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Featured: Programming for Professional Writers (WRIT3012)

Featured: Programming for Professional Writers (WRIT3012)

Featured Course:
AP/WRIT 3012
3.0 credits
No prerequisites
Next offering: Winter 2023

Have you ever thought about learning to code? Are you a writing, humanities, or LA&PS student with no previous programming experience? Have you been nervous to try coding, or perhaps tried but found it overwhelming? This featured course was designed for you!

Two women reprogram the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer in 1946.
Marlyn Wescoff (standing) and Ruth Lichterman reprogram the ENIAC in 1946.

WRIT 3012 is a brand new elective about the connections between coding and writing. It's a completely beginner course (no coding experience required) designed for students who are interested in code as a creative, artistic, and expressive tool. 

Writing and coding may seem like an unlikely pairing, but in this course we’ll explore how they're similar while gaining crucial digital literacy skills through readings, discussions, and programming exercises.

Fun facts you'll learn in this featured course :

  • A “computer” used to mean a woman who operated and programmed electronic calculating machines
  • There are large and growing communities of creative coders, who create visual art, poetry, bots, and more using code
  • There are thousands of programming languages. You can even code using only the word chicken!

Course Materials

  • Thomas Was Alone (video game for PC, Mac, Switch, PS3, PS4)
  • Lauren McCarthy, Casey Reas, and Ben Fry. Getting Started with p5.js (free online through York Libraries)
  • All other readings free through York Libraries

About the Professor

Professor Brandee Easter Headshot

This is my dream course!

I’m Professor Brandee Easter (she/her), and I’m an Assistant Professor in the Writing Department. I've designed this featured course from my research on creative coding.

My goal is to make coding accessible to writers and other creatives because it is a flexible and powerful tool. I’m looking forward to working with you!

Check out the Writing Department's suite of amazing courses. The Writing Department's faculty is committed to your development as an effective writer.