Course Schedule and Catalog

Department: College Courses

Meeting: 7:00PM - 7:50PM T (24-AUG-2026 - 4-DEC-2026) 

Part of Term: Full Term - No WL Purge

Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Course Type: Seminar

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Method of Instruction: Face to Face

Credit Hours: 1

 

Section Max Enrollment: 19

Section Enrolled: 12

Waitlisted: 0 (Max 99) 

Current members of the waitlist have priority for available seats.

Enrollment data as of: 26-APR-2026 9:14AM

 

 

Final Exam: No Final Exam

 

Description: “And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." - John Steinbeck, East of Eden. John Steinbeck is widely regarded as one of the most important voices in American literature. Through his works, he captures ordinary people facing moral, economic, and social pressures that still feel urgent today. His writing exposes the human cost of inequality while insisting on dignity, compassion, and responsibility. Although his prose is simple and accessible, Steinbeck conveys complex ideas and striking imagery, using ordinary language to explore profound moral and social questions. Students will spend the semester reading and analyzing the works of John Steinbeck through three short texts: Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row, and The Moon Is Down. Together, these works examine Steinbeck’s central themes of community, moral responsibility, and resilience through American periods of struggle. The course will introduce Steinbeck’s life and writing career, situate his fiction within its broader historical and social context, and analyze his writing style. Emphasis will be placed on discussion over formal literary theory or writing, making the course welcoming to students of all backgrounds and majors.