University of the Sunshine Coast

Bachelor of Arts (English)

For a major in English, students must successfully complete 8 courses:

Playing with Words (An Introduction to Creative Writing Craft):

This course introduces you to a variety of creative writing skills and consists of a series of exercises and activities designed to develop essential aspects of the creative writer's craft with a foundation in theory. A selection of readings in a range of approaches, styles, and techniques will serve as models of good writing and help you reflect on your writing practice.

The 'English' Tradition (An Introduction to Literary Studies):

This course introduces you to the process of close critical reading through an exploration of both canonical texts and contemporary takes on established genres. The exploration of literary forms, genres, and eras will enhance your understanding of the premise of literary studies which suggests that the text acts to both reflect and question the world.

Reality Bites (An Exploration of Non-Fiction):

This course introduces different genres within creative non-fiction writing, including: the tradition of the great essayists; travel writing; 'science' writing; sports writing; and memoir, biography, and autobiography. Concepts such as verisimilitude, believability, and persuasion are explored, as are the lines between the real and the constructed.

Imagined Homelands (An Exploration of Australian Literature):

This course investigates some of the significant expressions of Australian literature. It plots how Australian literature has served to situate, challenge, and debate concepts of nation and identity, belonging and home. It does this through development of extensive critical reading skills, analysis, and literary research.

Reading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Writing:

This course introduces you to examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writing in novels, essays, letters, films, songs, blogs, and more. You will learn to contextualize this writing within broader social and cultural concerns, and to identify themes and devices in the writing.

Creative Writing and Editing for Publication:

This course empowers you to exercise creative and critical thinking in the production of creative content for industry-focused publications. The workshop environment is structured as a publishing house where you are responsible for writing and editing manuscripts, learning and applying fundamental principles and practices involved in the publishing industry.

Wonderworlds(An Exploration of Theory and Fiction):

To wonder is to imagine where we are not, and to consciously make sense of what might be in terms of our identities, environments, and relationships. In this course, you will investigate some of the ways in which the conventional and accepted have been questioned in literature. The word wonder encompasses speculation about new worlds, your experience of surprise, awe, and fascination.