, ENGLISH 560.)

561 Studies in Technology and Culture 3 Foundation examination of key concepts, tools, and possibilities afforded by engaging with technology through a critical cultural lens. (Crosslisted course offered as DTC 561, ENGLISH 561.)

567 Seminar in Prose Fiction 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Historical and generic studies of prose fiction.

573 Seminar in American Literature 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 12 credits. Major topics and figures.

590 Research in English Studies 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Directed reading and interpretive problems in English studies.

591 Topics in Pedagogy 3 Theory and practice of designing and teaching courses in literature, rhetoric, composition, theory, or cultural studies.

595 Topics in English 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Language, English pedagogy, or literature of special or current interest; reading theories, teaching of writing, current literary theories.

597 Topics in Composition and Rhetoric 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Rhetoric and composition theory and praxis.

598 Teaching Apprenticeship 1 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: By department permission. Typically offered Fall and Spring. S, F grading.

600 Special Projects or Independent Study V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Independent study, special projects, and/or internships. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor before enrolling in 600 credit, which cannot be used toward the core graded credits required for a graduate degree. S, F grading.

700 Master's Research, Thesis, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Independent research and advanced study for students working on their master's research, thesis and/or final examination. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 700 credit. S, U grading.

702 Master's Special Problems, Directed Study, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Independent research in special problems, directed study, and/or examination credit for students in a non-thesis master's degree program. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 702 credit. S, U grading.

800 Doctoral Research, Dissertation, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: Admitted to the English PhD program. Independent research and advanced study for students working on their doctoral research, dissertation and/or final examination. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 800 credit. S, U grading.