While many of Western Carolina University’s undergraduate course offerings are what one would expect in an English curriculum, a good many are surprising and individual to WCU:

Dr. Newton Smith this year teaches English 351: The Beats, Radicals and Avant-Garde Literature, which examines the literature of the Beat movement and other radical, avant-garde and protest movements to determine the changes disenfranchised groups can effect upon cultural perceptions. 

Professor Smith also teaches English 367:Appalachian Literature, a course very specific to the Cullowhee region, and an important one for anyone who desires to know more about the culture of the place where he or she will be living for at least the next few years.

Yet another course specific to Western Carolina University, English 390: Bible as Literature, is taught by Dr. Mary Warner, and is devoted to exploring key portions of the Bible, as well as its subjects, themes, and literary styles. 

An interesting course in a slightly different area is Dr. Jim Addison’s English 421: Fairy Tale Literature. Students in this class look at the genre of the fairy tale and examine its structure and theme as well as its influence on children’s and mainstream literature. Some of the reading material for this year has been versions of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Peter Pan, as well as The Wizard of Oz, and The Secret Garden.

The university also has several film courses to choose from, perhaps the most popular of which is English 487: Film as Literature, taught by Professor Joseph Meigs.  The focus of the class and the films are different each year, and the literary and philosophical themes explored have ranged from existentialism, romanticism, naturalism, realism, views of America, and family relationships. Past material has included such acclaimed films as Fargo, American Beauty, and Being There.