COMPUTER SCIENCE

Louis T. Oliphant (2009), Associate Professor of Computer Science
B.A., Brigham Young University;
M.S., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin – Madison
Academic Interests: machine learning, information extraction, computer assisted medical diagnosis, and artificial intelligence.
http://cs.hiram.edu/~oliphantlt/

Oberta A. Slotterbeck (1974), Professor Emerita of Computer Science
B.S., Ohio State University;
M.A., Ph.D., University of Texas (Austin)
Academic Interests: computer graphics, computer simulation, theoretical computer science, and parallel/distributed computing
 

Ellen L. Walker (1996), Professor of Computer Science
Sc.B., Brown University;
M.S., Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University
Academic Interests: computer vision, fuzzy logic, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
http://cs.hiram.edu/~walkerel/

Department Web address: http://www.hiram.edu/computerscience

Overview of Program

The computer science program was established in 1974, and graduated its first minor in 1976 and its first major in 1977.  Hiram's computer science alumni, who include leaders in both industry and academia, have praised the combination of rigorous education in the discipline and broad liberal arts education. Our program stresses a deep knowledge of basic principles and concepts, rather than an emphasis on just the latest hot topics. Our students have combined computer science majors with a wide variety of other majors and minors, and leave Hiram with both a rigorous education and practical experience in implementation of large projects.

As a department, we have articulated the mission of the computer science program as follows, aligned with and inspired by the mission for Hiram College:

The mission of the computer science program is 1) To develop ethical, socially responsible, analytical, and critical thinkers. 2) To instill in our students a foundation for making creative contributions to society in the computing area. 3) To provide challenges to our students within a supportive community.

Preparing for Life After Graduation

Through our Integrated Research Component (IRC) program, we involve each student in undergraduate research. Work produced in the IRCs yields excellent student portfolios when applying for internships, jobs after graduation, and graduate schools. The computer science program encourages our students to apply for internship opportunities to gain workplace experience, as well as to participate in summer undergraduate research programs.  Our students have been successful in gaining acceptance to nationally competitive internships and research programs.

Since its inception, over 20% of graduates of the computer science program have completed graduate degrees. Our students have been singularly successful in attaining graduate school acceptances; over the last 10 years, every student who has applied to graduate school has received at least one acceptance.  Many of our recent graduates received assistantships from prestigious schools.

Students who complete the bachelor's degree in computer science at Hiram have been very successful in the job market. Students' first job placements are in a wide variety of areas including programming, support, consulting, and systems administration.

Requirements for Majors and Minors

The Department of Computer Science offers majors in computer science and applied computer science and a minor in computer science. The primary difference between the majors is that the computer science major goes deeper into computer science, preparing the students for graduate study and research, while the major in applied computer science expects the student to develop connections between computer science and another field. No student can major in both computer science and applied computer science. Students interested in computer engineering can earn a B.A. in computer science or applied computer science and a B.S. in computer engineering through the Dual Degree program.

The Computer Science Major requires a total of 13 courses.

Computer Science Pathway 

I. Core courses:

CPSC 17100

CPSC 17200

CPSC 20100

CPSC 24000

CPSC 25200

II. 2 Integrated research components (capstone)

CPSC 40000 + CPSC 3xxxx (corequisite)

CPSC 40100 + CPSC 3xxxx (corequisite)

The Computer Science Department capstone is a sequence of two integrated research components.  An integrated research component (IRC) is an integration of research with a specified course and requires a formal research proposal, a significant software implementation, an oral presentation to faculty and peers, and a research paper.  An IRC can be added to selected upper-division courses. Choices must be approved by your departmental advisor and the course instructor.

III.  4 Computer Science Electives, including one course that requires significant group work

CPSC 2xxxx

CPSC 3xxxx

CPSC 3xxxx

CPSC 3xxxx

In the course listings, CPSC 2xxxx means any CPSC course of 3 or more hours at the 20000 level or above, and CPSC 3xxxx means any CPSC course of 3 or more hours at the 30000 level or above. The course CPSC 49800, if taken for 3 or more hours, can count as one of the CPSC 2xxxx courses but not as one of the CPSC 3xxxx courses.

We value breadth in coursework, as well as the experience of working in groups, which is an important aspect of software development that is highly valued in industry and graduate school. Therefore, we require that among the 6 courses that you take as CPSC electives and IRC co-requisites, you include at least one course from each of the following groups. Alternative courses, such as seminar courses, may be substituted for the courses in the list with approval of the department chair.
 

Systems courses:

CPSC 33100: VLSI Design
CPSC 34500 Operating Systems
CPSC 35200 Computer Security
CPSC 36300 Computer Networks

Theory courses:

CPSC 35100 Programming Languages
CPSC 38800 Compiler Design and Construction
CPSC 46500 Algorithm Design
CPSC 46600 Theory of Computation

Group work courses:

CPSC 21000: Game Design
CPSC 2xxxx Systems Administration
CPSC 32201: Interface Design
CPSC 35600: Database Design
CPSC 37500: Software Engineering
 

Early contact with a departmental advisor is critical to ensure the proper sequencing and choice of computer science courses.  A student majoring in computer science must have completed CPSC 17100 and CPSC 17200 by the end of their sophomore year in order to finish the major within four years.

Typical Schedule for Computer Science Major (4 year)

Typical Schedule (3 year)

Students majoring in computer science at Hiram are well-trained for positions in business and industry. Students considering graduate study in computer science should add mathematics courses in consultation with their computer science advisor.

The applied computer science major requires 9 courses plus an approved minor in another discipline.

Applied Computer Science Pathway

I. Core Courses:

Introductory course:  CPSC 17100 or CPSC 16600 Computers and Entertainment or CPSC 2xxxx Scientific Computing
CPSC 17200
CPSC 20100
CPSC 24000

II. 4 Computer Science Electives: one at the 2xxxx level and three at the 3xxxx level.  At least one of the elective courses should include significant group work – either one of the group work courses listed under the computer science major or an alternative approved by the Computer Science Department.

CPSC 2xxxx
CPSC 3xxxx
CPSC 3xxxx
CPSC 3xxxx

III. At least a minor in another discipline, subject to approval by the Computer Science Department.

IV. A Capstone relating your minor discipline to Computer Science.

CPSC 48100

Example Applied Computer Science Tracks:

The following examples are meant to be illustrative, but not comprehensive.

Computer Information Systems

CPSC 35600 Database Design
CPSC 37500 Software Engineering
CPSC 32210 User Interface Design
CPSC 22400 Internet Administration
Management or Entrepreneurship minor

Information Technology

CPSC 35200 Computer Security
CPSC 36300 Computer Networking
CPSC 34500 Operating Systems
CPSC 20500 Systems Programming
Management or Communication minor

Digital Media

CPSC 16600 Computers and Entertainment
CPSC 32201 User Interface Design
CPSC 35600 Database Design
CPSC 38600 Artificial Intelligence or CPSC 38700 Computer Graphics
CPSC 21000 Designing and Building Computer Games or CPSC 22400 Internet Administration
Art, Photography, Creative Writing, or Communication minor

Scientific Computing

CPSC 2xxxx Scientific Computing
CPSC 35600 Database Design
CPSC 35800 Introduction to Design and Analysis of Algorithms
CPSC 36100 Simulation
INTD 38800 Bioinformatics
Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Physics minor

Typical Schedule for Applied Computer Science Major (4 year)

The Computer Science Minor requires seven courses:
 
I. Core courses:

CPSC 17100
CPSC 17200

II. 5 Computer Science Electives

CPSC 2xxxx
CPSC 2xxxx
CPSC 3xxxx
CPSC 3xxxx
CPSC 3xxxx

The department maintains its own state-of-the-art laboratory based on Linux and Windows platforms.

Requirements for Departmental Honors

Besides meeting the college grade-point average requirements, a student must perform exemplary work in the Integrated Research Components.

Departmental Grade Point Average

Computer science calculates the departmental grade-point average by counting all computer science courses, whether meeting the minimum requirements or not.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

CPSC 15200: LISP 1 hour(s)

An introduction to the LISP programming language. Prerequisites: Computer Science 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 15300: C 1 hour(s)

An introduction to the C programming language. Prerequisite: Computer Science 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 15400: FORTRAN 1 hour(s)

An introduction to the FORTRAN programming language. Prerequisites: Computer Science 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 16600: COMPUTERS & ENTERTAINMENT W/ LAB:MM 4 hour(s)

Since the advent of the computer age, new types of entertainment have arisen that take advantage of the new capabilities. These include animations used in games and movies, web sites that support a wide variety of social and leisure activities, and the ability to create complex simulations such as amusement park rides. This course will explore various applications of computing in entertainment as well as some of the underlying principles of computer science. No prior experience with computer science or programming is expected. This course fulfills the Modeling Methods requirement.

CPSC 17000: JAVA SUPPLEMENT 1 hour(s)

An intense introduction to the basic CPSC 172 or 17200 with all work completed in intense sessions the preparation for CPSC 172 or 17200: Introduction to Programming Java. Only available to students who have met their laboratory science requirement, whose declared academic program requires a programming course, and who have received permission from the instructor. Pass/No Credit Only. Must be taken concurrently with CPSC 172 or 17200. Not open to students who have completed CPSC 171 or 17100. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

CPSC 17100: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE-W/LAB:MM 4 hour(s)

The introduction to the computer science discipline which establishes a scientific foundation for a variety of topics, including computer programming, computer design, information processing, the algorithmic solution of problems, and the study of the algorithmic process itself. Student must also register for a lab. This course fulfills the Modeling Methods requirement. The breakdown between lecture and lab hours is for administrative office use only. This course may only be taken as 4 credit hours.

CPSC 17200: INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING-W/LAB:MM: 4 hour(s)

An introduction to the process of program creation. Students will learn to use the principal facilities of a high-level programming language and to transform algorithms into correct programs. Abstract data types will be stressed. Student must also register for a CPSC 17200 lab. This course fulfills the Modeling Methods requirement. Prerequisite: Computer Science 171 or 17100 or 170 or 17000 or 16600 taken concurrently or permission. The breakdown between lecture and lab hours is for administrative office use only. This course may only be taken as 4 credit hours.

CPSC 18000: WORKSHOP 1 hour(s)

This workshop will provide the opportunity for students to examine a special topic in Computer Science. Through readings, discussions and written assignments there will be opportunities to evaluate the topic at issue. Workshops may be taken Pass/No Credit only. Students may take no more than nine workshops for credit toward graduation. Workshops can be used as elective credit only. (For PGS students only.)

CPSC 20100: DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHMS-W/LAB:MM 4 hour(s)

A study of a broad spectrum of data structures and algorithms and the use of advanced language facilities and programming techniques for implementing them. Student must also register for a CPSC 20100 lab. This course fulfills the Modeling Methods requirement. Prerequisite: Computer Science 172 or 17200 with a grade of C or better or permission. The breakdown between lecture and lab hours is for administrative office use only. This course may only be taken as 4 credit hours.

CPSC 20200: PROBLEM-SOLVING AND PROGRAMMING PRACTICUM 3 hour(s)

Successful computer problem-solving relies not only on the development of appropriate algorithms, but also on the recognition of instances of well-defined problem classes for which algorithms already exist. In addition, excellence in computer programming cannot be developed without significant practice in implementing and debugging solutions. This course will provide students with a guided programming practicum, in which they will program solutions to carefully chosen problems that exemplify common problem classes. Many problems will be chosen from recent programming contests. Prerequisite: Computer Science 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 20500: SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING 3 hour(s)

Systems programming concentrates on an in-depth study of one operating system, such as Unix, and how to write system programs in that operating system. The course will concentrate on the operating system's history, file system structure, commands, utilities, multi-tasking capabilities, communication, security, and shell-type programming. Theory is presented in the context of how the operating system implements the ideas. By the end of the course, students should be able to determine how most of the commands are implemented and how to use operating system properties to create tools and applications. Prerequisite: CPSC 171 or 17100 or Permission.

CPSC 21000: DESIGNING AND BUILDING COMPUTER GAMES 3 hour(s)

Computer gaming is a large and growing industry and the skills needed in the industry can be applied across the field of computer science. In this course you will work in teams to design and build a computer game using these skills. Programming topics covered in the course include threading, graphics and animation, interactivity and user interfaces, sound effects and music, and multi-player gaming over networks. In addition you will learn skills for working on a large project in a team environment. This course is designed around group work. You will be responsible for one portion of your team’s performance. Prerequisites: CPSC 172 or 17200

CPSC 24000: COMPUTER ETHICS:ES 3 hour(s)

A consideration of some of the major controversies, key value conflicts, ethical dilemmas, and social choices that drive and shape the computerization of our society. Representative areas of concern will include personal information and privacy, the effect of introducing the computer into the work place, computer crime and fraud, relationships in electronic communities, security and reliability issues, and the use of the information highway. May not be used to satisfy a distribution requirement in the sciences. This course fulfills the Meaning, Ethics, and Social Responsibility requirement.

CPSC 25200: COMPUTER ORGANIZATION 4 hour(s)

An introduction to the design, functioning, and control of the subsystems of a computer system: processors, memory, storage, and input/output.Topics include digital logic, combinatorial, sequential, and register-transfer circuits, control unit, interrupt processing, microprogramming, and assembly language. Prerequisite: Computer Science 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 28000: SEMINAR 4 hour(s)

CPSC 28100: INDEPENDENT STUDY 1 - 4 hour(s)

CPSC 29800: FIELD EXPERIENCE 1 - 4 hour(s)

CPSC 32000: COMPUTER VISION 4 hour(s)

An introduction to the theory and algorithms needed for automatic interpretation of images.Topics include: image formation, segmentation, stereo, motion and other geometric reasoning techniques, object recognition, and applications. Sources of uncertainty and techniques for recognition in the presence of uncertainty will also be discussed. Students will implement significant parts of a complete object recognition system. Prerequisites: Computer Science 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 32201: USER INTERFACE DESIGN 4 hour(s)

In order to develop systems that are usable and useful, the interactions between user and system must be considered. This class will focus on designing the user interfaces of computer systems. Students will learn and practice the entire life cycle of a user interface design from modeling theuser through designing, developing, and formally evaluating the interface. This course will include a significant group system development project. Prerequisite: CPSC 171 or 17100 and CPSC 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 33100: VLSI DESIGN 4 hour(s)

Virtually every electronic device includes one or more VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) "chips." This course will look at how such VLSI chips are designed, concentrating on field-programmable logic devices (FPLDs), which are the chips most commonly used for small-volume consumer devices. The course will cover logic design, schematic capture, and design, using a hardware description language. Students will design and implement projects on actual FPLDs. Prerequisites: Computer Science 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission, CPSC 252 or 25200 is recommended.

CPSC 34500: OPERATING SYSTEMS 4 hour(s)

An introduction to operating systems that explores the design principles, internal algorithms, and the abstract data types of operating systems. Topics include concurrent programming principles, storage management techniques, scheduling algorithms, and file management schemes. Prerequisite: Computer Science 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 35100: PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES 4 hour(s)

A study the concepts underlying programming languages. Students will learn to describe the syntax and semantics of programming languages in a formal manner, to analyze a programming language with respect to its capabilities and limitations for the solution of particular classes of problems, to approach the task of learning a new programming language in an effective manner, and to specify desirable characteristics in a language. Prerequisite: Computer Science 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 35200: COMPUTER SECURITY 4 hour(s)

An introduction to secure computer systems and a study of their most important responsibilities, including authenticating users, protecting user privacy, and ensuring the privacy, integrity, and availability of the system's data. The student will gain an understanding of techniques and procedures that are being used as well as the challenges that still remain to attain secure computer systems, networks, and the Internet. Prerequisite: Computer Science 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 35600: DATABASE DESIGN 4 hour(s)

A study of the principles and concepts relevant to the management of complex data systems, especially the relational database model. Students design and implement a complete database system, from requirements analysis through documentation, using a generic database engine. Counts toward e-minor. Prerequisite: Computer Science (171 or 17100) and (172 or 17200) or permission.

CPSC 35800: INTRODUCTION TO THE DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF ALGORITHMS 4 hour(s)

Algorithms play the central role in the field of Computer Science. This course will primarily focus on the techniques used for designing algorithms to solve common problems in the field of Computer Science as well as methods for evaluating an algorithm’s performance. In designing algorithms the course will look at such methods as brute force, divide-and-conquer, transformation of the problem, and dynamic programming. Analysis techniques will include important concepts such as space-time tradeoffs. Efficiency classes, and mathematical analysis techniques. Mathematical sophistication will be developed. Prerequisites: Computer Science 201 or 20100 or permission.

CPSC 36100: COMPUTER MODELING AND SIMULATION:SM 4 hour(s)

An introduction to modeling and simulation to solve real-world system problems. The exphasis will be on gathering data and modeling natural systems. Topics covered will include discrete event simulation, parameter optimization, Markov models, and other system modeling techniques, simulation languages, techniques for running simulation models, and the analysis of the simulation output to gathered data. This course fulfills the Experimental Scientific Methods requirement. Prerequisites: CPSC 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 36300: COMPUTER NETWORKS 4 hour(s)

A study of the fundamentals of the field of data and computer communication. Key topics include the layered architecture, network protocols, and algorithms for accurate and reliable message delivery in both local-area and wide-area networks. Current networking standards will be studied. Prerequisite: Computer Science 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 36700: PARALLEL COMPUTING 4 hour(s)

An introduction to parallel and distributed architectures, programming languages, operating systems, and algorithms. Students will design and program parallel and distributed algorithms. Prerequisite: Computer Science 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 37500: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING 4 hour(s)

Students will study both the theoretical and practical aspects of designing and developing large, complex software systems. Readings will emphasize research results and case studies of all phases of the software lifecycle - requirements, specification, design, resource allocation, implementation, integration, and testing. Principles will be applied by the class to various projects. Prerequisites: CPSC 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission of the instructor.

CPSC 38000: SEMINAR 1 - 4 hour(s)

CPSC 38100: SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE 1 - 4 hour(s)

Various advanced topics are offered when need and sufficient interest are demonstrated. Credit hours and prerequisites are established for each offering. May be taken more than once with department consent.

CPSC 38600: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 4 hour(s)

The goals, problems, concepts, and methods of artificial intelligence are explored. The emphasis is on computer problem-solving paradigms and knowledge representations. Examples of techniques and systems are chosen from the areas of image recognition, human-machine interfacing, game playing, natural-language understanding, robotics, expert systems, and automatic reasoning. Students will design and implement relevant algorithms. Prerequisites: Computer Science 201 or 20100 or permission.

CPSC 38700: COMPUTER GRAPHICS 4 hour(s)

A study of the algorithms and techniques of computer graphics and animation. Topics include display devices, geometric algorithms for displays, interaction methods, hierarchical modeling, lighting color, shading models, and hidden edge and surface algorithms. Students will design and implement various three-dimensional algorithms to produce displays in an interactive environment. Prerequisites: Computer Science 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200 or permission.

CPSC 38800: COMPILER DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION 4 hour(s)

An intense treatment of the theoretical and practical considerations involved in implementing translators for high-level programming languages. Students will design and implement parts of a compiler for a high-level language. Prerequisites: Computer Science 171 or 17100 and 172 or 17200, and at least one computer science course above 200 or 20000, or permission.

CPSC 40000: INTEGRATED RESEARCH COMPONENT I 2 hour(s)

The student will propose and complete a plan to investigate a research topic that is integrated with the specified course. The plan must include a substantial implementation demonstrating some aspect of the research, a journal-quality research paper, and a formal talk presented to peers and faculty. Corequisite: Specified 300 or 30000-level Computer Science course. Prerequisite: Computer Science 201 or 20100 or permission.

CPSC 40100: INTEGRATED RESEARCH COMPONENT II 2 hour(s)

The student will propose and complete a plan to investigate a research topic that is integrated with the specified course. The plan must include a substantial implementation demonstrating some aspect of the research, a journal-quality research paper, and a formal talk presented to peers and faculty. Corequisite: Specified 300 or 30000-level Computer Science course. Prerequisite: Computer Science 400 or 40000

CPSC 46600: THEORY OF COMPUTATION 4 hour(s)

An introduction to the classical and contemporary theory of computation. The topics covered are the theory of automata and formal languages, computability by Turing machines and recursive functions, unsolvability, computational complexity, and mathematical logic. Mathematical sophistication is expected. Prerequisites:Computer Science 201 or 20100 or permission.

CPSC 48000: SENIOR SEMINAR 1 - 4 hour(s)

CPSC 48100: INDEPENDENT RESEARCH 1 - 4 hour(s)

CPSC 49800: INTERNSHIP 4 hour(s)

CREATIVE WRITING

Paul Gaffney (2006), Associate Professor of English
B.A., Western Washington University;
M.A., Ph.D., University of Virginia
Academic Interests: medieval literature; linguistics; Renaissance studies; history of the English language; history of architecture

Willard Greenwood (2001), Professor of English; Editor, Hiram Poetry Review
B.A., University of Maine;
M.A., Georgia State University;
Ph.D., Purdue University
Academic Interests: nineteenth-and twentieth-century American literature; poetry writing; poetry theory and aesthetics; fly fishing; the history of fly fishing; and sports and literature

Kirsten Parkinson (2001), John S. Kenyon Professor of English; Director of the Lindsay-Crane Center for Writing and Literature        
A.B., Harvard University;          
M.A., Ph.D., University of Southern California          
Academic Interests: nineteenth- and twentieth-century British literature; gender studies; world literature, especially Asian literature; food writing; film studies; creative nonfiction

Mary Quade (2006), Associate Professor of English
A.B., University of Chicago;
M.F.A., University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop
Academic Interests: creative writing, including poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction; photography; contemporary literature; environmental writing 
 

Jeffrey Swenson (2007), Associate Professor of English; Director, Writing Across the Curriculum Program
B.A., St. John’s University;
M.A., University of Alaska, Fairbanks;
Ph.D., University of Iowa
Academic Interests: writing across the curriculum; creative writing; representations of autism; American and Canadian literature; regional literature

Emeriti Faculty

David R. Anderson (1966), Professor Emeritus of English
B.A., Hiram College;
M.A., University of California (Berkeley);
Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
Academic Interests: American literature; world literature; regional literature; and architecture

Joyce Dyer (1991), Professor Emerita of English
B.A., Wittenberg University;
M.A., Ph.D., Kent State University
Academic Interests: creative writing; subgenres of creative nonfiction; American studies; Appalachian literature; regional studies

Department Web Site: http://www.hiram.edu/english

THE CREATIVE WRITING MAJOR

13 courses

The major in creative writing allows students to explore their talent as writers of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction or screenplays. The major places emphasis on reading, craft and technique, genre study, workshops, and revision. Although the major requires exposure to multiple genres, the 40000-level advanced workshops offer students an opportunity to concentrate on forms of their choosing and to begin to specialize. The creative writing sequence ensures the development of writers, helping students learn about writing professions and translate their experience to careers. The major emphasizes literary writing and encourages emerging writers to engage with literary tradition. This degree is one of very few creative writing majors in the state of Ohio.

Creative Writing Pathway

Introductory Course in Creative Writing (1 course)
The following introductory course in writing is a prerequisite to all other writing courses:

• WRIT 22100: Basics of Creative Writing (3 hours)

Genre Courses in Writing (3 courses)
Three 30000-level genre courses (students must have WRIT 22100 to begin this sequence):

• WRIT 30400 Craft and Technique: Poetry (4 hours)
• WRIT 30500 Craft and Technique: Creative Nonfiction (4 hours)
• WRIT 30600 Craft and Technique: Fiction (4 hours)
• WRIT 30900 Craft and Technique: Screenwriting (4 hours)

Electives in Writing (2 courses)
We recommend that students select electives that complement their professional or academic goals. Elective clusters might include concentrations in the following areas:

• Professional Writing (e.g., WRIT 21400, WRIT 24000, WRIT 24300, WRIT 24600, WRIT 31200, WRIT 31400/32400, WRIT 31900, WRIT 32000, WRIT 31900/32100, WRIT 32000, WRIT 34500, WRIT 49800)
• Writing Instruction and Pedagogy (WRIT 31300, WRIT 20500, WRIT 33300)
• MFA/Graduate School Preparation (additional genre courses in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction)
• Genre writing for mass publication (Young Adult Writing, Travel Writing, Memoir)

Students may choose electives by taking additional 30000-level genre courses and 40000-level advanced workshops listed below, or from the following courses:

• WRIT 20500 Style and Grammar for Writers (3 hours)
• WRIT 21400 Writing about Nature (3 hours)
• WRIT 21500 Writing about...(topic varies; recent topics include food, cemeteries, and seeing) (3 hours)
• WRIT 23100 Art of Poetry (3 hours)
• WRIT 24000 Survey of Journalism (4 hours)
• WRIT 24300 Photojournalism (3 hours)
• WRIT 24600 Sports Journalism (3 hours)
• WRIT 28000 Special Topics (1-4 hours)

• WRIT 28100 Independent Study (1-4 hours) 
• WRIT 31000 Travel Writing (1-4 hours)
• WRIT 31200 Technical Writing (4 hours)
• WRIT 31300 Teaching and Supervising of Writing (4 hours)
• WRIT 31400 Writing for Science (3 hours)
• WRIT 31800 Memoir (3 hours)
• WRIT 31900 Literary Journalism (3 hours)
• WRIT 32000 Professional Editing (3 hours)
• WRIT 32100 Literary Journalism (4 hours)
• WRIT 32400 Writing for Science (4 hours)
• WRIT 32800 Memoir (4 hours)
• WRIT 33300 Rhetorical Criticism (4 hours)
• WRIT 34500 Writing for Publication (3 hours)
• WRIT 38000 Special Topics (1-4 hours)
• WRIT 48100 Independent Research (1-4 hours)
• WRIT 49800 Internship in Writing (1-4 hours)

Advanced Workshops in Writing (2 courses)
Two 40000-level workshops, designed to produce advanced work, from the following:

• WRIT 40400 Advanced Workshop in Poetry  (4 hours)
• WRIT 40500 Advanced Workshop in Creative Nonfiction (4 hours)
• WRIT 40600 Advanced Workshop in Fiction (4 hours)

Senior Capstone (1 course)
In their senior year, students must complete WRIT 48000: Senior Seminar (3 hours) plus a 1-hour preparatory course in the preceding 12-week term. This 3-week course allows students to revise promising work from their portfolio. They must also write a short essay reflecting on their experience as a major in writing. At the end of the course, students will do a public reading.

Introductory Course in Literature (1 course)
To begin the literature component, students must take ENGL 20600: Introduction to Literary Studies (4 hours).

Literature Component (3 courses)

A minimum of three other courses in literature, at the 30000- or 40000-level. The combination of these courses must fulfill the following requirements:

o American literature course
o British literature course
o World literature course
o Literature course after 1800
o Literature course before 1800

Foreign Language
Students must complete a foreign language through the 10200 level.

AP Credit
Students who have received a 4 or 5 on the English Language and Composition Advanced Placement (AP) test receive credit for one of the required elective writing courses in the major. However, the English Department encourages students who are considering graduate work to take additional writing courses.
 

Majoring and Minoring in English
Students completing the major in creative writing may not combine it with a major or minor in English but are welcome to  additional literature courses; students interested in taking the majority of their coursework in literature should consider the major in English.

Requirements for Honors in English
Departmental honors are a privilege conferred upon the English Department’s most outstanding students each year upon completion of the honors requirements. In order to apply for Honors in English, students must meet the Hiram College Honors GPA requirements (overall GPA of 2.80, departmental GPA of 3.60, and a sum of these two GPAs of 6.80). In addition, students must also receive an A or A- in the English capstone course. At that time, students who are eligible for honors are invited to submit an honors application to the English Department for further consideration.

Advising
All students majoring in creative writing must have an academic advisor, as either their primary or secondary advisor, in the English Department.

THE WRITING MINOR

The minor in writing offers writing experience to students with majors outside the English Department. Students combine the minor with a wide range of other disciplines, including philosophy, math, environmental studies, biomedical humanities, psychology, communication, history, and biology. This degree requires a firm commitment on the part of the student and approval by the writing faculty.  There are two deadlines a year for submitting applications to pursue the minor in writing (November 1 and March 1). Students must apply by the end of their junior year.  Students cannot count more than two courses toward the minor that are also being counted toward a major. 

• At least seventeen (17) credit hours in at least five courses are required.
• No more than two (2) courses can also count for the student’s major.
• No more than three (3) may be selected from the 20000-level sequence.
• Students must take Basics of Creative Writing (WRIT 22100).
• One of the five courses can be a three- to four-hour internship, with approval of the Writing Minor Committee.

An electronic application form should be requested from Mary Quade and then submitted to her electronically at [email protected]. Materials should be submitted as one file, including both of the writing samples. Students are not permitted to both major in English and minor in writing.

WRIT 20500 Style and Grammar for Writers (3 hours)
WRIT 21500 Writing About (topics vary) (3 hours)
WRIT 22100 Basics of Creative Writing (3 hours)
WRIT 23100 Art of Poetry (3 hours)
WRIT 24000 Survey of Journalism (4 hours)
WRIT 24600 Sports Journalism (3 hours)
WRIT 28000 Special Topics Seminar (1-4 hours)
WRIT 28100 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
WRIT 30400 Craft and Technique: Poetry (4 hours)
WRIT 30500 Craft and Technique: Creative Nonfiction (4 hours)
WRIT 30600 Craft and Technique: Fiction (4 hours)
WRIT 30700 Craft and Technique: Playwriting (4 hours)
WRIT 30900 Craft and Technique: Screenwriting (4 hours)
WRIT 31000 Travel Writing (1-4 hours)
WRIT 31100 Writing for Business (4 hours)
WRIT 31200 Technical Writing (4 hours)
WRIT 31300 Teaching and Supervising of Writing (4 hours)
WRIT 31400 Writing About Nature (3 hours)
WRIT 31800 Memoir (3 hours)
WRIT 31900 Literary Journalism (3 hours) 
WRIT 32000 Professional Editing (3 hours)
WRIT 33300 Rhetorical Criticism (4 hours)

Minors also will be expected to give a public reading of work produced in their writing courses the spring of their senior year. Mary Quade, Paul Gaffney, Willard Greenwood, and Jeff Swenson serve on the Writing Minor Committee.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

WRIT 10400: BASIC EXPOSITION I 2 hour(s)

This course is taken in coordination with First-Year Colloquium and concentrates on helping students become more effective prose writers. Attention is given to clear thinking and wording, effective organization, insightful analysis, strong detail, and grammatical precision. Students will work on written assignments from their FRCL course and must be willing to read their own work and comment on the work of others. Pass/No Credit Only.

WRIT 10500: BASIC EXPOSITION II 2 hour(s)

This course is taken in coordination with the First-Year Seminar and concentrates on helping students become more effective prose writers. Attention is given to clear thinking and wording, effective organization, insightful analysis, strong detail, and grammatical precision. Students will work on written assignments from their FSEM course, and must be willing to read their own work and comment on the work of others. First time students only. Can only be taken for credit once. Must concurrently register for an FSEM. Pass/No Credit ONLY.

WRIT 18000: WORKSHOP 1 hour(s)

This workshop will provide the opportunity for students to examine a special topic in Writing. Through readings, discussions and written assignments there will be opportunities to evaluate the topic at issue. Workshops may be taken Pass/No Credit only. Students may take no more than nine workshops for credit toward graduation. Workshops can be used as elective credit only. (For PGS students only.)

WRIT 20500: STYLE AND GRAMMAR FOR WRITERS (MEDIATED TRACK):CM 3 hour(s)

This course will address matters of style and grammar closely and meticulously. It is not a course in developmental grammar, but one designed for serious writers interested in polishing error from their prose and experimenting with their writing styles. The class will be devoted to providing high polish to the individual line and expose students to stylistic patterns and options they may not have seen or noticed before. It will encourage writers to take risks with language, to consider the nuance of punctuation, to think about effect, to make language exact and precise, to develop voice, to distinguish between local advice and general principles in the understanding of "rules," and to gain fuller knowledge and control of individual style. Also listed as Communication (205 or 20500). This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement.

WRIT 21400: WRITING ABOUT NATURE:CM 3 hour(s)

This is an intensive creative writing course. The combination of reading and writing will inspire student insights into nature. The course may cover such topics as global warming, evolution, genetic research, and the romantic lure of the natural world. We have the daunting yet vitally important task of writing about the natural world in a manner that is accessible to a popular audience using creative techniques. Class assignments will reflect that goal. Readings will acquaint students with the natural world from historical, aesthetic, and personal perspectives. While the class concentrates on a variety of personal and political issues connected with nature, it will be crucial to speculate on what these issues mean for our society. Therefore, students will deepen their understanding of how the understanding of nature intersects with our culture-at-large. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement.

WRIT 21500: WRITING ABOUT:(Various Course Topics): CM 3 hour(s)

This is an intensive creative nonfiction writing course that closely examines a particular topic of in writing and reading. The combination of reading and writing will inspire student insights into the course topic. Students will work to write about the topic in a manner that is accessible to a popular audience using creative nonfiction techniques. Class assignments will reflect that goal. Readings will acquaint students with the topic from historical, aesthetic, and personal perspectives. While the class concentrates on a variety of personal and political issues connected with the topic, it will be crucial to speculate on what these issues mean for our society. Therefore, students will deepen their understanding of how the understanding of the topic intersects with our culture-at-large. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement.

WRIT 22100: BASICS OF CREATIVE WRITING:CM 3 hour(s)

This is the required foundation course for writing majors or students wanting to explore the field. This course will focus on the basics of creative writing, including such topics as how to read as a writer; how to train a writer's eye; the recovery of metaphor; the style and craft of narrative and description; the emergence of voice; selection of detail; the battle against cliche. Although genre will be introduced through reading and discussion, emphasis will be on writing matters that are common to all genres, not just one. The course will feature frequent short writing exercises and reading. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement.

WRIT 24000: SURVEY OF JOURNALISM (MEDIATED TRACK) 4 hour(s)

This course examines the contemporary professional journalistic field, particularly the areas of writing for media, design, layout, public relations and advertising. It provides students with practical experience and also an understanding of ethical and legal problems facing contemporary journalism. By examining the way First Amendment principles have translated in different political and social arenas, it also addresses how effectively journalism serves its various constituencies. Also listed as Communication (240 or 24000).

WRIT 24600: SPORTS JOURNALISM (MEDIATED TRACK) 4 hour(s)

This course is an overview of sports journalism and includes the study of story development from a single idea to a published story in the field of sport. This course examines the various elements necessary to bring a sporting event from the playing field to the public through the print media. Topics include types of print media, the role of sports department personnel, coverage of the sporting event, developing contracts, gaining access to sports figures, interviewing, and story development. The course focuses on developing effective writing skills by approaching sports writing as a process. Also listed as Communication (246 or 24600).

WRIT 28000: SEMINAR 1 - 4 hour(s)

WRIT 28100: INDEPENDENT STUDY 1 - 4 hour(s)

WRIT 29800: FIELD EXPERIENCE 1 - 4 hour(s)

WRIT 30300: YOUNG ADULT FICTION:CM 4 hour(s)

This course introduces the central elements of writing fiction—voice, character, conflict, setting, plot, subplot and style—with a special emphasis on writing for young adults. Students will read and analyze examples of published literary portrayals of teens, produce scene and character studies, read and discuss each other’s work, and submit a final revised portfolio of their creative projects. Fulfills credits toward Writing Major or Minor. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement.

WRIT 30400: CRAFT AND TECHNIQUE OF POETRY:CM 4 hour(s)

Students will write and revise poems through extensive practice and revision, as well as exposure to traditions, theory, prosody and esthetics, and method and craft. The course will focus on both practice and process - the tools needed to complete a successful poem, as well as the lifelong process that writers hone to tap into emotional experience and articulate it honestly. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement. Prerequisite: WRIT (221 or 22100) or permission

WRIT 30500: CRAFT AND TECHNIQUE: CREATIVE NONFICTION:CM 4 hour(s)

Students learn and practice a wide variety of nonfiction forms, with emphasis on personal essays and literary journalism. The course will be coupled with readings by contemporary nonfiction writers from the "New Journalism" school of the mid-60's to the present. Students will be responsible for writing and rewriting several essays. Workshops will be central, and students must be willing to read their own work and comment on the work of others. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement. Prerequisite: Writing (221 or 22100) or permission.

WRIT 30600: CRAFT AND TECHNIQUE: FICTION:CM 4 hour(s)

Students learn how to write and perfect short fiction through the study and practice of techniques employed in both traditional and very contemporary fiction. The course will include the reading of short fiction by both established and new writers. Students will be responsible for writing and rewriting several original short stories. Workshops will be central, and students must be willing to read their own work and comment on the work of others. Prerequisite: WRIT (221 or 22100) or permission. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement.

WRIT 30800: CREATIVE WRITING AT NORTHWOODS:CM 3 hour(s)

As an advanced creative writing course taking place at a remote and rustic field station in the Hiawatha National Forest, this course gives students a chance to write poetry, fiction, or essays that invoke a personal, insightful style influenced by an “off the grid” lifestyle. Students will learn skills and techniques by reading and discussing contemporary examples in the Best American series. Each student will then spend at least two hours each day writing, and each student will workshop at least two pieces (or more, depending on enrollment). These workshops serve as a way to learn more about the needs of the audience as well as a way to revise the work for publication. In addition, students will give a short oral presentation about one piece of their choosing from the Best American book. By the end of the semester, students can expect to have at least one piece of publishable writing, and every student will contribute a handwritten piece to the “Northwoods Anthology” which will be kept in the lodge for future students to read. Prerequisites:20000-level WRIT course or faculty recommendation as a strong writer This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement.

WRIT 30900: CRAFT & TECHNIQUE SCREENWRITING:CM 4 hour(s)

An introduction to the practice of writing for film. Students will learn the vocabulary and format of creating screenplays, study screenplays that have been produced as films, examine films with an eye toward the interpretation of the screenplay, and write and workshop their own work. We will look both at original screenplays and at screenplays that adapt literature to film. Prerequiste: Writing (221 or 22100) or permission. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement.

WRIT 31000: TRAVEL WRITING:CM 1 - 4 hour(s)

Travel writing has a long and impressive history. This course will help writers to know that history and become part of it. The genre of travel writing, beginning with writers like Herodotus and Marco Polo, appeals to a wide range of fine writers, including Mary Montagu, James Boswell, Charles Darwin, Evelyn Waugh, Jan Morris, and Paul Theroux. In addition to reading such writers, students will compose their own travel essays based on class travel experiences. Their descriptions of new experiences and sites may be heightened by irony, humor, cultural meditation, and a sense of a "mind in motion" that pushes toward larger meanings - ethical, political, and personal. Prerequisite: WRIT (221 or 22100) or permission. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement.

WRIT 31100: WRITING FOR BUSINESS 4 hour(s)

This course will ask students to apply writing and thinking skills to the specific demands of business, from the varieties of business correspondence to the preparation of proposals and reports. Students will practice the modes of business writing and develop the rhetorical and stylistic skills necessary for effective business communication.

WRIT 31200: TECHNICAL WRITING 4 hour(s)

This course helps students learn to write for an audience which wants factual information for practical use. This specialized information is usually directed to a specific audience which already has familiarity with the field. Professional technical journals provide the primary sources for this writing, as do technical reports written for business and government use.

WRIT 31300: TEACHING AND SUPERVISING WRITING:CM 4 hour(s)

This course is designed to prepare students in all disciplines to teach, tutor, and supervise the writing of high school students and college undergraduates. The course will offer an introduction to the major trends in composition theory and research. It will also develop the technical and interpersonal skills necessary for effective instruction. Students will closely examine their own writing process and style. To fulfill the required laboratory element of this course, students will spend time each week working with a mentor in the Writing Center. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement. Prerequisite: PERMISSION THROUGH RECOMMENDATION ONLY. Also listed as Education (313 or 31300).

WRIT 31800: MEMOIR 3 hour(s)

Memoir, with its roots in the personal essay, uses the techniques of fiction and other literary genres to allow writers to remember and discover their lives through a specific theme or lens. Students will be asked to read and review several contemporary memoirs and to write a twenty to thirty page segment from a book-length memoir they design. Workshops will be central, and students must be willing to read their own work as well as comment on the work of others. Prerequisite: WRIT 221 or 22100 or permission. Also offered as WRIT 328 or 32800 as a 4 credit hour course. A student may receive credit for only one of these courses.

WRIT 32000: PROFESSIONAL EDITING (MEDIATED TRACK) 3 hour(s)

This course is designed to teach students to be professional copyeditors as well as to explore other editorial positions in a publishing house. In order to make the experience of editing real, there will always be a project associated with this class: often a collection (essays, stories, poems, commemorate pieces) of student work. The first time this course was run (2006), a collection of twenty-nine essays written about Hiram, Ohio, U.S.A., over the past ten years, was shepherded toward production by a group of fifteen students. Students will learn not only how to line edit, but also how to assemble a book, making important aesthetic decisions about use of photographs, front and back matter, cover design, layout, etc. The vocabulary, technique, and art of publishing and editing will all be addressed and employed. Also listed as COMM (320 or 32000). Prerequisite: Writing (221 or 22100) or permission.

WRIT 32100: LITERARY JOURNALISM:CM 4 hour(s)

Literary journalism has its roots in the early work of Daniel Defoe, but in the last few decades has come into its own- a genre marked by distinct conventions of style, form, and sensibility. Students will read samples of work by several generations of literary journalist who have shaped (and continue to shape) the genre - work by writers like George Orwell, Stephen Crane, Norman Mailer, Lillan Ross, Tom Wolfe, Mark Singer, Lauren Slater, Annie Dillard, Mark Kramer, John McPhee, Joan Didion, Michael Pollan, Edmund Morris, Ian Frazier, as well as new voices emerging every day. They will write a long piece of immersion journalism themselves, joining the ongoing conversation nonfiction writers are having about this inventive and important form in American letters. Also offered as Writing (319 or 31900) as a 3 credit hour course. A student may receive credit for only one of these courses. This course fulfills the Creative Methods requirement.

WRIT 32800: MEMOIR 4 hour(s)

Memoir, with its roots in the personal essay, uses the techniques of fiction and other literary genres to allow writers to remember and discover their lives through a specific theme or lens. Students will be asked to read and review several contemporary memoirs and to write a short memoir of their own. Workshops will be central, and students must be willing to read their own work as well as comment on the work of others. Prerequisite: WRIT (221 or 22100) or permission Also offered as WRIT 318 or 31800 as a 3 credit hour course. A student may receive credit for only one of these courses.

WRIT 33300: RHETORICAL CRITICISM (RHETORICAL TRACK):IM 4 hour(s)

An examination of the nature and practice of rhetorical criticism as theory and methodology for understanding and critiquing contemporary discourse. The tools of rhetorical criticism, different methodological approaches, and the values of analyzing human discourse are explored. Students will do critiques from a broad variety of contemporary discourse such as speeches, essays, letters, editorials, theater, television, film, and other symbolic contexts of their choosing. Also listed as Communication (333 or 33300). Prerequisite: English (206 or 20600) or Writing (221 or 22100) or Communication (101 or 10100) or permission. This course fulfills the Interpretive Methods requirement.

WRIT 38000: SEMINAR 1 - 4 hour(s)

WRIT 38100: SPECIAL TOPICS 1 - 4 hour(s)

WRIT 40400: ADVANCED WORKSHOP IN POETRY 4 hour(s)

This course is a continuation of Writing (304 or 30400). Students will write poetry at an advanced level and complete a chapbook of poems that reflect the student's developing style and thematic preoccupations. Prerequisite: WRIT(203 or 20300) or WRIT (304 or 30400) or permission.

WRIT 40500: ADVANCED WORKSHOP IN CREATIVE NONFICTION 4 hour(s)

This advanced workshop will allow writers to experiment with stylistic and organizational nuance in creative nonfiction, as well as move toward longer forms in the genre (books of literary journalism, book-length memoirs, collections of thematically linked essays, etc.). Students will have considerable freedom in the selection of their projects and receive workshop support on a regular basis. Prerequisite: Writing (305 or 30500) or Writing (321 or 32100) or Writing (328 or 32800).

WRIT 40600: ADVANCED WORKSHOP IN FICTION 4 hour(s)

This advanced workshop will allow writers to explore a more full range of techniques and craft in short-story writing, as well as move toward longer forms in the genre (story collections, novellas, and novels). Students will have considerable freedom in the selection of their projects and will receive workshop support on a regular basis. Prerequisite: Writing (306 or 30600) or permission.

WRIT 48000: SENIOR SEMINAR 1 - 3 hour(s)

Students must complete this course in their senior year. This course requires students to significantly revise work in one or two genres: an essay, a short story, a screenplay, or a group of poems. The work should come from 300 or 30000- or 400 or 40000-level writing course, pending departmental approval. The revision must include more elaborate research (if necessary and desirable), more vigorous experimentation with form and technique, more elaborate and complete exploration of a subject and/or an emotional response, and more artful use of language. Students will gain awareness of the process of writing for publication. Students will also 1) write a one-page essay explaining their interest in and relationship to the project (statement of purpose); 2) present a public reading of their finished work. Also offered as ENGL (480 or 48000). Corequisite WRIT 48010

WRIT 48010: SENIOR SEMINAR PART I 1 hour(s)

English majors must complete this course in their senior year. This revision and workshop course requires students to significantly rework a research paper from one of their 400 or 40000-level literature courses. The revision must include more elaborate research of primary and secondary sources, more extensive and complete exploration of a subject, and a more theoretical and sophisticated approach to the literary essay. This research project will help students to achieve achieve a historical and contemporary understanding of their subject. Students will write a one-page introduction that explains their interest in and relationship to the project. Students will identify journals or conferences that would be suitable arenas for publication and presentation. Students will present their work in a public forum. Also listed as ENGL 48010. Corequisite WRIT 48000.

WRIT 48100: INDEPENDENT RESEARCH 1 - 4 hour(s)

WRIT 49800: INTERNSHIP 4 hour(s)

Developed in consultation with the student’s major faculty advisor(s), the internship will be tailored to the interests and needs of the student and can be served in a wide variety of private and public organizations. Hiram College’s internship program permits students to bridge the distance between the theory they learn in the classroom and the application of their knowledge. The academic department establishes prerequisites for the application procedure. Students should check with individual departments for specific requirements and guidelines for the experience as they may vary by discipline. Prospective interns work with the faculty advisor who will monitor the experience and grade the academic component of the internship.