The English Department contributes several courses to SUNY Fredonia's general education program, Fredonia Foundations. Go to YourConnection to search for all university courses by Fredonia Foundations theme and category.
Spring 2026 Fredonia Foundations Course Offerings
None of these classes count towards majors within the department except where indicated.
Critical Thinking & Reasoning/American History/Critical Thinking & Analysis
| Anne Fearman | Section 01 Section 02 | Our class will explore the theme of the American Dream: from its historical and mythical narrative creation through its contemporary meaning; from accessibility to application; and from exclusion to expansion. |
| Alison Pipitone | Section 02 ONLINE | This course explores the literature, music, and oral histories that told and re-told the story of the Great Depression (1929–1941). We will examine how artists responded to economic hardship, social upheaval, and shifting American ideals. Through close reading analysis of The Grapes of Wrath, The Four Winds, oral histories, poetry, and music, students will explore the ways in which creative voices responded to the struggles of everyday Americans, challenged dominant narratives, and helped shape cultural memory. |
US History & Civic Engagement/Critical Thinking & Reason/ American History /Global Perspective & Diversity
| Mary Weiser | Section 01 TR 9:30-10:50 | Students will delve into historical and recent American literature across multiple genres and in relation to multiple institutions and media that relates to the experience of "becoming Americans." |
The Arts/Creativity & Innovation
| Dr. Natalie Gerber | Section 01 TR 11:00-12:20 | This class will focus on the craft of writing theatrical lyrics. Students will analyze songs (sound structures, verse structure); plot, write, revise, and present original songs. No prior experience needed! Non-theatrical songwriters welcomed. |
| Alison Pipitone | Section 02 ONLINE | This is an online/asynchronous course, open to students with or without songwriting experience. Students will complete assignments on lyrics; music; production; close listening- and more! We will also explore the concept of Resilience in songs, using three eras in history as a starting point. |
Humanities/Critical Thinking & Reasoning/Critical Thinking & Analysis
| Daniel Laurie | Section 01 TR 2:00-3:20 | This section of Reading Humanity focuses on group dynamics and the sense of belonging. The key questions we will consider are: What does it mean to belong? What does it mean to be an outsider? And what’s at stake in conformity? |
| Emily VanDette | Section 02 ONLINE | This section of Reading Humanity focuses on the theme "Representing Animals," and the course explores depictions of animals in literary works, philosophical discussions, and examples from art history. |
World History & Global Awareness/Global Perspectives/Other World Civilization/Global Perspectives & Diversity
| Ici Vanwesenbeeck | Section 04
| These sections of the course, “Border Crossings: Away from Home” will focus on the experience of refugees, exile, and migration in parts of the world affected by war, conflict, and political unrest. Students will study literary narratives (multi genre) about homelessness, displacement, memory, nostalgia, melancholia, in specific relation to war and armed conflict. |
Humanities/Creativity and Innovation
Shannon McRae
| Section 01 T 3:30-5:50 R 3:30-4:20 | We like our cinema like we like our coffee: murky, dark, and dangerous. This course focuses on dark cinema: specifically film noir, horror, and films that explore the edges of human experience. Cheerful!
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice/Creativity and Innovation
| Saundra Liggins | Section 01 Section HR | We will read works by Black women in a variety of genres, spanning the 18th century through the present day, exploring how they interpreted their own worlds and how their voices still shape the way we see our world today. |
American History/Global Perspectives & Diversity
| Emily VanDette | Section 01 Section 02 | ENGL 296 explores the cultural narratives that shape American identities, with a focus on historical examples. |
The Arts/Creativity & Innovation
Jason Bussman
| Section 01 Section 02 | Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry: oh my! In this introductory course, we will venture over the rainbow to the land of writing activities, short fiction, writing workshops and beyond. Be careful: once you venture into these waters, you may never be the same! |
Rebecca Cuthbert
| Section 03 Section 04 | As the prerequisite for all higher-level creative writing courses, this multi-genre course will introduce core concepts in creative writing, with readings of published works and peer works, as well as regular writing exercises. |
| Mara Beneway | Section 05 Section 06 | In this course you will identify and discuss traditional writing genre standards and build creative writing craft knowledge. The goal is for you to develop a set of skills and artistic practice which allows you to successfully articulate what matters to you on the page. |