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English Course Offerings

Please see the section on "Course Description Symbols and Terms" in the University Catalog for an explanation of course description terminology and symbols, the course numbering system, and course credit units. All courses are lecture and discussion and employ letter grading unless otherwise stated. Some prerequisites may be waived with faculty permission. Many syllabi are available on the Chico Web.

Prerequisites: EPT Score: 147 or lower.

The Writing Workshop is a series of small-group activities focused on understanding and strengthening writing processes. Workshop topics include literacy practices, writing tools, and portfolio preparation. 2.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 2.0 units.

Prerequisites: English Placement Test.

Instruction and practice in writing university-level expository prose. This is an approved General Education course. CAN ENGL 2.

Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Honors Program.

As an introductory writing requirement for Honors students, this course is designed to help students sharpen their skills in thinking and writing and to practice and so enhance the connection between the two. This is an approved General Education course.

Through examining the texts and film interpretations of Shakespeare plays, students in this course develop a deeper understanding of both Shakespearean drama and the language of film. This is an approved General Education course.

Workshop for beginning writers of poetry, fiction, and drama. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. CAN ENGL 6.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130.

A study of technical writing and presentation skills in business and scientific environments, including audience analyses, writing processes, genres of technical and business discourse, visual communication, collaboration, professional responsibility, clear and correct expression. Students write and revise several documents and give oral reports.

An introduction to the study of literature, including short stories, novels, plays, and poems. This is an approved General Education course.

Introduction to African American literature, using a range of materials from past and present that may include slave and neo-slave narratives, oratory and sermons, poems, plays, and novels, songs and spirituals. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Ethnic course. This course is also offered as AFAM 251.

Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Honors in General Education Program.

Introduction to African American literature, using a range of materials from past and present that may include slave and neo-slave narratives, oratory and sermons, poems, plays, and novels, songs and spirituals. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Ethnic course. Formerly ENGL 250H.

Study of the oral and written literature of the American Indian and of related historical and critical materials. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Ethnic course. This course is also offered as AIST 252.

Prerequisites: Acceptance into Honors in General Education.

An introduction to American Indian literature. The course explores multiple genres, including fiction, poetry, autobiography, and oral texts. The course covers works of Indian literature from pre-contact oral traditions through contemporary American Indian writers. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Ethnic course. Formerly ENGL 251H.

An introduction to various traditions and issues of the Asian American experience in literature. The course explores both early and contemporary novels, poems, and plays by writers of different genders, ethnicities, and cultures. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Ethnic course. This course is also offered as AAST 253.

Survey of Chicano/Latino literature and of related historical and critical materials. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Ethnic course.

Study of non-western literature from a variety of cultures, with European materials included for contrastive analysis. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Non-Western course.

The study of novels, poetry, and drama selected from the world's great literature. Historical, thematic, and formal approaches shape the analysis of these works. This is an approved General Education course.

An interdisciplinary study of the culture and literature — oral and written — of an American ethnic group or groups, with emphasis on ties to particular regions and traditions. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Ethnic course. This course is also offered as AMST 264.

Introduction to film as a narrative art form, with emphasis on key works and major directors from various periods of international and American film history and on major critical and theoretical concepts. 2.0 hours lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory.

Study and criticism of selected American films, with emphasis on their literary sources, their illustration of various literary conventions, and their use of language. 2.0 hours lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory.

History of editing, acquisition of basic editorial skills, and study of the publishing process. Class publishes First Hand. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity.

Prerequisites: ENGL 220 or instructor permission.

Instruction in the writing of poetry at an intermediate level. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 8.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 220 or instructor permission.

Instruction in the writing of fiction at an intermediate level. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 8.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 220 or instructor permission.

Instruction in the writing of drama at the intermediate level. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 8.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 220 or instructor permission.

Students read and write fact-based prose (i.e., nonfiction) that acknowledges the presence and creative imagination of the writer. Course may include memoirs, personal essays, literary journalism, biographies, nature writing, belletristic essays, film criticism, and travel writing. This course includes a weekly activity session. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity.

An introduction to the study of public and scholarly literacy, and its applications in economic systems, schooling, religion, and technology. Required of English majors by the end of the junior year in preparation for upper-division work in English.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; ENGL 375 recommended.

Advanced practice in writing and in using writing in the classroom for single- and multiple-subject credential candidates. This is a writing proficiency, WP, course; a grade of C- or better certifies writing proficiency for majors.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130.

Practice in writing and revising prose that informs and persuades effectively, based on a study of classical and modern rhetorical principles. Open to all students; required of all English majors, including credential candidates, who should take it by the end of their junior year in preparation for upper-division course work in English.

The course focuses on developing analytical approaches to literary genres, primarily short stories, novels, poems, and plays. Required of English majors by end of junior year in preparation for upper-division course work in English.

Prerequisites: ENGL 333 strongly recommended.

Basic concepts involved in the study of literature, interpretation and criticism of literary works, and suggestions for helping others understand and appreciate literature. Required of multiple-subject credential candidates.

A study of the many ways in which the child and childhood are dealt with in literary works. Texts for study will be drawn from Western and non-Western works including memoir, fiction, poetry, film, autobiography, books for children and for young adults, essays, and plays. This is an approved General Education course.

An intensive survey of major issues and themes in non-Western literature. Students examine the interconnections between works of Western cultures and works from the literatures of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Ethnic course.

An introduction to the literature of ancient Greece and Rome. This is an approved General Education course.

Study of the literary types and qualities of the English Bible and their impact upon British and American literature and language.

A survey of British literature from Beowulf to mid-1700s.

A survey of British literature from mid-1700s to the twentieth century.

A survey of American literature from its beginnings to the 1850s.

A survey of American literature from the 1850s to 1945.

An exploration of the thematic and stylistic elements of literature by women. Readings include autobiography, diary, journal, short story, novel, drama, poetry, and criticism by women from different cultures and periods. May also be taken for Women's Studies credit. This is an approved General Education course. This course is also offered as WMST 360.

An intensive survey of major modernist movements as reflected in key examples of fiction, poetry, drama and film in the history of modern culture. Formerly ENGL 266.

An introduction to linguistics. Topics include language acquisition, language structure, language variation, and languages of the world. This course is required for CLAD and BCLAD credentials as well as credential programs beginning in the fall of 2003 under SB 2042 standards. This is an approved General Education course.

Prerequisites: ENGL 371.

This course emphasizes both the grammatical content needed to teach non-native speakers and various integrated approaches to teaching grammar.

An introduction to the descriptive grammar of English. Students learn to use basic syntactic terms to analyze spoken and written English, distinguishing between descriptive and prescriptive grammar. Required of English majors by the end of the junior year in preparation for upper-division course work in English.

A study of modern themes in selected American films. 2.0 hours lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory.

A chronological study of film movements, e.g., science fiction, futurism, and film noir, as they influence and respond to Modernist movements, e.g., Freudianism, Darwinism, and Existentialism. 2.0 hours lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory.

Prerequisites: ENGL 220 (may be taken concurrently).

Study of and workshop in the editing of literary magazines, manuscripts, and other literary materials. Practice in selection, evaluation, copy editing, and production. Class publishes Watershed. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity.

Prerequisites: ENGL 335 or ENGL 375 (may be taken concurrently).

Lecture/discussion with some practical application in copyediting manuscripts for publication. Students will copyedit manuscripts.

Prerequisites: ENGL 415 or two 400-level courses from the Minor in Creative Writing, or ENGL 620, or ENGL 622, or instructor permission.

This course involves students in the process of chapbook production, from advertising, solicitation, judging and selecting manuscripts, through all stages of book production. The resulting chapbook is published by CSU, Chico and Flume Press. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 8.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 320 or instructor permission.

Instruction in the writing of poetry at an advanced level. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 8.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 321.

Instruction in the writing of fiction at an advanced level. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 8.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 322 or instructor permission.

Instruction in the writing of drama at an advanced level. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 8.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 320, ENGL 321, or ENGL 322 or instructor permission.

This class is for advanced creative writing students (poetry, fiction, playwriting) interested in translating their written work to a performance for an audience.

Prerequisites: ENGL 230 or ENGL 335; faculty permission.

Advanced study of proposal writing in non-profit and governmental environments, including audience analyses, project planning, preparing formal proposals, oral presentations, collaboration, professional responsibility, clear and correct expression. Students write and revise the standard components of formal proposals and give oral reports.

Prerequisites: ENGL 333 and ENGL 335 are strongly recommended.

Training and experience in the tutoring of students in composition. With permission of instructor, course may be repeated once for credit, but credit will not count toward major. 3.0 hours seminar, 3.0 hours laboratory. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 8.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

Study of the Canterbury Tales and other works by the major poet of the English Middle Ages. The study of Middle English and of medieval society, its values and beliefs as mirrored in Chaucer's works. This is a writing proficiency, WP, course; a grade of C- or better certifies writing proficiency for majors.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

An introduction to Shakespeare's principal plays, his art, his age, and his critics; designed especially for English majors. This is a writing proficiency, WP, course; a grade of C- or better certifies writing proficiency for majors.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

A study of Paradise Lost and other works of Milton in the context of the English Revolution. This is a writing proficiency, WP, course; a grade of C- or better certifies writing proficiency for majors.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

Study of British art and culture as revealed in its literature, such as battle poems, morality plays, and Arthurian romances.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

A study of the literature and culture of Tudor England, emphasizing the prose and poetry of such figures as More, Skelton, Wyatt, Sidney, Spenser and Marlowe.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

A study of the literature and culture of seventeenth-century England, emphasizing the drama, poetry, and prose of such authors as Webster, Jonson, Herrick, Donne, Herbert, Taylor, Bunyan, and Milton.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

The literature and intellectual currents of Restoration and eighteenth-century Britain, including works by such authors as Dryden, Addison, Steele, Pope, Swift, Hume, Sterne, Goldsmith, and Johnson.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

A study of the literary and intellectual currents of the Romantic period, including major essayists and critics, and the poetry of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, and Keats.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

The poetry and prose of Tennyson, Browning, Arnold, Hopkins, and others. Attention to important essayists and critics and to the significance of the Victorian scene for our times.

Study of twentieth-century British, American, Continental, and Latin American poetry.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

The development of British drama from its beginnings to the nineteenth century. Specific topics vary from semester to semester.

British, Continental, and American drama from Ibsen to the present. Topics vary from semester to semester.

Comparative study of major genres, themes, and literary figures in literature. Specific national literatures to vary from semester to semester.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

A study of eighteenth-century and Romantic-period novels, including such authors as Defoe, Richardson, Fielding, Sterne, Burney, Austen, and Scott.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 356.

A study of Victorian novels, including such authors as Thackeray, the Brontes, Dickens, Gaskell, Eliot, Trollope, and Hardy.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 358.

A critical and historical study of the American novel from its beginnings through the nineteenth century; Cooper, Melville, Hawthorne, Twain, James, and others.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 358.

An in-depth study of major themes, authors, and works from the beginnings of American literature through Romanticism. Topics vary from semester to semester.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 359.

An in-depth study of major themes, authors, and works from Realism through Modernism. Topics vary from semester to semester.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 359.

An in-depth study of themes, authors, and works from World War II to the present. Topics vary from semester to semester.

British, American, Continental, and Latin American novels in the twentieth century.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340; ENGL 358 or ENGL 359.

An intensive study of major authors in American literature. Course focuses on one or two authors such as Hawthorne, Melville, Twain, James, Dickinson, Faulkner, Morrison, and Oates. Consult the Class Schedule.

A study of American ethnic and multicultural literature, popular culture, and critical theory. This course is also offered as MCGS 463.

The study of modern world literature written English. Works may vary from semester to semester and focus on one region or culture (such as India, Africa, or the Caribbean), or several regions or cultures.

Seminar examination of writers and themes in American literature. Consult the Class Schedule for specific topics.

Seminar examination of writers or themes in British literature. Consult the Class Schedule for specific topics.

An examination of multicultural literature with particular attention paid to the teaching of multicultural literature in the secondary and post-secondary classroom. This course is required for the single subject credential in English.

Prerequisites: ENGL 371.

Introduction to major issues in second language acquisition and teaching. Includes 3.0 hours field experience with second language learner(s). This course is required for CLAD and BCLAD credentials as well as credential programs beginning in the fall of 2003 under SB 2042 standards. 2.0 hours seminar, 3.0 hours laboratory.

Prerequisites: ENGL 371.

Methods of investigating and reconstructing the history of languages (including those for which no significant earlier written record exists). Examining and evaluating the linguistic evidence for its insights into the earlier culture, migration patterns, and linguistic contacts of the speakers.

Prerequisites: ENGL 371, ENGL 375.

Study of syntax and morphology, focusing on similarities and differences among languages from the viewpoint of both form and function.

The development of the English language from its earliest origins to the present. Fundamental rules of language change in syntax, morphology, and phonology, with application to examples from Old, Middle, Early Modern, and contemporary English.

Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, ENGL 371, ENGL 375.

Study of world's sound systems as well as the relevant phonetics and morphology with an emphasis on English and second language acquisition. This is a writing proficiency, WP, course; a grade of C- or better certifies writing proficiency for majors.

A comprehensive exploration of semantics, including theories of meaning, relationship between semantics and conceptual structure, semantics and cognition in language acquisition, and the relationship between meaning and use.

Prerequisites: ENGL 371.

An examination of recent psycholinguistic theory and research in the field of reading as a language process, with practical experience in reading instruction.

Prerequisites: ENGL 371 or WMST 200.

This course explores recent theories and applications associated with the relationships among language, gender, and sexuality. The course includes a focus on the intersection of linguistic gender with class and ethnicity by drawing on research in linguistic anthropology and sociolinguistics. There will be an examination of gendered speech, writing, and sign from a variety of the world's languages. This course is also offered as MCGS 479.

This course is an internship offered for 1.0–3.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. Supervised, out-of-classroom work experience in English-related activities in the University, community, and businesses. No more than 3 units may be applied to the major. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only.

This course is for special topics offered for 1.0–3.0 units. Typically the topic is offered on a one-time-only basis and may vary from term to term and be different for different sections. See the Class Schedule for the specific topic being offered. 1.0 hours seminar.

This course is for special topics offered for 1.0–3.0 units. Typically the topic is offered on a one-time-only basis and will vary from term to term and be different for different sections.

This course is an independent study of special problems offered for 1.0–3.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only.

Prerequisites: ENGL 415; or two 400-level courses from the Minor in Creative Writing; or ENGL 620.

This course involves students in the entire process of chapbook production, from advertising, solicitation, judging and selecting manuscripts, through all stages of book production. The resulting chapbook is published by CSU, Chico and Flume Press. 3.0 hours discussion, 2.0 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 8.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 335, ENGL 375, and ENGL 441.

A capstone course focusing on connections among literature, language, and composition required of all single-subject credential candidates. To be taken during the senior year.

Prerequisites: ENGL 371, ENGL 375.

An exploration of special topics in contemporary linguistics, including, but not limited to, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, discourse analysis, stylistics, phonology, and morphology. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 340, ENGL 335; 3 units selected from ENGL 356, ENGL 357, ENGL 358, or ENGL 359; 3 units of 400-level genre or period course with grades that place student in top 5%; interview; faculty permission.

Six-unit Honors senior thesis — independent study involving substantial research, extended critical analysis, and public presentation. Grade of B or higher required for Honors credit. These units are in addition to those required for the major in English. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.

Required of all MA candidates. Scholarly resources and techniques (including the new library technology) for the study of critical scholarship in literature and language. Course to include close examination of the types of criticism appearing in selected scholarly journals.

Prerequisites: At least one 400-level creative writing course or instructor permission.

This course is for graduate students who are independently writing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or drama. Course emphasis is on reading, discussing, and critiquing students' manuscripts in progress. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.

Prerequisites: At least one 400-level creative writing course or instructor permission.

Class focus will include studies in theory and forms of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and drama. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.

Writing in the profession of English studies. Students will write, share their work with colleagues, and discuss the art and craft of writing. The central text will be the students' own writings, supplemented by other prose models and readings about writing.

Theories of distributed and situated cognition and learning as applied to literacy development and education. The course materials come from a variety of disciplines, including psycholinguistics, anthropology, cognitive science, sociology, education, and literacy theory.

Intensive study of contemporary literacy theory and practice; the cultural and individual bases of the development of literacy.

Weekly seminar in the theory and practice of teaching composition and supervised teaching of English composition. Required of all prospective teaching associates. 2.0 hours seminar, 3.0 hours laboratory.

Intensive study of the current theories and administrative practices which structure composition program development.

Intensive study of a single writer, a small group of writers, a genre, a theme, or a problem relating to British literature. Topics vary from semester to semester.

Intensive study of a single writer, a small group of writers, a genre, a theme, or a problem relating to American literature. Topics vary from semester to semester.

Intensive study of a literary theme, genre, or problem. Focus on a single writer or small group of writers.

Intensive study of a single writer, a small group of writers, a genre, a theme, or a problem relating to comparative literature. Topics vary from semester to semester.

Advanced and intensive study of the major literary critics from Aristotle to modern times.

The study of contemporary approaches to the reading and interpreting of texts.

Advanced and intensive study of contemporary linguistic theory. Topics vary from semester to semester. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.

Prerequisites: ENGL 470.

Exploration of the major theories of second language acquisition.

Prerequisites: Undergraduate Creative Writing minor, ENGL 620, or submission of portfolio of recent writing and permission of the creative writing faculty.

This course is offered for 1.0–4.0 units. Graduate students will apply their studies in the literary arts to design and carry out a project with a group or organization in the community at large. Projects must be approved by the Creative Writing Coordinator and the creative writing faculty mentor. Recommended for graduate students currently writing a creative thesis for the M.A. in English. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only.

Prerequisites: ENGL 431 or ENGL 470 for ESL; faculty permission.

Supervised classroom experience in teaching ESL, literature, and creative writing. Students must be in MA program in English and have permission of program coordinator and instructor of record. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. Credit/no credit grading only.

Current issues in the study of literature, critical theory, composition, and linguistics. Specific topics vary from semester to semester. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 9.0 units.

This course is a graduate-level independent study offered for 1.0–3.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.

This course is offered for 1.0–6.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. The Master's Project is developed in consultation with Graduate Coordinator. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.

This course is offered for 1.0–6.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. The Master's Thesis is developed in consultation with Graduate Coordinator. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units.