Rather than focusing on teaching the classics many people remember, like Greek drama or epic poetry, RIT English students will experience a tech-infused curriculum that covers a variety of popular media formats like manga, graphic novels, digitally-born fiction, and even Dungeons and Dragons storytelling.
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has introduced a new English degree for the 2022-23 academic year. However, it is no ordinary English degree.
Rather than focusing on teaching the classics many people remember, like Greek drama or epic poetry, RIT English students will experience a tech-infused curriculum that covers a variety of popular media formats like manga, graphic novels, digitally-born fiction, and even Dungeons and Dragons storytelling.
"What RIT allows is for this to be a 21st-century degree. Yes, we love 18th century literature, but in the contemporary world that is only a part of a larger picture," said Robert Glick, associate professor and director of the new program. "Very little—or not as much as used to be when thinking about English—is going to be in print books. It's going to be on the web, it's going to be in databases, it's going to be in technical writing, it's going to be in new media. We want to prepare students for that."
Upon admittance, students can choose from three specialty concentrations: literature and media, creative writing, or linguistics. All three have an RIT "twist" that integrates technology, contemporary media, and interdisciplinary education.
"We want to make sure that the English courses students take are complemented by courses in other departments to help them succeed as an English major in the outside world," said Glick. "It also means literature and technology can intersect in meaningful ways. They can write a poem using 3D printers in the 3D-printing lab. They can use eye trackers if they're doing computational linguistics work that has to do with how people see things on a page, for example. So, they're getting to use some of the technology and work with people in other fields in really strong ways."
Few universities across the country offer an English curriculum that explores digital literature, and fewer have access to a wide range of STEM resources to integrate into their studies. Graduates leave with in-depth knowledge of their English specialization and technical skills to complement their learning.
Media Contact
Felicia Swartzenberg, RIT, 585-475-4950, [email protected]
SOURCE Rochester Institute of Technology
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