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:

For more information on the Department of English and its programs, visit the departmental web site at http://www.usca.edu/english/.

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 the Director of Academic Support Services and the First Year Experience at extension 3321 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/pubs/oswald/oswald.html

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 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.  Since 1986, the English Department has sponsored 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 a degree in English Education.

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-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.

Phebe Davidson Creative Writing Prize.  In honor of distinguished South Carolina poet and USCA professor emerita Phebe Davidson, this prize 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-dollar cash prize.

James and Mary Oswald Distinguished Writers Series.   Since 1985, the English Department has brought to Aiken a number of distinguished visiting writers. During that period, such significant literary personalities as Nikky Finney, Peter Taylor, Marge Piercy, Mark Strand, Donald Hall, Alison Lurie, Alan Gurganus, and Robert Creeley have visited USCA, interacted with students in English classes, and presented free public readings of their work.

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.

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 The Aiken Standard. Interested students should see the Department Chair for more information.

The Junior Proficiency Portfolio in Writing required of all students is described in the section devoted to the General Education Requirements on page 46.

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, technical writing, and library science.

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

All students pursuing the B.A. in English must complete at least 18 hours in the major (coursework at the 300 level or above) at USCA.

Bachelor in Arts—Major in English

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

B. Methods and History of Disciplines⁶ .................................................. 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

                    Humanities⁷ (at least two areas).............................................................. 9
                        Philosophy (not logic),
                        History, Literature, Fine Arts History,
                        Humanities (AHUM acronym), Religion,
                        Selected Language courses,
                        Communications (last two digits in 50s or 60s)
                        Honors (AHON acronym)

                   History of Civilization (AHST 101 or AHST 102)................................. 3

                    American Political Institutions................................................................ 3
                        (APLS 201, AHST 201, or AHST 202)

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.

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 385, 389, 390, 391, 393, 394, 415,
    434, 435, 474, 491)

Area VI:
    Writing (AEGL 360, 362, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 466, 467, 468, 469)

Area VII:
    Shakespeare (AEGL 407)

Area VIII⁸ :
    Senior Thesis or Seminar
    (AEGL 496 or AEGL 499)

 5. Electives in English................................................................................... 9
     Any three courses from areas I-VI, above

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

Total hours required⁶ ................................................................................. 120
¹ For undergraduate writing proficiency, see Proficiency Portfolio in Writing described on page 46.
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 AMTH 221 and AMTH 222 cannot be used for General Education math credit EXCEPT by students graduating with degrees in Elementary, Early Childhood or Special Education.
⁴ The following are considered Applied Speech Communication courses: ACOM 201, ACOM 241, and ACOM 342. Some majors may require a specific course so students should consult requirements for their major.
⁵ Two (2) semesters of the same language. See degree program requirements for Language study.
⁶ 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.
⁷ For a list of courses that will meet the Humanities general education requirement, see page 31.
⁸ 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.

Major Program Goal and Objectives
The Department has established the following goal for those students completing the B.A. in English:

Derived from this goal are the following five objectives:

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.

Theory (3 hours):
AEGL 360 Composition Studies ......................................3
AEGL 362 Literature and Media Cultures ........................3
AEGL 468 Studies in Writing* .........................................3
AEGL 469 Rhetoric of Science ........................................3

Practical Applications (9 hours):
AEGL 460 Advanced Composition ..................................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 467 Argumentation ................................................3
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 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 independent study credit.

An exit survey is required of all graduating seniors.

Minor in Literature

Prerequisites:
AEGL 101 Composition
AEGL 102 Composition and Literature

Requirements:
200 and 300 level courses, including at least
one of the following surveys: ................................................................... 6-9
    AEGL 284 Survey of American Literature I
    AEGL 285 Survey of American Literature II
    AEGL 288 Survey of British Literature I
    AEGL 289 Survey of British Literature II
    AEGL 390 Great Books of the Western World I
    AEGL 391 Great Books of the Western World II

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

Total hours required¹ ........................................................................... 18
¹ Three hours of independent study may be applied to the minor only in extraordinary cases and with the approval of the English Department Chair.

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.

Theory (6 hours):
AEGL 250 Rhetorical Grammar ........................................3
AEGL 360 Composition Studies .......................................3
AEGL 362 Literature and Media Cultures .........................3
AEGL 468 Studies in Writing* ..........................................3
AEGL 469 Rhetoric of Science .........................................3

Practical Applications (12 hours):
AEGL 460 Advanced Composition ..................................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 467 Argumentation ................................................3
AEGL 468 Studies in Writing* .........................................3
AEGL 497 Directed Internship .........................................3
(may be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours)
ACOM 433 Freelance Writing .........................................3
ACOM 436 Public Relations Writing ................................3

Total hours required 18
* 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.

Minor in Women's and Gender Studies

This is an interdisciplinary minor requiring eighteen hours (at least 3 disciplines; no more than 9 hours from any one) selected from courses in the humanities, the social sciences, and the sciences.

Central Courses: Two courses (6 hours):
APLS 321 Gender Politics and Political Theory ..................3
ASCY 301 Sociology of Gender Roles ..............................3
AHST 464 History of Women in the United States .............3

Requirements: Four courses (12 hours):
ACOM 201 Interpersonal Communication .........................3
ACOM 450 Intercultural Communication ...........................3
ACOM 455 Gender, Communication and Culture ..............3
ACOM 480 Organizational Communication .......................3
AEGL 290 Introduction to Women’s Literature .................3
AEGL 394 Images of Women in Film and Fiction ..............3
AEGL 431 American Autobiography .................................3
APLS 353 Gender and the Law ........................................3
APLS 373 Women and Public Policy ................................3
ASCY 305 Sociology of the Family ...................................3
ASCY 528 Family Diversity ..............................................3
APSY 415 Adult Development .........................................3
APSY 490 Human Sexuality .............................................3

Appropriate special topics courses in the disciplines may be selected.

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.

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

Practical Applications:
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 .....................................................15
* 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 Dean 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, 250, 264, 360, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 466, 467, 468 and 469.

Applied writing courses cannot be used to satisfy General Education Requirements; see B.5 (Methods and History of Disciplines: Humanities).

Course Descriptions

English Language and Literature (AEGL)

A student must complete English 102 with a grade of C or better before taking other English courses; only in exceptional cases (and then with approval of the Chair of the Department of English) may a student take English 102 concurrently with a higher-level English course.

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: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A comprehensive review of composition, focusing on clarity of purpose, quality of thought, organization, use of sources, language/style, and mechanics/grammar. Students who complete the course with a grade of C or better will satisfy the junior writing proficiency requirement. For elective credit only. (Every semester)

AEGL 250 Rhetorical Grammar. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) This course will enable writers to gain more confidence in their writing (1) by understanding the many, varied structural and stylistic choices of the English language, (2) by increasing their ability to talk consciously about their writing choices as they revise their papers, and (3) by recognizing the rhetorical effects their choices may have on their readers. Special attention will be given to audience expectations, sentence rhythm and cohesion, coordination and subordination, punctuation, modifiers, and diction.

AEGL 264 Introduction to Creative Writing. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A beginning course in the theory and practice of writing poetry, fiction, and drama. (Every fall)

AEGL 275 Introduction to Literary Criticism. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A survey of the major theories of literary criticism. Students will learn how to discover and create meaning from literary texts by responding to and interpreting those texts in different ways; they will gain practice in criticizing literary works with the aim of establishing standards of judgment. (Every fall)

AEGL 280 Contemporary Drama. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A study of the nature and significance of contemporary drama.

AEGL 281 The Novel to 1920. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A study of significant novels in Western literature from the Renaissance to 1920.

AEGL 282 Contemporary Fiction. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A study of the nature and significance of contemporary fiction.

AEGL 283 Contemporary Poetry. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A study of the nature and significance of contemporary poetry.

AEGL 284 Survey of American Literature I. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A study of American literature from its beginning to the Civil War. (Every fall)

AEGL 285 Survey of American Literature II. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A survey of American literature from the Civil War to the present. (Every spring)

AEGL 288 Survey of British Literature I. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 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 360 Composition Studies. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A survey of composition and rhetorical theories within a practical context. The study of relevant movements, figures and texts will provide an introduction to the principles of teaching writing. (Fall, odd years)

AEGL 362 Literature and Media Cultures. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Explores the concepts of and relationships between literacy and literature in four media cultures: oral, manuscript, print, and electronic. (Fall, even years)

AEGL 385 Studies in Non-Western Literature. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Intensive study in selected topics focusing on the non-Western world. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement; offered on demand)

AEGL 389 Classical Mythology. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A comparative study (in translation) of great books from the Renaissance to the present. (Spring, even years)

AEGL 393 Film and Society. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Film as cultural text, with special emphasis on the relation between the film and its cultural/critical context.

AEGL 394 Images of Women in Film & Fiction. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A study of the evolving images of women as they are presented in film and fiction. (Every Spring)

AEGL 399 Independent Study. (3-6) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Directed independent study. A student chooses a project and finds a professor willing to work with him/her.

AEGL 401 Chaucer. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Chaucer’s works, with special attention to The Canterbury Tales. (Spring, odd years)

AEGL 407 Shakespeare. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A study of the plays of Shakespeare. (Every spring)

AEGL 408 Seventeenth Century British Literature. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A survey of British literature from 1660 to 1800.

AEGL 412 Contemporary British Fiction. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A survey of Victorian prose and poetry. (Spring, odd years)

AEGL 423 Modern British Literature. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A survey of 20th century British literature with representative readings from the poets, the dramatists and the novelists.

AEGL 424 Studies in British Literature. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Intensive study of selected topics. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 425 Early American Literature. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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; Spring, odd years)

AEGL 449 Studies in American Literature. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Intensive study of selected topics. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 450 English Grammar. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Study of traditional, structural and generative systems of English. (Fall, even years)

AEGL 453 Development of the English Language (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Intensive study of selected topics. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 460 Advanced Composition. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Extensive practice in different types of expository and persuasive nonfiction writing. The course will focus on both different writing processes and different forms of written discourse used to generate meaning, clarify understanding, and influence thought and action.. (Every fall)

AEGL 461 Writing About the Arts. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Preparation for and practice in reporting technical information logically and lucidly for a variety of audiences. (Every Spring)

AEGL 463 Writing Workshop - Nonfiction. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102 and 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Practice and discussion of basic techniques of writing fiction. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours. (Spring, even years)

AEGL 467 Argumentation. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) A writing intensive study of the rhetorical principles of argument, focusing most closely on written argument in contemporary American culture. Students will be expected to produce written work that applies the formal structure, rhetoric, and logic of argument to an assortment of topics and issues. (Fall, even years)

AEGL 468 Studies in Writing. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Critical studies of English, European and American dramatists from Ibsen to the present. (Offered on demand)

AEGL 491 Studies in Comparative Literature. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) Intensive studies in selected topics (Offered on demand).

AEGL 494 Studies in Major Authors. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102) 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: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102 and consent of instructor)

AEGL 496 Senior Thesis. (3) (Prereq: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102, Senior standing, minimum 3.0 GPA, 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: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102, 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: Grade of C or better in AEGL 101 and 102, 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).

Victor Manuel Duran, Department Chair

Associate Professors
Victor Manuel Duran (Romance Languages/Spanish), Ph.D., University of Missouri, 1988<
Stanley F. Levine (French/Latin), Ph.D., Stanford University, 1984
Karl L. Stenger (German), Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1984

Assistant  Professor
Narciso J. Hidalgo (Spanish), Ph.D., Indiana University, 1999

Instructor
Rayito Calderon (Spanish Linguistics/Spanish), M.A., University of Florida, 2003

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

Department Mission Statement
The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures promotes an awareness and an appreciation of and a respect for other cultures through language acquisition and stimulates students’ perspectives and knowledge of other countries, other traditions and other practices. The department strives to improve the communication skills, at all levels, of the students by encouraging them to explore and understand the linguistic and cultural parameters of diverse populations and by helping them to think analytically and systemically about the importance of languages. Moreover, students will gain academic enrichment through knowledge of a diversity of cultures in any given society.

The department offers a range of second-language courses, from linguistics to literature to culture and civilization in French, Spanish and German and in introductory courses in Latin and Italian. In addition, USCA students can opt to minor in Spanish. The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures focuses on the communicative approach to second language acquisition.

The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures promotes study abroad as a viable and documented means by which students learn the nuances and linguistic differences of the targeted second language through active and total immersion in the country where the language being studied is utilized as the primary means of communication.

Languages, Literatures and Cultures Placement (French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish)

Waiver of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures 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.

English-speaking students who document or certify native or near-native proficiency in a language other than English are also exempt, without credit, from this requirement.

All exemptions must be approved by the Chair of the Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department and the department/school head of the student’s degree program.

The department encourages exempt students to use electives to pursue other language and cultural studies.

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
The department provides student-tutoring services for introductory French, German, and Spanish classes. For more information, contact the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

Minor in Spanish

Prerequisites

        ASPA 210 Intermediate Spanish or by placement

Language Component ......................................................................................... 6
        ASPA 316 Conversation and Composition
        ASPA 317 Advanced Spanish Conversation and Composition

Culture Component ............................................................................................. 6
        ASPA 303 Latin American Culture and Civilization
        ASPA 319 Spanish Peninsular Culture and Civilization

Literature Component ........................................................................................ 3
        EITHER ASPA 320 Survey of Latin American Literature, or
        ASPA 321 Survey of Latin American Literature II, or
        ASPA 340 Survey of Peninsular Literature

Spanish Elective .................................................................................................. 3
        Any Spanish course numbered 300 and above, including ASPA 388

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 Dean of the School of Education concerning specific requirements for add-on certification in Spanish.

Course Descriptions

Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Introductory language courses are sequential (101, 102, 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 AFRE 388, AFRE 398, AGER 398, or ASPA 388) do not have a language prerequisite and cannot be used to satisfy the language requirement.

French (AFRE)

AFRE 101 Beginning French. (4) (Prereq: Open to students who have not studied French previously or who place into this course) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak, anerstand spoken French at the most basic level as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

AFRE 102 Continuing French. (4) (Prereq: C or better in AFRE 101 or by placement) Continuation of Beginning French with more intense practice in reading, writing, understanding and analyzing spoken French at the ACTFL-recommended novice high level. Knowledge of culture, traditions, and customs of the regions where French is spoken will also be included.

AFRE 210 Intermediate French. (4) (Prereq: C or better in AFRE 102 or by placement) Students will develop proficiency in French at the Intermediate High level or above through the use and intense practice of multiple linguistic skills. Among these skills are sustaining and concluding a conversation in French on controversial topics, debating opinions, writing analytical paragraphs based on a movie and/or a newspaper article, and understanding native speech articulated at the normal pace. Emphasis will also be placed on knowledge of the cultural constructs in which French is spoken as well as on the geographic region in which this language is spoken.

AFRE 300 Conversation and Composition. (3) (Prereq: AFRE 210 or by placement) Intensive oral-aural practice in conversational French with emphasis on spontaneous discourse in French, on pronunciation and fluidity, on critical analysis and interpretation of short monographic texts in French and on the techniques of writing basic compositions, utilizing diverse tenses and advanced vocabulary.

AFRE 301 Advanced Conversation and Composition. (3) (Prereq: AFRE 210 or by placement) Intensive study of conversations and written French using the multi-skills approach and on the techniques of writing extemporaneous, anecdotal, humorous, descriptive and controversial compositions using expanded vocabulary and advanced tenses and moods in French.

AFRE 302 French Culture and Civilization. (3) (Prereq: AFRE 300 or 301, or permission of instructor) Intensive study of the cultures and civilization of France from the Gauls, Romans, and Gallo-Roman civilization to the varied cultures which have combined to form modern France. Study of France’s economic power, technological achievements, diplomatic presence, art, music, literature, film and cuisine, and its role in the evolving European union. Appreciation of the contemporary international influence of France in the economic, technical, diplomatic and artistic realms.

AFRE 303 Francophone Culture and Civilization. (3) (Prereq: AFRE 300 or 301, or permission of instructor) Intensive study of the cultures and civilizations of the francophone world, concentrating on the evolution of diverse cultures and their impact on present-day France. Exploration and discussion of the hybrid cultures which have evolved in these diverse areas resulting from the contact between the indigenous populations and the French settlers, French education and social structure. A comparison between Haiti, the world’s first Black republic, and other Caribbean islands which have remained part of France with African countries which emerged in the last fifty years. The development in North Africa (e.g. Algeria) of an original culture melding Berber, Roman, Arabic and French influences, with reference to Algerian history, music, art and literature, as well as its contemporary impact on French culture. French communities in Louisiana, New England and Canada with an introduction to the study of Cajun/Creole French and its concomitant influence on the contemporary culture (food, music, art, etc.) of Louisiana and the rest of the U.S.

AFRE 305 Survey of French Literature. (3) (Prereq: AFRE 300 or 301, or permission of instructor) Reading, discussion, study and analysis of selected representative literature from French writers from the Middle Ages up to the present. Special attention will be given to the development of critical skills for literary analysis.

AFRE 306 Survey of Non-Western French Literature. (3) (Prereq: AFRE 300 or 301, or permission of instructor) Reading, discussion, and study of selected representative literature by French-language writers. Focus on the writings and cultures of the French Caribbean, French West Africa, North Africa, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean - countries such as Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Vietnam, Martinique, and Guadeloupe.

AFRE 307 Women in France and the Francophone World. (3) (Prereq: AFRE 300 or 301, or permission of instructor) Study of the role of women in France from the Middle Ages to the present and in the Francophone world of independent, mostly third-world French-speaking communities, as reflected in selected writings, films and music, as well as relevant magazine articles and press reports, by and about women. Discussion of the political, economic and social status of women, conflicts between modernization and tradition, empowerment and subservience, autonomy and community, patriarchy and equality.

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 language requirement. No previous knowledge of French necessary. (Satisfies the non-Western world studies requirement.)

AFRE 397 The French Film Experience. (3) An introduction to the rich and varied French cinema with emphasis on the New Wave, film noir, historical, epic and psychological drama. Will also consider recent experiments in post-modern, absurd or fantasy movies of the last decade. Includes one or more films from Africa. Films will be in French with English subtitles. Taught in English. No prior knowledge of French required.

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: Open to students who have not studied German previously or who place into this course) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak, and understand spoken German at the most basic level as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

AGER 102 Continuing German. (4) (Prereq: C or better in AGER 101 or by placement) Continuation of Beginning German with more intense practice in reading, writing, understanding and analyzing spoken German at the ACTFL-recommended novice high level. Knowledge of culture, traditions, and customs of the regions where German is spoken will also be included.

AGER 210 Intermediate German. (4) (Prereq: C or better in AGER 102 or by placement) Students will develop proficiency in German at the Intermediate High level or above through the use and intense practice of multiple linguistic skills. Among these skills are sustaining and concluding a conversation in German on controversial topics, debating opinions, writing analytical paragraphs based on a movie and/or a newspaper article, and understanding native speech articulated at the normal pace. Emphasis will also be placed on knowledge of the cultural constructs in which German is spoken as well as on the geographic region in which this language is spoken.

AGER 300 Conversation and Composition. (3) (Prereq: AGER 210 or by placement) Intensive oral-aural practice in conversational German with emphasis on spontaneous discourse in German, on pronunciation and fluidity, on critical analysis and interpretation of short monographic texts in German and on the techniques of writing basic compositions, utilizing diverse tenses and advanced vocabulary.

AGER 301 Advanced German Conversation and Composition. (3) (Prereq: AGER 210 or by placement) Intensive study of conversation and written German using the multi-skills approach and on the techniques of writing extemporaneous, anecdotal, humorous, descriptive and controversial compositions using expanded vocabulary and advanced tenses and moods in German.

AGER 303 German Culture and Civilization. (3) (Prereq: AGER 300 or 301, or consent of instructor) Intensive study of the Germanic cultures and civilizations, concentrating on the evolution of High and Low German; the development of the conditions that led to the downfall of the Berlin Wall; the current immigration into Germany by a variety of people, particularly from East Germany; world-changing issues like the Holocaust; and the current and traditional impact of German economic power on other European countries and on the USA.

AGER 305 Survey of German Literature. (3) (Prereq: AGER 300 and 301, or by placement) Reading, discussion, study and analysis of selected representative literature from German writers beginning from Middle Ages up to the present. Special attention will be given to the development of critical skills for literary analysis.

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) (Prereq: Open to students who have not studied Italian previously or who place into this course) Study of the fundamentals of the language to develop an ability to read, write, speak and understand spoken Italian at the most basic level as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

AITL 102 Continuing Italian. (4) (Prereq: C or better in AITL 101 or by placement) Continuation of Beginning Italian with more intense practice in reading, writing, understanding and analyzing spoken Italian at the ACTFL-recommended novice high level. Knowledge of culture, traditions, and customs of the regions where Italian is spoken will also be included.

Latin (ALAT)

ALAT 101 Beginning Latin. (4) (Prereq: Open to students who have not studied Latin previously or who place into this course) 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 (e.g., Roman way of life, art, architecture, history, literature, etc.). The evolution of modern European languages from Latin will also be studied.

ALAT 102 Continuing Latin. (4) (Prereq: C or better in ALAT 101 or by placement) Continuation of Beginning Latin with more intense practice in reading, writing, understanding and analyzing Latin at the ACTFL-recommended novice high level. Knowledge of culture, traditions, and customs of the regions where Latin was developed will also be included.

ALAT 210 Intermediate Latin. (4) (Prereq: C or better in ALAT 102 or by placement) Students will develop proficiency in Latin at the Intermediate High level or above through the use and intense practice of multiple linguistic skills. Emphasis will also be placed on knowledge of the historical constructs in which Latin was used and on the geographic regions in which this language was developed.

Spanish (ASPA)

ASPA 101 Beginning Spanish. (4) (Prereq: Open to students who have not studied Spanish previously or who place into this course) Study of the fundamentals of Spanish to develop an ability to read, write, speak, and understand spoken Spanish at the most basic level as well as to be aware of cultural contexts.

ASPA 102 Continuing Spanish. (4) (Prereq: C or better in ASPA 101 or by placement) Continuation of Beginning Spanish with more intense practice in reading, writing, understanding and analyzing spoken Spanish at the ACTFL-recommended novice high level. Knowledge of culture, traditions, and customs of the regions where Spanish is spoken will also be included.

ASPA 210 Intermediate Spanish. (4) (Prereq: C or better in ASPA 102 or by placement) Students will develop proficiency in Spanish at the Intermediate High level or above through the use and intense practice of multiple linguistic skills. Among these skills are sustaining and concluding a conversation in Spanish on controversial topics, debating opinions, writing analytical paragraphs based on a movie and/or a newspaper article, and understanding native speech articulated at the normal pace. Emphasis will also be placed on knowledge of the cultural constructs in which Spanish is spoken as well as on the geographic regions in which this language is spoken.

ASPA 303 Latin American Culture and Civilization. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 316 and 317, or by placement) Study of the religious, historical, political, social and economic organizations of the three important pre-Colombian tribes and an analysis of the impact that these cultural entities have had on contemporary Latin American Culture and Civilization. Study of the cultural changes caused in Latin America by the conquest. Study of the impact of western capital investments on Latin America and finally, an analysis of current Latin American-USA relationships, emphasizing historical and contemporary US military interventions in Latin America. Satisfies the Non-Western world studies requirement.

ASPA 308 Art, Literature and Film of U.S. Latinos. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 316 and 317, or consent of instructor) Reading, study and analysis of selected visual art, literature and film by US Latinos from the many Latino communities of the USA, such as Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and Cubans. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary representative works of each of the above genres and on discussions and analysis of the selected works.

ASPA 312 Spanish for Medical Personnel. (3) This course will enable pre-med students, nurses, doctors and other health-care professionals to communicate effectively with the Latino patient, in and out of the United States, in the course of their daily work. The course will prioritize communicative skills in Spanish through the use of diverse and contemporary second-language acquisition pedagogy, including personalized questions/answers, focused role-play, translation and interpretation exercises and technology-based activities. May be taught as a ten to twelve day immersion course during the regular semester, including Maymester, or during the summer or spring breaks. Cannot be used to fulfill second language requirements.

ASPA 313 Spanish for Teachers. (3) This course will present to elementary and secondary student-teachers and regular full-time teachers specialized vocabulary, grammar and cultural information that will allow them to communicate effectively with the Latino students and their parents in the course of their interaction. This course will emphasize communicative skills and realistic role-playing activities that will focus on everyday classroom vocabulary, on social/personal situations that enhance the learning environment and on familial constructs that address the issue of communication between the teacher and the Latino student. May be taught as a ten to twelve day immersion course during the regular semester, including Maymester or during the summer or spring breaks. Cannot be used to fulfill second language requirements.

ASPA 314 Spanish for Public Service. (3) 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 multicultural awareness and understanding of Latino attitudes. May be taught as a ten to twelve day immersion course during the regular semester, including Maymester, or during the summer or spring breaks. Cannot be used to fulfill second-language requirements.

ASPA 315 Spanish for Business and Finance. (3) Study of grammar, culture and specialized vocabulary that professionals in business, commerce and finance will need to be able to communicate effectively with the Latino community, in and out of the United States, as they fulfill their daily work-related obligations. The course will emphasize communicative skills in the Spanish language and will include a variety of pedagogical strategies, such as personalized questions, cultural role-play, translation and interpretation exercises and technology-based activities all designed to enhance the participant’s knowledge of functional Spanish for business. May be taught as a ten to twelve day immersion course during the regular semester, including Maymester, or during the summer or spring breaks. Cannot be used to fulfill second language requirements.

ASPA 316 Conversation and Composition. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 210 or by placement) Intensive oral-aural practice in conversational Spanish with emphasis on spontaneous discourse in Spanish, on pronunciation and fluidity, on critical analysis and interpretation of short monographic texts in Spanish, and on the techniques of writing basic compositions, utilizing diverse tenses and advanced vocabulary.

ASPA 317 Advanced Spanish Conversation and Composition. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 210 or by placement) Intensive study of conversation and written Spanish using the multi-skills approach and the techniques of writing extemporaneous, anecdotal, humorous, descriptive and controversial compositions using expanded vocabulary and advanced tenses and moods in Spanish.

ASPA 318 Spanish Linguistics. (3) (Prereq: any ASPA 300 level course) Introduction to Spanish linguistics. Emphasis on phonology, pronunciation, semantics and syntax. The historical, regional and social variations of the Spanish language and their practical and global applications will be studied and analyzed.

ASPA 319 Spanish Peninsular Culture and Civilization. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 316 and 317, or by placement) Study of the different cultures of Spain, beginning with the Iberian tribes and continuing with the Romans, the Visigoths, the Arabs and up to the contemporary culture and civilization. Study of the impact that these different cultures have on Spanish traditional and contemporary culture. Study of the classical and contemporary art of Spain and its major national and international influences.

ASPA 320 Survey of Latin American Literature. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 316 or 317, or by placement) Reading, discussion and study in all literary genres of selected representative works of Latin American writers, beginning from the pre-Columbia period up to the late nineteenth century. Special emphasis will be given to the development of critical skills for literary analysis.

ASPA 321 Survey of Latin American Literature II. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 316 and 317, or by placement) Reading, discussion, and study of selected representative works of Latin American writers, beginning from the late nineteenth century up to the present. Special emphasis will be given to the development of critical skills for literary analysis.

ASPA 340 Survey of Peninsular Literature. (3) (Prereq: ASPA 316 or 317, or by placement) Reading, discussion and study in all literary genres of selected representative works of Spanish Peninsular literature, beginning from the Middle Ages up to the present. Special emphasis will be given to the development of critical skills for literary analysis.

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 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 satisfn 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 488 Selected Non-Western Topics. (1-4) (Prereq: ASPA 316 or ASPA 317, or permission of instructor) An intensive study of classical and contemporary Latin American topics in language, literature, literary theory, and culture and civilization. Topics will be announced in advance. (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.

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
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
Valdis O. Lumans (History), Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1979, Carolina Trustee Professor, 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
Blanche Premo-Hopkins (Philosophy), Ph.D., Marquette University, 1974

Assistant Professors
Roger A. Deal (History), Ph.D., University of Utah, 2006
Steven P. Millies (Political Science), Ph.D., Catholic University of America, 2003
Maggi M. Morehouse (History), Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley, 2001

Instructor
David Dillard-Wright (Philosophy), Ph.D., Drew University, 2007

Lecturers
Joseph C. Elliott (History), M.A., Appalachian State University, 1970
Alexia J. Helsley (History), M.A., University of South Carolina, 1974

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.

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/Logic³..................................................................... 6
                  Applied Speech Communication⁴ .................................................. 3
                  Languages⁵ ............................................................................... 6-8

       B.   Methods and History of Disciplines⁶ ............................................ 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

                Humanities⁷ (at least two areas).................................................... 12
                    Philosophy (not logic),
                    History, Literature, Fine Arts History,
                    Humanities (AHUM acronym), Religion,
                    Selected Language courses,
                    Communications (last two digits in 50s or 60s)
                     Honors (AHON acronym)

                History of Civilization (AHST 101 or AHST 102)......................... 3

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 follows⁸:
                    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 required⁶ ................................................................................... 120  
¹ For undergraduate writing proficiency, see Proficiency Portfolio in Writing described on page 46.
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 AMTH 221 and AMTH 222 cannot be used for General Education math credit EXCEPT by students graduating with degrees in Elementary, Early Childhood or Special Education.
⁴ The following are considered Applied Speech Communication courses: ACOM 201, ACOM 241, and ACOM 342.
⁵ Two (2) semesters of the same language. See degree program requirements for Language study.
⁶ 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.
⁷ For a list of courses that will meet the Humanities general education requirement, see page 31.
⁸ 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:

      A.    Skills and Competencies¹........................................................... 21-23
                English 101 and 102²........................................................................  6
                    Composition/Composition and Literature
                Math/Statistics/Logic³ ......................................................................  6
                Applied Speech Communication⁴ .....................................................  3
                Languages⁵ ................................................................................... 6-8

    B.     Methods and History of Disciplines⁶ .............................................  35
                Natural Sciences................................................................................ 8
                    Biology, Chemistry, Physics,
 &