ENGL 320History and Theory of Pre-Internet Media
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- English
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course explores the social, political, and cultural contexts and consequences of media technologies such as newspapers, photography and film, radio, recorded music, television, and early computing.
Prerequisites
- Students must be in level 2A or higher
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 7757 | 8 / 20 | TTh 10:00–11:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
50% liked it63% easy38% useful
From 2 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
The course is structured very simply. Chapter reading each week, with a related quiz. Quizzes were a one question and written answer thats sole purpose was for you to demonstrate you read the material and understood it. Some group work rotating groups every few weeks on resources for the class (notes, glossary etc)- super helpful! If you do the work, it's easy to do well.
Dec 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Textbook was actually interesting but definitely the worst professor I've ever had. Wish I didn't waste my money and time on a course I could have (and did) teach myself.
Jan 2021 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
5 posts and comments in 4 threads mention ENGL 320, October 2017 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Winter 2022
Some “useful” arts or STEM faculty courses to take? 6 points, 12 comments
“Edit: you all have been incredibly helpful, thank you ╰(´︶)╯♡ I’m currently a 2nd yr Legal Studies and English (RMPC) student who’s about to take some courses for the first time irl this spring …”
u/Lil-Shiro: “… Maybe also look at the other BET courses as well - I recommend any course that English Professor Aimée Morrison is teaching (I took ENGL 320+494 with her) I think she really helped improved my writing skills and critical thinking overall. …”
Fall 2020
RMPC upper years, how would you rate the program? 5 points, 4 comments
“Looking to major in Rhetoric, Media and Professional Communication. Went to UW wanting to go into psychology, realized I was barking up the wrong tree. …”
u/jkso00: “… In terms of required courses, I loved ENGL292, ENGL 320, ENGL 108D, ENGL 309G. Least favourites are definitely ENGL 200A/200B (british lit)...reading old english is super difficult and having to take literature classes is a big struggle for me but still interesting 4. …”
“My program sounds cooler than it is” thread 17 points, 30 comments
“I’ll start: Majoring in Rhetoric, Media, Professional communications; specializing in technical writing; minoring in digital arts communication”
u/reallyred22: “I'm also in RMPC, but instead of anything as useful as technical writing, I have a philosophy minor...”
u/wallflower890: “I’m dreading taking the required literature courses... those are not my jam at all. I’m currently taking engl 292, 320, 201h, and 210j”
u/water4daze: “You are me but instead of digi arts comm I have bus”
u/wallflower890: “I’m in 210j too 😳 Also in ENGL 292, 310H, 320”
Fall 2017
Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments
“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”
u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”
u/Jackhofmann: “… 281W ENGL 292 ENGL 293 ENGL 294 ENGL 295 ENGL 305A ENGL 306A ENGL 309B ENGL 309C ENGL 310B ENGL 320 ENGL 335 ENGL 347 ENGL 362 ENGL 365 ENGL 366 ENGL 371 ENGL 378 ENGL 392A ENGL 408B ENGL 430B ENGL 451B ENGL 460D ENGL 470A ENGL 485 ENGL 494 ENGL 495A ENGL 495B ENGL 700 ENGL 720 …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them