Bachelor of Arts in English

This course outlines basic study and research techniques, the use of libraries, and the importance of research methodology and analysis for the social sciences. It is a writing intensive course that requires a sound understanding of written communication. Students enrolling in this course should be familiar with proper citations and documentation, grammar and syntax, organizing their writing, and parts of a paper. (Prerequisite: ENGL101 or ENGL102).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101),Effectiveness in Writing(ENGL102)

This course will provide students with a foundation in the history and linguistics of the English language. The course will emphasize social, political, and other external historical events influencing language change, as well as the internal history of the language. Attention will be given to the various language systems (personal identity, phonetics, phonology, morphology, graphics, syntax, lexicon, language variation, historical linguistics, language and the brain, and semantics), as well as to the literature from the different historical periods. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

In this course, students will study selected texts in English literature from Beowulf through the 18th century, including prose, fiction and nonfiction, drama, and poetry, with a focus on the historical and cultural contexts and issues relevant to the time. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

In this course, students will examine selected texts in English literature from the 18th century to the present, including prose, fiction and nonfiction, drama, and poetry, with a focus on the historical and cultural contexts and issues relevant to the time. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course will cover the major elements of some of Shakespeare's writings, including his histories, comedies, tragedies, and sonnets. The course will focus on the plays both as literature to be read and discussed as well as theatrical scripts for realization in a performance setting. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course offers a chronological survey of British poetry from the Anglo-Saxon era through the twentieth century. The poetry will be examined within the social and cultural contexts in which it was produced. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course provides an examination of American society and culture through literature, using fiction that covers different eras, personalities, and issues. Stress is placed on characterization and other literary techniques, as well as on the nature of American society itself and fiction's place in that society. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This is a survey course of the major American poets, poetic style, and poetry from the earliest American poets through contemporary times. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course is designed to expose students to literary theory. Students will read essays that cover key components of literary analysis such as Marxism, feminist theory, structuralism, and post-modernism, among others. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

Women writers have influenced thinking around the world, but this was not always recognized until recently. This course is an inclusive survey of women writers from around the globe, in both the Eastern and Western tradition, in all literary genres, through specific literary contributions from historical and modern times. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course will introduce students to core journalism skills and the historical, social and political context of journalistic practice. The course provides instruction in on-line journalism, news writing, story structure, interviewing techniques and a working understanding of the code of ethics and legal issues which impact journalistic practice. (Prerequisite: ENGL101 or ENGL102).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101),Effectiveness in Writing(ENGL102)

This course will give students the opportunity to study the elements of fictional writing. Students will experiment with a variety of forms, including poetry, fiction, and drama. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course is designed to help students become knowledgeable and productive freelance writers. It will help them prepare written articles for publication in magazines and newspapers. Writing assignments will parallel the study of a current text and will result in submissions designed for publication and sale. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course extends the writing approaches and practices encountered in ENGL120. Students will continue to explore ways to generate ideas for stories, but a more central focus will be on deepening existing writings and finding new challenges in familiar material. Students will also explore additional types of storytelling, such as prose poetry, flash fiction, screenwriting, and visual poetry. Students will explore their own “voice” and develop a writing process unique to themselves. (Prerequisite: ENGL120).

Pre Reqs: Creative Writing(ENGL120)

This course will cover African-American literature from the earliest times to the present; development of prose and poetry, the novel; and the evolution of African-American political and social discourse through literature. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course provides a survey of traditional and modern King Arthur legends focusing its attention on Arthur himself as well as other prolific characters. Emphasis will be placed on analysis of Arthur and his primary companions through discussion board interaction and critical response essays that culminate in an independent research project investigated by each student that will maintain the overall theme and direction of this course.

This course examines modern epic fantasy literature through J.R.R. Tolkien’s works—The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings—Tolkien’s life, the sources that influenced his writing, how these works came to be written and reflected in film, and the genre’s roots in medieval warrior culture and religion. The major enduring themes—of War, Quest, and the Hero—are emphasized. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course provides a survey of traditional tales and oral literature in preliterate and peasant communities and in industrialized societies, as well as the role of folk customs in modern culture. Emphasis will be placed on an independent research project related to local folklore to be investigated by each student. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

The course is designed to provide an introduction to Latin American literature from the Western Hemisphere, along with an examination of the prose, poetry, and drama produced in the Americas in English and in translation. Overall, the course will explore commonalities and differences in Latin American literature, and will consider the Caribbean diaspora, political and literary legacies of slavery and imperialism, and consider how Latin American writers seek to construct cultural identities through literature and linguistics as a means of resistance to the dominant Western discourses. Themes that will be examined are motherhood, nation and body language, Creolization, tourism, and memory. To explore these themes the course will focus on key Latin American novelists and poets. Additionally, key post-colonial theoretical essays will be read to provide a critical context for the readings. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course provides an introduction to Russian literature, beginning with the earliest works and continuing through the mid-1800s. It focuses on short stories and explores how Russian literature affects a variety of art forms in Russia, such as dance, music, and opera. Russian Literature examines such aspects of Russian literary technique as irony, metaphor, and dualism. Students will also analyze differences between translations and how such differences may alter the interpretation of a work. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course will focus on Middle Eastern culture through an analysis of major Middle Eastern literary works including literature from ancient through modern times. The works studied represent a broad survey of the literature available from the Middle East, including works from ancient Mesopotamia, works available from classical Arabic, and works that span the ages passed down by oral tradition and only recently recorded. The novel as interpreted by eastern rather than western sensibilities is also examined. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course will cover African literature from the earliest times to the present; development of prose and poetry, the novel; and the evolution of the theater. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course is an introduction to Contemporary Asian-American Literature and will present the major themes and issues in a new and growing interdisciplinary field of scholarly research and literary texts. The primary objective of the course is to engage and introduce students to selected texts from the growing canon of works in Asian American Studies and Literature. (Prerequisite: ENGL101).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101)

This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for undergraduate study in the online environment. Students will be introduced to learning theory, the tools available in the online classroom and campus, and online research. Identification of personal learning style allows students to improve their study/learning techniques and prepares them to succeed in college level courses. Students will be introduced to formatting and citation styles. APUS policy and procedure is addressed. There is an emphasis on written communication to assist students in the transition to the online environment.

The culminating point of an undergraduate’s career, this senior course offers students the rhetorical knowledge and research practices needed to write and to research successfully in any discourse community within which they might find themselves—as students, professionals, and citizens. While university students are projected to make several career changes within their working lifetimes, these transitions and the challenges of their complex personal and public lives will require critical thinking skills and informed flexibility. This course is designed to polish students’ writing, analytical, and English skills so that they may confidently confront the challenges and demands of specialized research and written communication. According to their affinity, seniors are invited to pursue literary interests in the compositions of this course, and conduct research in other academic or professional areas. This course will provide students with the opportunity to complete an approved academic research exercise that demonstrates knowledge of a selected field of study. This is a capstone course to be taken after all other English courses have been satisfactorily completed. Student must have SENIOR standing to register.