ENGH 477: Special Topics in Publishing

ENGH 477-001: Hist & Theory Pub'g Prac &Tech
(Spring 2027)

04:30 PM to 07:10 PM R

Aquia Building 346

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Section Information for Spring 2027

ENGH 477 - 001: Hist & Theory Pub'g Prac &Tech

In the age of smartphones, social media, and AI, it is hard to imagine that the physical book—gathered and bound printed pages—was arguably the world’s most influential object for centuries. Situated between what preceded the book as we know it and modern platforms of information dissemination, this course explores roughly 600 years when the book was king and an industry of bookmaking exploded. Topics include a survey of book forms through the ancient world and Middle Ages, the invention and spread of printing in Europe, the arrival of printing in colonial America, 19th- and 20th-century technical developments and bookmaking technologies, the rise and consolidation of American publishing firms, and the implications of the digital age, including the impact of "Artificial Intelligence" on both writers and publishers. Special attention will be focused on how a manuscript becomes a bound object and is distributed to readers and the various options available to writers (and career options open to new or advancing publishing professionals).  

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Advanced studies in the history, development, and current and projected state of publishing. Focuses on topics of particular interest in the historical and contemporary publishing landscape, including copyright and ownership; genre publishing; technological evolutions (including print-on-demand and artificial intelligence); diversity, representation, and appropriation; and self-publishing. Section titles will vary by semester. May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by English. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 12 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.