General Education Undergraduate Course Descriptions 

ENGL 2050: Literature by Women (Icard)

Did you ever wish you had the time to read well-known works of fiction like Pride & Prejudice or Jane Eyre? Have you been curious about the reclusive poet Emily Dickinson? Or the award-winning author Sandra Cisneros? English 2050 is a fun introductory survey where you will read and learn about literature written by women. Emphasis will be on approaching texts with understanding and appreciation. Readings may include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. This three-credit course fulfills the BHU requirement. Connect.

ENGL 2150: Intro to Science Fiction (Gregory)

According to the celebrated science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guinn “science fiction is not predictive; it is descriptive.” In this course we follow Le Guinn’s assertion by seeking answers to questions like: What insights do writers convey about their present through their fictional visions of the future? What warning and assurances do science fiction authors provide regarding technology and human progress? How do these writers dissect their contemporary cultural anxieties through imagined alien encounters, self-aware androids, and technological biohacking? In this course we explore the foundational works, core concepts, and essential elements that have shaped science fiction. We begin by delving into the genre’s murky origins, examining proto science fiction from the 19th century. From there the course will beam forward through the 20th century, probing key works from authors like H.G. Wells, Kurt Vonnegut, Ursula K. Le Guinn, Philip K. Dick, and Octavia E. Butler. Finally, we will make contact with current science fiction writers like Ted Chiang and Kazuo Ishiguro. Throughout the course students will act as a space team, exploring the exciting, strange, and sometimes unsettling universe of science fiction. Connect.

ENGL 2160: Writing and AI (Winn)

In this course, students will delve into the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, tracing its impact from the historical emergence of the printing press to its revolutionary role in modern writing practices. The curriculum will cover the development and influence of AI writing tools like GPT variants, examining their implications for literary creation and broader societal issues. Students will engage in a diverse exploration of AI writing, from algorithmic poetry and AI-assisted journalism to creative fiction and collaborative projects, critically analyzing the content and the technology behind it. In person. Logan.

ENGL 2230: Introduction to Film (Crawford)

This course introduces students to global film from the 19th century to contemporary award winners and examines how authorship, genre, presentation, and narrative structure contribute to meaning. Students will learn to evaluate films as reflections of culture and mediums for communication while becoming familiar with film techniques, terminology, and basic film concepts through film analysis and criticism. Online.

ENGL 2250: Introduction to Creative Writing (Russell)

Develop your own creative voice by exploring the craft of writing fiction, poetry, drama, and creative nonfiction. Do you have a story idea you want to write or a powerful life experience you’d like to capture? In this class, you’ll get to play with different techniques for creating your own original stories, poems, memoirs, scripts, and songs. You’ll also discover various pathways you might take to become a published author. Connect.

ENGL 2300: Introduction to Shakespeare (Quistberg)

This course provides an introduction to the life, context, and legacy of William Shakespeare while critically analyzing and questioning his predominance as a literary and cultural figure. Students will read, analyze, and watch selections from comedies, histories, tragedies, and nondramatic poetry while also learning about the cultural and historical contexts in which Shakespeare’s works were produced. Through close analysis of language, characters, and themes, students will consider questions such as, Why do we continue to read, watch, and adapt Shakespeare’s plays after four-hundred-plus years? What was and remains unique about the way he challenged his own time and continues to challenge ours? In person. Logan.

ENGL 2350: Indigenous Voices (Ford)

This course surveys the works of standout Native writers of North America with a hint of history and other contextual conversations. We will read fantasy, personal and historical narrative, science writing, and religious narratives. We will make it accessible for you to enjoy poetry and songs--both traditional and contemporary. We visit writing from many various tribal and literary traditions and will discuss the complications of tribal identity. Texts will include Braiding Sweetgrass, A Snake Falls to Earth, The Way to Rainy Mountain, Navaho Myths, and Monkey Beach. Connect.

ENGL 2630: Introduction to American Studies (Anderson)

From material girls to muscle men to bodies in drag, this American culture class investigates the body as a site of struggle, power, resistance, and celebration. We explore race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, and religious practices to discuss the contested body in American culture through time and place. Using literature, film, art, and festivals, including The Bell Jar, Barbie, "Soldier's Home," The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and cosplay conventions, we will explore the body and medical sovereignty, the body at war, and the decorated, created body—to name a few. Our explorations in the class will question what the body is and how it is perceived and treated historically and presently. How free is a body in America? What are the culturally created meanings of the body? In person. Logan.

ENGL 2640: Race and Ethnicity in the US (Ricketts)

Race and ethnicity have been central issues in American life since its inception. This course will examine the historical and ongoing complexities, misconceptions, and intersecting dynamics of race and ethnicity in the United States. Through a comprehensive exploration of the cultural contexts, social interactions, and lived realities of diverse communities, you’ll develop the skills to critically analyze the historical and ongoing struggles for racial justice in American society. Additionally, by centering marginalized voices, we will explore the multifaceted experiences of underrepresented groups, challenge dominant narratives, and foster empathy and understanding across diverse perspectives. Connect.

ENG 3040: Perspectives in Writing and Rhetoric: Generative Artificial Intelligence in Contexts (Tan)

In a time when artificial intelligence seems to infringe upon human intelligence, originality, and creativity, it is critical for us to examine the complexity of arguments surrounding emerging technologies in various cultural and professional contexts. This course, therefore, is designed to help you understand how Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools and systems are discussed, used, and confronted in a wide range of social and cultural contexts. Drawing on scholarship from several disciplines, such as composition, linguistics, and philosophy, the three units of this course investigate the discourses around GAI and its incorporation into writing, cross-cultural communication, and education. This course does not aim to teach the effective use of GAI in writing; rather, this course engages you in reflecting on the nature of GAI in writing and communication, examining its role in relation to human capacity, and challenging the widespread practice of using GAI in writing. Through critical investigations of some of the most heatedly debated topics (e.g., the ethics of using GAI tools in coursework), you will develop the valuable skills of analyzing complex issues and making responsible arguments. More importantly, this course prepares you to explore the profound impacts of GAI on your future academic and professional endeavors. Regardless of your disciplinary background, you will find this course a good place to start an intellectual journey on GAI that could lead to solving real-world problems in your field of study. In person. Logan.

ENGL 3630: The Farm in Literature Culture (Moore)

The Literature and Culture of the Farm examines literature related to the farm, farming, and agriculture in the broad definition of the word, including written texts, images, music (folk song, farm ballads, and country), film, and material culture such as quilts. The course covers texts ranging from an ancient Sumerian almanac, to Chaucer, Jefferson, Crevecoeur, African American Slave Narrative, Steinbeck, and Cather to more modern writers like Cesar Chavez, Wendell Berry, Michael Pollan, Joel Salatin, Novella Carpenter, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Kristin Kimball. Students from a wide variety of majors including music, economics, business, education, communications, English, and engineering, as well as agricultural-related majors have found the course engaging, interesting, and valuable.In person. Logan.


ENGL 3640: Nature Writing (Whitaker)

Nature Writing is an interdisciplinary course that explores practices of reading and writing and their effect on the human-environment relationship. Over the next 16 weeks, we’ll investigate the role of literacy in shaping public knowledge about environmental issues, debates, and concerns. Special attention will be paid to persuasive writing, particularly arguments about how cultures perceive, think about, and interact with the environment. Is the environment a resource to be used for human interests? Is it a source of spiritual connection? What are our ethical responsibilities to the landscape? How do identity markers like race, gender, and ethnicity affect the way we experience and write about the landscape? These are but a few questions we’ll explore on our journey through environmental literature and discourse. Students will be introduced to different schools of thought in the environmental movement and will be challenged to think critically about the relations between readers, texts, and audiences. The knowledge students gain from course readings will inform their own intellectual pursuits as they research and write their way into greater environmental consciousness. In person. Logan.