Department of English

Department website: https://www.vanguard.edu/academics/academic-programs/undergrad/english

Warren Doody, MFA, Chair

Mission: The English Department facilitates the rigorous study of literature and writing through Christian perspectives on ethics, imagination, diversity, and truth; informed analysis of creative literature; and advanced strategies and techniques of written communication, rhetorical analysis, aesthetic appreciation, and literary theory. The English Department promotes spiritual development through the integration of faith and learning.

The English department offers the following degree options: a B.A. in English, a minor in English, a minor in Journalism and Digital Media, and an ITEP (Integrated Teacher Education Program) in English. English majors may choose one of two emphases within the major: literature and textual analysis or writing. The English curriculum also provides a single-subject matter program approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. 

To major in English at Vanguard University is to enter a world in which students are presented with a colorful variety of curricular options: from the study of literature and its rich legacy of authors, genres and theory to the practice and development of creative writing and journalism, and their many branches and forms. A degree in English, with its emphasis on the mastery of language, offers preparation for many careers.

NOTE: Some of the courses listed below may be applicable to general education requirements within the Professional Studies/Non-Traditional Education program (e.g. ENGL-220 Researched Writing).  Questions, contact the Department of English or the Registrar's Office.

ENGL-115  Foundations for College Writing II  3 Credits  

Exposition and argument at the college level. The course emphasizes academic writing conventions through the writing process, mechanics, revising and editing, with a specific emphasis on critical thinking and logical argumentation. Course must be passed with a "C" or better to enroll in ENGL-220 (meets English Composition requirement). (Professional Education Course).

ENGL-120C  Persuasive Writing  3 Credits  

Exposition and argument at the college level. The course emphasizes writing, revising and editing, reading, research skills, and mechanics. Course must be passed with a "C" (not "C-") or better to enroll in ENGL-220C. Students with an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing SAT score of 610 or higher or an ACT score of 25 or higher may place out of this course into ENGL-220C. Based on a written diagnostic, some students will be additionally registered for the supplementary writing lab (ENGL-120CL).

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

ENGL-120CL  Persuasive Writing Lab  1 Credit  

This one unit is designed to support students enrolled in ENGL-120C as they transition from high school to college-level writing. The lab provides a space for students to engage with the foundational concepts introduced in ENGL-120C, such as developing a writing process, understanding rhetorical situations, and crafting sound arguments, all within a small-group, workshop setting. Students will be identified and registered for this writing lab based on a written diagnostic.

Co-Requisite: ENGL-120C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

ENGL-220  Researched Writing  3 Credits  

Interpretive and analytic writing, including several problem-solving research-based essays investigating topics related to class themes. The course emphasizes writing, revising and editing, reading, analytical skills, and computer technology (word processing, Internet research) and reinforces those skills learned in ENGL-115. Must be passed with a "C" or better to fulfill the core curriculum requirement. (meets English Composition requirement)

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

ENGL-220C  Researched Writing  3 Credits  

Interpretive and analytic writing, including several problem-solving research-based papers investigating topics related to class themes. The course emphasizes writing, revising and editing, reading, analytical skills, and computer technology (word processing, Internet research) and reinforces those skills learned in ENGL-120C. Taught in the computer lab. Must be passed with a "C" (not "C-") or better to fulfill the core curriculum requirement. Students may receive credit for ENGL-220C by taking research and writing courses offered by departments other than English that meet standards set and approved by the Core Curriculum Committee.

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

ENGL-230  Literary Perspectives  3 Credits  

Introduces the student to a variety of literary genres as well as diverse authors, cultures, and experiences. This course also covers the tools and concepts necessary to the understanding and interpretation of literature. Students engage in classroom discussion, write papers, and take a variety of quizzes and exams. (meets Humanities/Literature/Fine Arts requirement). (Professional Education Course).

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

ENGL-230C  Literature and the Human Experience  3 Credits  

Introduces the student to a variety of literary genres as well as diverse authors, cultures, and experiences. This course also covers the tools and concepts necessary to the understanding and interpretation of literature. Students engage in classroom discussion, write papers, and take a variety of quizzes and exams. This course is designed for non-English majors and is not to be taken by English majors as a substitute for ENGL-240C. (This course was previously titled "Literary Perspectives")

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

ENGL-235  Introduction to Journalism  3 Credits  

Fundamentals of news reporting, including interviewing, quoting, paraphrasing, inverted triangle, and sourcing stories. Students are introduced to multiple journalism genres, including: news stories, opinions, features, profiles, and reviews.

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

ENGL-240C  Foundations/Literary Study  3 Credits  

Introductory course for the English major covering the tools and concepts necessary to the understanding and interpretation of literature. This course is a prerequisite for all upper division courses in English and must be taken prior to or concurrent with the other courses in the major. All English majors are required to take ENGL-240C as a substitution for ENGL-230C the core curriculum requirement in literature.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

ENGL-260  Monsters and Maidens: British Lit 1785  3 Credits  

A historical survey of English prose, poetry, and drama, from Beowulf to the Neo-Classic period. This course involves classroom discussion, quizzes, texts, papers, and group presentations using computer aided support and other graphics to illustrate results of library research on each group's assigned author or topic. (Formerly Survey of British Literature I)

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, even years.

ENGL-262  Romanticism/Resistance: British Lit 1785  3 Credits  

A historical survey of English prose, poetry, and drama, from the Romantic period to the present. This course involves classroom discussion, quizzes, texts, papers, and group presentations using computer aided support and other graphics to illustrate results of library research on each group's assigned author or topic. Non-English majors may receive credit for ENGL-230C by taking this course as a substitute. (Formerly Survey of British Literature II)

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

ENGL-309  Awakenings: Voices in American Lit  3 Credits  

A historical survey of American prose, poetry and drama from the Puritans to the present. This course features tests that speak to the many ways that its characters awaken to the benefits and constraints associated with the new world. This course involves classroom discussion, quizzes, tests, papers and presentations, and it fulfills the departmental requirement for American Literature.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

ENGL-315  Teaching English/Mltrcltrl Set  3 Credits  

Students seeking to complete the subject matter program in English must take this class as part of that program to ensure that they are integrating literary content with their pedagogical experience. This course provides the philosophical background and classroom experience necessary to introduce a person to the teaching profession in a public or private school in a multicultural environment. The purpose of the class is to assist the student to gain an understanding of the resources and challenges facing a teacher serving a linguistically and culturally diverse student population. Discussion will focus on the major professional organizations and educational research related to the philosophical, historical, and demographic developments of American education. Students will complete a 30 hour field work component to observe classroom management and organization, Specially Designed Academic Instruction Delivered in English (SDAIE) instructional practices, and the curricula of grades K-12. The role and function of Christian beliefs and values in the public school will be integrated throughout the course. This course is a prerequisite requirement for the Multiple and Single Subject Credential programs. Lab fee.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.

ENGL-319  Publications: Newspaper  1-3 Credits  

Members of the class constitute the editorial staff of the college newspaper. Class meets weekly for critique on news reporting, writing, editing, makeup, and production of the campus newspaper. May be repeated for a maximum of six units.

Prerequisite: ENGL-235

Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.

ENGL-325  Period Focus:  3 Credits  

The study of the literary output of a particular period. The period will vary according to the instructor, but the class might cover the literature of Romanticism, Modernism, the Medieval period, the Eighteenth Century, or the Latin American Boom. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

ENGL-335  Genre Focus:  3 Credits  

The study of the development and variations of a particular literary form. The genre will vary according to the instructor, but the class might cover the novel, short story, poetry, or autobiography. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

ENGL-336  Theopoetics  3 Credits  

Theopoetics can be defined as "the study and practice of making God known through text" (keef-Perry, 579). This course will explore how artists have attempted to "make God known" throughout a broad range of writing in English. Although poets do not write theology, they do use language to describe how theology and theological experience is understood by the individual in his or her own unique cultural context. The focus of this class will be upon shorter, lyric works, the drama, and short story. Non-English majors may receive credit for ENGL-230C by taking this course as a substitute.

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

ENGL-340  Children's Literature  3 Credits  

Reading and evaluating literature written especially for children and young adults. Includes a historical as well as a genre approach.

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

ENGL-350  Creative Writing  3 Credits  

This course serves as a foundation for creative writing, introducing the student to the three primary genres that make up that world - poetry, fiction, and drama. Students will study/review the fundamentals and theory specific to each genre; read and analyze professional poems, stories, and plays; read and critique each other's work; and most

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: .

ENGL-360  Dramatic Lit: Script Analysis  3 Credits  

This course is cross-listed with THEA-360. This course introduces the student to history's most influential stage plays, which gives the student skills with which to analyze critically the script in order to understand the work of each playwright. Lab fee.

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

ENGL-375  The Art of the Memoir  3 Credits  

This advanced composition course is designed to acquaint students with a wide range of classical and contemporary strategies for writing purposeful and persuasive prose. It also equips students with options for personal narration and reflection to create a storyline out of life experience. Students cast themselves as compelling characters through concrete exercises and studies in successful memoir models of craft and form.

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

ENGL-384  Digital Storytelling  3 Credits  

This class explores the interactivity and narrative of digital media through the creation of audio and video projects. Students will learn to think creatively about digital storytelling and the class will offer hands-on experiences in video and podcast production. May be repeated one time for credit.

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

Terms Typically Offered: On Demand.

ENGL-424  American Diversity  3 Credits  

Students will gain exposure to historically marginalized groups in America by studying fiction and nonfiction traditionally overlooked in the American literature canon. Students will examine how systems of power and privilege operate in the United States and gain a critical understanding of human dignity in our diverse contemporary society.

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, even years.

ENGL-425  Author Focus  3 Credits  

The intensive study of the literary achievement of a single author. Content will vary according to instructor, but might include Margaret Atwood, Jorge Luis Borges, William Faulkner, James Joyce, C. S. Lewis, Clarice Lispector, John Milton, Toni Morrison, J. R. R. Tolkien, or Mark Twain. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.

ENGL-428  Travel Writing  3 Credits  

This course is designed to introduce the creative writer to the genre of travel writing. Students will develop and apply critical vocabulary through in-class discussion and critique, and submit at least one piece of writing for professional publication.

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

ENGL-433  Global Voices: World Literature  3 Credits  

An examination of the contours of international literature, including classical Western mythology plus European, African, Asian, and Latin American literature from antiquity up to the present. This course fulfills the departmental requirement for world literature. Non-English majors may receive credit for ENGL-230C by taking this course as a substitute.

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

ENGL-437  Advanced Journalism  3 Credits  

Students hone their reporting and newswriting skills, including interviewing, researching public records, fact-checking and covering spot news, speeches, court cases, public meetings, and other hard news. This class includes numerous in-class and out-of-classroom reporting and writing assignments.

Prerequisite: ENGL-235

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

ENGL-438  Creative Writing Workshop  3 Credits  

The theory and practice of writing a particular literary genre. Genre will vary according to the instructor, but might include screenwriting, poetry, or the short story. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

ENGL-442  Playwriting  3 Credits  

Development of scriptwriting techniques as applied to stage and film. The student will be required to develop and write a one-act stage. Lab Fee. This course is cross-listed with THEA-442.

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

ENGL-443  Creative Nonfiction  3 Credits  

This is a course for writers who have a committed interest in creative non-fiction, such as personal essay, literary journalism, science writing, memoir, and other non-fiction genres, and are comfortable writing longer works of prose. Students will work cooperatively to share and improve each other's work in a workshop setting.

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

ENGL-450  Internship: Teaching English  1-3 Credits  

The student selects and attends the sessions of ENGL-120C, ENGL-220C, or ENGL-230C course; meets with the instructor to prepare for class sessions; teaches a few sessions; discusses in retrospect the conduct of the class; agrees upon criteria for grading papers and other evaluation of students. May be repeated for a maximum of six units with a different instructor or a different course. Open to students with senior class standing and with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Prerequisite: ENGL-240C

ENGL-451  Internship: Writing  1-3 Credits  

Actual work experience in a business firm, academic program, publishing industry, or other professional setting as a writer, providing an opportunity for the practical application of student writing, editing, or multimedia skills under direct supervision. Reports to the supervising professor are required. Students are required to work thirty hours for each academic unit hour received. May be repeated to a maximum of six units. Course is open to students with Sophomore, Junior, or Senior class standing and with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Prerequisite: ENGL-240C

ENGL-453  Language, Culture, and Linguistics  3 Credits  

This course is cross listed with ANTH-453. This course surveys the acquisition and use of language within a cultural context. It examines the relationship of language to culture, language acquisition, and language analysis or linguistics, emphasizing the utility of such knowledge for educators. Stress is given to understanding language's reciprocal relation with culture, the nature of language systems, and linguistic analysis to enable educators a better comprehension of second language acquisition within learning environments.

Prerequisite: ANTH-102C, PSYC-103C, or SOC-100C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.

ENGL-455  Shakespeare Through the Ages  3 Credits  

An in-depth survey of Shakespeare's major works within the historical and cultural context of the Renaissance. This investigation of his oeuvre includes the close reading of tragedies, comedies, romances and history plays with an eye towards the ways in which he revolutionized genre. This course involves class discussion, quizzes, texts, papers and performance, and it fulfills the departmental required for Shakespeare.This course is cross-listed with THEA-455.

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

ENGL-458  Digital Writing and Design  3 Credits  

In this course, students will prepare for the types of digital writing and design required in today's job market and learn to use digital tools to write for diverse audiences on various platforms. Students will produce resumes, personal websites, and online portfolios to showcase their academic and professional experiences, and they will collaborate on contemporary professional writing projects such as social media campaigns, content marketing, and visual data creation.

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, even years.

ENGL-464  Thematic Focus  3 Credits  

The in-depth comparative study of a particular literary theme or topic from several perspectives. Texts may be chosen from a variety of genres including prose, poetry, drama, and theory; they may also come from differing cultures and periods. Content will vary according to instructor but might include Christianity, translation studies, deconstruction, or feminist thought.

Prerequisite: ENGL-120C

Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.

ENGL-465  Becoming a Reader: Theory/Crit of Lit  3 Credits  

A historical survey of literary theory from the time of Plato to the contemporary era. Various writing projects are designed to assist students in their development as scholarly researchers. This course fulfills the departmental requirement for literary theory.

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

ENGL-470  Special Topic:  1-3 Credits  

Study of a special topic, focusing upon a literary period, genre, and/or author(s). May be repeated for credit.

ENGL-472  Media Ethics and Law  3 Credits  

Students will study the role of journalism in a democratic society and develop an understanding of ethical questions faced by journalists. Topics will include: freedom of the press, ethics, law and public policy, global media, and alternative journalism.

Prerequisite: ENGL-235

Terms Typically Offered: Spring, odd years.

ENGL-480  Individual Studies:  1-3 Credits  

Prerequisite: ENGL-220C

ENGL-499C  Synecdoche: Capstone  3 Credits  

This course is designed to serve as a rite of passage for graduating seniors through their service as the editorial board for Synecdoche, the English department's literary journal, and the submission of a portfolio of the student's four years of work as an English major. This course fulfills the Core Curriculum Capstone requirement for English majors.

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.