BKX 120/ MUX 120/ ARX 120 Colloquium: Concentration Gateway Course (2 Credits)

Offered as ARX 120, BKX 120 and MUX 120. This course serves as a shared gateway for the Archives, Book Studies and Museums concentrations. Students explore histories, futures and systems of knowledge production, preservation, organization and distribution through the kinds of objects and evidence held by archives, libraries and museums. As evidence of their evolving and complex operations, this course introduces the history of such institutions, their evolving public mission, issues central to their work today, and the creation and uses of materials they hold. The course critically engages the emergence of such institutions, specifically within this regional context and in this framework of a college campus. S/U only. Enrollment limited to 25. (E)

Fall, Spring, Annually

BKX 140 Perspectives on Book Studies (1 Credit)

The gateway course presents the major themes of the book studies concentration--the creation, publication, distribution, reception, and survival of books--in a series of interactive workshops exposing students to the variety of subjects relevant to the concentration. These include graphic arts, the production and transmission of texts, literacy, and the sociology of the book. The course features members of the advisory committee on a rotational basis, and may be supplemented on occasion with lectures from the distinguished book studies people in the Valley. Required of all book studies concentrators, who are given enrollment priority. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. S/U only.

Fall, Spring, Variable

BKX 202/ PYX 202 The Chapbook in Practice: Publishing (2 Credits)

Offered as BKX 202 and PYX 202. This course focuses on various professional practice aspects of publishing, including manuscript submissions, selection, poetry craft and literary citizenship, through Nine Syllables Press, in partnership with the Boutelle-Day Poetry Center. Students learn about the publishing industry and contemporary US poetry landscape. Students have the opportunity to directly participate in reading and selecting manuscripts for a chapbook to be published by Nine Syllables Press. Preference given to Poetry and Book Studies concentrators. Recommended prerequisites: ENG 112 or BKX 140. Cannot be taken S/U. Enrollment limited to 15. Instructor permission required. (E)

Fall

BKX 203/ PYX 203 The Chapbook in Practice: Design (2 Credits)

Offered as BKX 203 and PYX 203. This course focuses on various professional practice aspects of publishing, including manuscript selection, book design and production, and product marketing and distribution, through Nine Syllables Press, in partnership with the Boutelle-Day Poetry Center. Students learn about the publishing industry and contemporary US poetry landscape. Students have the opportunity to learn about and practice designing professional chapbook interiors and covers, producing and marketing chapbooks for a selected manuscript from Nine Syllables Press. Cannot be taken S/U. Priority given to BKX and PYX concentrators. Enrollment limited to 15. Instructor permission required. (E)

Spring

BKX 300 Seminar: Senior Capstone (2 Credits)

The culminating experience for the book studies concentration is an independent research project that synthesizes the student’s academic and practical experiences. The student’s concentration adviser may or may not serve as the sponsor for the project; topics for this capstone project are decided in concert with the student’s adviser and vetted by the concentration’s director. The seminar meets to discuss methodology and progress on the independent projects and to discuss general readings in book studies theory and praxis. S/U only. Enrollment limited to 12. Book studies concentrators and seniors only. Instructor permission required.

Fall, Spring, Annually

BKX 400 Special Studies (1-4 Credits)

Admission by permission of the director of the Book Studies Concentration. Normally, enrollment limited to Book Studies concentrators only. 1-4 credits.

Fall, Spring