College of Humanities and Social Sciences

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Department of Communications
Department of English
Department Of Foreign Languages And Literatures
Department Of History, Political Science, And Philosophy
Department of Sociology
Department Of Visual And Performing Arts
Other  Courses Offered By The College Of Humanities And Social Sciences

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S. Thomas Mack, College Coordinator

Six departments comprise the College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Communications (interpersonal, public, organizational and mass communications and public relations); English (language and literature); Foreign Languages and Literatures; History, Political Science, and Philosophy (religious studies); Sociology (also including anthropology and geography); and Visual and Performing Arts (art history, art studio, dance, music and theatre).

The mission of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences is to provide, through teaching, research/creative activity, and service, an understanding of the individual and collective human experience. To that end, the College:

Developmental Work Policy. No remedial coursework may be applied toward any degree offered by the College.

Independent Study Policy. Independent study courses are designed primarily for juniors and seniors who desire advanced intensive work on a specific topic. Independent studies are not intended to substitute for courses listed in the USCA Bulletin. The maximum number of independent study hours a student may earn in any given discipline in the College is limited to six, except in art studio, which permits a maximum of nine, and history and political science, which permit of maximum of fifteen (nine in the major field, six outside the major field).

To enroll in an independent study course, a student must: (1) have written approval of the faculty member who is to supervise the independent study and of the appropriate department chair before registering for the course; (2) agree with the supervising faculty member on a contract which describes the work involved in the project and the criteria for grading; and (3) file an independent study application with the Office of the Registrar before registering for the course.

Students interested in enrolling for an independent study course should see the appropriate department chair for more specific details.

Charmaine E. Wilson, Department Chair

Associate Professors
Linda C. Owens (Journalism), M.A., University of South Carolina, 1982
Charmaine E. Wilson (Speech Communication), Ph.D., University of Washington, 1986

Assistant Professors
Yanrong Chang (Communication), Ph.D., University of Iowa, 2002
Keith Griffin (Communication), Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1977

Senior Instructor
Don J. Stewart (Speech Communication), M.A., University of North Carolina­Greensboro, 1984

Lecturer
Nancy Barkley (Speech Communication), Ph.D., Wayne State University, 1971
 

Teaching Associate
Deidre M. Martin (Curriculum and Instruction), Ed.D., University of South Carolina, 1995

Distinguished Professor Emerita
Sandra Hochel (Speech Communication), Ph.D., Purdue University, 1973

Department Mission Statement

The Communications degree program is designed to help students gain a thorough understanding of how fundamental communication theories and principles apply to a broad range of contexts (i.e., in dyads, organizations, cultures, the media). Students are provided with a range of systematic communication experiences to aid them in developing their abilities to communicate effectively, think critically, work effectively with others, make sound decisions and to raise their awareness of the ethical issues faced by communicators.

The educational objectives of the program are to provide majors with learning experiences which will enable them to:

Students’ Opportunities In Communications Outside the Classroom

Media Internships:   Gain hands-on experience at local or state newspapers, local broadcast radio and television stations, state

agencies or the Student Press Law Center in Washington, D.C.

Service Learning Internships:   Apply the principles of effective communication while providing community service.

South Carolina Speech Festival: Showcase public speaking skills.

Pacer Times weekly student newspaper: Learn writing, design, photography and business/advertising.

Broken Ink, literary magazine:  Use creative skills for layout and design.

Scholarships

Five academic scholarships are offered each year for continuing students majoring in Communications. Scholarship applications must be submitted early each year in the Spring semester for the next year’s scholarships. See information from the Financial Aid office on scholarship applications.

Curricula

The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Communications is a liberal arts degree designed to enhance understanding of communication processes and develop communications skills, so students are prepared for a wide range of roles in the communication fields. It prepares students with an adequate background for graduate studies in a number of different liberal arts disciplines including journalism, speech communication, and mass communication. Students majoring in Communications examine communication processes in interpersonal, small group and public settings and within organizations, in cultures and in the mass media. Upon graduation, Communication majors are well-prepared for a number of diverse professions such as those in media, business, social and human services, education, health care and government and politics.

For students wishing a more specialized degree in Journalism, the first courses leading to that degree may be taken at USC Aiken in coordination with the nationally-accredited School of Journalism and Mass Communications on the Columbia campus. The number of courses which can be taken at USCA depends on the area of specialty: news-editorial, including newspapers, magazines and photography; radio and television broadcasting; and public relations and advertising. Journalism students also have the opportunity to gain practical experience by working on the campus newspaper, Pacer Times.

Bachelor of Arts—Major in Communications

1.    General Education Requirements.................................................. 50-52

       A.  Skills and Competencies¹ ........................................................ 21-23
             English 101 and 102²   ....................................................................... 6
                 Composition/Composition and Literature
             Math/Statistics/Logic.......................................................................... 6
             Applied Speech Communication(ACOM 201)³.................................. 3
             Foreign Language⁴.......................................................................... 6-8
     B.    Methods and History of Disciplines⁵ ........................................... 29
             Natural Sciences................................................................................. 8
                 Biology, Chemistry, Physics,
                 Geology, Astronomy (2 labs)
             Social and Behavioral Sciences (two areas).......................................... 6
                 Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology,..
                 Economics, Political Science, Geography
             Humanities (at least two areas).............................................................. 9
                Philosophy (not logic),                 
                 History, Literature, Fine Arts History,
                 Humanities (AHUM acronym), Religion,
                 Foreign Language (200 level and above)
                 Communications (last two digits in 50s or 60s)
             History of Civilization (AHST 101 or AHST 102)........................... 3
                American Political Institutions........................................................... 3
                   (APLS 201, AHST 201, or AHST 202)
2.        Major Requirements³....................................................................... 36
                Core Courses Requirement......................................................... 18
                ACOM 200 Survey of Communications
                ACOM 241 Public Speaking
                ACOM 303 Communications Law and Ethics
                ACOM 376 Communications Graphics
                ACOM 450 Intercultural Communication
                ACOM 548 Directed Internship (3) OR ACOM 549 Service Learning Internship (3)
           Core Communications Electives................................................... 6
                ACOM 328 Principles of Public Relations
                ACOM 342 Interviewing
                ACOM 385 Group Communication
                ACOM 476 Advanced Visual Communications
                ACOM 480 Organizational Communication
                Advanced Communications Requirement
                (Select one of the two groups)...................................................... 6
                 Group A:   ACOM 330 Writing for the Public
                                  ACOM 335 Advanced Writing for the Public
                 Group B:   ACOM 351 Persuasive Communications
                                  ACOM 353 Advanced Public Communication
                                  ACOM 440 Argumentation and Debate
                  General Communications Electives.......................................... 6
3.        Cognate or Minor...................................................................... 12-18
4.        Free Electives............................................................................ 14-22
Total hours required⁵ .............................................................................. 120

1 For undergraduate writing proficiency, see Proficiency Portfolio in Writing described on page 45.
2 Students must complete English 101 with a grade of C or better in order to fulfill general education requirements. Students must also complete AEGL 102 with a grade of C or better in order to fulfill general education requirements and before taking other English courses.
3 Must earn a C or better.
4 Two (2) semesters of the same language. See degree program requirements for Foreign Language study.
5 At least 3 hours must be in non-Western world studies, unless an approved non-Western world studies course has been completed elsewhere in the student’s degree program.

Minor in Communications

General Education Requirements:
ACOM 201 - Interpersonal Communication (C or better) - should be taken as the applied speech communication general education requirement.

Minor Requirements¹:
ACOM 200 Survey of Communications...................................... 3
ACOM 241 Public Speaking.....................................................  3

Select two courses in one of the following groups:.........................6
A.  Advanced Interpersonal Communication
          ACOM 385 Group Communication
          ACOM 450 Intercultural Communication
          ACOM 480 Organizational Communication
B.  Advanced Public Communication
          ACOM 351 Persuasive Communications
          ACOM 353 Advanced Public Communication
          ACOM 440 Argumentation and Debate
C.  Advanced Media Writing
          ACOM 328 Principles of Public Relations
          ACOM 330 Writing for the Public          
          ACOM 335 Advanced Writing for the Public
Two additional communication courses........................................ 6
Total hours required^1,2 ..........................................................18
¹  All courses in the minor must be passed with a C or better.
²  No more than three hours of independent study will count toward the minor requirement.

Course Descriptions

Communications (ACOM)

Applied Speech Communication Requirement. Students seeking a baccalaureate degree must complete an applied course in speech communication as part of the general education requirements. The following four courses are considered applied speech communication courses: ACOM 201, 241, 342, and 440. Some majors may require a specific course, so students should consult the requirements for each major.

General Education Humanities Requirement. Certain communications classes will meet the General Education Humanities requirement. These classes are designated by the last two digits of the course number, and end in the 50’s and 60’s; for example, ACOM 351, Persuasive Communications, will meet the requirement but ACOM 385, Group Communications, will not.

ACOM 200 Survey of Communications. (3) Introduction to mass media with study of theories, principles, and functions of media from newspapers to the worldwide web. Designed to extend media knowledge and experiences and develop skills for critically analyzing the media. Focus will be on skills of media literacy and the importance and use of real-world information for consumers.

ACOM 201 Interpersonal Communication. (3) (Sophomore standing or consent of instructor) A study of communication in one-on-one and small group situations. Emphasis is on applying the theories and principles toward becoming a more competent interpersonal communicator. This course may satisfy the applied speech communication requirement.

ACOM 241 Public Speaking. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102 or consent of instructor) A course in the theory, preparation, delivery, and evaluation of public speaking. This course may satisfy the applied speech communication requirement.

ACOM 303 Communications Law and Ethics. (3) (Prereq: Junior Standing) A study of the history of constitutional and statutory law for communications, and of the ethics used as underlying principles of conduct.

ACOM 305 Editing Skills. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102). Techniques required in preparing articles for publication.

ACOM 325 Principles of Advertising. (3) Advertising and its relationship to media, marketing and consumers.

ACOM 328 Principles of Public Relations. (3) (Prereq: ACOM235 or consent of instructor) History, theory, and principles of public relations including an analysis of how business, government, and other groups work to influence public attitudes toward their activities. Class requires practice in writing, including press releases and public relations campaigns.

ACOM 330 Writing for the Public. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102 with C or better; word processing skill) Study of and practice in writing for mass audiences, especially in such publications as newspapers, magazines, and newsletters.

ACOM 335 Advanced Writing for the Public. (3) (Prereq: ACOM 330 with C or better) Extensive practice in writing under deadline pressure for newspapers, magazines, and newsletters.

ACOM 342 Interviewing. (3) Designed to acquaint the student with principles and methods of interviewing and to assist the student in developing skills in conducting interviews. This course may satisfy the applied speech communication requirement.

ACOM 351 Persuasive Communications. (3) (Prereq: ACOM 241 or consent of instructor) This course will provide an in-depth examination of the process and functions of persuasive communications. Topics will include classical and contemporary theories of persuasion, critical evaluations of persuasive messages and the ethics of persuasion.

ACOM 352 History & Philosophy of Mass Media. (3) History of mass media from the 1400s to the present. Situated in an historical context, this course examines media effects on social, cultural and political issues both nationally and internationally. (Students who earned credit for ACOM 302 may not take ACOM 352 for credit.)

ACOM 353 Advanced Public Communication. (3) (Prereq: ACOM 241 or consent of instructor) A study of rhetorical theory with a focus on the preparation and delivery of public speeches and on the critical examination of the rhetoric of notable speakers.

ACOM 376 Visual Communication. (3) Basic instruction on design and layout with emphasis on visual communication principles for design, layout and production of printed materials. Introductory practice using computer desktop publishing.

ACOM 377 Graphic Production. (3) (Prereq: ACOM 376) A study of typography, methods of reproducing printed materials, and the process of working with printing agencies. Students gain practice in creating materials camera-ready for printing.

ACOM 385 Group Communication. (3) A study of the theories, principles and practices associated with effective communication in the small group setting. The course relies on both theoretical and experiential approaches to understanding group communication.

ACOM 399 Independent Study. (1-6) (Prereq: permission of instructor) Directed independent project.

ACOM 430 Feature Writing. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102 with C or better) Non-fiction creative writing for magazines and newspapers.

ACOM 433 Free-Lance Writing. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102 with C or better) Study of newspaper and periodical features. Practice in writing and marketing articles.

ACOM 436 Public Relations Writing. (3) (Prereq: ACOM 328 or consent of instructor) Special areas of writing for Public Relations.

ACOM 438 Travel Writing. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102 with C or better) Practice in writing and marketing for publication articles on travel destinations or personal memoirs of travel experiences. Will require field trips and travel experiences.

ACOM 440 Argumentation and Debate. (3) This course deals with constructing, evaluating, and analyzing arguments and provides the opportunity to acquire and practice the skills needed for successful argumentation and debate. This course may satisfy the applied speech communication requirement.

ACOM 450 Intercultural Communication. (3) A study of cultural differences in human communication with a focus on theoretical and experiential approaches toward gaining competence in communicating across cultures. (Satisfies non-Western world studies requirement)

ACOM 462 Political Rhetoric. (3) In order to become more sophisticated and critical consumers of political and campaign rhetoric, both classical and contemporary, students will learn to engage in in-depth analysis of political messages.

ACOM 476 Advanced Visual Communication. (3) (Prereq: ACOM 376 with C or better) Advanced methods in the use of graphics to communicate in a variety of media/methods, including printed materials, broadcast media, presentations, and electronic formats. Students gain experience in desktop publishing techniques to create communication materials from the concept stage to actual production.

ACOM 480 Organizational Communication. (3) (Prereq: junior standing, ACOM 201 or consent of instructor) A study of how the context of the organization influences interpersonal communication processes. Emphasis on applying theory and research to identify effective organizational communication practices and strategic communication behavior within organizations.

ACOM 490 Communication Theory and Research. (3) (Prereq: junior standing and ACOM 201 or ACOM 241) A study of the major theoretical approaches to intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, group, mass, and public communication. Development and testing of theories will be a major component of the course.

ACOM 498 Selected Topics. (1-3) A seminar on selected topics in communications. Course content will vary and will be announced in the schedule of classes. Course may be taken twice with different topics.

ACOM 548 Directed Internship. (1-3) (Prereq: consent of instructor and successful completion of Rising Junior Writing Proficiency Portfolio) Supervised professional experience in communications. Contract required. (May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.)

ACOM 549 Service Learning Internship. (1-3) (Consent of instructor and successful completion of Rising Junior Writing Proficiency Portfolio) The course provides the opportunity to apply principles of effective communication in community service projects. In addition to the work in a community charitable organization, a paper synthesizing the theories and principles of communication relevant to the community service project is required. Contract required. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours.

ACOM 598 Advanced Selected Topics. (1-3) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Topics in communications. Individual topics to be announced with suffix and title. Course may be taken twice with different topics.

S. Thomas Mack, Department Chair
Karl F. Fornes, Writing Room Director
Lynne Rhodes, Writing Assessment Director

Professors
J. Donald Blount (Comparative Literature), Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1973
Phebe E. Davidson (English), Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1991
    Carolina Trustee Professor
    G. L. Toole Chair in English
Stephen L. Gardner (English), Ph.D., Oklahoma State University, 1979
Sue Lorch (English), Ph.D., University of Louisville, 1976
S. Thomas Mack, (English), Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1976
J. Stanley Rich (English), Ph.D., University of Alabama, 1979

Associate Professors
William Claxon (English), Ph.D., Indiana University, 1984
Daniel Miller (English), Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, 1970
Lynne A. Rhodes (English), Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1996

Assistant Professor
Jill Hampton (English), Ph.D., Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, 1999

Senior Instructor
Ilona Ilinitch Law (English), M.A., New York University, 1974

Instructors
Karl F. Fornes (English), M.A., University of Dayton, 1992
Linda Lee Harper (English), M.F.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1985
Eunita Ochola (Linguistics), Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 2001

Lecturers
Silvia Powledge (ESL), M.S., Texas Wesleyan University, 1992
Gregory White Smith (English), A.B., Colby College, 1973
Marva LaVern Stewart (English), M.A., Atlanta University, 1978
 

Distinguished Professor Emerita
Ann Adele Lee (Comparative Literature), Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1978
 

Department Mission Statement

The USCA English Department’s mission is to provide students with an understanding and appreciation of the written word, both as writers and as readers of significant literature.

To that end, the Department has three major purposes:

The Writing Room. The Writing Room, located in Humanities and Social Sciences Building 112, is open to all USCA undergraduate and graduate students seeking feedback on any of their written projects. Students are welcome to drop by but appointments are recommended. Qualified students can become consultants in the Writing Room, earning valuable experience, academic credit, and financial compensation. The Writing Room is open regular daytime and evening hours. For more information, call extension 3262 or visit the On-line Writing Room at http://www.usca.edu/writingroom/

Special Courses. In addition to regular course offerings, the English Department also offers special topics and special interest courses. Some of these courses, such as creative writing, are offered on a regular basis, while others can be offered when there is sufficient student demand.

The Oswald Review.  The USCA Department of English sponsors The Oswald Review, a national journal of undergraduate research and criticism in the discipline of English. Published annually, The Oswald Review, is a refereed journal that accepts submission from undergraduates in the field of English in this country and abroad. For more information, visit the journal homepage at the following address: http://www.usca.edu/english/pub.asp

Broken Ink. The English Department supports Broken Ink, USCA’s award winning literary magazine. The magazine, produced entirely by student staff and contributors, is published twice annually and offers students from all departments the opportunity to publish their creative writing and art, as well as provide experience in editing, layout, and magazine production.

Sigma Tau Delta. The English Department sponsors a campus chapter (Epsilon Upsilon) of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. This international organization recognizes academic achievement and promotes interest in literature and the English language; membership is offered on an invitational basis to superior students majoring or minoring in English or pursuing degrees in English Education or Interdisciplinary Studies with an English concentration.

Oswald Freshman Writing Award. The Oswald Freshman Writing Award is presented annually on a competitive basis to a first-year student who demonstrates excellence in expository writing. The award is a 500-hundred-dollar scholarship.

Kaplan Writing Award. The Kaplan Writing Award is given annually on a competitive basis to the student whose writing exemplifies the qualities valued and stressed by Professor Virginia Kaplan during her years of teaching English at USCA: depth of thought, clarity of expression and command of language.

Oswald Creative Writing Award. Through the generosity of James L. Oswald of Aiken, the Oswald Creative Writing Award is offered annually on a competitive basis to a full-time student at USCA whose work demonstrates superior achievement in creative writing. The award includes a 500-hundred-dollar cash prize.

James and Mary Oswald Distinguished Writers Series. Each year the English Department brings to Aiken a number of distinguished visiting writers. Also, the series typically presents younger, less established artists, having showcased many talented writers at the beginning of their careers. During the past ten years, such significant literary personalities as Nikky Finney, Peter Taylor, Marge Piercy, Mark Strand, Donald Hall, Alison Lurie, and Robert Creeley have given public readings and have met with USCA students. All presentations by visiting writers are free and open to the public.

The Devil’s Millhopper.The English Department is the home of TDM Press, an internationally recognized small publisher founded in 1976 and edited by Stephen Gardner. The Press conducts several annual poetry competitions, the winners of which are published as chapbooks.

Palanquin Press. Founded by editor Phebe Davidson in 1987, Palanquin publishes occasional full-length volumes of poems. This small poetry press is devoted to the publication of new and established poets. The press has published books by Lawrence Raab, Stephen Dunn, John Repp, Carol Frith and Lois Marie Harrod, among others.

Internships. The Department of English administers a number of internship opportunities so that those students majoring in English can gain hands-on experience in professional writing. These include internship agreements with local businesses and government agencies and campus-based small presses and scholarly journals. The Department of English maintains an ongoing internship arrangement with both The Aiken Standard and the Aiken Center for the Arts. Interested students should see the Department Chair for more information.

The Rising Junior Proficiency Portfolio in Writing required of all students is described within the General Education Requirements on page 45.

Curricula
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in English is designed to be flexible enough to provide the student with an adequate background for graduate studies in English or preparation for such professions as law, medicine, the ministry, advertising, communications and technical writing.

A grade of C or better in English 102, or its equivalent, is a prerequisite for all other English courses.

Bachelor in Arts—Major in English

1.    General Education Requirements................................................. 50-52

        A.    Skills and Competencies¹....................................................... 21-23
               English 101 and 102².......................................................................6
                   Composition/Composition and Literature
                Math/Statistics/Logic....................................................................... 6
                Applied Speech Communication³.................................................... 3
                Foreign Language⁴.......................................................................6-8
        B.    Methods and History of Disciplines⁵.........................................29
                Natural Sciences............................................................................. 8
                    Biology, Chemistry, Physics,
                    Geology, Astronomy (2 labs)
                Social and Behavioral Sciences (two areas)..................................... 6
                    Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology,
                    Economics, Political Science, Geography
                Humanities (at least two areas)........................................................ 9                                                                                                     
                    Philosophy (not logic),  
                    History, Literature, Fine Arts History,
                    Humanities (AHUM acronym), Religion,
                    Foreign Language (200 level and above)
                    Communications (last two digits in 50s or 60s)
               History of Civilization (AHST 101 or AHST 102)........................... 3
              American Political Institutions........................................................... 3
                   (APLS 201, AHST 201, or AHST 202)

2.    Survey Requirements......................................................................... 12
       AEGL 284, 285, 288, and 289
      

English majors may use six of these twelve hours toward satisfying the Humanities component of the General Education Requirements. All English majors are also strongly advised to complete their survey requirements before enrolling in upper-level classes.

3.     Major Requirements (300 level or above)....................................... 24
        One course from each of the following areas:
        Area I:
            British Literature
            (AEGL 401, 408, 409, 411, 412, 416, 417, 419, 423, 424)
        Area II:
            American Literature
            (AEGL 425, 426, 427, 428, 430, 431, 449)
        Area III:
            Major Author Studies (AEGL 494)
        Area IV:
            Linguistics (AEGL 301, 450, 453, 459)
        Area V:
            World Literature and Areas of Interest
            (AEGL 389, 390, 391, 393, 394, 415, 434, 435, 474, 483, 484, 491)
        Area VI:
            Writing
            (AEGL 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 466, 468, 469)
        Area VII:
            Shakespeare (AEGL 407)
       Area VIII⁶:
            Senior Thesis or Seminar
            (AEGL 496 or AEGL 499)

4.     Electives in English.......................................................................... 12
        Any four courses from areas I-VI, above

5.     Required Cognate or Minor...................................................... 12-18
        Cognate............................................................................................. 12
        Minor................................................................................................ 18

6.     Electives....................................................................................... 2-16

Total hours required⁵.............................................................................120

1 For undergraduate writing proficiency, see Proficiency Portfolio in Writing described on page 45.
2 Students must complete English 101 with a grade of C or better in order to fulfill general education requirements. Students must also complete AEGL 102 with a grade of C or better in order to fulfill general education requirements and before taking other English courses.
3 The following are considered Applied Speech Communication courses: ACOM 201, ACOM 241, ACOM 342, and ACOM 440. Some majors may require a specific course so students should consult requirements for their major.
4 Two (2) semesters of the same language. See degree program requirements for Foreign Language study.
5 At least 3 hours must be in non-Western world studies, unless an approved non-Western world studies course has been completed elsewhere in the student’s degree program.
6 The proficiency portfolio in writing is a general education requirement that must be satisfied before any student attempts the senior Thesis or senior seminar requirements.

Writing Concentration (option for English majors only)

Students wishing a degree program that is more writing intensive can supplement their major requirements with the following writing concentration. This concentration requires 3 hours of coursework in Theory and 9 hours of coursework in Practical Applications. Total required hours: 12.

AEGL 460 Advanced Composition........................................................................................  3
AEGL 484 Literacy and Literature..........................................................................................  3
AEGL 468 Studies in Writing*................................................................................................  3
AEGL 469 Rhetoric of Science...............................................................................................  3

AEGL 461 Writing About the Arts........................................................................................... 3
AEGL 462 Technical Writing..................................................................................................  3
AEGL 463 Writing Workshop - Nonfiction.............................................................................. 3
AEGL 464 Writing Workshop - Poetry.................................................................................... 3                                                      
(may be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours)
AEGL 466 Writing Workshop - Fiction.................................................................................... 3
(may be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours)
 AEGL 468 Studies in Writing*................................................................................................ 3
AEGL 497 Directed Internship................................................................................................. 3
(may be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours)

Total hours required............................................................................................................ 12

* AEGL 468, Studies in Writing, is a special topics course that may apply to either Theory or to Practical Applications depending on the nature of the project defined by the student and instructor.

The English faculty recommends that students planning to attend graduate school take the second year of a foreign language. It is also advisable that the student take as electives as many upper-level English courses as possible.

Students seeking the bachelor’s degree in English must earn a grade of C or better in all required English courses at the 200 level and above in order for those courses to count toward their major program. Students can repeat courses in which they make a grade of less than C.

English majors are limited to no more than 6 hours of AEGL 399 and/or AEGL 495 credit.

An exit survey is required of all graduating seniors.

Minor in Literature

Prerequisites:

AEGL 101 Composition
AEGL 102 Composition and Literature

200 and 300 level courses, including at least

one of the following surveys:................................................................................................ 6-9

All other courses on the 400 level with at least one course each in American and British literature........ 9-12

Minor in Writing

The Writing Minor is designed for students who are not English Majors. Students wishing a minor in Writing must complete 6 hours of coursework in Theory and an additional 12 hours in Practical Applications. Total required hours: 18.

AEGL 460 Advanced Composition........................................................................................ 3
AEGL 484 Literacy and Literature.......................................................................................... 3
AEGL 468 Studies in Writing*................................................................................................ 3
AEGL 469 Rhetoric of Science............................................................................................... 3

AEGL 461 Writing About the Arts.......................................................................................... 3
AEGL 462 Technical Writing.................................................................................................. 3
AEGL 463 Writing Workshop - Nonfiction............................................................................. 3
AEGL 464 Writing Workshop - Poetry................................................................................... 3
(may be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours)
AEGL 466 Writing Workshop - Fiction................................................................................... 3
 (may be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours)
AEGL 468 Studies in Writing*................................................................................................. 3
AEGL 497 Directed Internship................................................................................................. 3
(may be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours)
ACOM 430 Feature Writing.................................................................................................... 3
ACOM Freelance Writing........................................................................................................ 3

* AEGL 468, Studies in Writing, is a special topics course that may apply to either Theory or to Practical Applications depending on the nature of the project defined by the student and instructor.

Certificate Program in Writing

This post-baccalaureate, completion certificate program is designed for students who have already earned a college degree but are seeking coursework in writing for work-related purposes or for personal growth and satisfaction. Individuals wishing a Certificate in Writing from USCA must complete 15 hours of course work in writing of which at least three must be in theory. Entry requirements: interview with and portfolio to program director. Total required hours: 15.

AEGL 460 Advanced Composition......................................................................................... 3
AEGL 468 Studies in Writing*................................................................................................ 3
AEGL 484 Literacy and Literature.......................................................................................... 3
AEGL 469 Rhetoric of Science............................................................................................... 3

AEGL 461 Writing About the Arts......................................................................................... 3
AEGL 462 Technical Writing................................................................................................. 3
AEGL 463 Writing Workshop - Nonfiction............................................................................ 3
AEGL 464 Writing Workshop - Poetry.................................................................................. 3
(may be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours)
AEGL 466 Writing Workshop - Fiction.................................................................................. 3
 (may be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours)
AEGL 468 Studies in Writing*............................................................................................... 3
AEGL 497 Directed Internship..............................................................................................  3
(may be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours)

* AEGL 468, Studies in Writing, is a special topics course that may apply to either Theory or to Practical Applications depending on the nature of the project defined by the student and instructor.

Add-On Teacher Certification in English
Students can earn certification in English through the "add-on" certification process. Interested students should consult with the Head of the School of Education to have their transcripts evaluated and to learn more about specific requirements.

Applied Writing Courses
The following English courses are applied writing courses: 201, 264, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 466, 468 and 469.

Applied writing courses cannot be used to satisfy General Education Requirements; see B.3 (Methods and History of Disciplines: Humanities).

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Course Descriptions

English Language and Literature (AEGL)

AEGL 101 Composition. (3) A course in the composing process with attention to invention, arrangement, and style and closely supervised practice in reading and writing. Students must complete AEGL 101 with a grade of C or better in order to fulfill English general education requirements. (Every semester)

AEGL 102 Composition and Literature. (3) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in AEGL 101) A course in the writing of expository and critical essays with an introduction to literature and including a research paper. Students must complete AEGL 102 with a grade of C or better in order to fulfill English general education requirements. (Every semester)

AEGL 111 English as a Second Language. (3) A course designed to offer practice in and promote further development of essential listening, speaking, reading and writing skills for those students for whom English is their second language. (May be repeated for credit up to 6 hours; may be taken concurrently with AEGL 101 or 102).

AEGL 201 Writing in the University. (3) (Prereq: Registration based on portfolio proficiency evaluation between 60-75 hours and grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) An intensive writing course stressing applications of writing and rhetorical skills in a variety of academic writing contexts. For elective credit only. Students must complete the course with a grade of C or better to satisfy the rising junior writing proficiency requirement. (Every semester)

AEGL 264 Introduction to Creative Writing. (3) A beginning course in the theory and practice of writing poetry, fiction, and drama. (Every fall)

AEGL 265 Writing Center Theory and Application. (1-3) (Prereq: Consent of instructor) A survey and application of writing center and collaborative writing theories with specific emphasis on writing consultation and practice in the USCA Writing Room. (Repeatable to six hours.)

AEGL 280 Contemporary Drama. (3) A study of the nature and significance of contemporary drama.

AEGL 281 The Novel to 1920. (3) A study of significant novels in Western literature from the Renaissance to 1920. (Spring, odd years)

AEGL 282 Contemporary Fiction. (3) A study of the nature and significance of contemporary fiction.

AEGL 283 Contemporary Poetry. (3) A study of the nature and significance of contemporary poetry.

AEGL 284 Survey of American Literature I. (3) A study of American literature from its beginning to the Civil War. (Every fall)

AEGL 285 Survey of American Literature II. (3) A survey of American literature from the Civil War to the present. (Every spring)

AEGL 288 Survey of British Literature I. (3) Extensive reading in the works of major writers from the Beowulf poet through the 17th century. (Every fall)

AEGL 289 Survey of British Literature II. (3) Extensive reading in the works of major writers from the 18th century through the Modern Age. (Every spring)

AEGL 290 Introduction to Women’s Literature (3) A survey of literature by women writing in the English language. The course is historically based and emphasizes women’s perceptions of themselves as writers and participants in their own culture. (Every semester)

AEGL 291 Introduction to Non-Western Literature. (3) A study of selected literatures of non-Western cultural traditions. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement; offered every semester)

AEGL 301 Introduction to Human Language. (3) ( Prereq: AEGL 102) A study of the design and function of human language: sound systems, word systems, and sentence patterns; language acquisition; language history; relationships to social contexts and to the mind. English will be the primary language for illustration. This course fulfills the general education requirement in the humanities. (Every spring)

AEGL 389 Classical Mythology. (3) A study of the nature and significance of myths, with emphasis on the major Greek and Roman myths of divinities and heroes. (Students who received credit for AEGL 110 may not take this course for credit.) (Spring, even years.)

AEGL 390 Great Books of the Western World I. (3) A comparative study (in translation) of great books from antiquity to the beginning of the Renaissance. (Fall, odd years)

AEGL 391 Great Books of the Western World II. (3) A comparative study (in translation) of great books from the Renaissance to the present. (Spring, even years)

AEGL 393 Film and Society. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102 with C or better) Film as cultural text, with special emphasis on the relation between the film and its cultural/critical context. (Spring, even years)

AEGL 394 Images of Women in Film & Fiction. (3) A study of the evolving images of women as they are presented in film and fiction. (Fall, even years).

AEGL 399 Independent Study. (3-6) Directed independent study. A student chooses a project and finds a professor willing to work with him/her. (Every semester)

AEGL 401 Chaucer. (3) Chaucer’s works, with special attention to The Canterbury Tales. (Spring, odd years)

AEGL 407 Shakespeare. (3) A study of the plays of Shakespeare. (Every spring)

AEGL 408 Seventeenth Century British Literature. (3) A survey of the major writers of the seventeenth century including Milton. The course concentrates on poetry and the broad cultural context in which it was produced. Some prose may be included.

AEGL 409 Early British Drama. (3) A survey of major dramatic works in England from its beginnings in the Middle Ages through the Jacobean Era. Excludes Shakespeare. (Fall, odd years)

AEGL 411 The Eighteenth Century. (3) A survey of British literature from 1660 to 1800.

AEGL 412 Contemporary British Fiction. (3) A study of representative contemporary British writers of the latter half of the 20th Century with special emphasis on the cultural context of the works and on developing criteria for evaluating contemporary writing. Includes such writers as Iris Murdoch and John Fowles. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 415 Science Fiction. (3) A study of science fiction that offers students an opportunity to explore a significant literature of what is generally called "pop-culture" in relation to the generally acknowledged literary canon, and to explore its importance in an academic setting. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 416 The British Novel. (3) A survey of the English novel from DeFoe to Lawrence (representative authors will include Fielding, Austen, Scott, Dickens, George Eliot and Conrad). (Spring, even years.)

AEGL 417 Romanticism. (3) A study of the 18th century transition from Classicism to Romanticism and of the 19th century masters: Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelly and Keats. (Fall, even years)

AEGL 419 The Victorian Age. (3) A survey of Victorian prose and poetry. (Spring, odd years)

AEGL 423 Modern British Literature. (3) A survey of 20th century British literature with representative readings from the poets, the dramatists and the novelists. (Fall, odd years)

AEGL 424 Studies in British Literature. (3) Intensive study of selected topics. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 425 Early American Literature. (3) A study of representative works from the nation’s colonial beginnings to 1800 with special emphasis on Puritan, Neoclassical and Pre-Romantic writers. (Fall, odd years)

AEGL 426 American Romanticism. (3) A study of representative works from 1800 to the Civil War with special emphasis on such major figures as Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, Emerson and Thoreau. (Spring, even years)

AEGL 427 American Realism. (3) A study of representative works from the Civil War to 1910 with special emphasis on such literary subcategories as naturalism and the local color movement and such major figures as Whitman, Dickinson, Crane, Twain and James. (Fall, even years)

AEGL 428 Modern American Writers. (3) A study of American thought in literature since World War I. Particular emphasis is placed upon regional schools, their techniques, their philosophies. (Spring, odd years)

AEGL 430 Southern Literature. (3) A study of representative writers of the American South with special emphasis on the cultural context of the works. Includes such writers as Zora Neale Hurston, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Robert Penn Warren, Eudora Welty, and Alice Walker. (Fall, odd years)

AEGL 431 American Autobiography. (3) A survey of American autobiography that considers work by writers of various backgrounds, cultures and historical periods. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 434 The Russian Novel in Translation. (3) A survey of the Russian novel from Pushkin to Pasternak, including such writers as Gogol, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and Turgenev. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 435 African and African-American Literature. (3) A Comparative study of representative African and African-American writers with special emphasis on the cultural context of the works. Includes such African writers as Achebe and Soyinka and such African-American writers as Ellison and Morrison. Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 449 Studies in American Literature. (3) Intensive study of selected topics. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 450 English Grammar. (3) Study of traditional, structural and generative systems of English. (Fall, even years)

AEGL 453 Development of the English Language (3) English from Indo-European through Germanic and into Old English, Middle English and Modern English. No previous knowledge of Old English or Middle English is required. (Fall, odd years)

AEGL 459 Studies in English Linguistics. (3) Intensive study of selected topics. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 460 Advanced Composition. (3) Extensive practice in different types of expository and persuasive nonfiction writing, along with an overview of rhetorical theory and current composition research. (Every fall)

AEGL 461 Writing About the Arts. (3) Workshop in writing about the fine and performing arts, including an introduction to the vocabulary of the arts and practice in composing critical responses to selected campus cultural offerings. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 462 Technical Writing. (3) Preparation for and practice in reporting technical information logically and lucidly for a variety of audiences.

AEGL 463 Writing Workshop - Nonfiction. (3) Practice and discussion of the basic techniques of writing creative nonfiction, such as memoir, personal essay , nature essay, travel memoir, etc. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 464 Writing Workshop-Poetry. (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Practice and discussion of basic techniques of writing poetry. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours. (Spring, odd years)

AEGL 466 Writing Workshop - Fiction. (3) Practice and discussion of basic techniques of writing fiction. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours. (Spring, even years)

AEGL 468 Studies in Writing. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102 with C or better) Advanced theory and practice in selected genres. Choice of genres to be studied varies with instructor. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 469 Rhetoric of Science. (3) An exploration of writing in the sciences, with an overview of current rhetorical theory applicable to the sciences and a contemporary critique of scientific writing.

AEGL 474 Recent Western Drama. (3) Critical studies of English, European and American dramatists from Ibsen to the present. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 483 Theory of Literary Criticism. (3) Various theories of literary criticism with aim of establishing standards of judgment. Includes practice of criticizing literary works, including the several types. (Every spring)

AEGL 484 Literacy and Literature. (3) Explores the concepts of and relationships between literacy and literature in four media cultures: oral, manuscript, print, and electronic. (Fall, even years)

AEGL 491 Studies in Comparative Literature. (3) Intensive studies in selected topics (Offered on demand).

AEGL 494 Studies in Major Authors. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102 with C or better) Intensive study of one or two major authors. This is a special topics course; choice of author or authors varies with instructor. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 495 Independent Reading and Research. (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor)

AEGL 496 Senior Thesis. (3) (Prereq: Senior standing, completion of at least 12 hours at the 300 level or above, permission of instructor and department chair, and successful completion of junior writing portfolio or AEGL 201). Directed independent research and writing project. The English major may choose to explore in depth a literary topic of special interest or to produce an original work and to place this work into the context of the appropriate tradition. Topic choice will be made by student and instructor with approval by department chair. The thesis of 25-30 pages will be defended before a committee of three faculty members, including the thesis director, the department chair and /or BIS director, and one additional faculty member chosen by the student. All thesis students and their faculty directors will meet as a group during the semester for discussion of the process. A transcript designation, "Exceptional work on the senior thesis," may be given if recommended by the faculty thesis committee (Offered on demand).

AEGL 497 Directed Internship. (1-3) (Prereq: Junior standing, consent of department) Supervised professional experience in writing. (May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours)

AEGL 499 Senior Seminar. (3) (Prereq: Senior standing, completion of at least 12 hours at the 300 level or above, consent of instructor, and successful completion of junior writing portfolio or AEGL 201). A seminar in which the students apply to instructor-selected literature the critical and analytical skills developed in their previous course work. Students will produce a critical analytical paper of approximately fifteen pages on literature of their own choosing. The course will culminate in an oral defense of the final paper within the context of the seminar and before the faculty seminar committee. (Offered every spring).

R.L. Andrews, Department Chair

Associate Professors
Stanley F. Levine (French/Latin), Ph.D., Stanford University, 1984
Karl L. Stenger (German), Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1984

Assistant  Professors
Narciso J. Hidalgo (Spanish), Ph.D., Indiana University, 1999
        Postdoctoral Mellon Fellowship at Oberlin College, 2002-2004
Beth Zeiss (Spanish), Ph.D., University of Texas Austin, 2001

Instructor
R. L. Andrews (Spanish), M.A., University of Kentucky, 1990

Lecturer
Silvia Powledge (ESL, Italian, Spanish), M.S., Texas Wesleyan University, 1992

Distinguished Professor Emerita
Ann Adele Lee (Spanish, Comparative Literature), Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1978
 

Department Mission Statement
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures recognizes that we live in a world where there is an increasing need for effective communication among peoples of diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. The departmental programs therefore strive to provide undergraduate students with communicative competence in a second language, understanding of and appreciation for other cultures, and insight into the experiences of other peoples.

Curricula
USCA offers first-year courses of French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish as well as intermediate and advanced courses as demand warrants.

Foreign Language Placement (French, German, Spanish)

• Students beginning to study a new language enroll in 101.
• Students enrolling in a language that they have previously studied (whether in high school or in college) must take the computerized USCA placement exam BEFORE advisement and registration to determine their appropriate skill/knowledge level so that they can register for an appropriate-level course. Students can take the computerized placement exam at their convenience and immediately can receive their placement results.
• Students who place in 103 or higher and pass the course will have completed USC Aiken’s Foreign Language Requirement.

Students can take the online, web-based placement exam at http://www.usca.edu/foreignlangexam.

Waiver of Foreign Language Requirement for Bilingual Speakers
Students whose native language is other than English, and who have scored either 500 on the paper-based or 173 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), are exempt, without credit, from USC Aiken’s language requirement.

The Language Learning Center
The Language Learning Center supports the integration of technology into language instruction and linguistic acquisition. Through methods such as aural-oral programs, video, and internet access, the Language Learning Center provides students with opportunities to acquire, develop, and practice effective communicative skills and to gain insight into and appreciation of diverse cultures and peoples. Students use the center to complete homework assignments and class projects.

The Language Learning Center is located in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building (Room 107) with open hours posted each semester.

Tutoring Services
USC Aiken provides student-tutoring services for introductory French, German, and Spanish classes. For more information, contact the Office of Academic Support Services located in the library.

Minor in Spanish

Prerequisites

Any ASPA course not satisfying above requirements, AHST 362, AHST 423, or APLS 488

Add-On Teacher Certification in Spanish

Students can earn certification in Spanish through the "add-on" certification process. Initially certified individuals who complete 18 hours of electives in Spanish (210 and above) and pass the content area of the PRAXIS II exam can qualify for certification in Spanish. Students should consult with the Spanish program coordinator or the Head of the School of Education concerning specific requirements for add-on certification in Spanish.

Course Descriptions

Foreign Languages and Literatures

Introductory language courses are sequential (101, 102, 103, 201, 202, 210); each lower numbered course is a prerequisite for the next one in the sequence. For entrance into any course except 101, the student must have taken the previous course or have placed into that level. It is not permissible for a student to enroll in one of the above courses with a lower number than any other course in that language which the student has successfully completed with a grade of C or better. (For example, enrolling in 101 after completing 102 with a grade of C or better will not be allowed.)

Courses taught in translation (such as 380, 388, 397, or 398) do not have a foreign language prerequisite and cannot be used to satisfy the foreign language requirement.

AFOR 101 Selected Languages. (4) Fundamentals of language through speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Specific languages (Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, and others) will be offered as demand warrants. Courses will be announced in the schedule of classes by suffix and title.

AFOR 102 Selected Languages. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in AFOR 101) Continued study of the fundamentals of language through speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Specific languages (Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, and others) will be offered as demand warrants. Courses will be announced in the schedule of classes by suffix and title.

AFOR 395 Topics in Selected Languages. (1-4) (Prereq: as determined by topic) Study of selected topics in language, literature and culture. Course content varies and will be announced in the schedule of classes by suffix and title.

French (AFRE)

AFRE 101 Beginning French. (4) (Prereq: See placement procedures on page 61) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak French, and to understand spoken French at the most basic level, as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

AFRE 102 Elementary French. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in AFRE 101 or by placement) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak French, and to understand spoken French at a basic level, as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

AFRE 103 Basic Proficiency in French. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in AFRE 102 or by placement) Class activities develop a basic proficiency in French: students will practice initiating, sustaining, and concluding conversations on a wide variety of topics; providing and obtaining information (in present, past, future); expressing and defending opinions; writing guided paragraphs of various lengths; and understanding well-articulated native speech at normal pace.

AFRE 201 Intermediate French. (3) (Prereq: AFRE 103 or by placement exam) Review of the basic principles of grammar with emphasis on reading, writing and oral skills.

AFRE 202 Intermediate French. (3) (Prereq: AFRE 201 or advanced standing in the language) Continued review of the basic principles of grammar with emphasis on reading, writing and oral skills.

AFRE 388 Selected Non-Western Topics in Translation. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102) Intensive study of selected topics of the non-Western French-speaking world (Africa, Asia, the Caribbean), with specific topics announced for each offering of the course. May be repeated with permission of instructor. Cannot be used to satisfy the foreign language requirement. No previous knowledge of French necessary. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement.)

AFRE 395 Selected Topics. (1-4) (Prereq: AFRE 103, or permission of instructor, or by placement exam) Intensive study of selected topics of French and the French-speaking world, with specific topics announced for each offering of the course.

AFRE 398 Selected Topics in Translation. (1-4) (Prereq: AEGL 102) Intensive studies in selected authors or literary movements of France and the French-speaking world, with specific topics announced for each semester/year. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.

AFRE 399 Independent Study. (1-6) (Prereq: permission of instructor)

German (AGER)

AGER 101 Beginning German. (4) (Prereq: See placement procedures on page 61) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak German, and to understand spoken German at the most basic level, as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

AGER 102 Elementary German. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in AGER 101 or by placement) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak German, and to understand spoken German at a basic level, as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

AGER 103 Basic Proficiency in German. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in AGER 102 or by placement) Class activities develop a basic proficiency in German: students will practice initiating, sustaining, and concluding conversations on a wide variety of topics; providing and obtaining information (in present, past, future); expressing and defending opinions; writing guided paragraphs of various lengths; and understanding well-articulated native speech at normal pace.

AGER 201 Intermediate German. (3) (Prereq: AGER 103 or by placement examination) Review of the basic principles of grammar with emphasis on reading writing and oral skills.

AGER 202 Intermediate German. (3) (Prereq: AGER 201 or advanced standing in the language) Continued review of the basic principles of grammar with emphasis on reading, writing and oral skills.

AGER 395 Selected Topics. (1-4) (Prereq: AGER 103, or permission of instructor, or by placement exam) Intensive study of selected topics of German and the German-speaking world, with specific topics announced for each offering of the course.

AGER 397 German Film. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102) The course investigates how post WWII German filmmakers deal with the Nazi past and the Third Reich. In addition, films by the most important contemporary German filmmakers (Fassbinder, Schloendorff, Herzog, Wenders, etc.) will be analyzed. Films will be in German with English subtitles or dubbed. Taught in English. No prior knowledge of German is required. Satisfies the humanities requirement.

AGER 398 Selected Topics in Translation. (1-4) (Prereq: AEGL 102) Intensive studies in selected authors or literary movements of the German speaking countries. Specific topics to be announced each semester/year. May be repeated with permission of instructor.

AGER 399 Independent Study. (1-6) (Prereq: permission of instructor)

Italian (AITL)

AITL 101 Beginning Italian. (4) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak Italian, and to understand spoken Italian at the most basic level, as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

AITL 102 Elementary Italian. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in AITL 101) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak Italian, and to understand spoken Italian at a basic level, as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

AITL 103 Basic Proficiency in Italian. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in AITL 102 or by consent of department) Class activities develop a basic proficiency in Italian: students will practice initiating, sustaining, and concluding conversations on a wide variety of topics; providing and obtaining information (in present, past, future); expressing and defending opinions; writing guided paragraphs of various lengths; and understanding well-articulated native speech at normal pace.

AITL 201 Intermediate Italian. (3) (Prereq: AITL 103 or by placement exam) Practice and further development of listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills.

AITL 395 Selected Topics. (1-4) (Prereq: AITL 201 or permission of instructor) Intensive study of selected topics in language, literature and culture with specific topics announced for each offering of the course.

AITL 398 Selected Topics in Translation. (1-4) (Prereq: AEGL 102) Intensive study of selected topics in literature and culture. Specific topics to be announced each semester/year. May be repeated with permission of instructor.

Latin (ALAT)

ALAT 101 Beginning Latin. (4) Study of the fundamentals of the language at the most basic level, with an emphasis on reading Latin as well as enriching one’s English vocabulary, and examining the cultural context of Latin (Roman way of life, art, architecture, history, literature, etc.). The evolution of modern European languages from Latin will also be studied.

ALAT 102 Elementary Latin. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in ALAT 101 or by consent of department) Study of the fundamentals of the Latin language at a basic level, with an emphasis on reading Latin as well as enriching one’s English vocabulary, and examining the cultural context of Latin (Roman way of life, art, architecture, history, literature, etc.).

ALAT 103 Basic Proficiency in Latin. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in ALAT 102 or by consent of department) Study of the Latin language and Roman culture, with an emphasis on reading Latin as well as enriching one’s English vocabulary and grammatical sensitivity. The course will complete the explanation of the main points of Latin grammar, will provide opportunities to read authentic Latin texts, and will examine aspects of Roman culture in greater depth.

ALAT 395 Selected Topics. (1-4) (Prereq: sophomore standing) Reading and study of selected classical topics in language, literature and culture. Course content varies and will be announced in the schedule of classes by suffix and title.

ALAT 399 Independent Study. (1-6) (Prereq: permission of instructor)

Spanish (ASPA)

ASPA 101 Beginning Spanish. (4) (Prereq: See placement procedures on page 61) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak Spanish, and to understand spoken Spanish at the most basic level, as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

ASPA 102 Elementary Spanish. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in ASPA 101 or by placement) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak Spanish, and to understand spoken Spanish at a basic level, as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

ASPA 103 Basic Proficiency in Spanish. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in ASPA 102 or by placement) Class activities develop a basic proficiency in Spanish: students will practice initiating, sustaining, and concluding conversations on a wide variety of topics; providing and obtaining information (in present, past, future); expressing and defending opinions; writing guided paragraphs of various lengths; and understanding well-articulated native speech at normal pace.

ASPA 210 Spanish Conversation. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 103 or by placement exam) Oral-aural practice in spoken Spanish with emphasis on fundamental conversational skills, vocabulary expansion, pronunciation, intonation, fluidity, and comprehension. Discussion of readings in Hispanic culture to provide conversational context and to increase vocabulary. Some written work to increase accuracy.

ASPA 216 Spanish for Business. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 103 or by placement exam) The course is an oral-written proficiency based language course and aims to integrate the Spanish language study with the general study of business practices in Spanish and Latin American contexts. An upper level Spanish language course with business as the content-base and a particular focus on the linguistic acquisition of the Spanish language for the purpose of conduction commercial negotiations.

ASPA 217 Spanish for Public Service. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 103 or by placement exam) This course develops oral and aural proficiency in public service-related interactions where Spanish is the principal means of communication through practical situations and role-playing. The course studies and focuses on a multicultural awareness and understanding of Latino attitudes. The course assumes a basic understanding of Spanish grammar and Preterit vs Imperfect verbs. Taught in Spanish.

ASPA 309 Intermediate Composition and Grammar. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 210 or 4th semester Spanish) A review of Spanish structures, verbs, idioms, and vocabulary with an introduction to stylistics. Readings from Hispanic texts will form the basis for compositions. Some aural/oral work to increase accuracy.

ASPA 310 Intermediate Conversation. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 309) Practice in spoken Spanish with an emphasis on vocabulary, verb forms, intonation, pronunciation, and comprehension. Readings from Hispanic texts will form basis for conversations. Some written work to increase accuracy.

ASPA 311 Introduction to Hispanic Texts. (3) (Prereq or Coreq: ASPA 309) This course prepares students to read longer texts in Spanish and develops their ability to analyze short stories, poems, and plays. Students will examine some key aspects of literary analysis (such as consideration of theme, style, character development, rhetorical figures, poetic voice and imagery.)

ASPA 320 Survey of Latin American Literature. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 311) Reading and discussion of the pre-Columbian encounter to the present. Critical analysis of works in their cultural, historical and literary context. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement.) (Students who have earned credit for ASPA 302 may not take this course for credit.)

ASPA 330 Latin American Civilization and Culture. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 309) Study of the basic historical, political, social, economic, and religious issues important to the forging of the cultural identity and heritage of Latin America. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement.) (Students who have earned credit for ASPA 305 may not take this course for credit.)

ASPA 340 Survey of Peninsular Literature. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 311) Reading and discussion of the classic literary works of Spain. Critical analysis of works in their cultural, historical and literary context. (Students who have earned credit for ASPA 301 may not take this course for credit.)

ASPA 350 Peninsular Civilization and Culture. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 309) Study of the basic historical, political, social, economic, and religious issues important to the forging of the cultural identity and heritage of Spain. (Students who have earned credit for ASPA 304 may not take this course for credit.)

ASPA 380 Hispanic Cultures and Identities. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102) Taught in English. Course explores the development of contemporary Latin American worldviews and identity by focusing on the various contributions of indigenous, European, and African peoples to the sense of identities and cultural traditions in the Americas. This course does not apply towards a Spanish minor. Cannot be used to satisfy the foreign language requirement. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement.)

ASPA 388 Selected Non-Western Topics in Translation. (1-4) (Prereq: AEGL 102) Taught in English. An intensive, critical study of selected topics in literature, culture, and civilization. Topics will address primarily Latin American issues. Specific topics will be announced each semester. May be repeated with permission of instructor. Cannot be used to satisfy foreign language requirement. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement.)

ASPA 397 Hispanic Film. (3) (Prereq: AEGL 102) The course will be taught in English and the films will have English subtitles. An introduction to Hispanic film with emphasis on its artistic, social, political, and cultural contexts. Students will analyze a variety of classic and contemporary films from Latin America, Spain, and the United States. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement)

ASPA 399 Independent Study. (1-6) (Prereq: permission of instructor)

ASPA 426 Afro-Hispanic Literatures. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 311) The course is an interdisciplinary approach to the confluence of African and Hispanic cultures in the Caribbean and continental regions. Readings and discussion of works in their cultural, historical, literary, and socio-economic context. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement).

ASPA 427 Literature of Social Protest. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 311) Study and analysis of the thematic use of socio-political elements in works by Latin American writers. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement).

ASPA 488 Selected Non-Western Topics. (1-4) (Prereq: ASPA 309 or permission of instructor) An intensive, critical study of selected topics in literature, culture, and civilization. Topics will address primarily Latin American issues. Specific topics will be announced each semester. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement.)

ASPA 498 Selected Topics. (1-4) (Prereq: ASPA 309 or permission of instructor) An intensive study of selected topics in literature, language, culture, civilization and theory. Specific topics will be announced each semester.

Yiddish (AYID)

AYID 121 Elementary Yiddish. (4) Fundamentals of Yiddish language through reading, listening, speaking and writing. In addition, representative European and American Yiddish prose and poetry will be read in English translation, with excerpts in Yiddish. Introduction to Jewish history, folklore, culture and traditions. Assumes no prior knowledge of the language.

AYID 122 Basic Proficiency in Yiddish. (4) (Prereq: a grade of C or better in AYID 121) Continued study of fundamentals of the language through reading, listening, speaking and writing.
 

Valdis O. Lumans, Department Chair

Professors
Robert E. Botsch (Political Science), Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1977, Carolina Trustee Professor,
John and Mary P. Grew Chair in American Studies
William S. Brockington, Jr. (History), Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1975
Valdis O. Lumans (History), Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1979, Cleora Toole Murray Chair in History
Girma Negash (Political Science), Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1982

Associate Professors
Carol Botsch (Political Science), Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1988
James O. Farmer (History), Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1982, June Rainsford Henderson Chair in Southern History
Elaine Lacy (History), Ph.D., Arizona State, 1991, Strom Thurmond Chair in Political Science or History
Blanche Premo-Hopkins (Philosophy), Ph.D., Marquette University, 1974

Assistant Professor
Maggi M. Morehouse (History), Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley, 2001

Instructor
Martin Scott Catino (History), Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi, 2003

Lecturers
Alexia J. Helsley (History), M.A., University of South Carolina, 1974
Clyde L. Ireland (Religious Studies), M.Div., Virginia Theological Seminary, 1954
Cornelia C. Lambert (History), M.A., University of Florida, 2001

Distinguished Professor Emeritus
W. Calvin Smith (History), Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1971

Professor Emeritus
George Bowdler (Political Science), Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1974

Department Mission Statement - History Program
The History Program, an exclusively undergraduate program leading to the BA degree, supports the USCA mission as written on page 1 of the USCA Bulletin and is designed to achieve these goals. In addition we have accepted as our specific mission the following : 1) Contribute to the humanistic, liberal education of all USCA students; 2) prepare History majors to meet program requirements and ultimately receive the BA degree in History; 3) provide auxiliary services for other disciplines (e.g., history courses as electives, cognates, minors and other curriculum requirements); 4) contribute to the overall development of the USCA academic community through faculty services activities; 5) contribute academic and scholarly expertise to the Aiken community and beyond. Our faculty strives to fulfill its mission primarily through instruction, research, and service, in particular the emphasis on pursuit of academic excellence.

Curricula
In order to be awarded a bachelor’s degree with a major in History or a major in Political Science, students must complete the basic requirements listed below and specific major requirements. The basic requirements include general education requirements (page 31, "Academic Regulations") and either a minor (18 hours) in a discipline other than the major discipline, or a cognate (12 hours), consisting of advanced courses in at least two different disciplines related to the student’s major interest. Political Science and History majors who either have a completed degree in another field, or are working on another degree concurrently, or have declared a double major, are not required to have a minor or cognate as a requirement for graduation. All course work counting towards the major, minor or cognate must be completed with at least a C grade. Courses in which a grade less than C is made may be repeated. Electives, courses not counting towards the general education requirements, major requirements, or either the minor or cognate, should be chosen to provide the student with the broadest possible education. Developmental courses will not count toward the 120 hour requirement for a bachelor’s degree in this department. The maximum number of credit hours for activities courses accepted for credit towards a Political Science or a History degree is four. The department chair will determine the applicability of all transfer courses towards degrees granted in the department. Transfer students working towards a degree in History or Political Science must take a minimum of 12 hours of major requirement courses at USCA. It is the student’s responsibility to plan a suitable course of study for her/his goals and to consult frequently with a major advisor as to the selection of courses. Each student is responsible for ensuring completion of all degree requirements and compilation of records of course work.

As a means of self-assessment, and as a requirement for graduation, all History and Political Science majors must compile, maintain and submit a portfolio of selected work from all of their courses required for the major. Each student will include in the portfolio (1) one important graded item (paper, exam, etc.) of choice from each major course; (2) a 1-2 page self-evaluation of his/her academic progress as reflected in the materials contained in the portfolio. The student’s advisor will supervise the collection of the necessary materials. The materials collected in the portfolio should reflect the academic development of the student and therefore will serve as a means of assessing the respective program. When applying for graduation, the student will submit the portfolio to the department chair, who will verify the completion of this requirement for graduation. In the case of a History graduate, the student will also select a committee of three History faculty and will arrange for an exit interview and a discussion of the portfolio with this committee, to be held at some time within two weeks prior to graduation. This interview will serve as an additional assessment tool for the History Program and will provide the student an opportunity to critique and evaluate the Program. Transfer students and USCA students who changed majors to History or Political Science will be responsible only for providing items from classes taken after transferring to USCA or after declaring either History or Political Science as a major.

Bachelor of Arts—Major in History
To fulfill the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in History a student must successfully complete at least 120 credit hours in academic subjects. All candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with a major in History must satisfy a set of general education requirements, listed below, which are designed to prevent any student from adopting too narrow an academic focus. In addition to these requirements the student must choose to pursue either a minor or a cognate. As a major requirement the student must take 31 hours of history courses numbered 300 or above.

AHST 300 should be taken as soon as possible after a history major attains sophomore status (30 hours).

History Honors Recognition: Senior History majors (90 hours or more) will be considered, by the department, as a "History Honors Major," upon completion of the Senior Honors Thesis, AHST 500, with the grade of B or higher. See the description of AHST 500 for prerequisites and conditions. AHST 500 may be included as one of nine 300 level and above courses (27 hours) required of History majors.

History majors may take up to 9 hours of independent study in history that will count towards the major and 6 hours in other disciplines for a maximum 15 hours of independent studies.

1.    General Education Requirements.................................................. 56-58
       A.    Skills and Competencies¹......................................................  21-23
               English 101 and 102²....................................................................... 6
                       Composition/Composition and Literature
              Math/Statistics/Logic......................................................................... 6
              Applied Speech Communication³.......................................................3
              Foreign Language⁴.........................................................................6-8
       B.    Methods and History of Disciplines⁵......................................... 35
               Natural Sciences.............................................................................. 8
                      Biology, Chemistry, Physics,
                      Geology, Astronomy (2 labs)
               Social and Behavioral Sciences (at least two areas)........................... 9
                       Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology,
                       Economics, Political Science, Geography
               Humanities (at least two areas)....................................................... 12
                       Philosophy (not logic),                       
                       History, Literature, Fine Arts History,
                       Humanities (AHUM acronym), Religion,
                       Foreign Language (200 level and above),
                       Philosophy (not logic),
                       Communications (last two digits in 50s or 60s)
                History of Civilization (AHST 101 or AHST 102)............................ 3
                American Political Institutions........................................................... 3
                   (APLS 201, AHST 201, or AHST 202)
2.        Major Requirements ........................................................................31
               AHST 300 Scope and Methods of History ........................................4
               History courses 300-level and above............................................... 27
               The 27 hours must be distributed as follows⁶:
                       United States History........................................................... 3-15
                       European .............................................................................3-15
                       Non-Western.......................................................................3-15
3.        Cognate or Minor........................................................................ 12-18
                Cognate......................................................................................... 12
                Minor............................................................................................. 18
4.        Free Electives.............................................................................. 13-21
Total hours required⁵.................................................................................120
1 For undergraduate writing proficiency, see Proficiency Portfolio in Writing described on page 45.
2 Students must complete English 101 with a grade of C or better in order to fulfill general education requirements. Students must also complete AEGL 102 with a grade of C or better in order to fulfill general education requirements and before taking other English courses.
3 The following are considered Applied Speech Communication courses: ACOM 201, ACOM 241, ACOM 342, and ACOM 440.
4 Two (2) semesters of the same language. See degree program requirements for Foreign Language study.
5 At least 3 hours must be in non-Western world studies, unless an approved non-Western world studies course has been completed elsewhere in the student’s degree program.
6 The department will determine the field of any course whose subject is general in nature and does not clearly fit any of the three fields.

Minor in History

All courses must be 200-level or higher

Requirements:
U.S. History...................................................... 6
Non-U.S. History.............................................. 6
Any area of History (student’s choice)................ 6
Total hours required...................................... 18

Department Mission Statement - Political Science Program
The Political Science Program, an exclusively undergraduate program leading to the BA degree, supports the USCA mission as written on page 1 of the USCA Bulletin and is designed to achieve these goals. In addition we have accepted as our specific mission the following: 1) Contribute to the humanistic, liberal education of all USCA students; 2) prepare Political Science majors to meet program requirements and ultimately receive the BA degree in Political Science; 3) provide auxiliary services for other disciplines (e.g., Political Science courses as electives, cognates, minors, and other curriculum requirements); 4) contribute to the overall development of the USCA community through faculty service activities; 5) contribute academic and professional expertise to the Aiken community and beyond. The faculty strives to fulfill its mission primarily through instruction, research, and service, and especially the pursuit of academic excellence.

Political Science Honors Recognition: Senior Political Science majors (90 hours or more) will be considered by the department as a "Political Science Honors Major, " upon completion of the Senior Honors Thesis, APLS 500, with the grade of B or higher. See the description of APLS 500 for prerequisites and conditions. APLS 500 will be included as one of five electives, either in Option #1 or Option #2 below.

Political Science —Bachelor of Arts
All candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Political Science must complete 120 credit hours of academic work, including the general education requirements listed below (56-58 hours), either a minor (18 hours) or a cognate (12 hours) (refer to description of minor and cognate under History requirements), and the following major requirements:

1.    General Education Requirements............................................................ 56-58
       A.    Skills and Competencies¹.................................................................. 21-23
               English 101 and 102² .................................................................................. 6
                   Composition/Composition and Literature
               Math/Statistics/Logic.................................................................................... 6
               Applied Speech Communication³..................................................................3
               Foreign Language⁴................................................................................... 6-8
       B.    Methods and History of Disciplines⁵....................................................  35
               Natural Sciences .........................................................................................8
                    Biology, Chemistry, Physics,
                    Geology, Astronomy (2 labs)
              Social and Behavioral Sciences (at least two areas) .......................................9
                    Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology,
                    Economics, Political Science, Geography
              Humanities (at least two areas).................................................................... 12
                    Philosophy (not logic),                    
                    History, Literature, Fine Arts History,
                    Humanities (AHUM acronym), Religion,
                    Foreign Language (200 level and above),
                    Communications (last two digits in 50s or 60s)
              History of Civilization (AHST 101 or AHST 102).......................................... 3
              American Political Institutions......................................................................... 3
                   (APLS 201, AHST 201, or AHST 202)

2.     Major Requirements...................................................................................... 37
               Common Core:
               APLS 101 or 103, and 110, 201, 301........................................................13
               American Government 300 level or above ....................................................3
               International Relations/Comparative Politics above 300 level .........................3
               Political Theory 300 level or above................................................................3
               Public Administration 300 level or above....................................................... 3

               Option #1:  Comprehensive Political Science:
               Any Political Science 300 level or above..............................................12
               For those who qualify, an approved APLS 500 - Senior Honors Thesis.

               Option #2:  Campaign Management and Elections:
                Four of the following Political Science courses..............................................12
                APLS 321, 322, 340, 345, 352, 368, approved 399, 431, 458, 468, approved 493         or  494 courses, and for those who qualify, an approved APLS 500 - Senior Honors Thesis.

               Option #3:  International Service:
               Four of the following Political Science courses: .............................................12
               APLS 315, 316, 320, 330, 340, 345, 385, 487, 488, or approved 492, 493 or 494 courses, and for those who qualify, an approved APLS 500 - Senior Honors Thesis. 

               Option #4:  Public Service:
                Four of the following Political Science courses............................................. 12
               APLS 322, 353, 370, 374, 458, 471, 472, 473, 399 (approved Internship), or approved 493 or 494 courses, and for those who qualify, an approved APLS 500 - Senior Honors Thesis.  
3.    Cognate or Minor......................................................................................... 12-18
              Cognate....................................................................................................... .12
              Minor............................................................................................................ 18
4.     Free Electives................................................................................................ 7-15
Total hours required⁵.............................................................................................. 120
1 For undergraduate writing proficiency, see Proficiency Portfolio in Writing described on page 45.
2 Students must complete English 101 with a grade of C or better in order to fulfill general education requirements. Students must also complete AEGL 102 with a grade of C or better in order to fulfill general education requirements and before taking other English courses.
3 The following are considered Applied Speech Communication courses: ACOM 201, ACOM 241, ACOM 342, and ACOM 440.
4 Two (2) semesters of the same language. See degree program requirements for Foreign Language study.
5 At least 3 hours must be in non-Western world studies, unless an approved non-Western wor