General Education Course Descriptions: Fall 2026

Course	Course Description
ENGL 2050 (BHU): Literature by Women (Icard: Online)	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.
ENGL 2230 (BHU): Introduction to Film (Crawford: In-person)	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.
ENGL 2230 (BHU): Introduction to Film (Franks: In-person)	This introductory course provides an overview of film history and the terminology needed to critically view and analyze TV and movies. We’ll watch and discuss some of the greatest films ever made—and a few not-so-great films, too.
ENGL 2250 (BHU): Introduction to Creative Writing (Olsen: Virtual Hybrid)	What do we think of when it comes to creative writing? Poetry? Fiction? Personal essays? Plays? Yes! Creative writing isn’t just one genre, so we should never approach it that way. In this class, we will travel through many different genres and learn how to be a better writer from each one. A good writer isn’t someone who stays in one genre and never changes their approach. Instead, this class will emphasize the ways genres intersect. This class will introduce students to the basics of creative writing, and students will learn to understand different genres and then get opportunities to play in the intersections of those genres.
ENGL 2250 (BHU): Introduction to Creative Writing (Russell: Online)	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.
ENGL 2350 (BHU): Indigenous Voices (Ford: Virtual)	Indigenous Voices will explore how contemporary writers, filmmakers, and artists from tribal backgrounds in North America portray their lives, cultures, beliefs, and identities. Readings will be taken from novels, speeches, short stories, and essays, but we will also discuss film, ethnography, songs, poetry, and other forms of expression. The main thematic focus will be resilience, sovereignty, and community. Selections will include Braiding Sweetgrass, Never Whistle at Night, Monkey Beach, Ceremony, The Way to Rainy Mountain, and enjoyable modern selections of poetry, which Dr. Ford is confident you will learn to enjoy as never before.
ENGL 2640 (BHU): Race and Ethnicity in the US (Ricketts: Virtual)	Race and ethnicity have been central to the story of the United States, shaping our culture, social structures, and sense of who “we” are as a nation. In this course, we’ll explore how ideas about race and ethnicity have developed over time, looking closely at the historical events, policies, and cultural narratives that have influenced American life. We’ll engage with a mix of sources—historical records, literature, media, and scholarship—to think critically about how these forces continue to shape society today. By exploring multiple perspectives, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of race and ethnicity and their lasting impact on the country we live in.
ENGL 3240 (DHA): Writing Family Stories (Engler: In-person)	Students learn how to discover, develop, and craft compelling stories from their own family histories. Using interview, archives, and professional storytelling techniques, they produce written and oral accounts while sharpening skills in research, narrative theory and methods, and real-world communication.