Course Descriptions

Basic Skills Courses
All courses at this level are offered for college credit. Credit for these courses will not apply toward the associate degree, but will count toward the determination of a student's workload and eligibility for financial aid.

Writing

050 English Review 3 hours, 3 units
Advisory: Assessment Skill Level W3. This course is designed for native speakers of English. ESL students should enroll in ESOL 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, or 40 as recommended by the non-native English speakers test.
Emphasizes current standard English, the construction of clear, complete sentences, and paragraph writing. Reviews parts of speech, punctuation, and other areas of functional grammar with individual attention to usage problems as indicated by short writing assignments. It is recommended that student take the English placement test prior to enrollment. College credit units earned in this class do not apply to the associate degree.

Reading

055 Reading Review 3 hours, 3 units
Advisory: Assessment Skill Level R3. This course is designed for native speakers of English. ESL students should enroll in ESOL 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, or 40 as recommended by the non-native English speakers test.
Designed for entering students who need to develop reading skills. Emphasizes reading comprehension and vocabulary development. Provides practice in identifying main ideas, supporting details and inferences. It is recommended that students take the English placement test prior to enrollment. College credit units earned in this class do not apply to the associate degree.

English 101 Preparatory Courses
All courses at this level are offered for college credit. Three units of course work at this level may be applied to the associate degree. Credit for courses at this level will count toward the determination of a student's workload and eligibility for financial aid.
Back to Top

Writing

051 Basic Composition 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: ESOL 40 or English 50 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Level W4.
A course for students needing practice in writing skills. Stresses paragraph and essay development. Reviews sentence structure mechanics, and grammar as needed. To earn a grade of "C" or better in this course, students must pass a writing sample examination graded by the English department. Designated sections of this course are taught from a specific cultural perspective and are cross-listed under Black Studies and Chicano Studies in the catalog and class schedule. Associate Degree Credit.

Reading

056 College Reading Study Skills 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: ESOL 40 or English 55 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Level R4.
Designed for students who need stronger reading skills to complete a college program. The course stresses academic reading and study skills such as textbook reading strategies, listening and note taking, outlining, studying for examinations, and memory and concentration. This course builds on reading comprehension and vocabulary skills developed in English 55. Three units of English credit at this level may be applied to the associate degree.

English Courses
(Also see Humanities)

092A Persuasive Writing 3 hours, 3 units
Credit/No Credit
Limitation on Enrollment: Enrollment is intended for students attending San Diego State University. For freshmen, a score of 150 or lower on the CSU English Placement Test (EPT). For transfer students, a score of 7 or lower on the Transfer Writing Assessment (TWA).
This course is designed to help students develop methods of reading and writing necessary for success in Rhetoric and Writing Studies 100. In this course, students read persuasive texts and integrate the ideas of multiple authors and their own into argumentative essays. The course stresses paragraph and essay development and reviews sentence structure, mechanics, and grammar as needed. Associate Degree Credit.
Back to Top

092B Persuasive Writing II 3 hours, 3 units
Credit/No Credit
Prerequisite: Enrollment is restricted to students attending San Diego State University. Students must have received a "No Credit" in English 92A at the San Diego Community College District or Satisfactory Progress (SP) in RWS 92A or 97A at San Diego State University.
This course is designed to help students develop methods of reading and writing necessary for success in Rhetoric and Writing Studies 100. Only students who received a "No Credit" grade in English 92A at the San Diego Community College District or Satisfactory Progress (SP) for RWS 92A or 97A at San Diego State University may enroll in English 92B. In this course, students read persuasive texts and integrate the ideas of multiple authors and their own into argumentative essays. The course stresses paragraphs and essay development and reviews sentence structure, mechanics, and grammar as needed. Associate Degree Credit.

101 Reading and Composition 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 51 and 56, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W5 and R5.
For transfer students or for those who want competence in college level composition. Emphasizes reading and writing principles and practice of effective, logical and precise expression of ideas. Students will be required to write a variety of papers applying basic rhetorical patterns. A research paper will be required. Designated sections of this course are taught from a specific cultural perspective and are cross-listed under Black Studies and Chicano Studies in the catalog and class schedule. It is recommended that students take the English placement test prior to enrollment. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC. 

105 Composition and Literature 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 51 and 56, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W5 and R5.
A composition course using literature as a background for improving writing skills. Discussion of the general nature and elements of literature and literary criticism. Study and analysis of representative works of fiction, drama, and poetry. Provides training for required critical papers. A research paper will be required. Designated sections of this course are taught from a specific cultural perspective and are cross-listed under Black Studies and Chicano Studies in the catalog and class schedule. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC. 
Back to Top

200 Semantics Through Vocabulary 3 hours, 3 units
A study of language including history, vocabulary, and semantics. Emphasis is on the study of Latin and Greek prefixes, roots and suffixes as they occur in English words. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/ univ.; UC.

205 Critical Thinking and Intermediate Composition
3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6
This course is designed to help students who are planning to transfer to a four-year college or university to develop critical thinking, reading, writing, and research skills beyond the level of English 101 and English 105; it is a required course within many curricula. Assignments require a total of at least 8,000 words of graded writing. The course focuses on writing argumentative prose and critically evaluating arguments. A majority of the written assignments require some research and documentation, including library research. Designated sections of this course may be taught from a specific cultural perspective and are cross-listed under Black Studies and Chicano Studies in the catalog and class schedule. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC.

208 Introduction to Literature 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 51 and 56, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W5 and R5.
Advisory: Completion of English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
An inquiry into the basic nature of literature. The student will read and interpret fiction, poetry and drama from several cultures and periods. The focus will be on practical criticism for the non- pecialist. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC.

209 Literary Approach to Film 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 51 and 56, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W5 and R5.
Advisory: Completion of English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
An examination of feature films, with emphasis on the traditional literary values. Plot, conflict, symbolism, theme and character will be examined. Cultural differences will also be examined, with special reference to how films define problems, establish values, confront moral dilemmas and explore human emotions. Types of films such as westerns, comedies, thrillers and others will be considered. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC.
Back to Top

210 American Literature I 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6 .
A survey of American literature from its beginning to the late 19th Century. Lectures and discussions of the principal authors and works. Selected representative readings required. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC. 

211 American Literature II 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
A survey of American Literature from the late 19th Century to the present. Lectures and discussions of principal authors and their works. Selected representative readings required. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC.

215 English Literature I: 800-1799 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
This course offers a survey of British literature from the Anglo-Saxon period to the pre-Romantic period (approximately 800 to 1799), including representative works from the Old and Middle English periods, the Renaissance and the Elizabethans, the Cavalier, Metaphysical, and Puritan periods, the Restoration and the Neoclassical periods. Students read and discuss the major authors of these periods, addressing relevant social, political, cultural, and religious issues. Students critically analyze, in essays and research papers, authors, specific works, and other topics as assigned. This course satisfies requirements for the major in English as well as general education and humanities requirements. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC.
Back to Top

216 English Literature II: 1800-Present 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
This course offers a survey of British literature from the Romantic period to the 20th century (approximately 1800 to the present) including representative works from the pre-Romantic and Romantic periods, the Victorian and later Victorian period and the Modern period. Students read and discuss the major authors of these periods, addressing relevant social, political, cultural, and religious issues. Students critically analyze, in essays and research papers, authors, specific works, and other topics as assigned. This course satisfies requirements for the major in English as well as general education and humanities requirements. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC.

220 Masterpieces of World Literature I 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 51 and 56, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W5 and R5; and
Advisory: Completion of English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
A chronological survey of world literature from the Greek period through the Renaissance. Lectures, class discussion, and assigned readings. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC.

221 Masterpieces of World Literature II 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 51 and 56, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W5 and R5.
Advisory: Completion of English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
A chronological survey of world literature in translation from the close of the Renaissance to the present. Lecture, class discussion, and assigned readings. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC.
Back to Top

237 Women in Literature 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 51 and 56, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W5 and R5.
Advisory: Completion of English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
A study of women in literature and of women writers in all genres and periods of literature. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC.

238 Evaluating Children's Literature 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 51 and 56, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W5 and R5.
Advisory: Completion of English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
A survey of children's literature from the folktales to current works. The course compares works from a variety of cultures and historical periods while emphasizing current American works. Principles of literary criticism are applied in evaluating the literature. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/ univ.

245 Writing Creative Nonfiction 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 51 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Level W5.
Advisory: Completion of English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with credit for English 246A and/or 246B.
This course is an intensive workshop in writing creative nonfiction. Students submit original creative nonfiction for class discussion and learn to use the workshop format to further their work. Additional exploration of  the principles and methods of creative nonfiction are
offered through lecture and the critical analysis of student and master works addressing personal, social, political, and/or cultural issues. Increased writing skills help students not only in preparing for such writing related careers as publishing, journalism, communications, and education, but also in better understanding literature and learning to use language successfully, which is necessary in nearly all professions. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.
Back to Top

249 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 hours, 3 units
Prerequisite: English 51 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Level W5.
Advisory: Completion of English 101 or 105 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Levels W6 and R6.
Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students who have credit for English 249A or 249B.
This is an introductory course in creative writing which focuses on the study of fiction and poetry. Students analyze technique in the works of professional writers and in their own original works. After submitting writing, students participate in informal discussion of their work which includes helpful criticism from the class and the instructor. Increased writing skills help students prepare for careers in communication, education, writing, advertising, selling, journalism, law, business, and government. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.

290 Independent Study Hours by Arrangement; 1-3 units
Limitation on Enrollment: Approval of Instructor. For students who wish to study special topics. May not be used to replace an existing course.
This course may be taken four times with different content for a maximum of six units. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.; UC transfer limitations. See a counselor.

296 Individual Instruction in English 3 hours lab, 1 unit Credit/No Credit Only
Limitation on Enrollment: Enrollment in an approved related course; Must obtain an Add Code from instructor for registration.
Uses self-paced multimedia systems to help students reach specific learning objectives and is designed to be an adjunct course to designated courses. Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private coll/univ.

Back to Top