Academic Departments and Programs

English

The English Department encourages the study of the historical and cultural contexts of literature and language, the aesthetic pleasures and values of texts and writing, and the variety of voices and experiences represented in the global literary tradition. The department also believes that acquiring superior reading, writing, and research skills is essential to a liberal arts education.

Within the department, students may pursue special interests in literature, creative writing, and journalism. The Literature in English major offers study in the areas of American, British, and world literature. The Creative Writing major features coursework in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and journalism. It is designed for any students with a serious interest in writing, including those who wish to enter a Master of Fine Arts program. Because of the overlap in required courses for the Literature in English and Creative Writing majors, students cannot double major in these areas. Students may, however, major in either Literature in English or Creative Writing while taking a minor in Interactive Journalism.

In addition to the regular curriculum, the department allows students to hone and extend their rhetorical, analytical, and research skills through a variety of topic-based courses and independent studies. In addition, through internships with local businesses and agencies, through work on the student-run college newspaper and literary magazine, or through departmental research and employment opportunities, students can apply their skills (and develop new ones) in practical settings. Interdisciplinary courses, off-campus programs, and work with professional writers enrich the curriculum.

Majors

Creative Writing Major

Major Requirements:

*If available, students may study Latin or Greek. Equivalency tests must be agreed upon by both the Modern Foreign Language and English departments.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Communicate clearly, persuasively and confidently in writing
  • Critically interpret literature
  • Understand and interpret literature as a form of human imagination and expression
  • Understand how the literary tradition has helped shape the world
  • Critical Thinking

Literature in English Major

Major Requirements:

*If available, students may study Latin or Greek. Equivalency tests must be agreed upon by both the Modern Foreign Language and English departments.

English Teaching Certification

Students pursuing Literature in English as either a first or second teaching field develop a program of study in consultation with both the faculty member in charge of secondary education and an advisor from the English Department. Such students must successfully complete:

Such students are also encouraged to take additional courses in English beyond those credits required for the major or minor in Literature in English. A carefully planned and executed program will give the prospective secondary teacher a rich variety of theoretical and applied knowledge and skills helpful in securing a teaching position.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Analytical Reading
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Communicate clearly, persuasively and confidently in writing
  • Critically interpret literature
  • Understand and interpret literature as a form of human imagination and expression
  • Understand how the literary tradition has helped shape the world
  • Critical Thinking

Associated Majors

Environmental Studies Major

Students pursuing an ES major complete all of the Core courses plus six to eight courses comprising a disciplinary Focus. Students are encouraged to complete some courses in the Core before beginning coursework toward the Focus. Students should consult an ES advisor for assistance with planning a course of study. Students wishing to substitute a second major for the Focus area must submit a formal, written request to the ES Chair to be considered by the ES Committee. Given the deeply interdisciplinary nature of the ES Core and the in-depth study involved in the Focus area, students completing the ES major, an additional three credits in the Fine Arts, and two additional courses in the Social Sciences have fulfilled three PEAKs: Humanities & Fine Arts; Social Sciences & History; and Natural Sciences & Mathematics.

Major Requirements:

The Environmental Studies Core (36 Credits)

The Environmental Studies Core introduces essential concepts in environmental studies, foundational approaches to the study of the environment, and the specific ways in which environmental studies are practiced in various disciplines. Courses in the Core should be taken as early as possible.

The Focus (18-24 units)

While the Core Courses in the major ensure that students acquire a substantive, interdisciplinary understanding of Environmental Studies, the Focus ensures that students also have training in a traditional discipline. In the Focus, students apply the knowledge gained in the interdisciplinary Core to specific fields. All foci include in-depth study within a single field or discipline and contain at least 10 upper-division units. In addition to the following foci, students may design a Focus in consultation with an ES advisor. Self-designed foci must be approved by the ES Program Committee. The ES Foci are not PEAK minors and may be completed only as part of the ES major.

Chemistry Focus

All human activity depends upon energy, chemical systems, and the earth's elemental cycles, and our dependence upon these systems has had profound affects on our environment. The water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles, for example, reflect the impact of human activity. Addressing environmental problems from a chemical perspective necessitates generating data about the properties of chemical systems, interpreting those data, and understanding the study of matter. In the Chemistry Focus, students study techniques for chemical analysis, the complexities of matter, the earth's elemental cycles, and electrochemistry, and gain experience conducting chemical analyses and interpreting scientific data. The Chemistry Focus provides students with a solid base of coursework that enables exploration of crucial concerns affecting the physical environment.

Labs associated with the following courses are also required. Students completing the Chemistry Focus may substitute for CHE-302 Organic Chemistry II either CHE-412 Biochemistry & Laboratory; or CHE-420 Inorganic Chemistry & Laboratory.

Requirements include:

Conservation Biology Focus

Understanding the biology of organisms, populations, and ecosystems is essential to addressing environmental issues. The ability to collect and interpret biological data reliably and to gather and interpret relevant scientific literature allows for the critical evaluation of ecological issues and contributes to sound environmental decision making. In the Conservation Biology Focus, students gain both a conceptual framework and the laboratory and field experience needed to understand the biological aspects of environmental issues.

Labs associated with the following courses are also required. To ensure that students have adequate quantitative preparation, they should complete MAT-212 Advanced Statistical Methods.

Requirements include:

 

Literature Focus

Our values, beliefs, and language relate deeply to environmental issues and attitudes. Similarly, the human imagination and the stories that we tell ourselves reflect and affect the physical environment. Studying the literary tradition allows us to reflect on historical assumptions and understandings about how humans relate to their world. In the Literature Focus, students examine the British, American, and World literary traditions, and study theories concerning how literature makes meaning for readers.
Requirements include:

Philosophy Focus

With the increasing power of modern science and technology to affect nature, reflections upon the place of humanity in the universe have taken on special urgency. These reflections include questions about the limits of scientific knowledge, the ethical obligations of humans to non-human life and the environment, and technology's impact on humanity's self-understanding. The philosophy emphasis enables a student to examine these and other issues thoughtfully by introducing the most important ideas in Western philosophy and developing students' abilities in critical analysis, argumentation, and presentation.

Requirements include:

 

Political Economy Focus

The study of the environment requires an understanding of natural systems and of values, beliefs and language. The application of this knowledge can lead to important social and environmental change. The focus in Politics and Economics, which emphasizes public policy, allows Environmental Studies majors to apply their knowledge to affect substantive change to their communities, regions, and society. A thorough comprehension of political and economic systems, philosophies, and methods is critical for students to become influential members of society.

Requirements include:

Self-designed Focus

In addition to the Foci listed above, students may design a Focus in consultation with an ES advisor. All self-designed Foci must include in-depth study within a single field or discipline and at least 10 upper-division units, and must be approved by the ES Program Committee by the end of the junior year. If you are interested in designing a Focus, see your ES advisor or the Chair of the ES Program.

 

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Environmental Studies major, students should be able to:

  • Question their own cultural and environmental attitudes and examine these values in their lives and work.
  • Think critically and interdisciplinarily about environmental issues.
  • Gather and analyze data to answer environmental questions.
  • Communicate effectively (oral and written format) about the environment.
  • Actively engage in their communities to foster environmental stewardship.

Minors

Creative Writing Minor

The Creative Writing Minor is designed for the student who has interest in developing skills as a creative writer (in fiction, poetry, and/or creative nonfiction) and in pursuing the formal study of literature as a form of cultural expression. The study of creative writing involves: producing original works of creative writing in more than one genre; exploring major literary traditions and literary-theoretical perspectives; examining the ways in which literature shapes and influences culture; recognizing the socio-cultural and historical contexts of literature; and examining one's own socio-cultural position as a writer. The Creative Writing Minor fulfills the Humanities PEAK.

Minor Requirements (18 credits):

*Workshops may be repeated at the 300-level.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Communicate clearly, persuasively and confidently in writing
  • Critically interpret literature
  • Understand and interpret literature as a form of human imagination and expression
  • Understand how the literary tradition has helped shape the world
  • Critical Thinking

In addition, in successfully completing a minor in Creative Writing students should be able to:

  • produce polished creative written work and articulate the place of that work in the literary tradition (with regard to traditions of genre and literary history)
  • discuss the socio-cultural and historical contexts of literature
  • demonstrate a basic familiarity with major literary traditions and themes
  • contribute meaningfully to creative writing workshop discussions of the works of both their peers and professional, published authors
  • discuss some of the ways in which their own encounters with texts are shaped and limited by culturally-influenced assumptions concerning individuality, situatedness, and reality.

Interactive Journalism Minor

Call it "the first draft of history," the engine of the communication revolution, or the literature of fact, journalism performs an ever-increasing role in the twenty-first century. Online and interactive journalism have made journalism more immediate, personal, and democratic than ever before. Yet the essential tools and techniques of nonfiction and journalistic writing remain remarkably unchanged. The Interactive Journalism minor combines the resources of the college in art, photography and traditional liberal arts disciplines with coursework in journalism. Internships in real world media businesses give College of Idaho journalism minors a sense of what is happening in the workplace.

Present in all our coursework is a focus on critical thinking and exposure to the best examples of nonfiction writing for print, websites, radio and television. All minors are expected to work for The Coyote student newspaper and the CofI Online—our college online publication for The College of Idaho community that includes articles and artwork, creative nonfiction, poetry and short fiction, and also publishes our capstone projects. The goal of the minor in Interactive Journalism is to produce journalists who possess the skills and critical thinking ability to work in today's media. The means—broadcast, print, Internet—of distributing news have evolved; the method of gathering and interpreting information has quickened, but the essence of the work—the informed, well-researched and compellingly told story—remains at the heart of all good journalism. Our students benefit from an inter-disciplinary approach, taking courses in ethics, graphic and web design, a required capstone project as well as a core curriculum in journalism. Internships in print, video or interactive media give the students hands-on experience off campus.

The Interactive Jounalism minor is a comprehensive minor that fulfills the Humanities & Fine Arts and Professional Studies PEAKs. It requires that students consider aesthetic, philisophical, and artistic aims in the study of communication.

Minor Requirements (28-30 credits):

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication
  • Journalism minors should demonstrate the ability to research, report and edit according to professional standards. They are expected to be proficient nonfiction writers and undertstand the history of the field. They need to apply ethical standards in their reporting, interviewing and show that they can do thorough and thoughful research for articles. In addition they must demonstrate an understanding of the methods and uses of multimedia in journalism today.

Literature in English Minor

The Literature in English Minor is designed for the student who has interest in the formal study of literature as a form of cultural expression and in practicing literary research methods. The study of literature involves exploring: the ways in which literature shapes and influences culture; the socio-cultural and historical contexts of literature; the politics of canonicity; the cultural assumptions that readers bring to texts; and major literary traditions and literary-theoretical perspectives.

Minor Requirements (18 credits):

Students who wish to be certified to teach English at the secondary level may need to take additional courses in English. Please consult with a faculty member in the Education Department to learn the current requirements for certification.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Analytical Reading
  • Communicate clearly, persuasively and confidently in writing
  • Critically interpret literature
  • Understand and interpret literature as a form of human imagination and expression
  • Understand how the literary tradition has helped shape the world
  • Critical Thinking

Journalism Minor

The Journalism minor presents the fundamentals of the profession. Classes introduce the student to the history of the profession, examine ethical questions that journalists confront and explore the remarkable transformation that contemporary media are undergoing. Each student minoring in journalism is expected to develop a capstone project, contribute to campus publications and complete an internship. Working journalists regularly visit the classes to share their experiences. All the coures are writing intensive and include both a presentation of research and reporting as well as a portfolio of papers.

Minor Requirements (16 - 18 credits):

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication
  • Journalism minors should demonstrate the ability to research, report and edit according to professional standards. They are expected to be proficient nonfiction writers and undertstand the history of the field. They need to apply ethical standards in their reporting, interviewing and show that they can do thorough and thoughful research for articles. In addition they must demonstrate an understanding of the methods and uses of multimedia in journalism today.

Associated Minors

Asian Studies Minor

Home to over half of the world's population, Asia is a region of immeasurable significance to contemporary global society. The Asian Studies minor allows students to pursue a course of study that includes a variety of regional emphases across East, Southeast, and South Asia and disciplinary perspectives across English, Philosophy and Religion, History, and Political Economy. The minor consists of at least 16 credits.

This minor qualifies for either the Fine Arts & Humanities or the Social Science & History PEAK.

With approval of the Asian Studies faculty, students who complete study abroad coursework can appeal to substitute credits in the Humanities and Social Science from other disciplines not listed above.

Students are also encouraged to study abroad in Asia through internationally recognized programs or College of Idaho study tours. Credits from ASN-designated courses that include study tours to Asia are distributed according to the sponsoring discipline of the participating faculty. For example, a six-credit ASN course that includes Religion and Political Economy will count as three credits toward each discipline.

Minor Requirements (16 credits):

Humanities & Fine Arts PEAK

Social Science & History PEAK

*For ASN-494 Independent Study minors must expand a paper they have written for one of their ASN-related courses. These "starred papers" will be graded on a pass/fail basis by the faculty member who originally supervised the project and should constitute a polished piece of work that serves as the student's highest achievement in the minor.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication
  • Acquire a basic familiarity with major traditions and themes in the study of Asia across at least three disciplines
  • Think comparatively about at least three different regions of Asia
  • Demonstrate an ability to write thoughfully and persuasively about Asia's diverse cultures and history

British Studies Minor

The British Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary exploration of British society and culture. Any student interested in developing a rich perspective on the history, politics, and creative expressions of the British Isles through multiple disciplines will find the British Studies minor rewarding. The British studies minor allows students to choose from a wide variety of courses embedded in disciplines which have traditionally been engaged in fruitful dialogue with each other, thus enabling students to explore meaningful and complex connections between fields of study.

This minor qualifies for either the Fine Arts & Humanities or Social Science & History PEAK. Additionally, students need to complete a starred paper in the PEAK for which they are seeking credit.

Students are encouraged to undertake overseas studies such as The College of Idaho IND-307 course or the opportunities offered College of Idaho students to study in Northern Ireland.

Minor Requirements (15-18 credits):

Students may choose from these courses in the following disciplines. Courses marked with an asterix (*) have a research-intensive component.

Humanities & Fine Arts PEAK

Social Science & History PEAK

**For a "starred papers" students must expand a paper they have written for one of their British Studies related courses. These will be graded on a pass/fail basis by the faculty member who originally supervised the project and should constitute a polished piece of work that serves as the student's highest achievement in the minor.

Prerequisite note: students must take at least one ENG-299T course before enrolling in a 300-level course in British literature.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Writing
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how historical and cultural contexts of the British Isles inform and influence specific events or creative expressions
  • Demonstrate an understanding of what areas and forms of inquiry are considered meaningful in British Studies through framing relevant research questions.
  • Analyze and apply pertinent scholarship on British history, literature, or music

 

Criminal Justice Studies Minor

The Criminal Justice Studies (CJS) minor offers a distinctly liberal arts approach to the burgeoning field of criminal justice studies. This program offers students the opportunity to investigate the field from a number of disciplinary perspectives. The Prison Experience capstone course, during which students visit a variety of adult and juvenile facilities, provides direct contact with prisons, insights into prison life, and the means by which students can enter the field. The internship option provides additional valuable experience in regional facilities, forging connections for future employment

Minor Requirements (18 credits):

 

*Six weeks before graduation, students will submit a portfolio of relevant work completed for the minor, such as exams and papers, including a two-page essay describing important academic lessons and skills acquired in this minor.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical thinking about the field from a number of disciplinary perspectives
  • Analytical reasoning applied to crime- and prison-related arguments
  • Problem solving in regards to social, political economy, and humanitarian issues
  • Written communication through intensive journals, research and response papers
  • First-hand experience visiting adult & juvenile correctional facilities
  • Opportunities to explore criminal justice-related professions