Science Fiction

Credit Units

Credit Hours 

Course Title

Course Code

Theory:  2

Practical: 0

Clinic, Field,: 

2

Science Fiction

English

ENGL 453

أدب الخيال العلمي

Arabic

Corequisites

Prerequisites

Study Level

-

Romantic & Victorian Literature ENGL 307

7

Course Main Objective (concise and precise statement without bullets): 

The main objective of course is 

This course is designed to increase students' knowledge of the literary genre known as Science Fiction. Emphasis will be on the study of texts, films, and other media that depicts our future world, visionary scientific endeavor, and conflicts between humans, aliens, and sentient technology.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) (limit 4-6 CLOs):

By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

1

Knowledge and Comprehension

Aligned PLOs*

1.1

Discuss the main features of science fiction  as a literary genre

K2

2

Skills 

2

2.1

Analyze science fiction works from various critical approaches

S1

2.2

Conduct a mini research/ content creation project in the field of science fiction. 

S.2

2.3

Present critical views toward literary works effectively in speech and/or in writing.

S4

3

Values

3

3.1

Demonstrate self-discipline, ethical standards and academic integrity in performing assigned project/research.

V2

Course Content:                                                                                                                             

• Introduction and Background: History, contemporary trends, and the relevant contemporary issues in Science Fiction, including dystopia vs. utopia, artificial intelligence, current theory concerning technology, cloning and physical science, human psychology in a futuristic environment, and the rise of Cyberpunk and new Alternate Reality literature within the genre.
• Representative masterworks of science fiction from the beginnings of the genre to the present. From Plato’s Republic and Thomas More’s Utopia to Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale and Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America, utopias have always been haunted by the spectre of the dystopian. 

Textbook (s) (include the latest references with full details using standard format e.g. APA, MLA etc):

James, E., & Mendlesohn, F. (Eds.). (2003). The Cambridge companion to science fiction. Cambridge University Press

Latham, R. (Ed.). (2014). The Oxford handbook of science fiction. Oxford Handbooks

Newton, M. (Ed.). (2022). The Origins of Science Fiction. Oxford University Press.

Gunn, J. E., & Candelaria, M. (Eds.). (2005). Speculations on speculation: Theories of science fiction. Scarecrow Press